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Adjustments to Strengthen Youth

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Adjustments to Strengthen Youth BY ELDER QUENTIN L. COOK Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles President Russell M. Nelson, President M. Russell Ballard, and the General Adjustments to Officers. A third initiative is orga- nizational changes to make youth a more significant focus of our bishops Strengthen Youth and other leaders. This focus must be spiritually powerful and help our youth become the youth battalion President Nelson has asked them to become. More young men and young women will rise to the Interlocking Patterns challenge and stay on the covenant path because These efforts, together with those announced during the last few years, of this laser-like focus on our youth. are not isolated changes. Each of the adjustments is an integral part of an interlocking pattern to bless the Saints and prepare them to meet God. One part of the pattern relates to the Thank you, dear President Nelson, for foolishness, immorality, and evil not rising generation. Our youth are being that joyful revelatory guidance with readily available in the past. asked to take more individual responsi- respect to witnesses at baptisms and the To help our youth navigate this bility at younger ages—without parents direction you have asked us to share maze of choices, the Church has and leaders taking over what youth can to help strengthen youth and develop prepared three profound and compre- do for themselves.5 their sacred potential. hensive initiatives. First, curriculum Before I share those adjustments, has been strengthened and expanded Announcement we express our sincere appreciation to the home. Second, a children and Today we announce organizational for the exceptional way members have youth program that includes exciting changes for youth at ward and stake responded to developments in the activities and personal development levels. As President Nelson explained, ongoing Restoration of the gospel. As was presented just last Sunday by Sister Bonnie H. Cordon will discuss President Nelson suggested last year, you have taken your vitamins!1 You joyfully study Come, Follow Me at home.2 You have also responded to adjustments at church. Members of the elders quorum and Relief Society sisters unitedly do the work of salvation.3 Our gratitude is overflowing.4 We are particularly grateful that our youth continue to remain strong and faithful. Our youth live in an exciting but also challenging time. The choices avail- able have never been more dramatic. One example: the modern smartphone provides access to incredibly important and uplifting information, including family history and the holy scrip- tures. On the other hand, it contains 40 SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION changes for young women this evening. was a healing for his One purpose for the changes I will family and was possible now discuss is to strengthen Aaronic through the bishop Priesthood holders, quorums, and working in behalf of the quorum presidencies. These changes entire family. The young align our practice with Doctrine and man has now become Covenants 107:15, which reads, “The a worthy Melchizedek bishopric is the presidency of this Priesthood holder and [Aaronic] priesthood, and holds the full-time missionary. keys or authority of the same.” As this account sug- One of the scriptural duties of the gests, these adjustments bishop is to preside over the priests and will: to sit in council with them, teaching them the duties of their office.6 In addi- • Help bishops and tion, the first counselor in the bishopric their counselors focus will have specific responsibility for on their core respon- teachers and the second counselor for sibilities to the youth deacons. and Primary children. Accordingly, to align with this reve- • Place the power and lation in the Doctrine and Covenants, duties of the Aaronic Young Men presidencies at the ward Priesthood at the center of every quorums and Relief Societies can, level will be discontinued. These faith- young man’s personal life and goals. under the direction of the bishop, help ful brethren have done much good, and shoulder important responsibilities we express appreciation to them. These adjustments also: that previously consumed much of his It is our hope that bishoprics will time. These responsibilities include give great emphasis and focus to the • Emphasize the responsibilities of missionary work and temple and fam- priesthood responsibilities of young Aaronic Priesthood quorum pres- ily history work in the ward9—as well men and help them in their quorum idencies and their direct reporting as much of the ministering to ward duties. Capable adult Young Men line to the bishopric. members. advisers will be called to assist the • Motivate adult leaders to assist and The bishop cannot delegate some Aaronic Priesthood quorum presiden- mentor Aaronic Priesthood quo- responsibilities, such as strengthening cies and the bishopric in their duties.7 rum presidencies in magnifying the the youth, being a common judge, We are confident that more young power and authority of their office. caring for those in need, and over- men and young women will rise to the seeing finances and temporal affairs. challenge and stay on the covenant As noted, these adjustments do not These are, however, fewer than we path because of this laser-like focus on lessen the bishopric’s responsibility may have understood in the past. As our youth. for young women. As President Nelson Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained In the Lord’s inspired pattern, the just taught, “[The bishop’s] first and last year when the adjustments to the bishop has responsibility for everyone foremost responsibility is to care for Melchizedek Priesthood quorums were in the ward. He blesses the parents of the young men and young women of his announced: “The bishop remains, of youth as well as the youth. One bishop ward.”8 course, the presiding high priest of the found that as he counseled with a How will our beloved and hard- ward. This new alignment [of elders young man struggling with pornog- working bishops fulfill this respon- quorums and Relief Societies] should raphy, he could help the young man sibility? As you remember, in 2018 let him preside over the work of the in his repentance only as he helped Melchizedek Priesthood quorums were Melchizedek Priesthood and the Relief the parents react with love and under- adjusted to work even more closely Society without requiring him to do the standing. The young man’s healing with Relief Societies so that elders work of either of those bodies.”10 NOVEMBER 2019 41 For instance, a Relief Society presi- now report to and counsel directly with manner similar to the service provided dent and an elders quorum president, the bishop of the ward. In the past, by high councilors to ward elders as assigned, can take a greater role in this assignment could be delegated to quorums. counseling with adults—as can a Young a counselor, but going forward, young As a related matter, another high Women president in counseling with young women will be a direct responsibility of councilor will serve as the stake Sunday women. While only the bishop can serve the one who holds presiding keys for School president and, as needed, could as a common judge, these other leaders the ward. The Relief Society president serve on the stake Aaronic Priesthood– are also entitled to revelation from will continue to report directly to the Young Women committee.14 heaven to help with challenges that do bishop.12 Additional organizational changes not require a common judge or involve At the general and stake levels, will be further explained in information abuse of any kind.11 we will continue to have Young Men sent to leaders. These changes include: That doesn’t mean a young woman presidencies. At the stake level, a high cannot or should not talk to the bishop councilor will be the Young Men pres- • The bishopric youth committee or to her parents. Their focus is the ident13 and will, with the high coun- meeting will be replaced by a ward youth! But it does mean that a Young cilors assigned to Young Women and youth council. Women leader may best meet the needs Primary, be part of the stake Aaronic • The word “Mutual” will be retired of an individual young woman. The Priesthood–Young Women commit- and become “Young Women activ- bishopric is as concerned for young tee. These brethren will work with the ities,” “Aaronic Priesthood quorum women as for young men, but we stake Young Women presidency on activities,” or “youth activities,” recognize the strength that comes from this committee. With a counselor to the which will be held weekly where having strong, engaged, and focused stake president as chair, this committee possible. Young Women leaders who love and will have increased importance because • The ward budget for youth activities mentor, not taking over the roles of many of the programs and activities in will be divided equitably between class presidencies but helping youth the new Children and Youth initiative the young men and young women succeed in those roles. will be at the stake level. according to the number of youth Sister Cordon will share additional These high councilors, under the in each organization. A sufficient exciting changes for young women direction of the stake presidency, can amount will be provided for Primary tonight. I, however, announce that serve as a resource to the bishop and activities. ward Young Women presidents will Aaronic Priesthood quorums in a • At all levels—ward, stake, and 42 SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION general—we will use the term “organization” rather than the term “auxiliary.” Those who lead the General Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Primary, and Sunday School organizations will be known as “General Officers.” Those who lead organizations at the ward and stake levels will be known as “ward officers” and “stake officers.”15 temple and family history work, and teaching and supporting Aaronic Priesthood quorums.
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