Sept. 29, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world were introduced Sunday to a new program for children and youths in a broadcast shown during the second half of worship services.
A news release from the LDS Church said six Church leaders, including President Russell M. Nelson, spoke in the pre-recorded 48-minute video. The new program will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2020.
The video features President Nelson, President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Jean B. Bingham, leader of the faith’s Relief Society, Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, leader of Young Women, Brother Stephen W. Owen, leader of Young Men, as well as Sister Joy D. Jones, leader of organizations and Primary.
“This effort has been designed especially for you and your generation,” Nelson tells young people in the video’s introduction. “Over the years, the Church has provided a variety of efforts to help children and youth. We would not be where we are today without them. Now the time has come for a new approach, designed to help today’s children and youth throughout the world. Instead of giving you many specific assignments, we are inviting you to counsel with the Lord about how you can grow in a balanced way.”
The vision of the program, as outlined by Nelson in a booklet that will soon be available for parents and leaders, is to “strengthen the rising generation’s faith in Jesus Christ, and help children, youth and their families progress along the covenant path as they meet life’s challenges.”
In Pursuit of Spiritual, Physical, Social and Intellectual Growth
A foundational scripture for the new program comes from the New Testament verse that provides a glimpse of the young Jesus of Nazareth: “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
“In other words, Jesus grew spiritually, physically, socially and intellectually,” said Owen, the faith’s Young Men general president, in the video. “We are asking each of our children and youth to consider how they want to grow in these same four areas.”
Such growth is most likely to come, Bingham says, when supported by the encouragement of a child’s parents and extended family.
“Parents and extended families are key to the success of this effort,” Bingham said. “A parent’s most important role is to help their children to connect with heaven and develop the gospel-based value system that will help anchor them through the challenges in their life. We know that parents often know their child best. They know how to help their child. They know how to help them identify their strengths and their interests and their talents, as well as opportunities for growth.”
An Adaptable Program for a Global Faith
Because individuals, cultures and circumstances vary greatly around the world, this new program has a principles-based design to give it the flexibility to adapt to every circumstance and need, the video said.
“The principles remain the same: To help each child and youth progress along the covenant path and meet the challenges of their life with faith in Jesus Christ,” Bingham said, in the video.
The video concludes with an invitation from Ballard for local leaders to consider how to best adapt this new program to meet the needs of their congregations.
“My dear young friends, don’t ever forget who you are,” Ballard said, in the video. “You are children of Heavenly Father. He loves you. He wants the very best for each of you. You can rely on your parents and leaders to help strengthen your testimony through this home-centered, Church-supported program.”
Parents, teachers, youth and children will receive booklets with information about the new program at church during the second hour of worship services on Sunday. More information about this new program will be presented at a Nov. 17 Q&A with Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
I hope the Q&A with Elder Gong provides further information about metrics. How will the program help a child and his/her parents and other adults measure progress as children & youth pursue their goals? Some goals are clearly measurable. Others are less so.