FSY Speaker/Teacher Outline
For the Strength of Youth: A Guide to Making Choices
Help youth understand the principles taught in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices and teach them how to apply the principles in their lives. Discuss how keeping the commandments and living like Christ leads to increased joy and freedom in their lives. Let youth know that as they follow the Conduct at Youth Activities
at FSY, they can help create a positive experience for themselves and their peers. Continuing to live those standards after FSY will also bless them in the future.
Note: This lesson outline is a tool. There is more content here than is likely to be used. Follow inspiration to address the needs of the youth in your area.
God loves us perfectly. His commandments were designed to help us return to Him and are evidence of His love for us. To love God and love your neighbor are the two greatest commandments.
During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ was the perfect example of treating everyone with love and kindness. Invite youth to strive to follow His example and to love others as He would (seeJohn 13:34–35 ). Remind youth that by keeping the commandment to love our neighbor, we show our love for God as well (see Matthew 22:37–39 ). There is no place for bullying or belittling people in the gospel of Jesus Christ—and that same standard is expected at FSY.
Resources
God is the source of all truth. Learning and living what we know to be true will bless your life and others. Learning and growing are fundamental to discipleship. Invite youth to seek after and stand for truth, even when it isn’t easy. Help them understand that a love for truth and learning can grow their testimony and help them come unto Christ. As they become true disciples of the Savior, they will receive blessings in their lives and be able to bless the lives of others.
Some youth may be uncertain as to whether they have a testimony of the gospel. Reassure them that it’s perfectly okay to have questions and that they can seek to learn what they do not yet know.
Resources
Try to keep your words focused on Jesus Christ. While it may be helpful to organize some of your ideas ahead of time, let the Spirit guide you on what is best to say in the moment to help bring youth closer to the Savior.
Note: This lesson outline is a tool. There is more content here than is likely to be used. Follow inspiration to address the needs of the youth in your area.
I. Love Your Neighbor
God loves us perfectly. His commandments were designed to help us return to Him and are evidence of His love for us. To love God and love your neighbor are the two greatest commandments.
During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ was the perfect example of treating everyone with love and kindness. Invite youth to strive to follow His example and to love others as He would (see
Resources
- Study and teach from the
“Love God, love your neighbor” section ofFor the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices . - “The Savior taught us to love not only our friends but also those who disagree with us—and even those who repudiate us. He said: ‘For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? … And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?’ (
Matthew 5:46–47 ).
“The Prophet Joseph Smith warned us to ‘beware of self-righteousness’ and to enlarge our hearts toward all men and women until we feel ‘to take them upon our shoulders.’ In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry” (Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 20). - “There is no place for this in your cyberspace, neighborhoods, schools, quorums, or classes. Please do all you can to make these places kinder and safer. If you passively observe or participate in any of this, I know of no better advice than that previously given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
“‘When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: ‘Stop it!’” (Gary E. Stevenson, “Hearts Knit Together ,” Liahona, May 2021, 21).
II. Truth Will Make You Free
God is the source of all truth. Learning and living what we know to be true will bless your life and others. Learning and growing are fundamental to discipleship. Invite youth to seek after and stand for truth, even when it isn’t easy. Help them understand that a love for truth and learning can grow their testimony and help them come unto Christ. As they become true disciples of the Savior, they will receive blessings in their lives and be able to bless the lives of others.
Some youth may be uncertain as to whether they have a testimony of the gospel. Reassure them that it’s perfectly okay to have questions and that they can seek to learn what they do not yet know.
Resources
- Study and teach from the “
Truth will make you free ” section ofFor the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices . - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “
Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth ,” Liahona, Nov. 2014, 20–23. - “A knowledge of truth is of little value unless we apply it in making correct decisions” (Richard G. Scott, “
Truth: The Foundation of Correct Decisions ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 92). - “A testimony is personal knowledge of spiritual truth obtained by revelation. A testimony is a gift from God and is available to all of His children. Any honest seeker of truth can obtain a testimony by exercising the necessary ‘particle of faith’ in Jesus Christ to ‘experiment upon’ (
Alma 32:27 ) and ‘try the virtue of the word’ (Alma 31:5 ), to yield ‘to the enticing of the Holy Spirit’ (Mosiah 3:19 ), and to awaken unto God. Testimony brings increased personal accountability and is a source of purpose, assurance, and joy.
“Seeking for and obtaining a testimony of spiritual truth requires asking, seeking, and knocking (seeMatthew 7:7 ;3 Nephi 14:7 ) with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in the Savior (seeMoroni 10:4 )” (David A. Bednar, “Converted unto the Lord ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 106).
III. Testify
Try to keep your words focused on Jesus Christ. While it may be helpful to organize some of your ideas ahead of time, let the Spirit guide you on what is best to say in the moment to help bring youth closer to the Savior.