2026 Youth Theme
“Walk with Me”—Let’s Break It Down
This year’s theme is three words long, but each of those words has a lot to teach us.
Like last year’s youth theme, “Look unto Christ,” this year’s theme—“Walk with Me”—is a figure of speech. In this life, most of us won’t have the opportunity to see or walk with the Savior literally. So what does it mean to “walk” with someone who isn’t physically present? Let’s break it down.
Walk
When the Lord called Enoch to be a prophet, He gave him a promise: “All thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me” (Moses 6:34).
If you were promised that walking with God meant He would support your words, move obstacles out of your way, and always be with you—well, why wouldn’t you walk with Him?
Great news: You have been promised this, maybe as recently as last Sunday. When you take the sacrament, you promise to “always remember Him and keep His commandments”—in other words, to walk with Him. And why do you do this? “That [you] may always have his Spirit to be with [you]” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77; emphasis added).
Now, you’ll notice the Lord didn’t tell Enoch, “Stand here and look around with me.” He didn’t say, “Sit down and rest with me for a while.” He said, “Walk with me.” We must act on the spiritual promptings we receive. We must do and say what we believe is right.
As President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988), a counselor in the First Presidency, put it, “He can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet.”
But notice what else the Lord didn’t say. He didn’t say, “Run with me.” He didn’t say, “Leap effortlessly over all your obstacles with me.” He doesn’t ask us to “run faster than [we have] strength” (Mosiah 4:27). He doesn’t expect us to constantly move at top speed. He doesn’t expect us not to make mistakes or get discouraged. He just wants us to keep going.
With
We walk with the Savior. Not ahead of Him. Definitely not away from Him!
When you’re literally walking with someone, you walk next to them. But in this metaphor, we stay a little behind the Savior. He leads, and we follow—closely.
When you’re on the path to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, They will help you on it too! Remember the sacrament! The Lord, through His Spirit, will always be with you, as long as you keep inviting Him.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ aren’t nearly as concerned about where you are on the path as They are which direction you’re facing. As you face Them, They will do all they can to help you move closer to Them, no matter what pace you are willing or capable of walking each day, one day at a time.
Me
We need to take action (WALK). We need to do it in accordance with God’s commandments and the promptings of the Spirit (WITH). And we need to do all of this, relying on Jesus Christ (ME).
(Since Jesus Christ, His Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost are all one in purpose—see John 10:30; 17:21; Doctrine and Covenants 35:2—it’s correct to say that you are “walking with God,” “walking with the Savior,” “walking with the Spirit,” or anything of that nature.)
There are plenty of voices to follow in this world. There is no shortage of influencers, celebrities, and politicians who would like you to “walk” with them (or at least give them money). What others say may be useful, but only if it aligns with the Savior’s teachings.
Walk with Him.