Everyone,
I received a call last Tuesday evening from the Stake for
ALL YM adult leaders to attend a Regional training Wednesday evening at a Stake
Ctr in Payson on the new Youth curriculum for 2013. I didn’t feel like it was
fair to our YM to cancel all activities on such short notice, so with our
Priest’s all planning to either compete or attend the SHHS “Man Dance” event,
and us canceling our activity, I attended the training and made notes on the
training to pass along. This training was a Regional Broadcast from the
Highland East Stake Ctr, to all Stakes south of the point of the mountain.
Presiding was Area Seventy Gary Doxey, and the training was presented by the
General Young Men’s President, David L. Beck. The training was not at all really about the new 2013 curriculum, but
was about the importance of the Duty to God program and how it will prepare our
Young Men to be ready to serve a mission earlier with the new announcement of
lowering the mission age to 18. It was mentioned that the new youth
curriculum, “Come, Follow Me, would be implemented January of 2013 and that
there is currently some on-line resources to begin reviewing:
Ø
President Beck lead a discussion on the
importance of preparing our youth earlier to serve, and that our AP Quorum
meeting’s should directly utilize our YM to TEACH, that by doing, they
are actively learning.
D&C 88: 77-78
77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall ateach one another the bdoctrine of the kingdom.
78 Teach ye diligently
and my agrace shall attend you, that you may be binstructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law
of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are
expedient for you to understand;
Ø
He expressed that our YM are to “Teach One
Another”, and to “Teach Diligently”, that by doing so, the YOU, meaning our YM,
will learn more and prepare better.
Ø
He also expressed the importance of attending
Stake Missionary Prep courses, not only for YM, but for YW and parents / adults
as well.
We then watched a short Mormon Messages video on Missionary
Service, and that it is a Priesthood Duty.
Following was an open discussion covered by satellite
broadcast, but also time was given for satellite facilities to brainstorm the
topic: “How Can We Help To Prepare Our YM To Serve”?
Ideas
shared via broadcast as well as local facility discussion:
Ø Emphasis
of the Duty to God Program
Ø Testimony
Development / Building Activities
Ø Preparing
our YM to “Team By The Spirit”
Ø Have
discussions on “Why” we should all participate in ALL programs, 1) Mission Prep
2) Mutual, 3) Scouting, etc. They all have a purpose to prepare.
Ø Visit
and Teach Ward Families from “Preach My Gospel”, to help prepare. Family homes
should be like “Mini MTC’s”.
Ø Teach
YM Leadership Principles so they Recognize their Role as Quorum Leaders.
D&C 107: 99-100
99 Wherefore, now let
every man learn his aduty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all bdiligence.
100 He that is aslothful shall not be counted bworthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not
approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen.
Ø The
best leadership principle is to LET the YM LEAD!!!
Ø We
should expand our understanding of the D2G program as adult leaders, and
continually express the importance of the program in becoming prepared to serve
a mission.
We then watched another short Mormon Messages video on “Duty
to God”, followed by some additional discussion:
Ø This
D2G program, and resources, have power when it is utilized.
Ø It
is NOT a Personal Improvement Program, it is a resource to help YM know the
disciplines of his Duty. The disciplines of the Priesthood IS the disciplines of a mission, disciplines of fatherhood.
Ø It
is a program to help each YM fulfill the work God has for each of them.
Ø KNOW the PROGRAM – “Duty to God” IS a missionary prep program.
Ø Invite
more “Sharing” in homes and in Quorums, even Mutual activities.
Ø The
new program is not a program where you just check items off – “You CANNOT check off “Worthiness”.
President Beck then shared his testimony and turned the time
over now to each local facility to continue discussions.
Our local facility at the Payson Stake Ctr was attended by
Elder Brimhall, an area Seventy, with most of the discussion lead by Robert
Heyn of the General Young Men’s Board:
We continued to have a white board discussion on different
ideas from those in attendance:
Ø Encourage
adults to participate and complete the D2G program to help them understand it
more fully.
Ø Importance
of YM teaching Quorum lessons
Ø Recognition
of progress.
Ø Encourage
every YM to create an LDS.org account to use the technology that is on-line.
Ø Discuss
the different resources that are available to them:
·
lds.org
·
lds.org /youth/learn
·
Youth should download the mobile APP that is
available and they can review progress anytime, anywhere.
Ø Encourage
more involvement from parents, especially fathers, and adult leaders.
Ø Call
on YM to speak and Teach by the Spirit – Impromptu, even in Sacrament meeting.
Ø Every
YM needs a mentor, someone to look to. The D2G program is a very heavily
mentored program.
D&C 84: 106
106
And if any man among you be astrong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is bweak, that he may be cedified in all dmeekness, that he may become strong also.
Lastly, we watched another short Mormon Messages video on
inviting others to “Come Unto Christ”, with an emphasis on how our YM need to
have a VISION, of the D2G
program.
Closing included how the new 2013 Aaronic Priesthood
curriculum would reference the D2G requirements in the lesson guidebook.
Hopefully these notes are useful. Please forward them to
each of your respective advisors. Our YM are so fortunate to have each of you
as examples, and I sincerely appreciate all that you do.
Mick
Elder Beck:
D&C 88:78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
The "You" is the teacher
Reactions from a couple YM of the lowering of the age to serve a mission.
Testimony from an older brother about what his mission meant to him.
A priesthood duty video was shown
How do we help more YM prepare to go on a mission?
* We held an informal quorum meeting
YM/older brethren talked about how to help other YM prepare
Teach the "why" we do certain things in quorum meeting.Helps the YM understand better the principles of the gospel.
Recognize responsibilities.
D&C 107:99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.
Identify those YM earlier who may struggle in preparing to serve a mission. Make our homes an MTC!!!
Elder Beck highly recommended we use the DTG booklet in preparing to serve.
DTG video with Pres Eyring.
DTG is a resource to learn the discipline of the priesthood. It is more than a self improvement program.
Worthy is the first thing that needs to happen in the DTG program. Priesthood duty picks up the rest
D&C 20:59
Learn, act, share!!!
Disciplines of the priesthood are the same as a mission, and fatherhood.
We need to promote these disciplines.
Drop by drop development - Elder Bednar
Elder Brimhall:
Establish habits that surround discipline within the DTG program.
Focus on the process rather than the end result.
Lack of planning and making goals always surround unsuccessful missionaries.
DTG helps YM to work hard to plan and make goals and learn the "Why" of the DTG.
Come follow me- new youth curriculum for 2013.
Implements the DTG in all youth Sunday school lessons.
Quorum agenda meetings will involve DTG as part of the agenda.
Allow time for DTG on Sunday and mutual.
More participation from adults, and YM.
Increase leader support at all levels.
D&C84:106 And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.
Mentors are essential in helping YM fulfill their DTG
Talked about technology ( online)
All youth need an LDS.org account.
