For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices

For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices

Overview

Jesus Christ is the strength of youth. We can look to Him and His doctrine when making choices. Recognizing our divine identity and purpose as children of God and setting goals can help us become more like Him. The Savior’s teachings can help us take charge of our technology use. Our patriarchal blessings can help us feel God’s love and declare our lineage in the house of Israel. Accepting and fulfilling Church callings can help us serve others as the Savior did.

Pacing suggestion: These lessons could be taught at any point in the school year or during any week in the Come, Follow Me pacing. Some suggestions are given below.

Prepare to Teach

For the Strength of Youth Guide

Pacing suggestion: This lesson uses Joseph of Egypt as an example of someone who made inspired choices based on Jesus Christ and His doctrine. You might consider teaching this lesson around the same time you teach Lesson 34: “Genesis 39.”

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students practice using For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices to make inspired choices based on Jesus Christ and His doctrine.

• Student preparation: Invite students to review one section of their choosing in For the Strength of Youth. Students could consider how the teachings of Jesus Christ in that section can help them make inspired decisions.

• Materials for students: Copies of For the Strength of Youth

• Content to display: An image of a lighthouse during a storm

• Video: “Joseph in Egypt” (2:51) from time code 0:00 to 0:41

• Handout: “Connecting Our Choices with Jesus Christ and His Doctrine”

Setting Goals

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students involve the Lord as they set and accomplish their personal goals.

• Student preparation: Invite students to ponder long-term and short-term goals they would like to achieve. They could also ask people they know what they have learned about setting and accomplishing goals.

• Content to display: Diagrams of three-month, one-year, and five-year goals

• Handout: “Principles for Setting and Accomplishing Goals”

Our Divine Identity and Purpose

Pacing suggestion: The topic of divine identity and purpose is emphasized heavily in the first few weeks of this course. If class was in session during those weeks, you might consider teaching this lesson later in the year, to give added emphasis later in the course. If class was not in session during the first few weeks, you could teach this lesson early in the year, to give students an overview of some of the content they may have missed.

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students the opportunity to reflect on their divine identity and purpose.

• Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on the first line of the “Young Women Theme” or “Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme.” They could try memorizing it or reciting it multiple times throughout the day. Students could share how doing this influenced their attitudes or actions.

• Items to display: A mirror

• Materials for students: A copy of the following statement for each student

  Many of you start your day by standing in front of a mirror. Tomorrow, this week, this year, always, pause as you look at yourself in the mirror. Think to yourself, or say aloud if you like, “Wow, look at me! I am awesome! I am a child of God! He knows me! He loves me!” (Gary E. Stevenson, “Promptings of the Spirit,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 45)

• Video: “Promptings of the Spirit” from time code 13:08 to 13:38; “Let God Prevail” from time code 10:40 to 12:23

• Content to display: Chart that includes Old Testament scripture passages about divine identity, instructions for students in the “Student study and discussion” section of the lesson

Taking Charge of Technology

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students use the teachings of Jesus Christ to evaluate their use of technology.

• Student preparation: Invite students to think about their technology use and its possible effects on themselves and others. To help with this, some students could check their devices for a setting or application that shows how much the device or the applications are being used.

• Content to display: An image of a person at a crossroads, instructions for students in the “Using technology with a purpose” section of the lesson

• Materials for students: Copies of For the Strength of Youth

• Video: “Power to Overcome the Adversary” from time code 3:12 to 3:46

Patriarchal Blessings

Pacing suggestion: You might consider teaching this lesson after teaching Lesson 35: “Genesis 42–45.” Jacob (or Israel) gave patriarchal blessings to his posterity in Genesis 48–49.

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students understand how patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love and declare their lineage in the house of Israel.

• Student preparation: Consider inviting students to do one of the following before class: (1) read their patriarchal blessings or (2) ask people who have received their patriarchal blessings to share how their blessings have helped them.

• Video: “Bethany’s Story” (11:08) from time code 7:18 to 8:55

Accepting and Fulfilling Callings

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students serve like the Savior in their callings.

• Student preparation: Consider giving students the following scenario and questions. Invite them to imagine what they would say.

  • What might be some of the callings Evelyn may be asked to fulfill?

  • How might Evelyn feel? Why?

  • What would you want Evelyn to know about accepting and fulfilling callings?

• Video: “Believe, Love, Do” from time code 11:00 to 12:08

• Handout: “Serving Like the Savior”