Young Single Adult Conference Guidelines

Young Single Adult Conference Guidelines (2022)

Purpose

Young single adult (YSA) conferences bring young single adults together as “fellowcitizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19), where they build testimonies, contribute their talents and time, and foster unity and personal growth. Conferences help strengthen young single adults by giving them a sense of belonging and mutual support. They help young single adults feel connected to the Savior and the Church.

Area Presidency Approval

YSA conferences are sponsored by the area and must be approved in advance by the Area Presidency. The YSA conference agenda should be created by the YSA conference committee. The proposed YSA conference agenda should be submitted to the Area Presidency for approval.

Work of Salvation and Exaltation

YSA conferences focus on the work of salvation and exaltation and President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to young adults to prepare for eternal life and understand their divine identity as children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Jesus Christ (see Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). They help unite young single adults in faith and purpose as they focus on divinely appointed responsibilities to:

Live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Care for those in need.
Invite all to receive the gospel.
Unite families for eternity.

Focusing the conference on one or more of these divinely appointed responsibilities will help participants strengthen their relationships with Jesus Christ and each other, make and keep sacred covenants, minister to one another, and serve those in need.

Questions to Consider

Prayerfully consider the following questions, and use them as a guide in all stages of organizing a conference. They will invite revelation, encourage creativity, and increase your sensitivity to the needs of young single adults in your specific area.

How will this conference bring young single adults closer to Jesus Christ?
How will this conference help young single adults feel God’s love for them personally?
How will this conference strengthen the desire of young single adults to make and keep covenants with God?
How will this conference unite the rising generation and assist in gathering Israel?
How will this conference help young single adults be more spiritually resilient?
How can the conference program meet the needs of the young single adults in your area?
What positive impact might this conference have on the local community?
How will the conference help young single adults continue to connect with each other through institute or YSA gathering places? (See Establishing a YSA Gathering Place (2021), Gospel Library.)

If you have questions regarding YSA conferences, you can contact the Church headquarters YSA conference team at ysa-conferences@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Roles and Responsibilities

5.1

Area Presidency

The Area Presidency approves and provides priesthood direction for area-sponsored YSA conferences and the proposed conference agenda. The Area Presidency may also assign a stake or stakes to host a YSA conference.

5.2

Assigned Area Seventy

The assigned Area Seventy identifies, calls, and sets apart YSA conference coordinators and provides priesthood direction and support to the conference committee.

5.3

Young Single Adult Stake Committees

When several stakes are joining together for a YSA conference, each stake YSA committee gives the Area Seventy recommendations for one or more young single adults to be on the YSA conference committee. All YSA conferences require Area Presidency approval, even if only one stake is the sponsor.

5.4

Conference Coordinators

YSA conference coordinators are a young single adult sister and brother who are called by an Area Seventy. The conference coordinators lead in planning, preparing, and conducting the conference. They also submit a postconference report.

5.5

YSA Conference Committee

A YSA conference committee is led by the YSA conference coordinators under the guidance of a member of the hosting stake presidency (or the Area Seventy). Other young single adults are assigned as assistant coordinators to be responsible for key aspects of the conference, such as budget, health and safety, registration, service and activities, catering, marketing and communication, and venue. The exact structure of the YSA conference committee and level of support will be determined by the goals for the conference and local circumstances.

If more than one stake is involved, the Area Seventy calls the members of the conference committee. If there is only one stake involved, the stake presidency may call the conference committee.

5.6

Institute Council

Institute council members, in collaboration with the institute director, should be invited to participate on the YSA conference committee. Institute council members can greatly bless the planning and execution of a YSA conference through recommending inspiring speakers and presenters, providing creative activity ideas, and coordinating with institute staff.

5.7

Institute Director and S&I Coordinator

Institute directors and seminaries and institutes (S&I) coordinators may be asked to assist in teaching and other functions under the direction of the Area Presidency and conference coordinators.

Funding

Area Presidencies may request funding to offset some or all of the costs of YSA conferences. Participant fees, if any, are approved by the Area Presidency with the expectation that a fee will not prevent participation. Area Presidencies can determine changes in participant fees for young single adults who attend but do not live in the area or are not Church members.

Requests for funding should be completed far enough in advance to secure an appropriate venue and accommodations and, where needed, assist with individuals or groups traveling long distances (three or more hours).

Area Presidencies may request funding for YSA conferences by:

Organizing a YSA conference committee and having them create a conference agenda and plan.
Having the area controller or financial representative review the agenda.
Seeking endorsement of their YSA conference plan from their supervising member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and assigned member of the Presidency of the Seventy.
Completing a budget request using the Young Single Adult Conference and Gathering Places Funding Request Form.
Ensuring that the completed budget request form is forwarded to the area controller or area financial representative.

The request will then be reviewed by the Priesthood and Family Executive Council and the Budget and Appropriations Committee for final approval.

Local Unit Budget Allowance (LUBA) should not be used to fund YSA conferences if the conference is longer than one day and expenses will hinder the ongoing stake YSA program.

Policies and Guidelines

Please carefully study and follow section 20 in General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). The conference is open for all young single adults, including nonparticipating Church members and friends of the Church who are willing to live Church standards for the duration of the conference. Make every effort to be inclusive of all young single adults.

Conference Program

The YSA conference committee and assigned Area Seventy prayerfully consider sections 1 and 20 of the General Handbook as they develop the conference program. Young single adults have reported that they appreciate a conference that:

Is Christ-centered and has daily spiritual highlights.
Provides inspiring speakers and teachers who focus on relevant young single adult needs.
Is large enough for the young single adults to meet new people but small enough to encourage mingling and mixing with each other.
Provides an opportunity to engage with a member of the Area Presidency or assigned Area Seventy and his spouse or with other general Church leaders (this may include a question-and-answer session as a way to better understand young single adults’ concerns and needs).
Provides a venue that is comfortable, free from distractions, and within a reasonable travel distance.
Is centered on well-planned service opportunities that make a real difference in the local community.
Incorporates temple and family history opportunities where possible.
Offers a variety of high-quality workshops from experts and interfaith speakers from the wider community.
Provides opportunities to establish new interests and develop talents.
Allows sufficient free time between planned activities to relax and socialize.
Includes planned socialization and entertainment, such as dances and concerts.
Emphasizes enjoying quality music.

If a YSA conference includes Sunday worship services, follow the guidelines outlined in General Handbook, 20.4.

Inviting Young Single Adults to Conferences

All young single adults of the respective region should be invited to attend their YSA conference. The YSA conference coordinators and committee work with stake presidents and institute coordinators to invite all young single adults, especially those who are less-active and friends who are not members. Enrollment preference should be given to young single adults from the designated country or participating coordinating councils. Additional participants from other areas may be invited according to capacity. As you reach out to young single adults, prayerfully consider the following:

How do we lovingly invite young single adults one by one?
How do we creatively and effectively use technology, including social media?
How do we reach out to those who do not currently attend Church?
How do we appropriately use regular Church communication channels (such as meeting announcements, ward emails or social media groups, and texting), including channels used through institute and gathering places?
How will the conference be inclusive of those not of our faith? How will we reach out and invite them?

10.

Suggested Timeline

Time Period	Actions
Time Period 24 months before	Actions The Area Presidency gives the stake or stakes an assignment to host an area-sponsored YSA conference or approves a request for a conference.
Time Period 20 months before	Actions The Area Seventy calls YSA conference coordinators. The conference coordinators review the YSA conference guidelines.
Time Period 18 months before	Actions The Area Seventy or stake presidency calls the conference committee. The conference committee begins meeting under the direction of the conference coordinators.
Time Period 16 months before	Actions The conference committee determines a program and venue for the conference. The Area Seventy submits an official request and budget for the conference to the Area Presidency.
Time Period 14 months before	Actions The conference coordinators and conference committee begin to submit invoices to secure a venue and accommodations. The invoices are submitted to the area office and the sponsoring stake or stakes.
Time Period 12–0 months before	Actions The conference committee: Meets regularly to plan and organize the conference. Invites guest speakers and presenters. Implements an awareness campaign to inform the young single adults in the area.
Time Period 6–0 months before	Actions The conference committee: Sends invoices to the area’s general accounting office. Confirms registrations. Finalizes and locks program logistics.
Time Period 0	Actions Hold the conference.
Time Period Within 1 month after	Actions The conference coordinators send a postconference report to the Area Presidency.

11.

Postconference Reporting

At the completion of the conference, the YSA conference coordinators will submit a postconference report to the Area Presidency. This report should include:

A brief overview of the conference, including photographs, participant quotes, and so on.
Accounts of uplifting experiences from the conference.
Candid feedback about what went well and what did not, including honest feelings about the benefit of future conferences. (Consider the questions in section 4 of this document when giving feedback.)
Statistics (number of members and friends who attended, geographical disbursement of participants by stake or district, participant surveys, and other success measures.)
A financial report, including participation fee, budget, and so on.

This report should be forwarded from the Area Presidency to the supervising member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presidency of the Seventy, the Relief Society General Presidency, and the managing director for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.

You may use the online report template by going to Post YSA Conference Report. Review and be familiar with the specific questions from this report early in the YSA conference planning process.