Recently our Sunday Sacrament program was done by our youth- introducing this years theme for the YW/YM. They did all of the talks and had a combined choir of YM/YW. 2nd hour the Stake YM President and our Bishop both talked on the subject of dating to all of the youth and their parents. They used an Ensign from 2010 about dating standards of the Church with quotes from Prophets and For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. 3rd hour they went to their regular classes which in my case was YW.
I studied the faces of all those young people seated on the stand and thought of how many seated in the congregation love them. Of course their parents do but in the Church there are lots of us that care also. Parents pray and so do those of us working with them.
My time of working with the youth goes back a long time. I was taken aback when I got called to serve in the YW and yet I know it's where the Lord wants me at this time. Maybe there is one girl that really needs my love and encouragement. Maybe they all need to hear my plain talk on things like our recent chastity lesson. I really don't know. I just know that they have a special place in my heart and I'm always concerned for them. The basic standards are the same as way back in 1965 (?) when I taught my first Laurel class. (50 years ago!! Older than the mothers of my Laurels today!!)
The Church standards have not changed but the world has. The youth didn't have the challenges of drugs/homosexuality/pornography/rampant sexual activity/foul language, like they do in today's world. I look at these girls and wonder...how do they fight this battle of worldliness? I surely don't say anything any different than they've heard for their entire life. I do back up the teachings that their parents teach them but I say nothing new.
When I looked at them, I could see YW similar in countenances that I've known over the past. Those that are restless. Those that are searching. Those that are content and also the dis-content. Those that try so hard and those that are sick of rules. Those wanting to carry on their current religious home life, into their own future home, that they will someday create. Those waiting to escape, what they feel are restrictive rules, with no interest in perpetuating their home lifestyle. Some are filled with a strong sense of immunity, to any heartache that might befall them, as they know they know better than anyone else, what is best for them.
In many ways I am not the teacher I was when I started all those years ago. I'm the same woman but I'm all grown up! well, I think I am, anyhow! I have an even stronger conviction of the Gospel and I know you can't fool God and you also can't bend commandments and sneak and think you will end up just fine. Some girls don't believe that.
For me...my utmost hope and prayer is to help these YW feel the Spirit. To aide them in enjoying the baptism gift that they each received....the Holy Ghost. To feel, to sense, to access through prayer that connection from heaven....their own Liahona for personal guidance!!!!
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