Youth are growing up surrounded by unique challenges—but also unique opportunities. Parents and leaders can help youth see their lives through a hopeful lens. How? One way is by focusing more on the impact youth can have for good, no matter how dark the world gets.
What Youth Need to Hear
On a recent episode of the Magnify podcast, Lisa Valentine Clark said, “I think that the greatest disservice we can do for … the next generation is to convince them that it doesn’t matter; that nothing we can do can change the evil and wickedness of the world.
“I hate that message because I don’t think that’s true. I think we have more power as individuals to change our own circumstances or just our attitudes, … and we can be a bigger light and influence for others—more than we know. I wish that were the underlying message, that it's needed more for sure in this day and age, but that we have more power than we think we do. I wish that were the prevailing thought of the day.”
How To Instill the Vision
To help youth see their potential for good, we can teach them about the Savior’s compensatory power. As Elder Neil L. Andersen explains:
“As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.
“To understand better, think of these comparisons: If the world were growing more physically dark, He could give us enhanced night vision. If loud noises were constantly in our ears, He could give us a filtering mechanism to block the unwanted sound. If the race we were running was extended, He could give us increased lung and muscle capacity.”
Parents and leaders can help instill this message to the youth in their circles. A good place to start may be studying President Russell M. Nelson’s April 2022 general conference talk together. He suggested “specific actions we can take to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum.”
- “Get on the covenant path and stay there.”
- “Discover the joy of daily repentance.”
- “Learn about God and how He works.”
- “Seek and expect miracles.”
- “End conflict in your personal life.”
With the Savior at the center, our lives can be rich and meaningful. The world is full of beautiful opportunities to share light and love. As we encourage our youth to see the world this way, they can lay hold of President Nelson’s promise that “[their] future will be more exhilarating than anything [they] can presently believe.”
For more on supporting youth, see the links below:
▶ 6 spiritual questions your teens are sincerely asking—and how to answer them
▶ 1 thing we forget when teaching our children about feeling the Spirit
▶ How can I prepare my child against pornography? The answer lies in this empowering analogy
Hear more from Lisa Valentine Clark
Fill your spiritual cup with inspiring speakers, uplifting music, and encouraging conversations—all from a central stage. Participants will receive a beautiful event-themed notebook and pen and have the chance to participate in fun giveaways and a meet and mingle.
Come be inspired to act on President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to seek and expect miracles—the miracles of joy, peace, faith, and hope that we can find in Christ.
