For the Strength of Youth

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For the Strength of Youth is a piece of writing distributed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that "summarizes standards from scripture and from the writings and teachings of Church leaders." For the Strength of Youth is available on the internet, in a printed pamphlet, and on a small card that the Church encourages the youth to keep with them at all times, usually in their wallets.

Contents

[edit] Sections

For the Strength of Youth is divided into sections, each corresponding to the standards it pertains to. Before the sections containing the actual standards, there are two short sections called Message from the First Presidency and Why Standards?.

Message from the First Presidency is a message written specifically to the youth by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which includes President Gordon B. Hinckley, 1st Counselor Thomas S. Monson, and 2nd Counselor James E. Faust. The message counsels the youth to follow the standards outlined in For the Strength of Youth and gives their witness to the truth of what is taught by it.

Why Standards? is a short explanation of why the standards given in For the Strength of Youth should be adhered to.

After the main sections containing the standards there are two more short sections, Conclusion: Worthiness and Service and Standards Summary.

The sections found in the internet version of For the Strength of Youth and the standards listed in the Standards Summary are:

[edit] Relationships with Others

[edit] Dating

  • Prepare now for temple marriage
  • Begin dating only after you are sixteen
  • When you begin dating, go in groups or double date
  • Date only those with high standards
  • Avoid temptation

[edit] Friends

  • Choose good friends with whom you can share common high standards
  • Go out of your way to help shy friends
  • Treat everyone with kindness and dignity
  • Invite your nonmember friends to Church activities
  • Choose your friends wisely
  • Invite your friends to church activities
  • Share the Gospel with nonmember friends

[edit] Personal Integrity

[edit] Dress and Appearance

  • Dress modestly to show respect for God and yourself
  • Avoid extremes in your clothing and appearance
  • Dress appropriately for all Church meetings and activities
  • Dress how the Lord will want you to dress
  • Dress to show people who are not from the gospel that you are a daughter/son of Heavenly Father

[edit] Honesty

  • Be honest with yourself
  • Be honest with others
  • Be honest with the Lord

[edit] Language

  • Use language to build up and inspire others
  • Do not use profane, vulgar, or crude language
  • Never take the name of Deity in vain
  • Do not gossip

[edit] Sexual Purity

  • Treat your date with respect and expect respect in return
  • Abstain from premarital sex, petting, necking, sex perversion, and preoccupation with sex in thought, speech, and action
  • Reserve sexual intimacy for marriage
  • Refrain from homosexual and lesbian activities
  • Seek help and counseling if you become a victim of rape, incest, or other sexual abuse

[edit] Sabbath Day Observance

  • Use the sabbath to worship the Lord, strengthen family relationships, help others, and draw close to the Lord
  • Avoid seeking entertainment and spending money on the Sabbath
  • When possible, avoid working on Sunday

[edit] Spiritual Help

  • You are never alone. Rely on The Holy Ghost. Knowing what is right and wrong is always possible.

[edit] Repentance

  • If you have made mistakes, you can be forgiven through proper repentance
  • Show your friend there is a way back to Heavenly Father's kingdom though repentance and forgiveness.

[edit] Mental and Physical Health

  • Keep your mind, body, and spirit healthy
  • Do not use drugs, alcohol, coffee, tea, and tobacco products
  • Remember your body is a temple of God where the Holy Spirit can dwell

[edit] Media and Entertainment

[edit] Media

  • Use only good media that will uplift and inspire yourself and others
  • Avoid pornography in all forms
  • Do not see vulgar movies or videos
  • Leave or change any immoral or suggestive situation

[edit] Music and Dancing

  • Use good music to help you draw closer to Heavenly Father
  • Do not listen to music that encourages immorality, uses offensive language, or drives the Spirit away
  • When dancing, avoid full body contact or intimate positions with your partner
  • Plan and attend dances where the Spirit of the Lord may be present

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  • LDS.org/library - Official site containing the internet version of For the Strength of Youth
  • Mormon.org - Official information for those interested in learning more about the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • LDS.org - Official Internet Site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Strength_of_Youth"
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