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“Teaching Leadership Principles to Youth,” Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of Youth, 27

An important part of a young man’s and young woman’s preparation for adulthood is the development of leadership skills and qualities. Today’s youth are the fathers, mothers, and Church leaders of tomorrow. A primary purpose of the Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women achievement programs is to help youth develop leadership skills and qualities.

Parents and youth leaders should use the achievement programs to provide youth with leadership experiences in the home, in quorums and classes, and in Mutual activities. For example, youth can learn leadership in the home as they teach a lesson in family home evening, lead a family discussion, plan a family activity, or help a younger brother or sister. They also learn leadership as they plan and carry out activities in their priesthood quorums and Young Women classes. Leaders should take every opportunity to give youth leadership experiences.

Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women leaders have a particular responsibility to teach leadership skills to class and quorum presidencies. These skills can be taught in presidency meetings.

The following leadership principles should be taught to youth:

• • Follow the Savior’s example.

• • Develop the character traits of a leader:

  • Faith

  • Love

  • Obedience

  • Unity

  • Sacrifice

• • Fulfill the tasks of a leader:

  • Seek direction and set goals.

  • Plan and delegate.

  • Prepare and use an agenda.

  • Conduct effective meetings.

  • Participate in and conduct effective councils.

  • Keep confidences.

Resources available to help parents and leaders teach young men and young women leadership principles are “Gospel Teaching and Leadership,” section 16 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders (35209), and the Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders’ Guidebook (31178).