For local leaders planning an activity for youth on or around New Year’s Eve, a special DVD resource is being prepared by Church headquarters. This DVD, titled A Brand New Year: A Celebration for Latter-day Saint Youth, will contain highlights from a youth celebration held at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

To learn more about the DVD and its possible use in your activity, please see the links below:

• Planning Your Activity
• Using the DVD
• Activity Suggestions
• Support Materials

The DVD will feature three segments:

• A message to youth from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve (16 minutes in length)
• A celebration of youth activities around the world in 2008 (36 minutes in length)
• An introduction of the 2009 Mutual theme by the Young Men and Young Women general presidencies (40 minutes in length)

In this celebration, youth will be strengthened by inspiring stories of faithful LDS youth around the world and through fun, uplifting music, including an original song introducing the 2009 Mutual theme. Youth will also be invited to make their own commitments to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12) in the coming year. If desired, leaders may use any or all of these DVD segments in their local activities.

In early December, this DVD will be mailed to all stakes, wards, and branches in the United States and Canada. This item is not available in distribution.

Watch a brief video introduction of the DVD. (running time 1:54)

Leaders may also wish to refer their youth to a specialvent Web site that will be launched on January 1, 2009.  This Web site, www.abrandnewyear.lds.org, will feature music, video clips, testimonies, behind-the-scenes footage, and other materials to strengthen youth and remind them of their commitments for 2009.