Morality for Youth a Successful Tool

Stakes, wards, and families of the Church are beginning to see positive results as they share the new Church film Morality for Youth with one another.

Dean E. Christensen, president of the Centerville Utah Stake, was among the first to report his stake’s implementation of the film. The stake presidency first viewed the film at a regional training meeting; it was then shown to members of the stake high council. Six copies of the video cassette and twenty-five copies of the film-strip were then obtained for use throughout the stake. Homes in each of the wards were surveyed for availability of equipment to show the film.

A member of the stake presidency then met with each of the ward bishoprics, and plans were made for the film to be seen by the bishopric and parents of youth and young adults.

Introduced by a member of the stake presidency, the film was shown in each ward to parents of youth and young adults along with the bishopric in special sessions of priesthood meeting and Relief Society, the gospel doctrine class, or at a special parents’ fireside. Following the film, the bishop presented to the parents ideas on how they might wish to use the film in the home with their youth and young adult children. Video tapes and cassettes were then distributed to each interested family in the ward on an organized schedule, to be shown later that day (Sunday) or during Monday family home evenings. The equipment was rotated every hour from one family to the next.

It took three weeks to move through all wards of the stake, with 76 percent of the families participating. Additional families continue to show the film in their homes. Each bishop has been instructed to hold a follow-up youth fireside with his ward youth and young adults.

“We taught our youth that moral purity is an exceptionally important principle,” said President Christensen, “and that the Church, stake, and ward leaders wanted them to learn about it first in the home and from their parents. Secondly, we wanted them to know from their priesthood leader (the bishop) the importance of this gospel principle. We wanted them to be able to discuss this principle with their parents and bishop and come to them when they have challenges. Third, we wanted them to know that this is an important principle which the First Presidency of the Church wants all of the youth to understand and practice obediently in their lives. Finally, we wanted them to study this principle individually in their own quiet moments,” he said.

“We have received much feedback from parents and bishops regarding the success of this implementation process. It has opened up discussion between parents and youth on the vital principle of moral purity, in many cases for the first time. In addition, it has enabled bishops to have a quiet, careful discussion with the youth of their wards to strengthen them on this vital subject. We have had no cases where youth have been resistive or offended by the approach. To the contrary, we have had a warm expression of gratitude by parents for the opportunity it has provided for them to discuss principles of morality with their children, and for the approach and helpful information, particularly in the User’s Guide, which naturally moved them into an appropriate discussion with their children following the viewing of the film,” said President Christensen.