01/09/2025
‼️I think this needs to be said clearly because many of us have misunderstood this statement from Elder Gong.
When he said “Real service and purposeful activities are at the heart of Children and Youth,” he was not referring to the hearts of the kids or teens.
He was describing what lies at the core of the program itself.
The Children and Youth program has three areas of focus:
👉Gospel Learning
👉Service and Activities
👉and Personal Development.
Too often we highlight the first and third—studying the gospel and setting goals—while leaving the second, service and activities, almost as an afterthought.
But the truth is, gospel learning and goal setting are incomplete if they are not lived out through action.
That is why Elder Gong was clear that Service and Activities are “the heart.”
Sadly, in many wards/branches, activities are treated as optional, secondary, or something we’ll only do if there’s extra time.
Some wards rarely hold activities, or when they do, they become more like socials with little purpose.
And sometimes, even when an activity has a good purpose, we overcomplicate it so much that the real intent gets buried (That’s a separate issue 🤣).
This is where the Children and Youth program actually breathes.
It is in activities where testimonies move from words to experience, where service becomes natural, and where children and youth learn discipleship by doing, not just talking and hearing.
Think about it 🤔:
– A gospel lesson about charity becomes real when youth serve meals at a shelter or visit someone lonely in the ward.
– A goal to learn a skill means more when they actually try it in an activity, like cooking together or fixing bikes.
– A lesson on service comes alive when they clean the chapel grounds or help a family move in.
–A lesson on self-reliance makes sense when they plant a small garden or learn a hands-on skill together.
–A lesson on earthly stewardship becomes lived experience when the youth plant trees, care for the environment, or help clean up their community together.
These are purposeful activities, and they matter.
They give context to the doctrine, practice to the principles, and joy to the discipleship.
Without them, the program easily becomes words on paper and good intentions that never take root.
So when Elder Gong said “at the heart,” it was a reminder to all of us: service and activities are not optional extras.
They are central, because they bring everything else in the program to life.
We hope this helps bring a little more clarity for all of us. 🙏
And may it also encourage us as youth and adult leaders and parents to hold activities more often—at least once a month—so our children and youth can truly experience the heart of the program.
