After scouring the handbook and jumping from one reference to another, I decided to take my notes from trying to figure out how to manage the youth and simplify it into my own format… Here it is in case anyone else needs a reference point as well. I will primarily reference all sources from the handbook itself; this is a more straightforward format for me to understand.
Table of contents
Main Purposes
The bishop’s foremost responsibility is caring for the young men and women in his ward. He learns their names and understands their home circumstances. 10.3
The counselors support the bishop in this purpose.
The bishopric is to become mentors to the youth.
As bishopric members, our foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and women in our ward. We make it a priority to learn their names and understand their home circumstances so that we can offer support and guidance. The counselors play a vital role in supporting this purpose. Some tips to accomplishing this level of support:
- Regularly (I do it quarterly) text the parents and ask about their child, how they’re doing in school, how they’re doing with friends, any hobbies, when are the next sporting events, etc.
- Attend sporting events or activities their involved with outside of church! Sports, acting, singing, piano, chess, whatever, just go!
- Talk with them about life things more than you talk about church things. If they’re being open and talkative, maybe don’t even get into the church topics.
Helping Young Men Prepare to Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood
Bishopric should provide Aaronic Priesthood holders with experiences that will prepare them for a lifetime of service as elders. The best preparation to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood is to fulfill Aaronic Priesthood duties. 10.6
The bishopric should help the Young Men understand:
- The oath and covenant of the priesthood (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44).
- The Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme (MY FAVORITE!)
- The duties of an elder (Doctrine and Covenants 20:38–45; 42:44; 107:11–12).
- The purposes of priesthood ordinances and blessings and how to perform them (see chapter 18).
- How men and women work together to accomplish God’s work.
Working with the Young Women
Bishop is the direct liaison with the Young Women’s president. He can’t assign that responsibility to a counselor.
The bishop and his counselors regularly participate in Young Women meetings, services, and activities. 11.3.1
Working with the Primary
Typically one counselor is assigned to work as the liaison with the primary president.
The bishop and his counselors regularly attend Primary. They also learn the names and understand the home circumstances of each child in the ward. 12.3.1
Meetings
Sacrament Meeting
All of our young men arrive at sacrament meeting 15 minutes early.
The teachers and priests take care of preparing the sacrament.
The deacons clean the pews, clean papers from the hymnal holders, pick up garbage off the ground and straighten the folding chairs. We even bought a push sweeper vacuum that they run through the chapel before meetings begin so that the room is ready for worshipers. The deacons are also in charge of putting the hymn numbers up on the board.
Sunday Class Meetings
When a bishopric member attends a quorum meeting, he presides in the meeting.
Meetings happen on the 2nd and 4th Sundays as of the date of publishing this post.
Ward Youth Council
Strengthen the youth in the ward. Help them participate in the work of salvation and exaltation.29.2.6
The meeting happens monthly when possible.
The meeting could include the following:
- The work of salvation and exaltation.
- Needs of youth in the ward and ways to address them.
- Efforts to reach out to youth who are less active or new members.
- Activities, including opportunities to serve those in need. Most of the planning is done in quorum or class presidency meetings (see chapter 20).
- Ministering (see chapter 21).
- Orienting newly called quorum and class presidencies.
Kenny thought: We LOVE Ward Youth Council! It’s our favorite meeting! We focus the youth leaders on the members of their quorums/classes that need support. We make assignments on how to help their friends succeed. Then we follow up on assignments after the fact. The youth are AWESOME when they’re given the keys.
Quorum/Class Presidency Meetings
Should meet “regularly.”
At least two adults should attend.
The Quorum/Class President should conduct.
Awesome sample agenda found here.
Further info: Young Women 11.3.4.3, Young Men 10.4.3
Bishop Youth Discussion
From what I can tell, this is not referenced in the handbook but is a popular optional meeting. It’s like a fireside, typically held on Sunday, where the youth and bishopric spend time with the youth in a less formal setting than a church, like someone’s house, but still discussing church-related topics.
Adult Presidency Meeting (YM or YW)
From what I can tell, a separate meeting should not be held for just the adults to plan youth activities. Those should only be done with the class presidencies in attendance.
Callings
Youth Quorum/Class Leaders (youth)
These kids are the ones in charge. Bishopric and YW Adult Presidency support the youth do whatever they want/need (within reason).
Young Women’s Presidency (adults)
The bishopric supports the Young Women adult leaders by attending meetings and providing information they might not otherwise have access to (ie, budget).
Adult Advisers
Young Men
Young Men advisers are optional; only one can be assigned per quorum. Advisers are called to support (not replace!) the bishopric for the above purposes. They give special emphasis to mentoring young men, teaching them how to lead by inspiration, and helping them become more like Jesus Christ. 10.5
Kenny thought: We currently have one adult advisor and two adult specialists in each quorum, which means including the bishopric there are four adults per quorum. When we do combined activities (which we do a lot because we’re a small group) the adults often outnumber the youth. It’s actually an awesome thing. The young men get to see these grown adults having fun and being good examples. We really like it. And it allows for two-deep leadership much easier, even when someone can’t come.
Young Women
Young Women advisers are optional, and only one can be assigned per age group of Young Women.
The list of responsibilities of an adviser is very clear in the handbook 11.3.5:
- Help the Young Women’s presidency with their responsibilities.
- Support and guide class presidencies as they learn and carry out their responsibilities.
- Teach Sunday lessons as needed. Help young women who have been invited to teach a lesson to prepare and teach effectively.
- Attend class activities.
- Attend ward Young Women presidency meetings when invited.
Adult Specialists
This is an optional calling. The handbook does not give much direction on specialists, but they might sometimes be assigned to a specific event like a camp, youth conference, or sports.
There is no limit on the number of adult specialists you can call to a group.
Activities
The bishopric and youth quorum leaders, supported by advisers, plan service and activities.
These should help accomplish the work of salvation and exaltation.
Service and activities should build testimonies, strengthen families, foster quorum unity, and provide opportunities to bless others.
All activities should ALWAYS have at least two responsible adults of the same gender as the youth at every activity. Or they can be called for a specific assignment. The example given for the young men is “recording attendance.”
Perhaps the biggest reason for having additional adult leaders is so the bishopric can sometimes attend young women’s or primary activities since two adults must always be present.
Weekly
Weekly activities should be planned by the class presidency, with the leader’s support. 11.2.1.3 NOT PLANNED BY THE ADULTS.
The goal is to give the youth opportunities to stretch out of their comfort zones and gain new experiences with budgeting, planning, scheduling, etc.
Youth should lead activities, adults only support.
You may want to assign an adult specialist as the one responsible for ensuring weekly activities are adequately prepared by the youth each week.
Kenny thought: We have loved this, it has really given our kids a boost of confidence we didn’t know they had.
Overnight
Both Young Men and Young Women are allowed to hold overnight camps throughout the year.
Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Camp Guide
Yearly
Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Camp
Should take place once a year and promote unity and further understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Budgets should be planned to minimize the financial impact on the family, and no one should ever be turned away if they cannot pay.
Young Women Camp
It should take place once a year and promote unity and further understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Budgets should be planned to minimize the financial impact on the family, and no one should ever be turned away if they cannot pay.
For the Strength of Youth
At least one activity emphasizing the standards in For the Strength of Youth. This event could include both young men and young women. Parents may also be invited.
Budgeting
Budgets for Youth should be based on the number of youth in the ward. Think of it as a per-person budget, not an exact split down the middle.
Here is a Google sheet to help manage the budget: Google Sheet
The Secret to Working with the Youth
We have found one secret to having success with the youth… Love each of them, and make sure they know it!
Getting the youth involved was a little hard when we first started. They were cold and distant to us “old people,” and getting them to talk and communicate with us was a little tricky.
After a few months of diligently working to gain their trust and love, things started changing. We worked hard to get to know their names first and foremost, then we talked to them about things they liked to do, participated in the activities, and found ways to laugh together. They now know that we’re friends.
In Ward Youth Council, they all love talking. They share their thoughts regularly because they know that we value their input. We act on things they say and empower them to make decisions that focus on helping people meet basic physical and spiritual needs.
To Bishopric Counselors
In the story of Moses and the battle against the Amalekites, we learn that the Israelites were winning the battle as long as Moses held his hands up. However, Moses’ arms grew tired, and he could not hold them up alone. So Aaron and Hur stood on either side of Moses, holding up his arms and helping him to continue to lead the people to victory.
Similarly, bishopric counselors serve as invaluable support to the bishop in caring for and leading the ward. Like Aaron and Hur, they help hold up the bishop’s arms, providing strength and guidance, so we can all win the battle of life.
Bishopric members can do almost everything the Bishop can do and should feel confident in pushing the work forward. Don’t sit back and wait on your bishop to always tell you what to do. You know the overall mission of your ward, and you know where there’s a need. Get it done. Just do it.