Reminder to bishops to use this Sunday, Dec 29, to introduce the new Children and Youth Initiative to families

27 December 2019

Bishops and Pioneer Branch President,

This Sunday—our final 5th Sunday of 2019—is ideal for introducing parents and children (everyone 8 years and older, if you choose)  to the Children and Youth Initiative again, but this time with more details as to how it will look in your ward, such as:

1. Distributing to children, youth AND parents a copy of the new guidebooks you received in the mail last week and reviewing how the guidebooks are to be used by the youth at home and at church;

2. Giving time to the children and youth to discuss (with their parents, if the choose) some ideas of the types of goals in the 4 areas they want to consider pursing;

3. What the weekly (or regular) children and youth activity meetings will look like in your ward and how they will be different than before (especially for boys and young men, who were involved in Scouting before);

4. How some quorums and classes may be grouped differently for Sunday meetings or weeknight activities;

4. How service is to take more of a center stage in the program;

5. How families can use the Church websites more effectively to help their children and youth increase in the 4 areas identified in Luke 2:52;

6. When the children and youth can expect their emblems of belonging (and maybe even take the time to obtain sizes for the rings) that you’ll need before placing your order;

7. Why the emphasis on quorum and class presidencies and how the presidents will now meet regularly in a Ward Youth Council;

8. Make parents aware of the youth protection training all adult leaders are to complete immediately (see New Initiative To Do’s the stake leaders prepared in early December);

9. Review the new YW and YM themes that youth will recite often;

10. Allow time for Q&A so everyone understands the plans and expectations.

I know this is late bringing this up if you weren’t already planning to use your 2nd hour this Sunday in this way (I know most of you are). And it is strictly your decision, but I strongly encourage you to consider using this Sunday to visit with parents, youth and children about the new initiative and to distribute the new guidebooks to children, youth and parents.

Thank you for your leadership of the new initiative as it launches in your ward / branch on Jan. 1.

President Lewis

P.S. If you are not planning to introduce the new initiative in your ward / branch this Sunday, will you please reply privately and explain your plan for introducing the new initiative to families in your ward / branch?