Update announcement about stake youth summer camps in 2020

1 May 2020

Dear Bishops and Branch Presidents,

As you know, the Church has announced that all camps, youth conferences and overnight outings or events are now canceled for the summer.

We had hoped that government officials would allow by summer gatherings in sufficient numbers for wards and branches to hold their own youth summer camps and outings with the help and guidance of the Stake YMYW presidencies. That option is no longer available regardless of what civil authorities decide.

So you can end immediately any planning for youth gatherings or outings you were hoping to have this summer.

Fortunately, we are able to still provide “technology-based experiences” for the youth of our stake, according to the announcement from the Church.

Therefore we ask that we now take the following direction:

• HELP YOUTH HEAR HIM: We ask the Stake APYW Committee (Stake YMYW presidencies) to prayerfully counsel together with your ward and branch youth leaders immediately and draft a recommendation for the stake presidency, bishoprics and branch presidencies on how to help the youth of our stake this summer learn to “Hear Him";

• CREATE A NEW APPROACH: Stake and ward leaders should not try to create a virtual duplication of a Stake YW or AP Camp thus placing a burden on adult leaders, but to “think outside the box” to come up with a fun, unifying, testimony-strengthening experience for all youth in our stake this summer;

• NO TIME CONSTRAINT: This summer activity does not have to span a certain amount of time or be confined to a certain week, but may include virtual activities with different groups at different times throughout the summer;

• ALL LEVELS INVOLVED: The plan does not have to be conducted by stake leaders or be for all the youth together at one time, but may include a series of virtual activities planned and organized by ward, quorum or class youth leaders, with ideas, guidance and suggestions from the Stake APYW Committee;

• RESOURCES: In their planning, leaders are asked to draw from the April 2020 General Conference talks and the May 2020 edition of the New Era magazine.

Bishops, please join with us in praying for the wonderful youth leaders in our stake that they will be inspired in their deliberations. Our hope is that they will be able to craft a recommendation no later than the middle of May (to be presented to the stake presidency on May 9 or at the latest May 16).

We appreciate your flexibility and patience as we strive to strive to “strengthen the rising generation” during these trying times.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency