For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices

Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Doctrine and Covenants Lessons
- The Restoration Proclamation
- Doctrine and Covenants 1
- Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65
- Doctrine and Covenants 3–5
- Doctrine and Covenants 6–9
- Doctrine and Covenants 10–11
- Doctrine and Covenants 12–17; Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 18
- Doctrine and Covenants 19
- Doctrine and Covenants 20–22
- Doctrine and Covenants 23–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 27–28
- Doctrine and Covenants 29
- Doctrine and Covenants 30–36
- Doctrine and Covenants 37–40
- Doctrine and Covenants 41–44
- Doctrine and Covenants 45
- Doctrine and Covenants 46–48
- Doctrine and Covenants 49–50
- Doctrine and Covenants 51–57
- Doctrine and Covenants 58–59
- Doctrine and Covenants 60–63
- Doctrine and Covenants 64–66
- Doctrine and Covenants 67–70
- Doctrine and Covenants 71–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 76
- Doctrine and Covenants 77–80
- Doctrine and Covenants 81–83
- Doctrine and Covenants 84
- Doctrine and Covenants 85–87
- Doctrine and Covenants 88
- Doctrine and Covenants 89–92
- Doctrine and Covenants 93
- Doctrine and Covenants 94–97
- Doctrine and Covenants 98–101
- Doctrine and Covenants 102–105
- Doctrine and Covenants 106–108
- Doctrine and Covenants 109–110
- Doctrine and Covenants 111–114
- Doctrine and Covenants 115–120
- Doctrine and Covenants 121–123
- Doctrine and Covenants 124
- Doctrine and Covenants 125–128
- Doctrine and Covenants 129–132
- Doctrine and Covenants 133–134
- Doctrine and Covenants 135–136
- Doctrine and Covenants 137–138
- The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World
- The Living Christ
Life Preparation Lessons
- Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Scripture Study Skills
- For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
- Building Self-Reliance
- Physical and Emotional Health
- Preparing for Future Education and Employment
- Succeeding in School
- Missionary Preparation
- Temple Preparation
- Teachings of Church Leaders
Appendix

For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices—Overview

“For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices—Overview,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices

Overview

Jesus Christ is the strength of youth. We can look to Him when making choices. Recognizing our divine identity and purpose as children of God and setting goals can help us become more like Him. Taking charge of our technology use can help us walk in God’s light. Our patriarchal blessings can help us realize our divine potential. Sustaining those the Lord calls to lead in His Church can help us follow Him.

Pacing suggestion: These lessons could be taught at any point in the school year or during any week in the Come, Follow Me pacing.

Prepare to teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare in advance for each lesson.

For the Strength of Youth Guide

Lesson purpose: To help students look to Jesus Christ when making decisions by using For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.

Student preparation: Invite students to think of a decision they are facing. Encourage them to search in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices for information to help them make good choices and better follow Jesus Christ.
Materials for students: Copies of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices
Image to display: Jesus Christ

Setting Goals

Lesson purpose: To help students effectively set goals and create plans as they seek to become more like God.

Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on their efforts to improve spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually (see Luke 2:52). If they have created goals, they could reflect on their progress or challenges they have faced. They could also review the Personal Development: Youth Guidebook (2019) and be invited to bring their copy to class.
Items to display: A map; a copy of the Personal Development: Youth Guidebook
Handout: “A Pattern for Growth”
Video: “Video: Goal Setting Process” (3:42)

Our Divine Identity and Purpose

Lesson purpose: To help students feel that as children of God, they have a divine nature and purpose.

Student preparation: You could invite students to write down one or more questions teenagers have about their divine identity and purpose.
Video: “Our True Identity” (3:39)
Handout: “My Divine Identity and Purpose”

Taking Charge of Technology

Lesson purpose: To help students apply safeguards to take charge of their technology use.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about their use of technology. Students could list ways their use of technology has helped them come to know the Savior better and ways it may have distanced them from Him.
Handout: “Taking Charge of Technology”

Patriarchal Blessings

Lesson purpose: To help students feel of the Lord’s desire to guide them through their patriarchal blessing.

Student preparation: Invite students to do one of the following: (1) read their patriarchal blessing looking for the guidance and direction Heavenly Father gives them, or (2) talk to a trusted adult or loved one about how their patriarchal blessing has enabled them to receive guidance and direction from Heavenly Father.
Image to display: A youth at a fork in a road
Videos: “Enemy Territory” (3:38; watch from time code 0:00 to 2:25); “Without Fear” (3:30)
Handout: “Answering Questions about Patriarchal Blessings”

Sustaining Our Leaders

Pacing suggestion: You might consider teaching this lesson around the same time you teach lesson 106 “Doctrine and Covenants 90,” when students learn about the First Presidency, or lesson 119 “Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–20,” when students learn about authorities and offices in the restored Church.

Lesson purpose: To help students understand the importance of sustaining those the Lord calls to lead.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to contact their class or quorum leader and ask if there is anything they could do to help them. If a student is the president of their class or quorum, they could reach out to a member of the bishopric or Young Women presidency. Alternatively, you could invite students to ask a parent or Church leader what they have learned about sustaining leaders.
Videos: “Hyrum Smith: ‘Firm as the Pillars of Heaven’” (17:03; watch from time code 4:49 to 5:54); “The Power of Sustaining Faith” (12:57; watch from time code 3:48 to 4:19)
Handout: “Teachings about Sustaining Those Called to Lead (Part 1 and Part 2)”