The Bishop’s Foremost Responsibility: Helping the Rising Generation to Come unto Christ

General Conference Leadership Meeting—April 2023

The Bishop’s Foremost Responsibility: Helping the Rising Generation to Come unto Christ

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and President Bonnie H. Cordon

The Lord has provided valuable tools that can lift the load of a bishop and make him more effective in helping children, youth, and young adults come unto Christ.

1. In the ward council, efforts to strengthen the rising generation come together.

Make the rising generation a frequent topic in ward council meetings.
Involve every organization in the ward.

2.Parents are responsible to teach their children faith in Jesus Christ.

Utilize the ward council to strengthen youth by strengthening their parents.
Support parents with faithful teachers, mentors, ministering brothers and sisters, and peers.

3. With opportunities to serve, young people can be a great support in building faith.

Use ward youth council meetings to instruct and counsel with class and quorum presidencies. Encourage them to discuss how to help their peers prepare for the next ordinance, whether that’s baptism, a priesthood ordination, a patriarchal blessing, temple ordinances, or the sacrament.
Encourage ministering assignments for youth with companions who can mentor them.
Invite young single adults to make a meaningful difference in the lives of youth as FSY counselors.

4. For the Strength of Youth helps the rising generation find strength in Christ.

Use the For the Strength of Youth guide in Sunday meetings and classes, in youth activities, at youth conferences and camps, and during interviews and other conversations. Invite parents to read it with their children.

5. Missionary service lays the foundation for a lifetime of discipleship.

Reteach President Russell M. Nelson’s message “Preaching the Gospel of Peace” and President M. Russell Ballard’s message “Missionary Service Blessed My Life Forever” from the April 2022 general conference.
Start missionary preparation early—it begins in Primary and continues throughout the Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women years.
Talk to children and youth early and often about sharing the gospel. Help them see what love, share, and invite looks like in daily life.
Give young people multiple opportunities to apply the principles of love, share, and invite.

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