Two Calls to Youth

To the Aaronic Priesthood

There are thousands of Aaronic Priesthood–age young men already on the records of this Church who constitute our pool of candidates for future missionary service. But the challenge is to have those deacons, teachers, and priests stay active enough and worthy enough to be ordained elders and serve as missionaries. …

But there is an answer to this challenge for you every bit as much as there is for that investigator to whom you will go. Whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can be forgiven. Every one of you young men can leave behind any transgression with which you may struggle. You can do that. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you can’t do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you can’t do it without repentance where it is needed. I am asking you young men to be active and be clean. If required, I am saying get active and get clean. …

My young friends, we need tens of thousands of more missionaries in the months and years ahead. They must come from an increased percentage of the Aaronic Priesthood who will be ordained, active, clean, and worthy to serve.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

An Invitation to the Rising Generation

It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies. Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation.

I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see D&C 124:28–36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.

… Any young person can do what I am suggesting, using the modules available at lds.org/familyhistoryyouth.

… I know the youth of the rising generation have a key role to play in this great endeavor.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder David A. Bednar talked to the youth about how we should do family history. I went to the website he gave for the tutorial and got to work with my mom. We stayed up late, looking for our lost ancestors and finding temple work to be done. We are still finding people and are on the hunt for more. It feels so good to help our ancestors get their work done and, for the first time, be able to go to the temple for family members soon. I know they are on the other side of the veil encouraging us and helping us find them.

Bailey Y., 13, Alaska, USA

Attending conference in the United Kingdom