Frequently Asked Questions

Service and activities should be balanced across the four areas of growth (spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual) suggested by Luke 2:52 and grow out of the needs and interests of individuals, families, quorums, classes, and Primary activity groups. They can introduce children and youth to new experiences, teach them life skills, and help them fulfill their priesthood duties and covenant responsibilities. Where it is helpful, an activity may occasionally support an individual, family, or group goal. When planning activities, consider questions like:

• How will this activity help us live the gospel of Jesus Christ?
• Are there opportunities for us to help care for the poor and needy?
• Who else could be invited to join us for this activity?
• What activities might help us unite our families for eternity?

No. Parents, supported by leaders when needed, could ask children and youth what they are working on and how they can help, but adults are not responsible for keeping track of progress. Children and youth may wish to keep some goals private. Children and youth can use their guidebook, the Gospel Living app, or another approach that works best for them to set goals and reflect on or record progress. Children may need help in recording and remembering goals. Parents generally provide such help.

Yes. The bishop interviews youth annually beginning in the year they turn 12. The bishop (beginning in the year youth turn 16) or one of his counselors (for younger youth) generally interviews youth six months later. (See General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 31.1.7.) In addition, the Young Women president may take a greater role in counseling with young women regarding matters that do not require a common judge and that do not involve abuse. During these conversations, adult leaders teach youth about becoming disciples of the Savior. They might encourage youth in their goals and offer any needed help.

The Gospel Living app has tools for setting goals, making plans, tracking progress, and recording thoughts and impressions. In addition, the app provides inspirational articles and activity and goal ideas and allows you to message and share ideas with family members, quorums, and classes. The app is not necessary for participation in Children and Youth, and it is not limited to those who are participating in Children and Youth. Learn more about the Gospel Living app.

Parents can help a child or youth identify how he or she wants to grow. They might start by talking about how to seek and receive revelation and praying together for guidance. The resources in the guidebooks and the Gospel Living app can help identify needs and interests. For more information, see Children and Youth: An Introductory Guide for Parents and Leaders.

When children and youth discover that a goal is uninteresting, too hard, or not a good fit, sometimes the right approach will be to keep trying. Other times it will be appropriate for the child or youth to adjust a goal or choose a replacement. Being actively engaged in following the Savior’s example of growth is more important than accomplishing specific goals.

Parents can help their son or daughter celebrate growth and reflect and record his or her thoughts by answering questions like these: How have I grown? How has my goal helped me grow closer to the Savior? Parents can encourage children and youth to decide how they will use what they are learning to help others.

Yes. Parents might help their children and youth choose goals according to the needs of their family.

No. Some goals are private. Adults can demonstrate their willingness to help while allowing the child or youth to keep some goals between himself or herself and the Lord.

As individuals and as families, adults and younger children can participate and use the resources for gospel learning, service and activities, and personal development at home. Adults and younger children generally will not participate in Church-sponsored activities related to Children and Youth and will not receive Children and Youth emblems.

Of course. Children and youth should invite their friends to participate in gospel learning, service and activities, and personal development. And leaders—including youth quorum and class presidencies—should work closely with parents of these children and youth to help them understand the effort and determine how they and their children would like to be involved.

Yes. Children and youth, working with their leaders, may choose goals according to the needs of their quorum or class.

Bishops may hold an annual meeting for youth and their parents near the beginning of each year. It can be held at the ward or stake level and can be held for young men and young women separately or together. It should be planned and led by the assistants to the bishop in the priests quorum and the presidency of the oldest Young Women class. Youth turning 12 during the year may receive their emblems during this meeting.

It is not necessary to hold an annual meeting for children. The bishop may visit the Primary class of children who will turn eight during the year.

As a help to parents, Children and Youth will be supported at church by the Primary presidency (for children) and by the bishopric and the Young Women presidency (for youth). These leaders will be assisted by quorum and class presidencies and by adults called as quorum or class advisers and specialists (for more information about the roles of advisers and specialists, see General Handbook, , 10.5; 11.3.5; 11.3.6; 30.7.3; and 30.7.5). Primary activity leaders may be called.

With the introduction of Children and Youth, and to align with adjustments announced at October 2019 general conference, the following callings will be discontinued on January 1, 2020. These leaders should be released on or before January 1 with gratitude for their service:

• From Primary: Primary activity day leaders, Primary activity day assistant leaders (these leaders could be called as Primary activity leaders).
• From Young Women: Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel advisers (these leaders could be called as advisers or specialists as needed to support the new Young Women classes); Personal Progress leaders.
• From Aaronic Priesthood quorums: Ward Young Men president, counselors, secretary, and assistant advisers (these leaders could be called as Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers or specialists).
• From Scouting (where applicable): BSA executive officer, chartered organization representative, Scouting committee chair, Scouting committee members, Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmasters, 11-year-old Scout leaders, Cub Scout committee chair, Cub Scout committee members, Cubmaster, assistant Cubmasters, den leaders, assistant den leaders (some of these leaders could be called as quorum advisers or specialists or as Primary activity leaders).

Memorizing the Articles of Faith is encouraged but not required.

Every child who will turn 8 to 11 during 2020 should receive the new Children and Youth ring in 2020. Each year thereafter, children receive their ring at the beginning of the year they turn 8 or as they enter the program.

The current green CTR ring will remain a part of Primary. When children begin the CTR 4 class, the Primary presidency or their Primary teacher will give them a green CTR ring.

Yes. The Primary presidency, under the direction of the bishopric, holds the Temple and Priesthood Preparation meeting for girls and boys in the Valiant 10 class before the January in which they move to Young Women classes and Aaronic Priesthood quorums. For more information, see General Handbook, 12.2.1.2.

Yes. Young women begin their Sunday Young Women meetings by reciting the new theme, previously announced in general conference and available at YoungWomen.Churchof JesusChrist.org.

No. Beginning on January 1, 2020, these elements of the Young Women program will be replaced by the Children and Youth effort. Both New Beginnings and Young Women in Excellence will be replaced by an annual Children and Youth meeting held for youth.

Yes. For more information, see the Young Women Camp Guide.

Under the direction of the bishop, Young Women presidencies seek inspiration as they organize classes according to the following principles:

• Classes are organized by age-group, and young women progress between classes in January of the year they turn the age of the next class. An age-group is all young women who will turn an age during a calendar year.
• Class sizes are determined to best give young women leadership opportunities. A president, two counselors, and a secretary should be called for each class. Ideally, classes also include young women to whom the presidency can minister.

For additional details, see General Handbook, chapter 11, and the notice dated October 5, 2019.

Yes. Young men begin their Sunday quorum meetings by reciting the new Aaronic Priesthood quorum theme, previously announced in general conference and available at AaronicPriesthoodQuorums.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Yes. For more information, see the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Camp Guide.

A form will be sent to units by the end of 2019.

Primary presidencies, Young Women presidencies, and Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers should gather for the ward or branch clerk quantities and sizes needed for children and youth turning 8–18 in 2020. Clerks should order at store.ChurchofJesusChrist.org/childrenandyouth or through their local distribution center. Costs for the Children and Youth crystal will be charged to units. For 2020, all other emblems will be paid for by the Church. In 2021 and beyond, units will order needed emblems and materials through the regular curriculum ordering process. They will be paid for with local unit funds.

The logo and other visual elements of Children and Youth will be available in 2020. They may be used for personal, noncommercial use. Individuals and families may use the logo and imagery within their homes to support the Children and Youth program. Stakes, wards, and branches may use the logo and imagery for Church activities and purposes. To request permission to use the logo and imagery in other settings, visit permissions.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Youth and leaders may use the Aaronic Priesthood quorum theme and the Young Women theme for personal or Church purposes. Commercial use of the themes is not permitted.

No. Stakes, wards, and branches should not establish requirements for children and youth to earn local awards.

The emblems of achievement are a culminating celebration of an individual’s development through Children and Youth. Ideally, youth receive these emblems when they graduate from secondary school, as they prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood or enter Relief Society, or before they move away from home, if that occurs earlier than age 18. Emblems of achievement are awarded privately by the bishop. In this setting he expresses his gratitude for how the young person has grown and matured in the gospel, how he or she has become more like the Savior. Parents may also be included.