Especially For Youth

This was my second year as an EFY counselor in Tacoma, WA and it was AMAZING. EFY is a program through Brigham Young University and its whole purpose is to strengthen youth ages 14-18 in their commitment to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a very spiritual week but it's also really FUN! Here's what happens:

Companies: The youth are divided into companies the first day and you pretty much do everything together throughout the week. Usually a company is made up of 2 counselors, a group of boys, and a group of girls. Each of my 3 weeks though I was put into a trio with 2 other counselors and I LOVED it. These were my companies:

Marvelous Power

Fearless

 

 

Hidden Treasures

Games Night: On Wednesday night the companies create a banner and skit and then compete in several games. It's a really fun night and definitely unifies the youth.

Also that night is PIZZA NIGHT where we order pizza, eat tons of candy, and just hang out as girls. One week we all took 'shots' of sour patch kids and videoed our faces. Another week we wrote notes to the boys in our group telling them how awesome they were. 

The focus of EFY is to strengthen the youth and help them build habits that they can take home and apply to their day to day lives (i.e. gospel study, family night, prayer). Each day there are classes and devotionals in which the youth are instructed on various topics such as the worth of souls, recognizing the Holy Ghost, or living in harmony with God's will. I'm always amazed at home much the youth love this part of EFY. They are so good. They want to do better and be more like Christ.

Thursday is the BEST. Everyone dresses in their Sunday best and it's quite the spiritual day. We have a Young Women activity in which we divide up into counselor groups and focus on Joseph Smith's First Vision.

That evening we attend the musical program and fireside which center on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. During that program we also sing the EFY medley as an entire group and there is nothing more powerful than to hear teenagers sing "we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth." I especially loved the first week of EFY when I knew my brothers were in the group. They strive so diligently to follow the Lord. Singing the EFY medley with all the youth reminded me that there are so many great people in this world who want to do what's right. Sometimes it's hard to remember that.

My brothers, Tyler & Braden

One of the best parts of EFY was getting to know other counselors. All of them are stellar and work so hard to bless the youth. I LOVED my co-counselors and had SO much fun with them! Especially Andy and Nicole, I don't think we have one normal picture together...

I was just so impressed with the youth I met while at EFY. Their lives are really hard. They deal with all sorts of trials and temptations. But they are so faithful, so obedient, and so desirous to do what's right. I have so much hope in the future because of them.

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness" (D&C 58:27). This was the EFY theme scripture this year and all the group lessons were based on this theme. Because of these last few weeks, I want to do better and be more anxiously engaged. I want to live up to God's desires for His children. He wants us to be happy and do great things with our lives. He wants us to serve, to stand up for what's right, and trust Him.

I stand amazed at the youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so grateful for the time I've had as a counselor. I have so much LOVE for the kids I was with. God sure loves His youth.