Leading Youth with Confidence

Karen Papin

From unsure to unshakeable in teaching For the Strength of Youth karenpapin.substack.com

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    For the Strength of Youth Lesson: Proverbs 31 & the Stripling Warriors (October Week 4 FSY Lesson)

    What does it mean to be a covenant daughter or son of God? In this week’s For the Strength of Youth lesson (October, Week 4), we explore how humility and virtue empower our youth to live with respect and reverence for themselves, others, and God. We start with the Young Women FSY lesson, walking verse by verse through the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Instead of reading it as a measuring stick that leaves us feeling like we fall short, we look at it as the goal and direction we get to grow toward, in partnership with the Lord. You’ll learn why humility isn’t about putting ourselves down, how virtue means more than chastity (it also means integrity, moral excellence, power, and strength), and how “strength and honor are her clothing.” Then we dive into the Young Men FSY lesson on Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors. These young men were “true at all times,” fought with the strength of God, and had been taught by their mothers not to doubt. We discuss what made them good priesthood servants, how their example applies to priesthood responsibilities today, and the powerful reminder that their parents had never been a disadvantage to the Nephites. Whether you serve in Young Women, Young Men, or simply love the youth in your life, this For the Strength of Youth lesson walkthrough will help you prepare to teach and lead these discussions with confidence. Both FSY lessons wrap up October’s theme of keeping our bodies sacred. In this episode: * Why Proverbs 31 is a goal, not a measuring stick * How humility makes us stronger, not weaker * The fuller meaning of virtue: integrity, power, and strength * Discussion questions for both the Young Women and Young Men FSY lessons * How the stripling warriors connect to keeping our bodies sacred Resources & References: * For the Strength of Youth magazine, October 2026: “Becoming a Covenant Daughter of God” and “Becoming a Covenant Son of God” lessons * For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (FSY guide) * Guide to the Scriptures: “Virtue” * Proverbs 31:10–31: the virtuous woman * Doctrine and Covenants 25:2, 14: the Lord’s counsel to Emma Smith * Alma 53:14–22: the stripling warriors’ covenant * Alma 56:44–57: the stripling warriors’ battle and miraculous preservation * Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25), referenced * Previous episodes on the law of chastity and Emma Smith 📥 Get your free lesson plans: Head to my Substack to download free printable lesson plans for this week’s For the Strength of Youth lesson, one for Young Women and one for Young Men, so you can walk into class prepared and confident. ✍️ Go deeper with the journaling page: Paid subscribers on Substack receive a journaling page for each FSY lesson. It gives you space to ponder, apply the lesson to your own life, and prepare spiritually so you can teach from personal testimony. This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access. Next week: November’s theme, “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Transcript: Becoming a Covenant Daughter or Son of God | For the Strength of Youth A Goal, Not a Measuring Stick Sometimes when we read a scripture like Proverbs 31, we start to look at the ways we’re not measuring up, and we shame ourselves for the gap. Let’s shift that perspective. Instead of shaming ourselves, let’s recognize that this scripture is the goal. It isn’t the measuring stick; it’s the goal and direction we’re working toward. Welcome to the Leading Youth with Confidence podcast, where we learn from the For the Strength of Youth to confidently lead the youth we love. I’m your host, Karen Papin, and together we’re diving into the Week 4 lesson of October, which focuses on becoming a covenant daughter or son of God. Once again, the young women have one lesson and the young men have another. I’ll share the young women’s lesson first, and then we’ll dive into the young men’s lesson. I think they go hand in hand, and there are things we can learn from each other. I love this focus every fourth Sunday. We’re reminded of who we truly are, and then we learn from someone in the scriptures who embodies the virtue we’re seeking to develop in ourselves. The Young Women Theme: Humility and Virtue The phrase the young women are focusing on is: “I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny. Humility and virtue will empower me to live with respect and reverence for myself, others, and God.” Share that quote and discuss it. What does it mean for you? How does living with humility and virtue empower you? These are two words we don’t usually connect with feeling empowered. Why Humility Is a Strength We might think of humility as a weakness, but humility actually makes us stronger. First, it turns us to the Lord. Second, it brings in the vulnerability that helps us connect, not just with the Lord but with others too. It’s also a strength because being humble isn’t the natural thing for us to do. And this is important, especially since we’ve been talking about how our bodies are sacred this month: humility is not about putting ourselves down. It’s about recognizing, “I have some growth to do here, and I can turn to the Lord to grow.” Humility helps us overcome because we’re turning to the Lord. If we’re prideful and unwilling to accept that we need the Lord’s help, or others’ help, we have a much harder time growing. In many cases we won’t overcome, because we aren’t reaching out to those who can help us. There’s great strength and power that comes from humility. Emma Smith and the Paths of Virtue In Doctrine and Covenants 25, the Lord speaks to Emma Smith. We talked about her last month in becoming a covenant daughter of God. The Lord says to her: “A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.” (v. 2) “Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride.” (v. 14) The Lord reminds us that as we walk in virtue and are meek and humble, He’ll preserve us and help us overcome. What Is Virtue? The For the Strength of Youth magazine points out that sometimes we think virtue means chastity, but it’s actually more than that. It asks: what other words for virtue do you find in the Guide to the Scriptures? So let’s go to the Guide to the Scriptures under “Virtue.” It says, “See also Chastity.” That’s the part we already think of. But virtue also means integrity and moral excellence, power and strength, as well as sexual purity. What does integrity mean? It’s about being honest and staying true to strong morals. It’s not being swayed by the things of the world, but focusing on the things the Lord has told you are important in your life. Reading Proverbs 31 with Humility Today we’re learning about the woman of virtue in Proverbs 31:10–31. Sometimes we read these verses and think, “I wish I were more like that,” and we start putting ourselves down. Remember what I said about humility. It’s not about putting ourselves down. It’s recognizing, “Yes, I have some growth here,” without shaming yourself for it. So our goal today is to understand that Proverbs 31 gives us the direction we want to go. We can look at it with humility: “This is something I can work on.” Instead of shaming ourselves, we can get excited: “I get to partner with the Lord in bringing this trait more into my life.” It’s not about looking down on yourself. The Lord loves you as you are. It’s about taking that love and moving forward in it. That’s when we truly overcome, truly grow, and truly apply, because we’re doing it with the Lord and His love with us. We usually move forward not because we’re beating ourselves up, but because we feel that love and want to become the person the Lord already sees in us. The traits we’re about to read are already within us, because we are covenant daughters of God. We have that spiritual DNA, that capacity and potential. As we turn to the Lord, He helps us develop them. Lesson Activity: Choose Your Favorite Description A great thing to do with your young women is to read Proverbs 31:10–31 and have them choose their favorite description of a virtuous woman. You can read it all together and have them write down the traits that stand out, or let them read on their own and highlight. Then talk about which one is their favorite and why. Proverbs 31, Verse by Verse Verse 10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” When we live a chaste life, live with integrity, stay true to what we know is right, and have the power and strength the Lord gives us, we are worth far more than the things of this world. Verse 11: “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” I love that this shows trust. In a relationship, especially a marriage, trust is so important because you’re building your life and your eternal family together. Verse 12: “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Verse 13: “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.” She isn’t idle. She’s looking for ways to work, help out, and grow temporally. Verse 14: “She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.” Again, she isn’t idle. She seeks out resources, uses them, and blesses her family. Verse 15: “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” She serves others. She sees the need and fills it. Verse 16: “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” I love this. She recognizes, “This is something I can do,” and invests her time and resources so she can be fruitful and multiply what she has. She’s a go

    For the Strength of Youth Lesson: Proverbs 31 & the Stripling Warriors (October Week 4 FSY Lesson)

  2. Oct 13

    The Law of Chastity: A Sacred Gift | For the Strength of Youth Lesson Help

    The Law of Chastity doesn’t have to feel like a taboo topic. In this episode of Leading Youth with Confidence, we walk through this week’s For the Strength of Youth lesson on the Law of Chastity so you can lead your youth discussion with more confidence, purpose, and testimony. God gives us commandments because He loves us, and the Law of Chastity is about trust, loyalty, creation, and covenant family. Using the For the Strength of Youth magazine, we explore what it means to be chaste in our thoughts and our actions, and why sexual feelings are a sacred gift from God. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why the Law of Chastity is rooted in God’s love, not just rules * How to be chaste in your thoughts by seeking what is “virtuous and lovely” * How media choices (videos, music, and books) affect our thoughts and relationships * The For the Strength of Youth guidelines for taking charge of technology: Purpose, Plan, and Pause * What Joseph in Egypt teaches us about fleeing temptation * The hope of forgiveness after breaking the Law of Chastity through Alma’s counsel to Corianton * How virtue brings power, confidence, and greater self-respect Whether your class chooses the Word of Wisdom or the Law of Chastity this week, this episode gives you a clear path for a Spirit-led discussion based on For the Strength of Youth. Resources mentioned: * For the Strength of Youth magazine, “Learn More About the Law of Chastity” * For the Strength of Youth guide: “Keep Sex and Sexual Feelings Sacred” * 13th Article of Faith * Mosiah 4:30 * Doctrine and Covenants 112:6 * Alma 34:32 * Doctrine and Covenants 101:16 * Genesis 39:7–12 (Joseph and Potiphar’s wife) * Alma 39 and Alma 42:29–31 (Alma’s counsel to Corianton) * Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 * John 14:15 (“If ye love me, keep my commandments”) * Companion episode: Word of Wisdom lesson Coming next week: Proverbs 31 and becoming a covenant child of God. 📥 Get your free Law of Chastity lesson outline! Head to Substack to download a printable For the Strength of Youth lesson outline you can adapt for your class. ✍️ Want to go deeper? Become a paid subscriber. Paid subscribers on Substack receive a Law of Chastity journaling page to go with this week’s For the Strength of Youth lesson. It gives you space to ponder, record impressions, and prepare spiritually before you teach. This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access. Transcript: The Law of Chastity | For the Strength of Youth Commandments Come from God’s Love Sometimes we think of the commandments as rules we have to follow because the Lord told us to. But the commandments are in place because God loves us. He knows what will bring us more joy and happiness in the long run. That’s also true of the law of chastity. Welcome to the Leading Youth with Confidence podcast. I’m your host, Karen Papin, and together we’re diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can take part in youth discussions with more confidence, purpose, and testimony. In this episode, we’re talking about the law of chastity. This Sunday is a little different because you can choose to focus on either the Word of Wisdom or the law of chastity. I’ve already made a video on the Word of Wisdom, so check that out if that’s what you or the Lord want to focus on in your lessons this week. This video is on the law of chastity, so let’s dive in. A Sacred Topic, Not a Taboo One I feel this topic is important because we often treat it as taboo, when really it’s an important part of our lives and something very sacred and special. I want to read from this month’s For the Strength of Youth magazine. Under this lesson, “Learn More About the Law of Chastity,” it says: “God approves of sexual relations only between a man and a woman who are married. This is the law of chastity. The law of chastity is about trust, loyalty, creation, and covenant family. Being chaste includes avoiding pornography and treating sex and sexual feelings like a sacred gift from God. It means being sexually pure in thoughts, words, actions, and media choices.” Trust, Loyalty, Creation, and Covenant Family What really stands out to me in that quote is that the law of chastity is about trust, loyalty, creation, and covenant family. Let’s talk about that for a minute. Trust. Trust goes several ways here. The law of chastity is about the trust God has given us in having these bodies and using them in ways that respect them. It’s also about trust in marriage, the connection between a man and a woman who are married and committed to each other, showing that we trust one another and can be trusted. Loyalty. Are we being loyal to our bodies? Are we being loyal to our spouses? Are we being loyal to our Heavenly Father in the stewardship He has given us? Creation. The law of chastity is connected to creation, the fact that we can actually create another human being. That is a sacred and beautiful responsibility. Covenant family. All of these build on and connect with each other. Covenant means we are trusting and trustworthy, loyal, and connected, working together to create a home built on safety, trust, and loyalty. Sexual Feelings Are a Sacred Gift from God The other thing I love about that quote is that it calls sex and sexual feelings a sacred gift from God. He has given us the ability to create another human being, and that is a gift. As we live the law of chastity, we create a home based on trust and loyalty, working together and relying on each other so we can have strength and support as we face the experiences of mortality. The magazine has some great questions and learning activities in this lesson, so let’s dive into those. Question 1: How Can You Be Chaste in Your Thoughts? “The 13th article of faith says that we seek things that are virtuous and lovely. How do you know if something is virtuous and lovely?” I love that this gets us thinking about what is virtuous, what is lovely, and what it means to be chaste in our thoughts. In Mosiah 4:30, we’re told to watch our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Our thoughts affect how we feel, and how we feel affects what we end up doing. If we go back to our thoughts and focus on what is virtuous and lovely, it changes how we feel and what we do. There’s power in the thoughts we give heed to. Sometimes a thought comes and you can push it out easily. Sometimes it gets stuck. So this is about training our brains to focus on what is virtuous and lovely. Stay Close to the Spirit I feel like I talk about this in every lesson, but it matters: stay close to the Spirit and learn to recognize when it warns you, “This doesn’t help me feel good.” Also notice when something lifts you up and helps you feel more joy and hope, because joy and hope are fruits of the Spirit. So one way we can be more chaste in our thoughts is to seek the Spirit more in our lives. Ask yourself, “Is this drawing me away from the Spirit?” If so, turn your focus to things that are virtuous and lovely, and then go and do what is right. Question 2: How Do Your Media Choices Affect Your Thoughts? I like that this says media choices, because media isn’t just videos. It’s also music and reading. If you’re reading a book and it starts to stray toward sexual content, that’s a signal that maybe it isn’t something you should be reading. Media covers what you watch, what you listen to, and what you read. How Media Affects Relationships There’s a connection between our thoughts, our feelings, and what we end up doing, and that often affects our relationships. Discuss with your youth: “How are these things distancing me from other people, and from those I care about?” Question 3: How Can You Protect Yourself and Others from Harmful Media? One way is simply to be aware that it’s out there. Like I said before, listen to the Spirit and pay attention to how you’re feeling. Feelings are usually triggered by a thought or by something you’ve seen, heard, or read. Check in with yourself. Taking Charge of Technology: Purpose, Plan, Pause I love that the lesson includes guidelines for taking charge of technology. It gives you a plan right in the lesson. Purpose. “I can use technology with a purpose. It doesn’t control me.” The scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 112:6: “Let thy habitation be known in Zion, and remove not thy house; for I, the Lord, have a great work for thee to do, in publishing my name among the children of men.” The Lord has a great work for you to do. Is this technology bringing others closer to the Lord, or am I just getting sucked in? Before you get on your phone or computer, get clear on your purpose. Plan. “When I plan ahead, I feel better and make better choices.” The scripture is Alma 34:32: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.” Right here in this earthly life, you’re preparing to meet your Heavenly Father again. When you plan ahead, you make better choices. Pause. “It’s okay for me to pause and take a break.” This goes along with checking in with yourself: “Is this something I should really be watching, hearing, or reading?” If not, take a break and decide what you’ll do from there. The scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 101:16: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” Many scriptures tell us to be still and know that He is God. It’s in that stillness that we connect with ourselves and with God, and when we do, we’re partnering with Him in our lives. Learning Activity: Three Ways to Protect Your Thoughts The lesson encourages youth to write down three ways they can protect their thoughts this week. That could be limiting screen time, choosing uplifting music, avoiding certain shows, or p

    The Law of Chastity: A Sacred Gift | For the Strength of Youth Lesson Help

  3. Oct 12

    Word of Wisdom Lesson for Youth: Spiritual Blessings and Promises | For the Strength of Youth October 2026

    Many youth see the Word of Wisdom as a simple list of what to avoid. But the Word of Wisdom is so much more. It affects us both physically and spiritually. In this week’s lesson, we explore the spiritual blessings of the Word of Wisdom using the October For the Strength of Youth magazine and Doctrine and Covenants 89. This week you can choose between the Word of Wisdom and the law of chastity. This episode covers the Word of Wisdom lesson, and the law of chastity lesson comes out tomorrow so you can decide which one your class needs most. In this Word of Wisdom lesson, we cover: * Why the Lord gave the Word of Wisdom, and the story behind the revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1833 * What “adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints” teaches us about turning to the Lord for strength * My 30-day no-sugar challenge, and what I learned about turning to the Lord instead of to food * The promises attached to the Word of Wisdom in D&C 89:18–21 * How to live the Word of Wisdom daily, plus a simple “Am I hungry or am I hurting?” check-in to try before you eat * How Daniel and his friends were blessed for obeying the Lord’s law of health Discussion questions from the For the Strength of Youth magazine: * What promises are attached to living the Word of Wisdom? * How can you live the Word of Wisdom daily? * How does the Lord bless those who obey the Word of Wisdom? Resources: * Doctrine and Covenants 89 (verses 3, 7–17, and 18–21) * Daniel 1:15–20 * For the Strength of Youth magazine, October 2026: “Learn More about the Word of Wisdom” * Preach My Gospel: Obey the Word of Wisdom * Gospel Topics: Word of Wisdom * Divine Worth Summit: Made Whole, on the mind-body-spirit connection [Divine Worth Summit] Get your free lesson outline:Want to teach this Word of Wisdom lesson with confidence? Head to Substack to download and print the full lesson outline. It includes the scriptures, the For the Strength of Youth discussion questions, and activity ideas, all ready for Sunday. 👉 [Karen’s Substack] Go deeper with the Word of Wisdom journaling page:Paid subscribers also get a Word of Wisdom journaling page. It is designed to help you better understand how the Word of Wisdom blesses you physically and spiritually. Taking time to ponder and write before Sunday will give you more confidence, whether you are teaching the lesson or taking part in the discussion. Become a paid subscriber on Substack to get this week’s journaling page along with every weekly page. 👉 [Karen’s Substack] This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access. Transcript Introduction: More Than a List of Do’s and Don’ts As a youth, I saw the Word of Wisdom as, “Okay, these are the things that I need to stay away from, and this is okay for me to eat.” I was thinking about it in a very literal way. I think a lot of times the youth tend to look at it as a list of do’s and don’ts. However, the Word of Wisdom is so much more, and it affects us both physically and spiritually. So this lesson is about being able to recognize and understand the spiritual blessings that come from the Word of Wisdom. Welcome to the Leading Youth with Confidence podcast. I’m your host, Karen Papin, and this week is a little bit different, because general conference was at the beginning of the month. Last week we dove into the overview of this month and how our bodies are sacred. This week we get to choose: are we going to dive more into the Word of Wisdom, or more into the law of chastity? Here’s how I’m going to handle that for this podcast. In this video I’m going to share the lesson on the Word of Wisdom. My next video, which I’ll post tomorrow, will be on the law of chastity. You can watch both of them and then decide which one you feel your class needs to hear. Our Bodies Are Sacred Gifts To begin, I want to share this quote from Preach My Gospel: “Our bodies are sacred gifts from God. We each need a physical body to become more like Him. Our bodies are so important that the scriptures compare them to temples. The Lord wants us to treat our bodies with respect.” It goes on to say that this is why He has revealed this law of health called the Word of Wisdom. In the For the Strength of Youth magazine, under “Learn More about the Word of Wisdom,” it says: “The Word of Wisdom is the Lord’s guide to help you take care of your body and mind. It teaches what things are good for you and what to avoid so you can feel your best and stay close to the Spirit.” The Physical and Spiritual Sides of the Word of Wisdom There are really two aspects to the Word of Wisdom. One is the physical, the temporal side. It helps you treat your body with more kindness and more respect, and by doing these things you will have more strength and more energy. Then there’s the spiritual component. As you learn what things are good and what things to avoid in relation to what you’re doing with your body, it helps you stay close to the Spirit. I think that happens in a few ways. First, our bodies and our spirits are closely connected. Together they create our soul, right? So what we do with one affects the other. Second, you’re also teaching yourself how to listen to the Spirit in the things you are doing with your body, whether that’s what you’re eating or not eating. There’s a wisdom that comes from learning how to embrace good things and avoid the things that pull you away from the Spirit or keep you from truly respecting your body. What Is the Word of Wisdom? The Word of Wisdom is a revelation that was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, on February 27, 1833. Like many of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, it began with a question Joseph Smith had. People were using tobacco in their meetings as they gathered together, and it was having an impact on a few people. The Prophet pondered this and then went to the Lord to ask Him, and section 89 is the Lord’s response. A Principle with Promise for the Weakest of All Saints The beautiful thing I love about section 89 is verse 3. It says it is “given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.” What I love about that is there are promises involved as we keep the Word of Wisdom. I also love the phrase “adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints.” When we recognize our weaknesses related to the Word of Wisdom, or really any weakness, we can turn to the Lord. He can give us strength beyond our own and increase our capacity to follow through on keeping the Word of Wisdom. My 30-Day No-Sugar Challenge Toward the beginning of the year, one of my daughters was diagnosed with prediabetes, so we changed a lot about how we were eating. One realization I had was that a lot of times I was turning to sugar more than I was turning to the Lord. So I did a 30-day no-sugar challenge. My first purpose was to show my daughter, “Hey, I’m here with you. I’m going to work on this with you.” My second purpose was to really turn more to the Lord in those efforts. What I realized was that if I yoked myself to the Lord in my challenge, He would help me have the strength, and I could grow closer to Him through the process. So if you are someone who is struggling with the Word of Wisdom and the things it asks of us, turn to the Lord, because He can help you overcome. Discussion Question 1: What Promises Are Attached to Living the Word of Wisdom? One of the discussion questions in the For the Strength of Youth magazine for this lesson is a great one: What promises are attached to living the Word of Wisdom? As I said, Doctrine and Covenants 89:3 tells us it’s a principle with promise. As a group, or split into smaller groups, read through section 89 and list some of those promises. The Promises in D&C 89:18–21 Verses 18 through 21 are really where a lot of those blessings come in. They say that “all saints who remember to keep and do these things, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones.” So we’re going to have better health if we follow the counsel in the Word of Wisdom. They “shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.” So not only will we receive better health, we’ll also grow in wisdom. One way I already mentioned is that it helps us better understand, “Okay, this is something that’s bringing me closer to the Lord or helping my body feel stronger,” or, “This is dampening my spirit and distancing me from the Lord.” That’s one way we can grow in wisdom. You can even take the discussion deeper by asking: How does the Word of Wisdom help us grow in wisdom? Verse 20 says they “shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.” To me, that means He’s going to help us fulfill the things He asks of us. And verse 21: “And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them.” So there are great, beautiful blessings that come from living the Word of Wisdom. Discussion Question 2: How Can You Live the Word of Wisdom Daily? Another question to discuss as a group is: How can you live the Word of Wisdom daily? From the magazine: “To protect your body, the Word of Wisdom helps you stay healthy, make good choices, and keep your mind clear so you can feel the Spirit more easily. Talk about how living the Word of Wisdom affects your choices each day.” What I love about that quote is that it reminds us the Word of Wisdom helps us keep our minds clear so we can feel the Spirit more. As I said, this is not just about physical health; it’s spiritual as well. When we read something like “the destroying angel shall pass by them, and not slay them,” sometimes that is about more spiritual things, and

    Word of Wisdom Lesson for Youth: Spiritual Blessings and Promises | For the Strength of Youth October 2026

  4. Oct 6

    For the Strength of Youth: October 11 | Your Body Is Sacred: FSY Lesson

    When you look at your body, do you see the gift Heavenly Father has given you, or only the flaws? This week on Leading Youth with Confidence (formerly Strength to Become), we prepare for Sunday, October 11, and open October’s For the Strength of Youth (FSY) topic: Your Body Is Sacred. Because of General Conference, this Sunday covers the first For the Strength of Youth lesson for the month, an overview that sets up next week’s choice between the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity, and the final week’s focus on becoming a covenant daughter or son of God. In this episode, Karen walks through: * 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 and what it means that your body is a temple * The three eternal truths from the For the Strength of Youth guide: your body is in the image of God, your soul is your body and spirit together, and sexual feelings are sacred and part of God’s plan * A personal mission story about the connection between caring for your body and feeling the Spirit * How to set identity-based goals (”My body is a gift, so I’ll care for it”) instead of flaw-focused ones * The invitations, promised blessings (including D&C 121:45), and the FSY Q&A on dress, temptation, same-sex attraction, and abuse * How this month’s lessons help prepare youth for temple recommend questions Confidence Tip: Before your next lesson or activity, take three deep breaths and silently pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for this body, which allows me to breathe.” Whether you’re a youth leader, parent, or youth, this episode will help you teach For the Strength of Youth with confidence by first living it yourself. Resources & Links: * Divine Worth Summit: Made Whole — October 19–23, five days of women sharing how they found their worth through Jesus Christ. Free when you register before October 19: karenpapincoaching.thrivecart.com/summit26/ * Weekly Journaling Pages for each episode are available to paid subscribers on Substack: karenpapin.substack.com * For the Strength of Youth (FSY) guide and 1 Corinthians 6:18–20, D&C 121:45, Proverbs 31 FSY Lesson Plan Teaching this Sunday? Download the free Your Body Is Sacred FSY lesson plan PDF to guide your For the Strength of Youth discussion, with the three eternal truths, discussion questions, and the invitations ready to go. Companion Journaling Page Before you can help the youth see their bodies as a gift, it helps to see your own that way. Become a paid subscriber to get this week’s companion journaling page, designed to help you recognize your own body’s worth, shift negative thoughts into gratitude, and set an identity-based goal rooted in the truth that your body is sacred. Subscribe here This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access. Transcript Introduction: What Do You See? When you look at your body, what do you see? When you think of your body, what do you feel? Do you look at your body and see the gift that is there, this beautiful gift that Heavenly Father has given you? Or do you just see the flaws and the different limitations that you have? This month in the For the Strength of Youth lessons is about changing your perspective on how you view your body. It’s about changing those negative thoughts and being able to recognize and see your body for the gift that it is: that it is sacred, that it is beautiful, that our Heavenly Father has given this body to you. Welcome to the Leading Youth with Confidence podcast, where we are going from unsure to unshakable as we dive into the For the Strength of Youth lessons. For those who have been listening, you’ll notice that I have changed the name of the podcast. I’ve gone from Strength to Become to Leading Youth with Confidence, because I’ve realized that really that is the purpose of this podcast: to help you lead the youth with confidence. As we dive into these discussions, you’ll be able to gain your own testimony and understanding of the truthfulness of these things, so that you can then lead the youth with confidence in these discussions on Sunday. Whether you are a youth, a youth leader, or a parent, these lessons are for you, to help you lead those you love and have stewardship over with confidence as you embrace these lessons in your own life as well. And so with that, this month we are talking about how the body is sacred. A Puffy Eye and a Shift in Perspective Right now, as I’m recording this, even in video format, my eye is really puffy. I’ve had an allergic reaction in my eye, and I could have gotten on here and just done audio instead of video, because to me it stands out. It’s puffy; it’s reacting to whatever it was I’m allergic to. And yet I’m like, okay, I’m going to talk about this, because that’s not going to keep me hiding. I’m still going to be able to use my voice, which is a beautiful gift that has been given through my body. And I’m going to use my voice to share and teach and talk about this lesson. Not only that, but I can shift my perspective about what’s going on with my eye and instead focus on how my eye gives me the ability to see. It helps me recognize what’s going on in the lives of my family and those I interact with, if I allow myself to open my mind and my heart and my eyes to see those things. It also helps me see the beauty that is within this world. I can look up and see the clouds in the sky. I can see the changing colors on the trees. I can see all of these beautiful things because my eye is a gift. Each time we think about our bodies, we have the ability to choose: am I going to focus on what I see as perceived flaws, or do I want to focus on the beauty that is my body? This month is going to be great, because we get to dive more into why our bodies are gifts and the different things we can do to recognize that, wow, my body really is sacred. It is something my Father wants me to have, and it helps me experience life in a way I would not be able to in any other way. This Month’s FSY Lessons at a Glance Even though it’s the second week in October, this Sunday we are covering the first For the Strength of Youth lesson because of General Conference. The first lesson is the overview of what we will be talking about, which is that the body is sacred. The following week, we choose whether we’re going to learn more about the Word of Wisdom or the law of chastity. The last week, the young women focus on a woman in the scriptures, specifically Proverbs 31, with the focus of becoming a covenant daughter of God. The young men focus on the stripling warriors, with the focus of becoming a covenant son of God. Your Body Is a Temple: 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 To begin, I want to start with First Corinthians chapter six, verses eighteen through twenty: “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This scripture talks about how we can sin against our own bodies, and how these bodies are not just a gift to us; we actually have stewardship over them. He is asking us to take care of our bodies. Why? Because they are temples. So we can ask ourselves: What does it mean that our bodies are temples? How do we treat the temple, which is sacred? How can we apply the temple being sacred to our bodies being sacred? How can we use our bodies in a way that glorifies God instead of misusing them and not treating them the way they deserve? The For the Strength of Youth guide says: “Your body is an amazing gift from your Heavenly Father. Having a body gives you increased power to exercise your freedom to choose between right and wrong. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ can help you see your body from God’s perspective, and this makes a big difference in your choices about what to do with your body and how to care for it.” A Mission Lesson on Body and Spirit [When I was on my mission, I] had a wonderful meal, and it was so good that I ended up overeating. I felt uncomfortably full, and I could feel the difference in my ability to feel the Spirit, because I became more focused on that uncomfortable feeling of being too full. That moment has always stuck with me, because I realized there really is a connection between our spirits and our bodies. As we take better care of our bodies, we have more energy and strength to help God’s children and serve others, and it also helps us more easily feel the Spirit in our lives. Does that mean we can’t feel the Spirit when we are really sick for reasons outside our control? No, we can still have the Spirit with us. However, when we are not treating our bodies with love and respect and taking care of them, it can be more of a struggle to feel the Spirit. So let’s dive into the eternal truths in this For the Strength of Youth lesson so we can gain a better understanding of just how amazing these bodies are. Eternal Truth #1: Your Body Is in the Image of God Right there is a gift in and of itself: we are in the image of God. It reminds us of who we truly are as children of God, and that Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us these bodies in His image. While our bodies may not be perfect in this life, because of our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, they will be perfected someday. This life is actually preparing us for the glorified, resurrected body we will have someday. One thing I found interesting in the quote from the For the Strength of Youth guide is that having a body gives us increased power to exercise our freedom to choose between right and wrong. That’s a great question to discuss: How does a body give us increased power to exercise our freedom? For me personally, having a body helps me experience the full range of humanity. I

    For the Strength of Youth: October 11 | Your Body Is Sacred: FSY Lesson

  5. Sep 29

    How to Help Youth Lead Gospel Discussions | For the Strength of Youth (FSY)

    With general conference this weekend, there’s no For the Strength of Youth (FSY) lesson this week, so we’re doing something a little different. We invite our youth to take part in Sunday discussions and even lead them, but we don’t always teach them how. In this episode, I share practical ways youth leaders and parents can help young men and young women grow into confident discussion leaders. We start with creating a safe place where youth feel loved enough to step outside their comfort zone, seeing them the way the Savior sees them, and meeting each one where they are. I share how my own reserved daughter has grown step by step, from reading a prepared quote to sharing her own comments. From there, we walk through the four principles of Christlike teaching from Teaching in the Savior’s Way and how they apply to youth leading their For the Strength of Youth (FSY) lessons: love those you teach, teach by the Spirit, teach the doctrine, and invite diligent learning. Then we get into the practical skills youth may not know yet: * How to start a discussion and assign small-group leaders * How to ask open-ended questions (what, why, how) * How to really listen and build on each other’s comments * How to handle silence without panicking * How to follow up and go deeper * How to disagree without contention * How to keep the group focused * How to summarize and connect ideas * How to end with an invitation to act and a testimony Whether you’re a youth leader, a parent, or a teen preparing to teach your For the Strength of Youth (FSY) lesson, this episode will help you see that our youth are capable, called, and ready to take the next step. Resources mentioned: * For the Strength of Youth (FSY) guide and weekly lesson material, including the suggested actions at the end of each lesson * Teaching in the Savior’s Way manual, including the quote on how the Savior sees people, the lesson planning outline (scriptures, questions, teaching aids, invitations and promised blessings), and the Christlike teaching personal evaluation * Galatians 5:22–23, the fruits of the Spirit * President Emily Belle Freeman’s general conference talk on how Christ meets us where we are Next week: We dive into the October For the Strength of Youth (FSY) lessons and talk about how our bodies are sacred. Journaling Page: You give your youth room to grow, and this week's journaling page gives you that same grace. Become a paid subscriber to download it, along with weekly journaling pages and a monthly action calendar. This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access. Episode Transcript Welcome Welcome to the Strength to Become podcast, where we dive into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can have the strength to become who He sees in us. I’m excited about today’s lesson. On Sunday we have general conference, so this week is a little different because there isn’t a For the Strength of Youth lesson. As I was thinking about what to share, I thought I could do a lesson on preparing for general conference. That would make sense with conference coming up. But as I thought and prayed about it, something else came to my mind: we need to teach our youth the skills they need to lead. One of the things I love about the gospel and the Church is that we encourage the youth to participate in discussions, and we even invite them to teach. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they know how. So today I want to talk about how we can prepare our youth to participate in Sunday discussions and help them lead those discussions better. As I prepared, I realized that when adults are called to a teaching or leadership calling, we meet every so often for a lesson from the Teaching in the Savior’s Way manual. Our youth don’t have that. I’ve also noticed, as my daughter takes a few online classes, that when the students break into small groups, they don’t always know how to facilitate a discussion among themselves. With my own kids, there are times I expect them to already know how to do something, and when it comes time to actually do it, I realize they still need to learn. The same can be true when it comes to participating in or leading a group discussion. Other times they do know how, but they don’t have the confidence to realize it, or fear keeps them from moving forward. Tip 1: Create a Safe Place The first tip is the importance of creating a safe place. This is a learning opportunity for youth, a growth opportunity. In a Church setting, they can step outside their comfort zone in a place where they can feel our love, feel the Lord’s love, and have the Spirit with them. It’s important for us to create a space where they feel that love and feel safe. Maybe they don’t feel ready to step outside their comfort zone, but they feel safe enough to know that if they do, we’ll be there encouraging them and helping them take those steps forward. So encourage them to participate, and let them know it’s okay if things don’t turn out the way they’d like. It’s okay to make mistakes, because that’s part of the learning process. Teach them in a way that lets them know: You’re loved. You can do this. You are capable, and the Lord is with you, helping you. Whether or not they make a mistake, the Lord will help them make weaknesses become strong as they take action in learning how to lead and discuss. See Them the Way the Savior Sees Them One of the things that helps create this atmosphere of love is seeing those in our class the way the Savior sees them. I love this quote from the Teaching in the Savior’s Way manual: “The Savior saw people not just as they appeared to be but as they really were and as they could become. In unpolished fishermen like Simon, Andrew, James, and John, He saw the future leaders of His Church. In the feared persecutor Saul, He saw a chosen vessel who would preach His gospel before kings and nations. And in you and each person you teach, the Savior sees a son or daughter of God with limitless potential.” When we give our youth the opportunity to participate in or lead these discussions, we’re helping them see that they’re more capable than they realize. It’s important to help them see the potential within themselves. Meet Them Where They Are How do we do that? President Emily Belle Freeman gave a wonderful conference talk a while back about how Christ meets us where we are. The same is true for us. Not only are we seeing their potential, we’re also meeting them at the level they’re currently at. I say this from personal experience. My daughter is very reserved and struggles to talk with her peers, so her level of participation is different from some of her peers who are more comfortable facilitating discussions. There will be young men and young women who plan their lesson, get up there, and teach with confidence. Some will be nervous and do it anyway. And then some, like my daughter, will need a little more support. Her leader gives her a quote ahead of time so she can prepare. Sometimes all she’s comfortable with in that moment is reading the quote. Other times she’s willing to share a comment. What we’re doing is meeting her where she is so she can learn and grow, while still giving her opportunities to step outside her comfort zone, take the next step, and in time get to a place where she can lead a discussion. It’s been amazing to see how much she has grown as we’ve encouraged her to stretch. I’m usually there during her live classes to coach her and let her know, You can do this, and she’s making more comments in her class discussions. Some youth in our classes will need that kind of strength and support too. Something that helps my daughter is knowing ahead of time what’s expected of her. Then she can prepare what she wants to say, so it’s not so on-the-spot. Not everyone needs that. Some youth can be given an assignment, study it, and get up and lead the discussion. So what do we need to do? Get to know our youth. Learn where they are so we can help them find the next level, whether that’s sharing a comment, reading a quote, saying a little more about that quote, answering a question directed to them, or splitting into smaller groups where they feel more comfortable. Others may be ready to comment in a larger group or even lead the discussion. There are different levels, so get to know them and understand where they’re at. You can talk with their parents about where they’re most comfortable. Then take it a step further and do as the Savior did: see their potential and encourage them to take small steps forward so they can grow into who you know they’re capable of becoming. The Four Principles of Christlike Teaching Teaching in the Savior’s Way outlines four principles of Christlike teaching. 1. Love those you teach. We’ve already talked about this a bit. Love fosters that feeling of this is a safe place for me to step outside my comfort zone. Love helps youth understand that they’re capable of doing hard things, and it helps them know they’re understood at whatever level they’re at, so they can learn and grow into the next one. 2. Teach by the Spirit. Now that we meet for a shorter time on Sundays, what I love is that it’s not about covering everything in the lesson. It’s about listening to the Spirit to know what’s most important to discuss right now. So teach the youth to listen to the Spirit. Honestly, I could do a whole episode on each of these tips, so I’m covering them briefly. But to teach by the Spirit, youth first need to recognize and understand what the Spirit is, and not all of them know that yet. So again, we meet them where they are and help them figure out how they feel the Spirit. There are many ways. Some feel the Spirit through what they hear, like music. Some feel it out in nature. Some feel it in scripture study, seeing the words. Some feel it when they take action. Galatian

    How to Help Youth Lead Gospel Discussions | For the Strength of Youth (FSY)

  6. Sep 22

    Becoming a Covenant Child of God: The For the Strength of Youth Lesson on Emma & Joseph Smith

    In this episode of Strength to Become, Karen Papin dives into this month’s For the Strength of Youth lesson on becoming a covenant daughter — and covenant son — of God. This FSY lesson draws on the lives of Emma and Joseph Smith to show what it looks like to lead, teach, mentor, and draw on the power and authority of God even in the middle of real hardship. Karen unpacks the “I am” statements that open this For the Strength of Youth lesson for both young women and young men, then walks through the background of Emma and Joseph’s marriage, the trials they endured — persecution, poverty, the loss of several children, and repeated upheaval — and how the Lord prepared each of them for what lay ahead. From there, Karen teaches through Doctrine and Covenants section 25, verse by verse, unpacking what it means that Emma was called an “elect lady,” how the Lord promised to forgive her sins, ordain her to expound and exhort, and call her to compile a hymnbook for the Church. She connects this FSY lesson’s themes of meekness, humility, and trust in God’s timing to Proverbs 3:5–6, and shares a personal story of overcoming anxiety about public speaking through faith. For the young men’s portion of the lesson, Karen turns to Joseph Smith’s history and Doctrine and Covenants section 20, exploring what it meant for Joseph to be called a “fellow servant” of John the Baptist and what that means for young men holding the priesthood today. Whether you’re a parent, a youth leader, or working through this FSY lesson on your own, this episode offers discussion questions, doctrinal insight, and practical takeaways to help you and the youth in your life feel closer to the Savior. Scriptures referenced: Doctrine and Covenants 25; Doctrine and Covenants 20:46–59; Joseph Smith—History 1:69; Proverbs 3:5–6 Call to action: For more on Emma Smith’s life and legacy, catch the companion episode on the Divine Worth Podcast, releasing Thursday, September 24th. Next week, Karen shares tips on leading small-group discussions with youth (no FSY lesson that week due to General Conference), and the following Sunday she’ll cover October’s introductory lesson, “Your Body Is Sacred.”*This podcast is not officially endorsed by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The thoughts, opinions, and interpretations shared are Karen's own. Below are lesson plan outlines you can use for your lesson. Strength to Become Podcast — Episode Transcript Welcome to Strength to Become, the podcast where we are diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can become closer to the Savior, Jesus Christ, and have the strength to become who He sees in us. I am your host, Karen Papin, and I’m really excited to dive into this lesson today, because this is the whole reason why I started this podcast. On my other podcast, the Divine Worth Podcast, I wanted to make the new season I’m currently doing more focused on women in the scriptures. Once a month I dive into a woman within the scriptures and how that relates to our divine worth. Then I found out that the For the Strength of Youth lessons once a month are going to be diving into a woman in the scriptures too. So I thought, well, I can follow along and do this lesson on my podcast — and then I felt impressed that I should actually start a new podcast for the For the Strength of Youth lessons, to discuss all of them, not just this one. That’s why I started the Strength to Become podcast, and I’m really excited to dive into this lesson. Setting the Stage One thing I love about this lesson is how it starts out — with an “I am” statement that reminds us of who we are. This lesson is on becoming a covenant daughter of God, and it starts out: “I am a beloved daughter of heaven, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.” That sounds a lot like the Young Women theme — beautiful truths that, if we truly embrace them, can help us overcome anything we’re going through in life. It continues: “I lead, teach, and mentor others courageously by drawing on the power and authority of God and listening to the Spirit.” So as we dive into this lesson, that’s the focus — that we are people who can lead, teach, and mentor others, and that we have the ability to draw on the power and authority of God as we do so, being guided by the Spirit. That’s what it says for the young women. The young men’s statement is a little different: “I am a beloved son of God, and He has a work for me to do. I will help others connect with God and Jesus Christ by worthily administering in the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood, including baptism and the sacrament.” The young men are reminded that they are sons of God and that He has a work for them to do — something young men really need to know and understand. There’s a purpose for them, just as the young women are told they have a purpose to lead and to teach. Two Lessons in One This lesson gets a little tricky because there are actually two lessons this week — one for the young women, focused on Emma Smith and becoming a covenant daughter of God, and one for the young men, focused on Joseph Smith and becoming a covenant son of God. I’ll talk about some of what Joseph and Emma went through together, then cover the young women’s lesson, and then the young men’s. Joseph and Emma’s Story Joseph and Emma were people who went through a lot. We know Joseph Smith had an incredible vision — he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove and was told the true church wasn’t on the earth, and eventually was told to restore it. Several years after that first vision, he met Emma Hale. Her parents opposed the marriage — he was poor, and had this religious claim of having seen the Savior, while her parents were wealthy and skeptical. Emma married him anyway, showing real strength — she was willing to leave a life of wealth for the uncertainty of a life with Joseph Smith. It was a very uncertain life. They were driven from place to place, sometimes prospering, sometimes barely scraping by. As you study their lives, you can see how the Lord prepared them for what He had in store. Emma being raised in wealth likely helped prepare her for her role as first lady of Nauvoo and the first Relief Society president — she knew how to interact in society and with grace because of how she was raised. Together, Joseph and Emma lost several of their eleven children, sometimes because of mobs and persecution, sometimes simply because of the medical limitations of the time. They knew grief intimately, and they experienced it over and over. Joseph was also in and out of jail, and there were times Emma had to pack up the family and leave their home. They went through a lot of hardship. Diving Into the Lesson In the For the Strength of Youth magazine, there’s a great discussion question: What opportunities do you have to lead, teach, mentor, expound the scriptures, and encourage others? How has doing this brought you closer to the Savior? What I love about this question is that it gets youth thinking about the impact they’re already having and are capable of having — in their friend groups, in their families, at school. They have real opportunities to lead, teach, mentor, and encourage others in each of these settings. When I was a youth, I had opportunities to share the scriptures with others outside our faith, and in seminary we’d give spiritual thoughts and share quotes or scriptures we loved. I love that our church gives kids these kinds of opportunities — to bear testimony, to give lessons themselves, to take an active role in planning — because they are capable of leading, teaching, mentoring, expounding the scriptures, and encouraging others. There have been many times in my life when a youth speaker said exactly what I needed to hear, or my own kids taught me something I hadn’t thought of, or helped me realize I don’t have as much patience as I thought. We can learn from each other, and that’s true of youth as well. As for how this has brought me closer to the Savior — as I teach, as I testify, as I share my experiences with others, I feel closer to the Lord. As a youth, I really struggled to open my mouth and speak; there were times I just couldn’t get the words out. It’s been a process to get to where I am now — doing a podcast, public speaking, sharing my testimony vocally. The Lord led me step by step. I remember the first time I truly believed the Lord would help me give a talk. I said a little prayer — “Heavenly Father, please help me to do this, help me get the words out” — and as I opened my mouth to speak, peace came over me and I was able to give my talk. And I felt so close to the Lord. Throughout this whole journey — now with two podcasts, summits, public speaking, a mission served on Temple Square — this has happened again and again. When I open my mouth to share what’s on my heart, to share the truthfulness of the gospel, I feel the Spirit and I feel the Lord with me. In some ways, my anxiety has actually brought me closer to Him. As we put our faith and trust in the Lord, as we seek to become a covenant daughter of the Lord, He is there with us, and He will help us and guide us. Doctrine and Covenants 25 Now let’s dive into Doctrine and Covenants section 25 and look at what the Lord reveals to Emma about being a covenant daughter of God. Verse 1: “Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.” The Lord tells Emma — and by extension, us — “You are my daughter.” He knows her by name, just as He knows us by name. All who receive His gospel are His sons and daughters in His kingdom. Verse 2: “A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art

    Becoming a Covenant Child of God: The For the Strength of Youth Lesson on Emma & Joseph Smith

  7. Sep 15

    Priesthood Keys — For the Strength of Youth (FSY) Lesson, September Week 3 (September 20, 2026)

    This week on Strength to Become, with host, Karen Papin, we’re diving into the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) lesson for the week of September 20, 2026 — all about priesthood keys and the blessings they unlock in our lives. In week one of this FSY lesson series, we looked at how we’re blessed by priesthood keys and authority. In week two, we explored blessings specific to the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. Now, in this September week 3 FSY lesson, we go deeper — exploring what delegated priesthood authority really means, what it looks like to represent God and act in His name, and the blessings the Lord unlocks for us through priesthood keys. We’ll walk through the “For the Strength of Youth” magazine’s comparison of priesthood keys to the keys of a car, and what that teaches us about preparation and permission in receiving God’s blessings. Then we’ll dig into scripture together — Doctrine and Covenants sections 13, 27, 107, and 110 — tracing each heavenly messenger (John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John, Moses, Elias, and Elijah) and the specific priesthood keys each one restored to the earth. Resources mentioned in this episode: * For the Strength of Youth magazine, September 2026 issue (Week 3 lesson) * Quote from Elder Gary E. Stevenson, For the Strength of Youth magazine * Quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2005 General Conference (referenced via a May 2015 article) * Doctrine and Covenants 13; 27:12–13; 107:8, 18–19; 110:11–16 * Gospel Topics entry on the Abrahamic covenant Next week, we’ll continue this FSY lesson series with a discussion on becoming a covenant daughter or son of God. If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to have you follow along with more reflections and teaching over on my Substack, and be sure to check out the Divine Worth Podcast for more on faith, purpose, and becoming who God sees in you. If you'd like to hear more from Karen, check out the Divine Worth Podcast → https://karenpapin.substack.com/listen/divine-worth-podcast Karen Papin’s substack: Beloved & Becoming: karenpapin.substack.com Disclaimer: This podcast is not produced, endorsed, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All views, opinions, and interpretations shared are my own. Transcript: Welcome to Strength to Become, the podcast where we are diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can become closer to the Savior Jesus Christ and have the strength to become who He sees in us. This week we are learning more about priesthood keys. This is September 2026, and we are on week three in the lessons. The first week we did a little overview of the things we’ve been learning this month — how we are blessed by priesthood keys and authority. The second week we really dived into blessings specific to the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood, and how much we are blessed by those. And this week we are learning more about the priesthood keys, which actually deepens the blessings that we receive as well. The questions brought up in the lesson can be found in the For the Strength of Youth magazine, September 2026 — week three’s lesson. Within that, there are several different questions you can discuss, and then an activity where you can dive into the scriptures and learn even more together. Discussion Questions What is delegated priesthood authority? Great question to really help us understand that we are given delegated priesthood authority when we are set apart for a calling or we receive an assignment under someone who has those priesthood keys within that assignment. Discuss what it means to represent God and act in His name. I love that, because what if — when we are serving in our callings — we came from this place of “I am representing God, and I am acting in His name”? Before we go and do, we become centered in why we are doing these things, in this idea that we are representing God. So I think that is a great question to really discuss: what does that mean to you, and what does it mean to act in His name? That’s something we’re already striving to do when we are baptized — we take upon us Christ’s name — and when we take of the sacrament, we renew that promise that we are taking upon Him His name. This question is applicable to all of us. I know as a missionary, taking upon His name felt even more tangible in a way, because when we serve a mission we wear our name tags, and right there it says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on it. We are literally putting a name badge on to represent Him. I remember how I felt being able to wear my name tag in those moments when I remembered who I was representing. Because it’s not just about making a commitment to act in a way the Savior would like me to act — it is also a strength. As we take upon us His name, He is there with us. And when we are mindful of who we are representing, we can feel that the Lord is there with us, helping us fulfill that promise. What blessings does the Lord unlock for us through priesthood keys? The magazine compares the priesthood keys to physical keys — how physical keys unlock things and allow you to do things when you have that key. The priesthood is the same way. There’s a quote from Elder Gary E. Stevenson in the For the Strength of Youth magazine: “Priesthood authority and priesthood keys start the engine, open the gates of heaven, facilitate heavenly power, and pave the covenant path back to our loving Heavenly Father.” What I love about the magazine is that it takes this a little further and asks: why can’t you drive your neighbor’s car? What would you need to do in order to do so? And what does this comparison teach you about priesthood keys? To drive another person’s car, you need permission. You show up, you prove that you are responsible. There are certain things we do in order to unlock the blessings that Heavenly Father wants to give us. As a mom, as a parent, there’s so much I want to give my kids, and yet I also know they need to go through certain lessons so that, in order for them to receive the rewards I may have for them, they need to do certain things. The same is true when it comes to priesthood keys and the blessings associated with them. We prepare ourselves to be able to receive those blessings — we do the things we need to do in order to open the gates of heaven. And it’s all done in the love of our Heavenly Father, who wants us to learn and grow. This reminds me of a time on my mission. I served on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. We would take people to the Christus statue and play a recording of scriptures the Savior spoke, and then bear our testimonies afterward. I remember my companion pointing out the scripture where Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” She talked about how God gives us commandments because He loves us. I thought that was such an interesting way to look at it — God gives us commandments because He loves us. Our Heavenly Father knows the things that will bring us the most joy, the things that will set us up for the most success in life. He has given us commandments to help us bring more joy into our lives, to become more resilient, so that when hard times come, we can overcome them. That’s what commandments do for us — they are given to us because God loves us. Sometimes we feel like these commandments, or needing to do things in order to receive priesthood blessings, are restricting — when in actuality they are there to help us feel God’s love more, and to help us live in a way that makes us more resilient and able to create more joy in our lives. So that’s why I particularly love that question: What do you need to do in order to drive your neighbor’s car? What do you need to do in order to access the priesthood authority Heavenly Father gives you when you are called, set apart, or receive an assignment from one of your leaders? What do you need to do in order to receive even greater priesthood blessings — the ones that come from the temple? The temple is a place we prepare ourselves to enter. Everyone is invited to go to the temple; however, in order to actually enter, we prepare ourselves to be able to do so. That preparation exists to help us be prepared and ready. What priesthood keys has the Lord restored to the earth today? Last week we talked about the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood and the blessings that come from each. This week’s question asks: what priesthood keys has the Lord restored to earth today? Scripture Activity This activity involves reading scripture and identifying the heavenly messengers who restored priesthood keys, and specifically which keys were restored. Doctrine and Covenants 13 (John the Baptist) “Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. And this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.” John the Baptist came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them these keys. We talked a little about the keys of the ministering of angels last week. This also restored the priesthood authority to baptize in the name of the Savior, and the authority to be baptized by immersion and receive a remission of sins through repentance. Doctrine and Covenants 27:12–13 (Peter, James, and John) “And also with Peter and James and John, whom I sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles and special witnesses of my name... and bear the keys of your ministry... unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times, and for the fullness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both w

    Priesthood Keys — For the Strength of Youth (FSY) Lesson, September Week 3 (September 20, 2026)

  8. Sep 8

    FSY Ep 2 | The Restoration of the Priesthood: How It Blesses Us Today | For the Strength of Youth

    Episode Description This week on Strength to Become, we’re digging into the For the Strength of Youth lesson on the restoration of the priesthood — and why it matters so much for our relationship with the Savior. We’ll walk through the history of the priesthood being lost and then restored through Joseph Smith, and unpack what the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods actually mean for us, including what it looks like to hold “the keys of the ministering of angels.” Grab your scriptures and your September For the Strength of Youth magazine and let’s study together. 🎧 Love this episode? Check out my other podcast, Divine Worth, for more on faith, fear, and becoming who God sees in you: karenpapin.substack.com/listen/divine-worth-podcast Transcript Welcome to the Strength to Become podcast, where we are diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can strengthen our relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ, in order to become who He sees in us. This week we are talking about the restoration of the priesthood, and why it’s so important that there was this restoration. During Christ’s visit here on earth, He gave that priesthood authority to His apostles. Over a thousand years later, in the 1800s, Joseph Smith had his remarkable vision and then received these priesthoods — the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood. So over a period of time, the priesthood was lost from the earth. One thing I find interesting is that they even refer to that gap in time as “the dark ages.” And then after that, all of this progress begins to happen — and it’s interesting to see that history, because you can see how the Lord prepared the world for His gospel being restored onto this earth today. The United States of America being created so we could have religious freedom, setting the stage for Joseph Smith to be able to have his vision, to receive the Aaronic priesthood and then the Melchizedek priesthood — it’s kind of cool to look through that historical timeline and see how the Lord really does reveal things when we are ready to receive them. And that was the case with this restoration of the gospel that we now have here on this earth. So let’s look at the lesson you can find in the magazine, For the Strength of Youth, the September edition, week two, which is where we’re at. It splits into two questions: How does the Savior bless us through the Aaronic priesthood, and how does the Savior bless us through the Melchizedek priesthood? Let’s talk about the Aaronic priesthood first. The Aaronic Priesthood There are two scriptures listed for this. Let’s open those up. The first is Doctrine and Covenants section 13, verse 1: Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for remission of sins, and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do again offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. There’s a beautiful blessing there. Because really, as you look throughout history, there are periods of time where we’d have a prophet on this earth, and then a period of darkness. Then a prophet would come again and lead the people to righteousness, and then there’d be another falling away. You see that throughout the entire history of man. Here we are given this promise that that’s not going to happen again — the gospel is going to remain upon this earth. A beautiful promise, and that can give us so much hope. In the scripture it talks about the blessings we receive from having the Aaronic priesthood in our lives: first, the keys of the ministering of angels; then the gospel of repentance; and also the baptism by immersion for remission of sins. Section 107:20 goes into that as well: The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments. It mentions those things again — the keys of the ministering of angels — and it adds a little more, saying to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, and the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Now, what do all of these things actually mean? I had to search a little more, because I thought, what does it actually mean to hold the keys of the ministering of angels? What does that mean, and how does that apply to me as a woman in the gospel as well? In October 1998, then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk titled “The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament”. In it he says: How does the Aaronic priesthood hold the key to the ministering of angels? The answer is the same as for the Spirit of the Lord. In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication are only available to those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants, we will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost, but also to the ministering of angels. For angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, wherefore they speak the words of Christ. So it is that those who hold the Aaronic priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels. Because we have the Aaronic priesthood, and we have this great blessing of being able to repent and be baptized and continually partake of the sacrament, we have the key to the ministering of angels. Another important thing to note is that there are different ways we can experience the ministering of angels. President Oaks also goes into that: Nephi described three manifestations of the ministering of angels when he reminded his rebellious brothers that, one, they had seen an angel; two, they had heard his voice from time to time; and three, that an angel had spoken unto them in a still, small voice, though they were past feeling and could not feel his words. The scriptures contain many other statements that angels are sent to teach the gospel and bring men to Christ. Most angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen. So as members of the Church — as those who have been baptized, who are renewing those promises of baptism each week as we take of the sacrament, as we can repent and learn and grow through the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ — we are able, most of the time not seen, to be guided by these ministering angels. Another blessing of the Aaronic priesthood is the baptismal ordinance and being able to be cleansed from our sins because of the Savior Jesus Christ, and making those covenants with Him through baptism. That is truly one of the greatest blessings we have: knowing that our mistakes do not define us. Our mistakes are not what’s keeping us from being able to return to live with our Heavenly Father again, because we can overcome them as we humble ourselves and repent and turn to the Savior. There is so much peace, joy, and happiness that comes from that repentance. It’s beautiful, too, to know that my family can also go through that repentance process and return to live with the Savior again. Another blessing of the Aaronic priesthood is being able to partake of the sacrament — each week we have the sacrament to help us renew those baptismal covenants. The Melchizedek Priesthood Now let’s dive a little more into the Melchizedek priesthood. How does the Savior bless us through the Melchizedek priesthood? Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Doctrine and Covenants section 107, verses 18–19 talks about the Melchizedek priesthood: The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church — to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. How beautiful is that? To me, that is a promise that we will have the Savior with us and that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father. We can feel His presence in our life. We can definitely see that as we go to the temple and worship there, and we can feel of that Spirit. I remember the first time I went to the temple and just the sense of homecoming I felt there, knowing that it is the house of the Lord. So there are blessings from the Melchizedek priesthood: we can go to the temple, we can feel closer to the Lord both at the temple and in our daily lives as we continually seek to have Him in our life. Because of the Melchizedek priesthood, the mysteries of God can be unfolded unto us as we continually turn and seek and strive to have them in our lives. And then we have that sealing ordinance that makes it possible for us to be with our families for all eternity. So these two priesthoods work together — the Aaronic priesthood is the preparatory priesthood that helps us gain an understanding that we can repent and learn and grow. Then we can go deeper and deepen that connection through the ordinances of the Melchizedek priesthood. Why Does God Share His Priesthood Power With Us? Why does God share His priesthood power with His children? This is another question within the lesson, and you can have a great discussion about it. Why do you feel it’s important that God shares His priesthood power with His children? For me, it is a reminder that He loves us, that He wants us to have all of these blessings, and He wants us to return to live with Him. Each o

    FSY Ep 2 | The Restoration of the Priesthood: How It Blesses Us Today | For the Strength of Youth

  9. Sep 3

    FSY Episode 1: You Are Blessed by Priesthood Keys and Authority | For the Strength of Youth

    Welcome to the very first episode of Strength to Become — a weekly study through the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) guide! Karen kicks things off with September’s Fast Sunday lesson: You Are Blessed by Priesthood Keys and Authority. In this FSY discussion, Karen walks through the three eternal truths for the month — that all priesthood keys and authority come from Jesus Christ, that Christ has restored His priesthood in our day, and that priesthood authority blesses all of God’s children — sharing personal stories along the way, including how tracing the blessings of the Restoration in her own life led her to an eternal family, comfort after the loss of her younger brother, and a deeper love for the Book of Mormon. She also breaks down how these For the Strength of Youth lessons are designed to work: choosing one eternal truth to focus on, inviting real discussion instead of a lecture, and applying an invitation — whether that’s accepting a calling, sustaining those who serve, or fulfilling an assignment — so the lesson becomes something lived, not just learned. Whether you’re teaching this FSY lesson yourself or simply want to go deeper as you prepare your own heart and home, this episode is a starting point for feeling God’s love through the priesthood keys He has placed on the earth for us. Walking through the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) guide alongside our youth. If you'd like to hear more from Karen, check out the Divine Worth Podcast → https://karenpapin.substack.com/listen/divine-worth-podcast Disclaimer: This podcast is not produced, endorsed, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All views, opinions, and interpretations shared are my own. Transcript: Introduction Karen Papin (00:00) Welcome to the FSY with Karen Papin podcast where we are coming to feel God’s love for us as we dive into the For the Strength of Youth booklet. recently we’ve got some big changes coming up where we are now going to be meeting every week for Sunday school and then for young men, young women. Society and Elders Quorum I I love that we’re gonna be doing this and being able to gather together again each week and with that I’ve got two two girls who one is already in young women’s one will be joining young women’s in January and so I watched the introduction video for this new for the strength of youth program and and just thought wow this is something that we can all learn from and so I want to invite you to join me as we study the for the strength of youth and really dive in to what our youth are learning but also to see how it applies to us and to also see just God’s love. which is apparent within these lessons. And so with that, let’s go ahead and dive into September’s Fast Sunday lesson. And the way that this works is that ever the Fast Sunday, the first Sunday of every month, is a lesson that is focused on introducing the topic for that month. And so this month’s theme is This Month’s Theme: You Are Blessed by Priesthood Keys and Authority you are blessed by priesthood keys and authority, and so the scripture that this is kind of based off of is in Matthew sixteen, verses eighteen through nineteen, and this is what it says, And I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. And so here Christ is talking to Peter about this priesthood authority and giving him the priesthood keys to be able to be able to buy both on earth and in heaven a beautiful gift so what exactly is the priesthood that is the power and authority of god Sometimes life is so chaotic and so it is nice to know that in God’s church there actually is this sense of order that we can find through the the priesthood keys and through the the authority that comes from them. so for the month of September we will be focusing on these priesthood keys and authority and really seeing how that applies to each of us. And so just the fact that Heavenly Father has placed on this earth a way for us to be able to access those priesthood keys and authority shows us that he loves us and that he is there for us and that he is helping us to be able to To be able to have everything that we need to learn and to grow and to walk in his light and to return to him. How the Lessons Work And so the way that these lessons work is that though that you choose, one of the eternal truths and then you are diving into those eternal truths and discussing them with each other within this class setting. And and so the eternal truths for this month, and like I said, you just choose one of them. These these lessons are like twenty five minutes long and they’re meant to be discussions and so it’s not just someone getting up there and giving all the info it is about bringing up the topic and then discussing the topic with each other and figuring out how it’s relevant to us and also how we can apply these things And so if you in the four of the strength of youth guide, and they it has the eternal truths, then there’s invitations so that you can actually think, okay, how can I act on what it is that we discussed today? and then it has promised blessings. So it’s not just a matter of okay, now go and do this, but it’s also a matter of here are the ways that you will be blessed as you apply. These things into your life. And then another cool thing about the guide is that it does have a little questions and answers section to help us gain a greater understanding of the principles therein, as well as some suggested scriptures. And then at the very end, there are temple recommend questions for us to be able to prepare ourselves to enter into the temple. And and so each each lesson is doing just that. It is helping you to continually prepare yourself to enter into the temple and receive even more great blessings. So the internal truths for this month that you can choose from are are these. The first is all priesthood keys and authority come from Jesus Christ. Isn’t that wonderful? Eternal Truth 1: All Priesthood Keys and Authority Come From Jesus Christ that is such an important truth for us because it helps us to know that Christ is at the head of this church. Christ is like this is all about his church, his gospel, and his priesthood authority. It is the savior that is in charge. like he does ask things of us and asks us asks us to serve in various ways within the church. And when we are called and set apart, we are given that priesthood authority to be able to act within those callings. And and yes, we are not perfect, right? We don’t always follow promptings, we don’t always know The ways that are gonna be best to be able to serve within our callings and we are gonna make mistakes. That is just that is a part of life, right? that’s why we have a savior, and yet he still allows us to be able to have these opportunities to serve, and he still gives us that authority to be able to do so. and so if we can just trust in the Lord and allow him. To guide us as we accept our callings and as we continue to serve faithfully within our callings, He does guide us. And he helps us to learn and he helps us to grow and and he gives us opportunities to be able to feel God’s love, not only the love that he has for us, but also the love that he has for those who for whom we serve. another eternal truth that you might want to focus on is Jesus Christ has restored his priesthood in our day. Eternal Truth 2: Jesus Christ Has Restored His Priesthood in Our Day On my mission, I remember that this was something that we taught a lot on my mission. We talked about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how the how the Lord’s priesthood has been restored on this earth. And I remember just taking time to start listing all all of the blessings that I’ve received from the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And and while I say I wrote down all of them, I know that that was just a small list compared to how many blessings there actually are. But it was amazing once I got started. I think I gave myself like five minutes to start writing down the the blessings and then I kept going. because I started to realize just how how much that spread to other parts of my life like not just being able to be baptized by the priesthood authority not just being able to have an eternal family but that it really impacted all areas of my life. think I ended up writing like over fifty things that I recognized as blessings that Happened because of the restoration of the gospel. Because of the restoration of the gospel, we have the Book of Mormon which has been such a pivotal, foundational thing for me in my life and it has really helped me through some of the hardest moments of my life. It has given me strength, it has given me peace because it has brought me closer to the Lord and helped me to see his hand in my life. brought in me that priesthood authority to be held to be with my family for time and all eternity which was something that on my mission I felt very keenly because because when I was fifteen years old my younger brother passed away and and So that knowledge that I would see him again, that knowledge that we were forever brother and sister, was something that I found so comforting and that gave me so much strength. And and now that I am older and I have my husband and my own kids as well, I have an even greater love and appreciation for that. I am thankful for all the knowledge that I’ve learned from being able to have the gospel in my life, the knowledge that I do have a savior who loves me, who has suffered all things, that that we might be able to overcome all things and that and just the the power and the beauty that comes from th

    FSY Episode 1: You Are Blessed by Priesthood Keys and Authority | For the Strength of Youth
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