Inspired by their own experiences at the For the Strength of Youth conference and wanting to offer something similar to their ward members, the teens of the Marshfield Ward of the Springfield Missouri Stake planned, organized, and executed an FSA, or For the Strength of Adults.
The one-day conference on January 17th included devotions, lessons, scripture studies, activities, and fellowship for more than 80 ward members.
As Magdalena Buckner, 16, walked through district buildings that day to check on classrooms, she saw adults engaged in learning and a “spiritual feast.”
“I got really emotional and thought, ‘This is what this is about.’ The reason we planned this activity was because we wanted to give back to the adults who gave us so much love and support throughout our youth,” Magdalena said. “It was just incredible to witness that interaction and see the Spirit that the adults were feeling.”
Devon Jarvis, president of the Springfield Missouri Stake, said the stake focuses on conversion to Jesus Christ and the simple, basic principles and ordinances of the gospel.
“This activity was a great example of how the Holy Spirit works in a ward as we guide and equip youth to testify of truth,” he said.
We also do planning and counseling together.
The conference began last August during a Sunday Young Women’s class when Magdalena asked her classmates to share their FSY experiences. Knowing that her mother had never attended a specifically youth meeting or FSY, Magdalena and her class president made plans to create an FSY-type experience for the adults in their ward.
In November, the young women met for a few hours at the home of class president Lizzie Stufflebeam, 15, and began planning.
Lizzy said they wanted to model the conference as much as possible after the week-long FSY, but wrapped it all up in one day. They planned orientations, classes, devotions, reflection times, testimonies, and had ongoing meetings and counseling together.
Riley Schmidt, 14, said she worked prayerfully to form a diverse group of adults.
“We looked at everyone who would come to FSA,” Riley said. “We made sure there was someone for everyone and no one was left behind. And when we prayed about it, we all had the same answer.”
A new appreciation for FSY counselors
The young women invited adults from the stake to lead the class and other youth, including Gabe Mohr and Charlie Mohr, both 16, to serve as counselors.
Gabe said, “It was great to be able to give parents of young people who went to FSY a little taste of what FSY is like.”
Charlie added that he felt stressed at first, saying, “I felt like it was a very high hurdle to imitate. I felt like it was a very high hurdle to try to be like the people who are always upbeat and at the same time are here for the company.It felt like a bit of a challenge.”
Eisley Nelson, 16, also had a new appreciation for everything FSY counselors do throughout the week after serving as a ward FSA counselor for the day.
“They put in a lot of effort to make it a great experience for all the youth who participate. At FSY, counselors go on and off and take breaks. Now I understand why: It’s a hard job,” she said.
Eisley said her mother told her that the young men were like the “naked warriors who came to aid and strengthen Antipus’ army” in the Book of Mormon.
Brooke Mead, 13, enjoyed watching the adults in her office talk to each other, make new friends and build relationships.
“At the last witness meeting we had, a lot of adults kept saying they had so much fun, that they hoped it would happen again, and that they were sad to leave because they had so much fun,” Brooke said.
support each other
Bishop Richard Shockley of Marshfield Borough said young people always come back from camps and conferences ready to share what they’ve learned with the borough. They often testify in church and feel accepted in the ward.
“We try to emphasize that we are a district family, and the district takes that really seriously,” he said. “They are ready to support young people in whatever they do.”
Angie Moore, the borough’s Young Women president, said youth are responsible for almost 100 percent of the “Seeking Strength in Adults” event. She felt a spirit of respect and order throughout the day as the young people took responsibility for prayerfully planning and inviting.
Moore told her that many adults went to the meeting to support the young people, but the young people ended up supporting them, and said, “We really felt the love and just the blessing of what the young people shared and the special spirit that was there.”
