The youth committee

"The best time to make friends is before you need them."

~Ethel Barrymore

This has definitely been a good year for Sierra to be a member of the youth committee for our church. She has come to realize how much time, work, and effort someone will genuinely put in for being a part of it, and...

She. Loves. It!!

There are days when I will go into her room thinking she is doing her homework, and ask her what she is doing. She will tell me that she is writing down ideas, dates, and plans that the committee has discussed regarding the youth activities for the year. They are in charge of organizing mini youth conference, youth conference, girls camp, devotionals, firesides, youth dances, and social gatherings. She puts her whole heart into it, and is very organized when it comes to taking notes. She is really involved, and loves being part of something spiritual in which she gathers around other youth from the stake. She is also beginning to realize what 'activity in the church' really means! It means being busy and doing the Lord's work!

Having Vai Sikahema as part of our Stake Presidency is such a blessing, and in spite of his busy schedule he really puts his time to spend with the youth. His daughter is a senior this year, and like Sierra...is friends with everyone! It is really uplifting for her, and she loves his family as well as all the other youth in the stake.

When I look at this group shot, I see a lot of youth who are making an effort in sacrificing their time in being part of a committee that will not only strengthen them spiritually, but will help them learn responsibility as well as being prepared. Spending this past Saturday planning upcoming events, and getting to know each other at the same time was fun for Sierra. It has also given her a new meaning to the words unity and friendship.

She has found reasons why she was chosen to be a part of the committee, and it has been a huge blessing for her. She mentioned how being in the committee expands your opportunity to let your light shine, and to meet different brothers and sisters from the stake. Sure, it's natural to hang out with those in your own ward, but it's also important to develop new friendships. She hopes to be a chair person in her senior year.

Even though we are cross country from the headquarters of the church in Salt Lake City, this youth committee here in New Jersey does their best in putting in their time, and thinking caps on to know what will benefit the youth in our area. Issuing concerns is not easy, but it'll help them develop a character of being compassionate, kind, and exhibiting unconditional love. Being a part of this helps them strengthen each others values as well as helping them find their identity in this world. It's not easy being the only member in your school, and sometimes it's hard to keep that peer pressure at a distance. Knowing that they have friends with the same moral values outside of public school reminds them to choose the right.

They know when it's time to have fun, and when it is time to work. It's not easy being spread out as members, and having to carpool from town to town.

At the end of the day none of that matters. What matters is to witness how these wonderful kids spend time with one another in buoying each other up, doing their best to serve others, and in giving equal time to the Lord.

And there are plenty of youth in this world to serve.