mini youth conference.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the mini youth conference for our church. Being in the Young Women Stake Presidency sure has it's privileges. I get to hear the youth bear their testimonies & not only "observe" but participate in the youth dances that are held afterwards. 

Mini youth conference was held all day Saturday & consisted of classes that taught the youth on the atonement and ways we can return back to our heavenly Father. "The classes were interesting & I  really learned a lot from them."said my daughter who is now 14. This was our first MYC together & we both enjoyed it very much. 

Testimony meeting is by far my favorite part of any youth activity. The youth are given the opportunity to bear testimony on their thoughts, feelings, & beliefs of the Savior. I love that their testimonies are simple, touching, & to the point. There are times when some of us adults take too much time when sharing our testimony. Because there are quite a bit of youth the meeting goes on for about two hours. Sitting in the chapel listening to their testimonies strengthened me in so many ways. They are young, and have a whole life ahead of them. They each carry a special spirit with them, and whether they realize it or not the Lord is there for them...always willing and waiting to listen. 

I see them as the "lucky ones". Lucky because they each carry a uniqueness in them in which one youth can learn from another. Lucky because they are given the "tools" (such as prayer & scriptures) that are necessary in which will help them grow spiritually as well as finding out if this church is true. Lucky because I didn't grow up in this church with standards & going to youth conferences, or any activity. Lucky because they belong to a church that teaches them important values in which can help keep them clean & pure. Lucky because this is one way where they can "find themselves" knowing that they indeed are sons and daughters of God. Lucky because they have the scriptures which is the "creator's perspective" in which will help them understand "why the world doesn't make sense." 

Lucky because this is one place where they can nurture & build their testimony.

The testimonies that were said were so heartfelt. These kids are awesome & even though some of them may not fully understand or "get" the purpose of the youth program, why they're here, & why we have testimony meeting...the main point is that they came, they participated & gave the conference a chance as to how it's going to benefit their life in a spiritual aspect. 

And then...there's the dance afterwards. Now that's what makes any mini youth conference even more fun!

For four hours I had the pleasure of hanging around a bunch of crazy youth dancing their tushes off. I myself did a little bit of dancing among the youth, but have to admit grew a bit weary after about an hour (yes, I'm a wimp...I don't think I'd be a right candidate for Zumba either) & came home with a bit of a headache! 

I love that the kids are not dancing too close, and when the girls don't have a boy to dance with (which is their loss because they're missing out on some awesome cuties) get with their girlfriends and goof around by dancing with each other. 

Here's a perfect example...

^^ a blurry black & white photo of  how members of the opposite sex should be dancing to a slow song ^^

It's been about two years since I've been to a concert where extremely loud music is played & this was pretty close. It could be a sign of old age, but I have a young heart & did enjoy myself. Getting better acquainted with some of the youth instead of just hanging around and observing them to make sure there's no funny business going on was the highlight of my evening.  

Knowing that these kids are in a safe environment where clean fun is taking place without any booze, unclean acts, or crazy shenanigans really puts me at ease. Like I said...they truly are the lucky ones. I've never been to any church dances before (even though I have an older daughter in college now who once participated in these youth activities for the past five years), and I have never seen a "cleaner" more fun dance with a group of great kids dancing the night away to clean music that won't hurt you, or put thoughts in your mind that are not good. 

The dances I attended while growing up throughout my middle & high school years consisted of inappropriate music that was never approved before being played, couples making out in dark corners of the room, and kids dancing a little too close for comfort. Teachers would let us get away with murder, and the example that set for me was not good. Luckily I survived any unclean act that came into my life throughout my days as a youth, and that I am teaching my children true principles of the gospel that has a purpose. 

It makes me extremely grateful to be raising my kids in the church where they are taught morals, and values that will help them make wise choices. 

Lexie willingly went to said activity on her own motive, unafraid, and willing to learn what the Lord has for her. Her first mini youth conference was a great experience, and even though it took her an hour to bear her testimony...she did it, and it was simply beautiful. She enjoyed the dance, and the fact that everyone was having clean fun. 

She sees a lot of "unclean" acts in the middle of the day during school, and personally has no desire to go to any of the dances. However, she is willing to go to her eighth grade dance only because it'll be her last year in middle school. I'm sure they'll be shenanigans going on throughout the dance, but luckily she has the talent to block out anything unclean, and that she has the capacity to build her own kind of fun that is clean & pure.  

And when you give your heart to The Lord, He will help you lose the desire to make poor choices, and strengthen you to make the right ones.