Teens learn to Trust in the Lord at Youth Conference

Report

Apr 22

Over a hundred teenagers between the ages of 13-18 in the Hurst area gathered together on March 18-20, 2022 to attend Youth Conference, a 3-day event that includes a service project, educational classes, activities, a devotional (testimony meeting) and more.

Tanner Hickson and Logan Pardue, members of the Hurst Texas Stake share their experiences about Stake Youth Conference.

Tanner Hickson, from the Hurst First Ward (congregation) shares his experience attending this year:

This year's Youth Conference was awesome. I not only had fun experiences but it was spiritual uplifting as well.

On Friday, we went and cleaned up trash and loose brush from a cemetery in Haltom City called the New Trinity Cemetery. I had a lot of fun there and I felt like we did really well with the service we provided.

That night we played games at the church. There was foosball, ping pong, card games, karaoke, and popcorn.

Tanner Hickson shows off his axe throwing skills.

Saturday, we got to the church at 8:30 a.m. and got ready for our classes throughout the day. My first class of the day was with Brother Pulido. We learned about education and colleges. My second class was with Sister Dickens. We learned about how to look for a job and what a job interview should look like. My next class was about how we need to trust in the Lord. Then we went to a class with Brother Eastman, who taught us about personal finance and budgeting. In the next class I attended, Elder Katoa shared what it was like to be a proselytizing and service missionaries. I went to an axe throwing lesson with Brother and Sister Hickson. There we talked about how we have potential to do a lot of things. After that was my last class of the day with Brother LaPray. We learned about overcoming challenges in life.

That night there was a dance that was also a lot of fun.

Sunday afternoon we had a testimony meeting. I could tell that the spirit was in
the room. This Youth Conference was fun and spiritually uplifting.

–Tanner Hickson

Logan Pardue, from the River Trails First Ward (congregation) shares her experience attending this year.

I recently had the incredible opportunity to go to our Stake Youth Conference. Our leaders did such a good job putting on a wonderful event with lots of spiritual experiences, as well as plenty of fun.

The theme for the conference was this year’s youth theme, Proverbs 3:5-6. The scripture goes as follows:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

This theme is such a good one for this day and age, as it is more important now than ever before to lean on the Lord for guidance instead of trying to navigate our trials on our own.

The first afternoon of the event, we went to a cemetery to pick up trash and tidy up in general. Personally, I really enjoyed this aspect. I think it is important to take care of our community and do community service. Apart from the service aspect however, this was a good activity in other ways, too. I was able to reflect on my ancestors and loved ones in the spirit world, and receive personal revelation for how to better serve my loved ones who have passed away. I felt strongly prompted to start indexing more and to make the most of my time at the temple, when I am able to go. This activity brought the Spirit to the whole weekend.

Later that evening, we had a fun activity with lots of different things to do. I had a fun time watching all sorts of karaoke singing, but there was also a movie playing, sports activities going on, and a bunch of other stuff. And of course, the snacks were an added bonus :)

The next morning, we had classes to go to. I loved how all the classes were so different, but all of them incorporated the theme of trusting in the Lord. We learned about how to budget with the Lord on our side, the costs of colleges, and how to navigate that possible option for our future. We also learned about networking and preparing for job interviews.

One of my favorite classes was the axe throwing one. It was fun learning the techniques behind hitting the target (almost) every time and getting to participate in friendly competitions. But also, the spiritual aspect they connected it to was something that I found important and relevant.

Logan Pardue at the axe throwing station.

The axe was likened unto us, each with a divine potential to hit the target. However, sometimes it could be covered up, so we couldn’t see that potential, by our trials or struggles. Despite whether we could see it or not though, that potential was always there, waiting for us to uncover it.

In another class, we learned how to overcome obstacles, and due to an accident, we found out that we can overcome more than we expected to.

One more activity that stuck out to me was one where we did group activities blindfolded so we could learn to trust each other and the Lord when we can’t see the whole picture. I loved how the activities were not just abstract activities that only related to the scripture. They also related to things we, as youth, experience or will experience soon in our lives. It exemplifies the idea of being “in the world, but not of the world.”

On Sunday evening, we had a testimony meeting, and it was such a spiritual experience. I enjoyed getting to hear what everyone learned, and how we all felt the spirit at different times and in different ways throughout the weekend. Out of respect for the privacy of the people who spoke, I won't share exactly what they said, but trust when I say, it was such an uplifting meeting and everyone who talked brought the spirit with them.

Overall, Youth Conference this year was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend anyone who wasn’t able to attend to come next time if they are able. To any youth who weren’t quite old enough to come this year, I hope you will come next year. It is such a fun, uplifting experience, and it’s a fantastic way to meet new people and grow old friendships more while learning about the gospel and how to be more Christlike.

–Logan Pardue