.png)
sweden_2024_youth_theme_video_recording-(1).png
A young women places a lit lantern in the water during the filming of the 2024 youth theme music video called “Disciple of Christ,” which was filmed in Sweden and Finland.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Ryan Jensen, Church News
One of the most anticipated parts of the youth theme release each year is a new album of music produced specifically to support the core message of the year’s theme.
Songs from these albums from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been streamed hundreds of millions of times in dozens of languages and in more than 200 countries in the past few years.
The full album of a dozen new songs launched on Friday, January 5, and is available on the Church’s Children and Youth website, the Gospel Library, Strive to Be YouTube channel, Spotify and Apple Music.
Benjamin Josiah sings on this year’s album and said he felt blessed to be chosen to sing this year’s theme song.
“The message of this song to me shows how I can lean on Christ,” said Josiah, adding, “the music video portrays disciples of Christ sharing their light with others. I strive to be someone who sits next to another who is feeling alone to share that light with them.”
The music video for this year’s theme called “Disciple of Christ,” which was filmed in Sweden and Finland, published December 31, 2023.
The 2024 theme comes from 3 Nephi 5:13, where Mormon says, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.”
Nik Day has written many of the youth album songs over the past six years, including theme songs like last year’s “I Can Do All Things,” 2022’s “Trust in the Lord,” “A Great Work” from 2021, and “I Will Go and Do” from 2020.
Day said he felt this year’s theme is special because of how it focuses on the Savior and becoming like Him.
“A lot of times we ‘follow’ people on social media or want to build our ‘followers,’ but the only being we should truly follow is Christ. We need to try to be like Him, say what He would say, serve as He would serve,” Day said.
Day sings a song on this year’s album called “Diamond.” He said that the message of the song is that individuals can turn themselves over to Him in whatever state they may be, and He will turn them into something beautiful despite their imperfections.
“With pressure and love, he can turn us into diamonds, if we let him,” Day said.
‘Disciple of Christ’ Lyrics
When the stars burn out and the strong winds come,
I will lift my eyes to the rising sun.
He is the Prince of Peace;
He steadies my soul.
I am His hands and feet.
The whole world will know.
Chorus:
I’m a disciple of Christ;
I will never leave Him.
He is the truth and the life;
He’s the strength in my weakness.
I will shine ’til the whole world sees
He’s the light that will set us free.
I’m a disciple of Christ.
Out of all the paths that I could take,
Giving Him my life was the only way.
He is my fire by night,
The air in each breath.
So I’ll stand and testify
Again and again.
(Repeat chorus x2)
2024-youth-theme
The Strive to Be Facebook cover image for 2024 is an adapted illustration of the year’s youth theme that includes the word “disciple” in dozens of languages.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.