Brother Brad Wilcox: Ways to Teach and Learn About the 2024 Youth Theme

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By Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, Young Men General Presidency, for Church News

The youth theme for 2024 is found in 3 Nephi 5:13 where we read, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Those words were recorded by Mormon — a prophet who didn’t just tell us but also showed us with his choices — and at a young age. How can quorum and class presidencies and their adult leaders help those in their charge to do the same?

Recently I asked three teachers in religious education at Brigham Young University — Tyler Griffin, Ryan Sharp and John Hilton II``for their advice about teaching the theme. I also asked my granddaughter, Paisley Wilcox, age 13, who lives in California, to share what she is doing.

Tyler Griffin

“An easy object lesson about discipleship is to have someone stand in front of you and instruct the person to extend his or her hand and keep it about six inches below your own extended hand. Tell the person to follow your hand movements and then move your hand up and down and from side to side. It is easy for all to see how easy it is for the follower to fall behind.

youth-theme
Tyler Griffin presents during BYU’s Education Week in Provo on Monday, August 15, 2022. Griffin is the associate dean of Religious Education at BYU. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.

“The lesson for disciples? The closer you are to the Savior, the easier it is to follow Him. But don’t stop there. Now have the follower turn to someone else and lead another through the same experience.

“The best followers usually make the best leaders. In the youth program of the Church, young people are typically given opportunities to follow and to lead. It is a great environment in which to be mentored and to mentor others, to be taught and to teach others. In the “For the Strength of Youth” guide it says, ‘You can make a difference in the world, and that requires, in many cases, being different from the world’ (p. 4). Part of following the Savior is leading others to Him.”

Ryan Sharp

“The Savior is the ultimate example we follow, but we can also learn a lot about discipleship from other disciples. I have loved 3 Nephi 5:13 since my own mission to Auckland, New Zealand, where my mission president encouraged us to memorize it. His name was Dirk Smibert from Brisbane, Australia. He and his wife, Kerry, were amazing examples of disciples of Jesus Christ. In my final interview with President Smibert, he said, ‘Elder Sharp, always make yourself available to serve the Lord.’

“While this piece of advice was helpful at the time, it became deeply impactful as I have reflected on ways in which the Smiberts modeled this in powerful ways. Their life of intentional consecration has demonstrated what discipleship looks like. I have seen in them practical ways of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and have witnessed in them the thrill of working and serving in the kingdom of God.

“Because of their example, every significant decision my wife and I have made since that time has been made through the lens of seeking to become available to serve the Lord. As we think about examples of discipleship in our lives, we are often inspired to become even more consecrated ourselves.

“Who are disciples of Jesus Christ you admire? What do they do that inspires you in your own discipleship? In what ways are they modeling Christlike ministering and service?”

John Hilton III

“Learn more about Christ so you will want to be His disciple. We have the wonderful opportunity to do that this year as we study the Book of Mormon. Help young people see how Jesus Christ is central in the Book of Mormon.

“In 2018, President Russell M. Nelson invited, ‘As you read [the Book of Mormon], I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior.’

“Looking for Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon provides a unique way to learn about Him. As you read, look not only for names and titles that describe him, but also pronouns. Consider how the following verse emphasizes Him: ‘Begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works’ (Alma 33:22).

“When young people carefully examine the Book of Mormon, they will find more than 7,400 references to Jesus Christ — an average of more than one reference per verse. Titles of Christ account for roughly 50 percent of references to Christ in the Book of Mormon, with the remainder coming from pronouns.

“The more we learn about Jesus Christ, the more we will love Him. And the more we love Him, the more we will want to be His disciples.”

Paisley Wilcox

“I decided one of the best ways I could teach the theme to others is by memorizing it myself first. I printed out the verse from 3 Nephi and put it in my shower. When I am in the shower, I recite the theme several times. That made it easy to learn and that way I will review it regularly and not forget it. I’m memorizing other scriptures that way too.

“My dad showed me a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott that I really like. He said, ‘Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for a needed change’ “(“Power of Scripture,” October 2011 general conference).