How to Involve Children and Youth in Service

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By Mary Richards, Church News

All across the world, children and youth in the Church are serving others — with their families and friends, through Primary service activities, during Young Men and Young Women activities, using the JustServe platform, joining high school JustServe clubs and in everyday acts of kindness. 

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The 2025 Caring summary explained that there were 7.4 million volunteer hours of service just last year. The Church also has provided principles to inspire families and leaders to help children and youth discover the joy of service. Those are found in the 2025 Caring for those in Need annual summary and summarized below. 

Involving Children in Service 

Children can care for those around them in small and simple ways, such as sharing a toy, giving someone a hug or writing a kind note, explained the Church’s website. 

Ways to help children get involved in service include: 

Lead by example. Start by serving in the home. Incorporate service into the family and expand to the community. See more in the February 2023 “Liahona” article “Helping children discover the joy of service.” 

Teach about service. Connect children with their primary identity and divine nature. Help them value relationships and service. Bring them along when fulfilling Church responsibilities, do family history together, see who needs service in a branch, ward or neighborhood. See more in the June 2024 “Liahona” article “Teaching children the power of relationships and service.” 

Serve together. Find where to volunteer locally or remotely through JustServe.org. 

Resources for parents and leaders: 

• JustServe has a list of service project ideas by category, including activities, art, care packages, collections and events. 
• Caring.ChurchofJesusChrist.org has coloring pages for young children that show examples of children serving others. 
• The Church’s Gospel for Kids YouTube channel has a playlist of videos titled “Caring for Those in Need.” 
• “Service and Activity Guidelines for Children” on the Church’s website help Primary leaders plan meaningful service opportunities and wholesome, fun activities. 
• General Handbook, section 12.2.1.3, explains more about how Primary presidencies may organize an annual community service activity. 

Involving Youth in Service 

The Church’s Caring website has resources for youth, including a quiz to help them learn their “service style.” Answering a few questions can help them see what acts of service might fit their personality — for example are they more like the Good Samaritan in the New Testament or Ammon from the Book of Mormon. 

Youth can: 

Find a service project. JustServe.org and the JustServe app list service projects based on interests and location. The platform also offers the ability to start a new project. 

Join or start a service club. Youth can find meaningful service opportunities and projects through a JustServe or other service club at school. If a school doesn’t have such a club, a section of JustServe.org includes successful practices for starting one. 

Share with others. Teenagers can inspire others to serve by sharing the Church’s posts from the Caring.ChurchofJesusChrist Instagram and Facebook accounts and by sharing their own service stories on social media. 

The Caring website points out that youth don’t need a lot of time or money to make a difference. “There are small things you can do to get involved and serve those around you.” 

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The Church News is interested in learning how youth take part in Global Youth Service Day in April. Email stories and photos (with names/stake info) to churchnews@deseretnews.com. 

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