VISION OF HOPE: UNIFIED YOUTH REACTIVATION PROGRAM “Ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.” (3 Nephi 18:32)
“What is it that we can accomplish that has never been done before?” This was the question I often asked myself and those whom I was privileged to lead towards setting higher sights of new achievement. “…the Lord kept urging the Saints to look up, to get a vision, to raise their sights that they might get the vision of the magnitude of this work…God help us to live the gospel, to be real Latter-day Saints and to live the gospel, to go forward with our heads up high, to raise our sights and get a vision of this, the greatest work in all the world.” [ Pres. Ezra Taft Benson ] So are you willing to achieve something that has never been done before? Now before you answer this question, I caution you to think about your answer very carefully. If you answer ‘No,’ there is nothing wrong with it. It just simply means that you think you are not ready to exert the effort and make the commitment of visionary leadership (Read article on “Principles of Visionary Leadership”). However, if you say ‘Yes,’ be prepared to pay the price. For success in leadership has a high price to pay. You have to exercise faith, be willing to take bold action, initially expect some indifference from your detractors, face the possibility of failure, blaze new trails, walk through uncharted roads, and persevere against the odds. IF YOU SAY YES, then read on. “We who pretend leadership must set on fire those whom we lead. To be a leader one must remember he must excel in energy, power and mentality. A great leader will establish confidence in his men. They will see him accomplish the impossible and they will follow his example.” [Pres. Spencer W. Kimball] The idea I am about to share with you is something I know has never been done before in the magnitude and scope I will outline here. I came up with this idea when we moved to Concepcion, Tarlac and have proven it to work. You can use it to transform your stake (district) YM and YW organization into a highly energized unit and receive the rewards that inevitably come with it. (D&C 130: 20-21) This a comprehensive youth reactivation program that can bless your lives, other youth leaders, and especially the lives of young people who are lost and aimless. If after all the efforts you exert to bring back lost youth into the Church and save only just one soul, how great shall be your joy. How much more if the Lord should bless you to bring many back to Church activity, your joy will be greater. (D&C 18:15-16)