Each summer, young men and women gather for youth conferences to enhance self-worth, increase spirituality and socialize with other youth. Many of these conferences are now being focused on service.

The Church News spotlights four of these conferences in this week's paper."Most youth enjoy them [the service projects] once they feel like what they're doing has some sort of meaning," said Ginger Tucker, second counselor in the Fort Smith Arkansas Young Women presidency.

Nancy Bennett, a 17-year-old Laurel from Fort Smith's Alma Ward, said, "Service projects don't cost as much, and everyone can pitch in and help. It's a lot of fun because you're there with people you know and you can become closer to them. I also like to do things for other people."

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UTAH

EPHRAIM, UTAH

Youth leaders in the Ephraim 2nd Ward, Ephraim Utah Stake, found that by including their young people in the planning stages of a service-oriented youth conference, enthusiasm and participation increases.

After two months of helping advisers come up with ideas, these young men and women spent two days during their recent conference improving the grounds of a local pioneer cemetery, cleaning a nearby campground and attending motivational workshops.

"The reason we had such good participation," said Bishop Barry Baker, "was the planning of all the activities weeks in advance by the youth themselves. They learned that they can stay close to home and still plan a variety of activities that are more than just entertainment. The adult leaders evaluated the conference and feel some of the young people's lives were visibly changed."

Early the first day, the youth and their leaders headed to a pioneer cemetery outside of town. They spent the morning cleaning up branches, putting up a new fence and cleaning the grounds.

After a lunch break, the group headed up Ephraim Canyon. About two miles from a campground, they divided into three groups. With an army compass, they hiked the remaining distance. The route was marked by tags bearing a scripture on it offering a clue as to the direction of the next marker.

The youth reseeded grass, cleaned up trash and made new trails in a local campground.

The conference ended with workshops on such topics as self-esteem and prayer. The youth then took time-alone to ponder what they accomplished and learned.

"As a follow-up, we held a testimony meeting the next month," said Bishop Baker. "From these testimonies, we felt the youth learned through their experiences the importance of taking initiative to help each other."

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TEXAS

Photo by Pat Ragsdale

Youth from the Lewisville Texas Stake paint an old schoolhouse being renovated into a community center.

DENTON, TEXAS

A recent youth conference of the Lewisville Texas Stake not only taught participants the purpose of service but also prompted a town to begin renovating an old schoolhouse into a community center. About 250 youth and advisers gathered in Denton, Texas, 30 miles northwest of Lewisville, to paint the dilapidated building and hold workshops on self-esteem.

As a result, town residents have formed a committee to head up further local fund-raising activities.

Deanie Martino, second counselor in the stake Young Women presidency, said the project was actually a surprise. While planning for the conference, they looked into painting the building but chose another project. One week before the conference, she discovered word had leaked to the citizens that the youth might do it and they were all for it, she said.

With no supplies for the project, Sister Martino contacted Tim Lynch, a Denton resident, whom she heard would supply some paint.

Lynch tried two years ago to raise local support for such a project. "I wanted to restore the building for the historical value," he told the Church News. "I wanted to do something to pull the community together."

Lynch began work the Tuesday before the Saturday project, scraping and cleaning the outside of the building.

When the project got underway, Sister Martino said citizens were surprised that it was actually started. "Everyone wanted to see the building turned into a community center, but they wanted to see something happen first," she said.

She reported that after the project was completed, $2,500 in donations poured in for a new roof.

A feeling of satisfaction for the young people sometimes comes after the fact, Sister Martino said. "In the heat, when they were tired, this project was just work," she said. "When it was done and they looked back and saw the finished project and heard the community's response, now is when the real feeling of service comes in. It most often comes after the fact, not during."

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ARKANSAS

Photo by Charlie Tucker

Young people from the Fort Smith Arkansas Stake construct a flagstone path leading to Parley P. Pratt's grave in Alma, Ark., during their youth conference.

FORT SMITH, ARK.

Enthusiasm abounded for the young men and women of the Fort Smith Arkansas Stake during their recent youth conference, as they constructed a flagstone walkway to Parley P. Pratt's gravesite in Alma, Ark.

The gravesite is near the spot where Elder Pratt was martyred in 1857 at Van Buren, Ark., at age 50, while he was serving a mission to the Southern States.

Approximately 75 youth from the stake gathered for the conference. They also attended workshops on the life of Elder Pratt, an early Church apostle; missionary preparation; and career planning and preparation.

Pete Bennett of the Alma Ward coordinated construction. He gathered seven tons of "Arkansas native flagstone," which is tan with rose streaks, and about 50 bags of cement.

Once the conference got under way, the youth became even more enthusiastic. "I was really surprised. I guess it [the walkwayT was something they could see," noted Ginger Tucker, second counselor in the stake Young Women presidency.

` When the work was finished, the young men and women looked back on a 120-foot long, three-foot wide flagstone walkway. Sister Tucker said the project made the young people feel more of a part of the Church.

"We're so far away from the center of the Church," she added, "but part of Church history has happened close to us here. Another thing we foresee as being important is that in future years when these youth grow up and have families, they can come back . . . and say `That was my stone. I put that there.' "

She explained the youth that placed the stones in the cement chose their "very own stone."

A time capsule containing items from the conference was placed under the walkway.

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NORTH DAKOTA

By Janet Kruckenberg, Public Communications Director, Fargo North Dakota Stake

Photo by Janet Kruckenberg

Youth in Aberdeen, S.D., wash cars; give donations to substance abuse center

FARGO, N.D.

The young men and women of the Fargo North Dakota Stake are making it a tradition to offer community service at their annual youth conference. Approximately 60 youth gathered at a shopping center in Aberdeen, S.D., recently to wash cars.

The youth didn't charge for their labors, but accepted donations that were later turned over to the local community drug and alcohol abuse center.

"The car wash was something youth could relate well to," said Ray Knighton, stake Young Men president. "One of the added benefits was a lot of interest generated in the local community. They were asked, `What are you doing?' They would then explain what youth conference was all about."

Some youth and ward leaders did have some concerns about the activity. Brother Knighton was worried thunder storms, common to that area, would rain them out. Bishop Forrest Allred of the Aberdeen Ward wondered if citizens would support another car wash since the mall is a popular spot for other organizations' car washes.

Both concerns were unfounded, though, as the sky remained clear and car after car came in to be washed. Water was donated by a bank located at the mall.

Brother Knighton said the young people and their leaders felt these projects give them opportunities to let the community know that members of the Church are friendly, concerned neighbors and citizens.

Jacob Ulvestad, a 15-year-old teacher in the Wahpeton Branch, said, "It's funner doing something for someone other than yourself. I'd like to do more things for other people like service projects at youth conferences."