FILE - The Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 18, 2008. (Tom Smart, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to expand its For the Strength of Youth, or FSY, youth conference program to the United States and Canada on Friday.
The Church has operated FSY conferences throughout the world for more than a decade. However, this will be the first time these conferences take place in the United States.
Several congregations and stakes throughout Utah will have the opportunity to participate in the program next year. The full list of participating stakes can be found here.
The structure of FSY conferences is very similar to the Especially for Youth, or EFY, program, which Brigham Young University has operated for more than 40 years.
Youth can attend the conferences beginning the year they turn 14. Young single adults will also have opportunities to volunteer as counselors.
BYU will provide assistance to the new program. The university will still host Special Edition and Express sessions of EFY, as well.
The announcement comes as the Church is preparing a new program for youth and children that begins in January 2020. According to the Church, these conferences will provide youth with opportunities to “grow spiritually, socially, physically and intellectually.”
More information about the program will be shared by Elder Gerrit W. Gong during a broadcast on November 17.