Church announces “home-centered” youth initiative

“Good, as it ripens, becomes continually more different not only from evil but from other good.”

C.S. Lewis

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has begun to roll out its “New Approach” to Children and Youth, which will officially begin on January 1. 2020. This new program “is designed to be personalized and customized to each individual.”

Along with the previously implemented (January 2019) “Come, Follow Me” home-centered Gospel study program, this new youth initiative encourages families to take a greater role in setting goals and planning activities together. Children as young as eight years old will be encouraged (and expected) to plan and set personal goals in four areas: spiritual, social, intellectual and physical.

This program will require parents to take an interactive, goal-oriented, regularly-scheduled, personal role in each of their children’s lives. There is little doubt that an increased family focus on the personal and spiritual growth of each child will be good for the children. I worry about how this change will affect the many parents who may already be exhausted, stretched out, and spread thin.

While watching the 48 minute video introducing the initiative, I kept thinking, “this sounds like the Montessori Method of Education.” The Montessori approach is a child-centered educational philosophy that aims to develop children physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment.

The Montessori classroom is “thoughtfully designed to offer children opportunities to develop their own capabilities.” The belief is that “allowing children to make their own choices based on internal motivation rather than adult direction sets a strong foundation for developing capable children.”

This sounds great, and the Montessori philosophy appears to support what the LDS Church is doing. Over time, our children and youth can learn to be more responsible, more self-directed, and more capable of self-assessment and self-correction.

The problematic difference is that Montessori teachers are highly trained and Montessori classrooms are well-supplied with interesting educational activities. One can only hope that LDS parents and homes are similarly prepared. And a critical difference is that the Montessori method is seen as most effective from the ages of 2 or 3 to the age of 6 – during a child’s early brain development. The new LDS Church initiative is intended for children from ages 8 to 11, and youth from 12 to 18.

Still, if one is a believing member of the faith, a prophet of God has promised that even young people can learn how to receive personal revelation. As a retired school teacher I can testify that our children and youth are capable of more growth, more learning, and more responsibility than we typically ask of them. The prophet is asking us all to do more and reach farther, but he also promises us more joy and peace if we do so.

An interesting aspect of this new approach is its acknowledgement that, aside from the basic priesthood ordinances that everyone needs, the covenant path will be different for each person. We are each unique and have our own interests, talents, and gifts to give to the Church and to the world. This is why I started this post with a quote from C.S. Lewis. He taught that all evil is the same ugly, boring, emptiness while the good is full of variety, beauty, activity, and fullness.

Perhaps this new initiative for Children and Youth can help us all strengthen our families, magnify our talents, and grow in our faith – at home and at church.

Sources: C.S. Lewis, “The Great Divorce” (preface), April 1945.
“Children and Youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” churchofjesuschrist.org.
“Why Choose Montessori Education,” American Montessori Society.
“Montessori FAQ’s,” The International Montessori Index.
President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional • June 3, 2018 • Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.