For two weeks during BYU-Idaho's summer break, hundreds of teenagers are attending a week-long conference called, For the Strength of Youth, or FSY for short.
According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors the conferences, FSY is designed to help youth of the Church have fun while learning to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ in all aspects of their lives.
Lynette Bird, an event coordinator for BYU-Idaho and coordinator for FSY, says BYU-Idaho is hosting FSY because the school is committed to giving these teens the best experience possible, with all the campus has to offer.
"We teach and embrace the gospel. We love the Savior, and I think that everything that we do kind of reflects that. Everybody here, the goal is for the participation to have the most amazing experience. Whether it’s the food, their dances, even just when they’re sitting in the garden studying, it’s just everybody here has the same goal for them to have an amazing experience so that they can embrace FSY’s goal, which is to teach them to turn to the Savior,” Bird said.
Kaitlyn Wight, an FSY counselor, says her experience with FSY at BYU-Idaho feels like being in the promised land.
“My experience has been so good. From the moment I stepped on campus, it just felt light. Like I could just feel something different,” Wight said.
Jake Reil, another FSY counselor, says he appreciates his experience seeing the changes the teens experience over the course of a week.
“It’s felt really fulfilling, like my mission, because you just see these youth grow. They come here, sometimes, they don’t know if they have a testimony. They don’t know Jesus Christ. And then you see them at the end of the week, and they’ve made a new friend. And that friend is Jesus Christ,” Reil said.
“So many youth walk away with having more confidence in their Savior, not being afraid to step out of their comfort zone. And they’ve done that all week long of trying to make new friends,” Wight said.
FSY conferences are designed to help the youth of the Church of Jesus Christ to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ, while also feeling joy and belonging as they live the gospel. But youth aren’t the only people who learn. The counselors often also have big takeaways.
Reil says he’s learned how important the small, daily things are.
“Each morning we study with the youth. At night you pray with them. You journal about the day ... and how powerful those simple things are in their life. At FSY, we’re not doing anything crazy. We’re not preaching to them for hours on end, but we’re just allowing them to have experiences on their own, allowing them to go and gospel study for themselves and to be with the Lord and being able to see them build those habits,” Reil said.
Wight says she’s seen the Lord magnify her efforts with the teens. Each Thursday, the youth dress in their Sunday best and have an opportunity to share their testimonies.
“I feel like sometimes you hit Wednesday and you’re like, ‘Are the youth even getting anything out of this? Are they having fun? Are they gaining a testimony?’ And you hit Thursday, and they just bare the most pure and raw testimonies and experiences that they’ve had with the Savior throughout the week,” Wight said.
Youth can start attending FSY the year they turn 14. To see when your children can sign up, go online to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.