Young Men's Program
The Young Men Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an organization or help to the priesthood. Until 2020 it included Scouting and the Duty to God program among its programs designed to help male members, ages 12 through 18. “The Young Men organization promotes the growth and development of each young man through quorum instruction, quorum activities, and combined Young Men–Young Women activities."[1]
Until changes were implemented in October 2019, each ward and stake has a Young Men presidency comprised of Melchizedek Priesthood holders. They serve as advisers to the Aaronic Priesthood quorums: the president is the adviser to the priests, the first counselor is the adviser to the teachers, and the second counselor is the adviser to the deacons. The ward Young Men presidency serves under the direction of the bishopric and the stake Young Men presidency serves under the direction of the stake presidency. The Young Men general presidency is assisted by a general board to develop programs and materials and is under the direction of the General Authorities.
- Today we announce organizational changes for youth at ward and stake levels. As President Nelson explained, Sister Bonnie H. Cordon will discuss changes for young women this evening. One purpose for the changes I will now discuss is to strengthen Aaronic Priesthood holders, quorums, and quorum presidencies. These changes align our practice with Doctrine and Covenants 107:15, which reads, “The bishopric is the presidency of this [Aaronic] priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same.”
- One of the scriptural duties of the bishop is to preside over the priests and to sit in council with them, teaching them the duties of their office.6 In addition, the first counselor in the bishopric will have specific responsibility for teachers and the second counselor for deacons.
- Accordingly, to align with this revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants, Young Men presidencies at the ward level will be discontinued. These faithful brethren have done much good, and we express appreciation to them.
- It is our hope that bishoprics will give great emphasis and focus to the priesthood responsibilities of young men and help them in their quorum duties. Capable adult Young Men advisers will be called to assist the Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies and the bishopric in their duties.7 We are confident that more young men and young women will rise to the challenge and stay on the covenant path because of this laser-like focus on our youth.
History of the Young Men's Program
In 1875, President Brigham Young organized the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA), now known as Young Men's, to work in tandem with the Young Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association, later renamed to the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association (YWMIA) and now known as Young Women.
Presidents of the Young Men organization included:
- Junius F. Wells 1876–1880
- Wilford Woodruff 1880–1898
- Lorenzo Snow 1898–1901
- Joseph F. Smith 1901–1918
- Anthony W. Ivins 1918–1921
- George Albert Smith 1921–1935
- Albert E. Bowen 1935–1937
- George Q. Morris 1937–1948
- Elbert R. Curtis 1948–1958
- Joseph T. Bentley 1958–1962
- G. Carlos Smith 1962–1969
- W. Jay Eldredge Jr. 1969–1972
- Robert L. Backman 1972–1974, 1979–1985
- Victor L. Brown 1974–1977 (At this time, the Young Men organization functioned under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric)
- Neil D. Schaerrer 1977–1979
- Vaughn J. Featherstone 1985–1990
- Jack H. Goaslind 1990–1998
- Robert K. Dellenbach 1998–2001
- F. Melvin Hammond 2001–2004
- Charles W. Dahlquist 2004–2009
- David L. Beck 2009–2015
- Stephen W. Owen 2015–2020
- Steven J. Lund 2020–
