Young Single Adults
In April 2011, the Church reorganized and realigned young single adult wards and stakes throughout Utah. Each YSA ward is open to all single Church members age 18 to 30 who live within the ward’s geographic boundaries. Young single adults may choose to attend the YSA ward or the conventional ward in which they live. This change helps young single adults avoid confusion about which ward they should attend. In July 2024, the Church announced the age span to be adjusted to 18 to 35.[2]
Although there are young single adult wards all over the United States, these changes will primarily impact those in Utah and Idaho. For the members along Utah’s Wasatch Front, an additional change will be that all young single adult wards will now be part of a young single adult stake. Previously, many stakes, which are comprised of 4 to 15 wards, included a ward especially for young single adults.
In locations where there are colleges and universities, a number of branches or wards might be established. Participation in young single adult wards and branches gives young single adults enhanced social opportunities and more opportunities for leadership. In a conventional ward, young single adults would seldom be called to fill leadership positions because of the number of adults over 35. Leaders may consider recommending an adjustment to provide a ward for members ages 18-25 and a ward for those ages 26-35. YSA wards offer more leadership and training for very capable young single adults. In a YSA ward, the bishop is usually called from a nearby conventional ward to serve for three to five years. His counselors are also usually men from a nearby conventional ward.
Another advantage of the new geographical formation of YSA wards is that leaders now know exactly who is in their ward boundaries, and ward members know who their bishop is. The previous option to "ward hop" made it difficult for leaders to keep track of and minister to young single adults.
In 2023, the first Utah Area Young Single Adult Conference was held in Salt Lake City. The event was initially intended to be something "small and local" but the enthusiasm for the event "exploded" and the Church's Utah Area presidency supported it. The theme, "Together in Christ," was the focus for each event during August. Events included a concert, dance, games, a 5K sunset fun run, a Gather Together day-long convention full of various activities and speakers, and a devotional with Elder D. Todd Christofferson.[3] A 2024 YSA conference will be modeled after the 2023 conference, with the same theme, "Together in Christ."[4] A devotional will also held with Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
