His Love: Especially For Youth

Each year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in conjunction with Brigham Young University, offers a week-long summer program for teens ages 14-18 called “Especially For Youth” (“EFY” for short). The first EFY program was held in 1976 in Provo, Utah.

Since then it has grown and expanded into many locations throughout North America, and a few are held outside the USA. It is now attended by more than 50,000 youth per year [in fact, there is such high demand a new “priority registration” process is being tried this year, where applicants are assigned a date to log in and register through a random drawing].

EFY creates a setting where teens can have fun in a wholesome environment, and develop spiritually, intellectually and socially. The program is open to youth of all religions who agree to follow the dress & appearance code. Sessions are supervised by young-adult counselors between the ages of 20-25 who act as positive role models, and the program is directed by adult instructors. My own children have loved attending EFY. They have made memories and friends to cherish for a lifetime, and it has strengthened their faith and self-esteem.

Each year, EFY chooses a gospel-centered theme. For example, the motto for 2010 is “Courage To Stand Strong” (Joshua 1:9). [for registration info, click here]

In conjunction with the EFY experience, each participant is given a special CD recording of new songs performed by LDS artists specifically written for that year’s EFY theme. In 2004 the theme was “Stand In The Light” (John 8:12). The following video highlights one of the beautiful songs from that CD, (available on iTunes) entitled “His Love“, by Jake Rau. A nice musical Valentine!

video courtesy jasonandarianne