Especially for Youth

Last updated
Especially for Youth
Efy.PNG
FrequencyWeekly during summer months
Inaugurated1976
Most recentBeginning in 2022, also facilitates FSY conferences
Participants50,000+ yearly
Patron(s) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Especially For Youth (often abbreviated as EFY) is a week-long youth-oriented seminar focused on fellowship and teaching the principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is run by Brigham Young University's (BYU) Division of Continuing Education (CE) and is the largest church-oriented summer camp, attracting over 50,000 attendees every year at locations around the world. [1] [2]

Contents

Structure

Attendance is open to all youth aged fourteen to eighteen. Sessions, which are primarily held in the United States, follow a common curriculum created by members of the LDS Church. Sessions take place during the summer months in order to coincide with the summer break practiced by many schools. The program is led by Latter-day Saint young adults who serve as counselors for the youth during the sessions. Many of the speakers are selected from the LDS Church's Seminary and Institute program or from the faculty of BYU and its sister institutions in Idaho and Hawaii. All sessions in the United States and Canada are organized and managed by the EFY office on the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, where it is part of BYU's CE, with sessions elsewhere organized by local organizing committees and area authorities.

EFY states that its mission is to help participants "come unto Christ." [2]

History of EFY

EFY was created by Ronald C. Hills in 1976 when 172 youth and 15 counselors met for the first session of the summer program. Then-Commissioner of Church Education Jeffrey R. Holland, now of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was one of the banquet speakers at the founding session. The next year, attendance rose to 863 youth. As of 2005, the total number of participants who had attended EFY over the years was 409,484. [3] John Bytheway wrote his master's thesis at BYU on the early years of EFY. [4] In 1999, Michael R. Hicks composed "The EFY Medley," which up to 2012 became one of the main songs sung at every session of EFY. [5] [6] As of August 2012, JD Hucks was the current program director.

Global expansion

Home Evening Games the first day of EFY Mexico-Leon 2011 Efy.jpg
Home Evening Games the first day of EFY México-León 2011

Between 2006 and 2011, the EFY program expanded to more parts of the world. In 2006, EFY expanded outside of the United States and Canada for the first time, with sessions in England, Germany, Mexico, and Sweden. [7] [8] Further expansion followed in 2009, with EFY sessions held for the first time in Spain, Italy, France and Guatemala. In 2010, the first EFY sessions were held in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Cape Verde, Norway, Netherlands, Tahiti, [9] El Salvador, and Honduras. Puerto Rico hosted an EFY session in 2011.

For the Strength of Youth Conferences

Beginning in 2012 most international locations began holding For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences, which were organized through local area presidencies, rather than through BYU.[ citation needed ] Then, after implementation initially being delayed from 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022, EFY started facilitating FSY conferences more broadly as a standard part of the LDS Church's youth program.[ citation needed ]

Locations of EFY

EFY participants gather to listen to speakers in June 2017 on the BYU campus BYU EFY June 2017.jpg
EFY participants gather to listen to speakers in June 2017 on the BYU campus

The traditional overnight-stay EFY programs are normally held on college campuses. BYU is the largest destination, hosting about 13,000 participants each summer. [10] In some limited situations EFY has been held in a hotel rather than on a university campus. The stay-at-home programs which do not involve overnight accommodations are often held at local church stake centers.

Sessions of EFY have been held in the following nations:

There are also a number of nations that haven't hosted an EFY session, but have been invited to participate in sessions in other nations. These nations include:

EFY sessions in Latin America began in Guatemala in 2009 and are now running as FSY conferences in the Central America region, Mexico and other South American countries. FSY conferences are officially sanctioned and run by the LDS Church.[ citation needed ]

EFY yearly themes

In 1982, EFY introduced its first annual theme. Since then, a theme and a scripture have set the tone for each EFY Session. In 2018 they have done LDS church related talks that also set the tone.

EFY schedule

Each day follows a schedule of devotionals, gospel study, session director morningsides, journal time, and personal scripture study. There are little if any changes between each of the nations who hold sessions of EFY, mostly in the schedule of the Overnight and Stay-at-Home program. [21] [22]

Schedule changes have been made over the years. In the late 1990s the schedule involved three dances (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and it also involved scheduled exercise time each morning. There have also been various shortened versions offered, at times involving a three-day schedule and currently there is the EFY Express which involves a one-day program. Since the EFY Express one-day programs all occur within a day they can be held during the school year. [23]

Overnight Program - Overview of Week
TimeMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Morning

Counselor/Coordinators Preparations

Classes

Classes

Young Men/Young Women Activity

For the Strength of Youth Activity

Checkout

Afternoon

Registration
Meet Your Counselor
Meet Your Company
Orientation

Classes
Variety Show Tryouts/Musical Rehearsal/Free Time

Classes
Variety Show Tryouts/Musical Rehearsal/Free Time

Variety Show
Musical Dress Rehearsal/Free Time

Service Activity
Free Time

Evening

Session Director Devotional
FHE Games and Goal Setting

Dance Etiquette and Instruction
Dance

Banner and Cheer Preparations
Games and Cheer-Off
Pizza Night

Testimony Tips
Fireside/Musical Program
Testimony Meeting

Picture/Address Exchange
Dance
Slide Show
"Taking it Home"

Adventure-based sister programs

BYU–Idaho hosts three EFY-like programs that encompass a significant outdoors component. These programs include Adventure for Youth, Outdoor Youth Adventures, and Youth for Excellence. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigham Young University–Hawaii</span> Private LDS Church college in Laie, Hawaii, U.S.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU–Hawaii) is a private college in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU–Hawaii was founded in 1955 and it became a satellite campus of Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1974. In 2004, it was made a separate institution. The college's sole focus is on undergraduate education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigham Young University–Idaho</span> Idaho campus of American university

Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private college in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded 136 years ago in 1888, the college is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Previously known as Ricks College, it transitioned from a junior college to a baccalaureate institution in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion G. Romney</span> American religious leader

Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families, & Friends</span>

Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families, & Friends is an international organization for individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, queer, intersex, or same-sex attracted, and their family members, friends, and church leaders who are members or former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marriott Center</span> College basketball arena in Provo, Utah, United States

The Marriott Center is a multi-purpose arena in the western United States, located on the campus of Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. It is home to the BYU Cougars men's and women's basketball teams. The seating capacity for basketball games at the Marriott Center is officially 17,978. It is the largest basketball arena in the Big 12 Conference and is among the largest on-campus basketball arenas in the nation.

Music has had a long history in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the days in Kirtland, Nauvoo, and the settlement of the West, to the present day. In the early days of the Church, stripped-down Latter-Day Saint folk music, which could be sung without accompaniment due to the lack of instruments in Utah, was popular. In the 19th century, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was created and began touring, while musicians began writing devotional and praise music with a Latter-Day Saint influence, paralleling the success of Christian Contemporary Music. Several organizations have existed and do exist to promote these artists, such as Deseret Book and the now-defunct Faith-centered Music Association. Starting in the late 20th century and to the present day, Latter-Day Saints have been increasingly involved in modern popular music in America and elsewhere in the World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church Educational System</span> Educational system of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church Educational System (CES) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non–Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners. Approximately 700,000 individuals were enrolled in CES programs in 143 countries in 2011. CES courses of study are separate and distinct from religious instruction provided through wards. Clark G. Gilbert, a general authority seventy, has been the CES commissioner since August 1, 2021.

The Marriott School of Business is the business school of Brigham Young University (BYU), a private university owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and located in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1891 and renamed in 1988 after J. Willard Marriott, founder of Marriott International, and his wife Alice following their $15 million endowment gift to the school.

The Young Ambassadors are a song and dance performing group from Brigham Young University (BYU). Consisting of 20 performers, 10 male and 10 female, they were founded by Janie Thompson in 1969. Since their first international performance at the 1970 World Fair in Osaka, Japan, they have performed in over 68 countries.

<i>For the Strength of Youth</i> (pamphlet)

"For the Strength of Youth" is a pamphlet distributed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that "summarizes standards from scripture and from the writings and teachings of Church leaders." The pamphlet's target audience is young men and young women of the LDS Church, although its principles are applicable to all age groups in the church. It is available on the Internet and in print form. The pamphlet was first published in 1965, with its 10th and most recent edition released in 2022. The pamphlet was to be put "in the hands of every young person in each ward".

June Conference was an annual gathering of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for young men and women, as well as church leaders. It was held in Salt Lake City between 1888 and 1975, and included cultural festivals, training, and speeches by church leaders.

Kory Katseanes is a Professor of Music and the Director of Orchestras at the BYU School of Music and was the director of the School of Music from 2009-2015. Brigham Young University (BYU) The orchestra program at BYU is one of the largest collegiate orchestra programs in the United States. He has also been a guest conductor for multiple orchestras.

Henry Johnson Eyring is an American academic administrator who served as the 17th president of Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–Idaho) from 2017 to 2023. From 2019 to 2023, he also served as an area seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He previously served as both the academic and the advancement vice president at BYU-Idaho, as well as director of the Marriott School of Business (MSB) MBA program at Brigham Young University (BYU).

The LDS edition of the Bible is a version of the Bible published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The text of the LDS Church's English-language Bible is the King James Version, its Spanish-language Bible is a revised Reina-Valera translation, and its Portuguese-language edition is based on the Almeida translation. The editions include footnoting, indexing, and summaries that are consistent with the doctrines of the LDS Church and that integrate the Bible with the church's other canonized Latter-day Saint scriptures. The LDS Church encourages its members to use the LDS Church edition of the Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clark Gilbert</span>

Clark G. Gilbert has been a general authority seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2021 and the Church Commissioner of Education since August of that year. He was the president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide (BYU–PW), an online higher education organization, from its creation in 2017 until August 2021. He was serving as the sixteenth president of Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–Idaho) when he was appointed inaugural president of BYU–PW. Previously, Gilbert served as president and CEO of both the Deseret News and Deseret Digital Media, having also served as an executive vice president of Deseret Management Corporation, a professor at Harvard Business School (HBS), and as an associate academic vice president at BYU–Idaho.

The BYU Division of Continuing Education (DCE) is a division of Brigham Young University (BYU) that oversees continuing education programs.

The Brigham Young University International Folk Dance Ensemble is a Brigham Young University (BYU) performing group that performs folk dances from many parts of the world. They were established as a small performing group in 1959 by Mary Bee Jensen and have grown to include around 180 participants. However, about 30 of the dancers participate in the touring ensemble which has performed in many locations around the world including at the cultural festival held in connection with the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea and at the opening ceremonies in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</span> Overview of and topical guide to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Understanding Sexuality, Gender, and Allyship</span>

USGA is an organization for LGBT Brigham Young University students and their allies. It began meeting on BYU campus in 2010 to discuss issues relating to homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, by December 2012, USGA began meeting off campus at the Provo City Library and is still banned from meeting on campus as of 2018. BYU campus currently offers no official LGBT-specific resources as of 2016. The group maintains political neutrality and upholds BYU's Honor Code. It also asks all participants to be respectful of BYU and the LDS Church. The group received national attention when it released its 2012 "It Gets Better" video. The group also released a suicide prevention message in 2013. A sister organization USGA Rexburg serves the LGBT Brigham Young University–Idaho student community in Rexburg, Idaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Conference (LDS Church)</span> Biannual conference in Salt Lake City

General Conference is a gathering of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held biannually every April and October at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. During each conference, church members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to the faith's leaders. It consists of five general sessions. From April 2018 to April 2021, the priesthood session was held during the April conference, with a General Women's Session held during October's conference. The Saturday evening session was changed to a general session in October 2021. The conference also generally includes training sessions for general and area leaders. Although each general conference originates from Salt Lake City, the conference is considered an international event for the church. The sessions are broadcast worldwide in over 90 languages, primarily through local and international media outlets, and over the Internet.

References

  1. ↑ Hunsaker, Brent (11 June 2009). "Flu symptoms raise concerns at BYU summer camps". KTVX (ABC 4 News). Retrieved 3 January 2010.[ dead link ]
  2. 1 2 "What is EFY?". Especially for Youth. Division of Continuing Education, Brigham Young University (BYU). Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  3. ↑ 2005 Participant Journal, pp. 72 - 73 [ clarification needed ]
  4. ↑ Bytheway, John (2003). A History of "Especially For Youth" — 1976-1986 (Master of Arts thesis). Digital Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Salisbury, Karianne (4 January 2008), "EFY Medley: The man behind its creation", Deseret News , retrieved 2013-01-17
  6. ↑ "EFY Medley: As Sisters In Zion & We'll Bring the World His Truth", MichaelRHicks.com, Michael R. Hicks, retrieved 2013-01-17
  7. ↑ 2006 Participant Journal, pp. iv - v [ clarification needed ]
  8. ↑ "EFY: 30 and Beyond". News and Events (News from the Church), lds.org. LDS Church. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  9. 1 2 EFY Tahiti 2010 Training Notice (French)
  10. ↑ Haas, Tessa (5 July 2016). "The facts about EFY on BYU campus" . Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 See the Official Websites list
  12. ↑ EFY Cape Verde Archived 2010-01-26 at the Wayback Machine (Portuguese) Retrieved on January 29, 2010.
  13. ↑ EFY Finland Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine (Finnish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
  14. ↑ EFY France Archived 2009-04-09 at the Wayback Machine (French) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
  15. ↑ EFY Guatemala Archived 2010-03-22 at the Wayback Machine (Spanish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
  16. ↑ EFY Germany Archived 2009-09-13 at the Wayback Machine (German) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
  17. ↑ EFY Italy Archived 2009-04-19 at the Wayback Machine (Italian) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
  18. ↑ EFY Portugal Archived 2010-04-07 at the Wayback Machine (Portuguese) Retrieved on January 29, 2010.
  19. ↑ EFY Spain Archived 2010-01-29 at the Wayback Machine (Spanish) Retrieved on April 20, 2010
  20. ↑ EFY Spain 2009 Registration Closing Date Archived October 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Official LDS Spain Website (Spanish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009
  21. ↑ Overnight Agenda, Especially for Youth. Retrieved October 16, 2009 Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ Stay-at-Home Agenda, Especially for Youth. Retrieved October 16, 2009 Archived December 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ EFY Express page
  24. ↑ "Youth Programs at BYU-Idaho". Brigham Young University–Idaho. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
Official websites by location. (Many of the following have switched over to the officially sanctioned "FSY" conferences).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.