2025 Young Mens End of Year Review

1. Gratitude. Why This Year Mattered to Me

As this year comes to a close, I've spent some time reflecting on what it's meant to serve with the young men in our ward. Especially the deacons quorum.

I can honestly say this has been one of the most fun and rewarding ways to serve. The joy, growth, laughter, and spiritual moments that came from spending time together learning, serving, and doing hard things make it all worth it.

In young mens, sometimes we think we're there to be teaching the boys. Which is true. but what I didn't expect was how much they would teach me.

2. What the Boys Taught Me

Action over knowledge

We talk a lot in quorum about principles of the gospel such as service, missionary work, responsibility, faith. But one thing this year reinforced for me is that talking and knowing isn't enough. Growth happens when we act and do things.

You can talk about service, but it's different when you show up on a cold night, knock doors for fast offerings, or help someone when it's inconvenient.

You can talk about being a missionary, but it's different when you actually knock on a door, talk to an adult, teach a lesson on your own, or bear testimony of something you know is true.

You can talk about self-reliance, but it's different when you cook your own food, iron a shirt, or learn to tie a tie.

Those are lessons you only learn by doing.

Showing up

Another lesson this year was the power of just showing up.

Life is busy for everyone. for the boys and for us as leaders. There are always reasons not to show up in life. I've felt that myself. But time and time again, when i've showed up, something unexpected happened. It could be a meaningful conversation, a relationship deepened, or a moment where someone felt supported.

Sometimes just being there is the ministering.

Missionary preparation

I've loved watching these young men prepare to serve missions. often without realizing it. Learning to speak up. Learning to teach. Learning to testify. Learning to serve without being asked.

It's been fun sharing some of my own missionary experiences with them and seeing the road ahead start to feel real possibility.

3. Stories I'll Always Remember

A funny one

One memory I'll never forget is driving to Boulder Mountain with a truck full of boys who decided the only acceptable music for the entire four-hour drive was the Rednex remix of Cotton Eye Joe. On repeat. For four hours.

I'm pretty sure I woke up with that song stuck in my head for two weeks afterward.

An effort-based one

Another moment that stands out was a hike we did toward the end of camp. It was hot. We hadn't planned enough water. It was harder than expected. There was some complaining and honestly, a lot of temptation to quit.

But the boys pushed through.

I was genuinely surprised by their resilience and determination. One of the deacons later said during our year-end discussion, and I quote "Deacons quorum taught me how to be tougher and not be so soft."

We all laughed but he was right. Doing hard things stretches you. It helps you realize you're capable of more than you think.

A spiritual one

A meaningful moment for me was the Stake Young Men's faith walk up in Eden. It was a cold night. We walked down a flashlight-lit path, stopping at stations where brethren shared testimonies and messages.

At the end, we gathered as a ward, sitting in the cold grass, and talked about what we felt and heard.

Listening to our youth bear testimony that night was powerful. I felt the Spirit strongly. And It reminded me that faith grows when we create opprotunity and when the youth are trusted to speak and lead.

4. My Testimony of Christ

This year strengthened my testimony that Jesus Christ works through quorums.

He works through imperfect people showing up and trying.

He works through service, through shared effort, through doing hard things together.

Growth happens as we're willing to serve. Willing to act. Willing to try our best.

I've seen Christ shape these young men by inviting them to participate, to lead, and to serve.