Elder Holland Speaks to Youth on ‘Decade of Decisions’ in Regional Devotional

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve gathered with youth, ages 12-18, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a devotional Tuesday evening in Highland Village, Texas. The regional devotional was broadcast to 46 locations spanning from Killeen, Texas to Shreveport, Louisiana.

Elders Lynn G. Robbins and Jose A. Teixeira, both of the Presidency of the Seventy also addressed the youth.

In their talks, Holland and Robbins emphasized the importance of the “decade of decisions”, as many life-altering choices are made between the ages of 12 and 22.

“Virtually every important decision you’re going to make in that decade,” Holland said. “There isn’t another decade like it in our life. [They are] the most shaping, destiny-filled years of your life.”

He spoke on being friendly to all, and while doing so, choosing close, intimate friends with care.

“You will be like your friends. You will behave like your friends, especially in this decade,” said Holland. “Peers become important and those influences become more and more important.”

He spoke on the blessing of belonging to a church that provides direction and revelatory answers to relevant issues in a teenager’s life, including appropriate dating age, word of wisdom, and family issues such as gender roles and identity.

“What a blessing to claim the vision and seership and prophesy that comes from brethren that you sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators.”

He encouraged the youth, if healthy and able, to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ.

“Not only does the Lord need you and not only does the Church need you, but you need it,” said Holland. “My mission shaped, modified, enhanced, exalted, [and influenced] every good thing that’s happened to me.”

Holland invited the youth to be more selfless in their everyday lives and use their influence for good.

“I invite you as you’re in this decade of maturity, to start to think a little bit more about other people. A little more about what you can give and maybe just a tiny bit less about what you’ll get. Because you will get. The Lord will bless you,” said Holland.

Holland concluded with the history of mutual – the program of the Church held during the week where the youth participate in faith-building experiences and activities. The mutual program mirrors the purpose of the Church where the youth are “mutually minded, have shared benefit, shared association, and shared opportunity.”

Elder Robbins invited the youth to keep a picture of the temple in their bedrooms and set temple attendance and worthiness as an ongoing goal. He emphasized the For Strength of Youth booklet as a source to set standards and prepare to enter the temple.

Elder Teixeira spoke of never compromising standards so that one can claim their divine nature and “see the panorama of life and see life as it really is, which is beautiful.”

“Stay pure. Stay worthy. Keep the commandments. I promise that will bring you great joy in life,” Teixeira said.

Drew Allen, 16, in the Lantana Ward of the Lewisville, Texas stake said, “Holland’s message really emphasized to me that every decision we make during this period affects our life. That gave me the motivation to make better decisions in my life.”

Riley Boyd, 15, in the Flower Mound 1st ward of the Lewisville, Texas stake echoed those words. “The message really made me think about this decision-making period. Some people don’t take life or school seriously at this age, but it showed me how important this time is. It shapes us into our future.”