At the Table

Research suggests that it is not uncommon for YSA’s to feel a lack of purpose and belonging within the Church. In this episode, renowned author and psychologist Wendy Ulrich shares insight on how leaders can best minister to YSAs who may be struggling with a sense of purposeand belonging.We are striving to improve this content, please consider taking the survey related to this episode here: https://research.churchofjesuschrist.org/jfe/form/SV_3Dza9x3tD4YBjzEHIGHLIGHTS1:30 Introduction to Wendy Ulrich. Wendy is a psychologist. She has served on the general relief society counsel. She is the author of many books, and has taught at BYU. She now teaches at the institute with her husband in Provo, UT. 2:25 Is there apathy in the YSA wards? Apathy can come from not feeling engaged or that what you are doing has meaning.6:10 For a lot of people apathy is more about fear. Fear of getting involved. 8:50 Do you feel like you if someone asked you what your purpose and goals are, you answer them? A lot of times apathy comes from not knowing our purpose. 12:20 Dating your dreams. We have to explore our dreams and it takes time. 13:50 Where does your deep enthusiasm for the gospel come from? Grappling with the question of not what do I want now but what do I want most? 22:20 Harvard research shows that relationships are the most consistently important things in people’s lives. Relationships help them find meaning, well-being, and purpose. Wendy speaks about how we find meaning and purpose. 27:00 How can leaders help YSA members to find meaning and purpose? 33:30 The parable of the talents. Doing something small is better than doing nothing. It's ok to take risks and fail rather than sitting around doing nothing. We have to get over our fears of doing hard things. 35:30 Where do you start when you are trying to find your divine identity? We can ask ourselves what we’ve learned from the difficult things that we have gone through. Can you tell a redemptive story about your life? We decide what the meaning of the story is.40:30 Christ has promised us a redemptive power through his atonement. We can change horrible events and hard stories into redemptive stories through Him. 42:10 What is the relation between redemptive stories and grit? What meaning are you giving your experiences? 46:00 Failing forward. It’s not about failure, it’s about redemption. Seeing your failure as a learning experience and getting up again. Leaders can help YSA members by asking more questions instead of trying to give all the answers. 48:00 The story of the Brother of Jared. The Lord asks him what he wants to do about the problem of having light. Then the Lord steps in and helps him with the rest. The Lord and Christ don’t just give us answers. They ask questions and try to empower us.

With the counsel to consider YSAs for stake and ward leadership callings, leaders are curious to know how this change has been received. In this episode, two YSAs who are serving in ward and stake leadership callings share their perspective on the changes.We are striving to improve this content, please consider taking the survey related to this episode here: https://research.churchofjesuschrist.org/jfe/form/SV_aVuVz2g9nAE9fNQHIGHLIGHTS1:30 Introduction to Tamsin and Alex. 4:30 Alex has lived in many different places. He shares his experiences in his different YSA wards and the evolution that he has seen with the YSA. Tamsin also shares her experiences in different YSA wards and how her experience has changed in different stages of her life.9:45 Tamsin shares her experience serving on the stake relief society advisory council. 11:15 Alex feels blessed that he has had the opportunity to serve in many different callings in the YSA. He shares things that he has gained through mentorship. 14:15 Tamsin has sometimes seen that there is a general attitude that YSA are not as capable or fully adults because they are not married. However, they are fully participating members of the church. 16:05 Alex has felt that sometimes in a YSA ward that you are in a holding pattern. Waiting to get married or get that job. However, spiritually they need progression and mentorship in the gospel. YSA members have the need to feel like they are part of the church as a whole and not separated.20:15 Helping other YSA members to feel capable and trusted. 24:40 In YSA wards there aren’t as many callings, as in primary and nursery. Some callings are created but there isn’t much guidance or follow up after. It’s important to give callings that have meaning and help them feel part of the effort. 27:00 How have you seen yourself change in different leadership positions? 31:00 Around the world there are different YSAs but what they have in common is that they need to feel valued, loved, and a part of something. 33:45 Working with older leaders as YSA members.

Mental health is a rising concern among YSAs. In this episode, licensed psychologist, Sheldon Martin, and a YSA who has struggled with mental health, Xochitl Bott, discuss how YSA leaders can help YSAs dealing with mental health challenges.Please give us your feedback about this episode by filling out this short questionnaire: https://research.churchofjesuschrist.org/jfe/form/SV_7Q9IfqfY2fzvmcKSummary:1:45 Xochitle and Sheldon introduce themselves. 3:40 Xochitle shares her story and difficulties with depression and attempted suicide. She had to spend a lot of time at the hospital and in therapy. Eventually she was diagnosed with severe OCD. 13:30 Xochitle used social media to share her story of mental illness. She changed her pain into an opportunity to help lead others and guide others with their pain and mental illness. 16:15 How common is mental illness among members of the YSA?20:00 Sheldon shares his perspective on mental illness in the YSA. He shares ways to reduce the stigma around mental illness. 21:15 If someone is in crisis and you don’t know what to do to help them. Remember the helpful acronym is ACT.A - ask. Ask them if they are thinking of hurting themselves.C - care. Take what the person says very seriously. T - tell. Tell someone that is in a position to help. 23:00 When we are trying to reduce stigma we have to be careful not to ask hurtful questions. Don’t associate mental illness with sin. 25:30 We are recognizing mental health now more than before. It might be more difficult for the older generations to understand these issues. Challenges are different in different generations and older leaders need to remember this and not be critical. Leaders should help them focus on growth and not on shortcomings. 28:40 We are all struggling with different challenges and we shouldn’t compare pain. Pain is pain. Challenges are challenges. 32:30 We shouldn’t define people by their mental illness. Mental illness is not their identity. 33:30 How to show empathy and connect with people more effectively. 40:00 What to do when nothing seems to be helping our mental health. Seek help from heaven AND from professionals. We need both. 42:20 What leaders can do when YSA members are coming to them for help.