Mentors

Mentors inspire youth to BECOME

The role of a teacher is to invite a learner to act in accordance with the truth taught by the Savior. A parent or teacher cannot push truth into the hearts of children and young people. Our best efforts can only bring the message of truth unto the heart. Ultimately, a learner needs to exercise agency in righteousness and thereby invite the truth into the heart—and thereby seek to obtain the spiritual gift of understanding.

The mentors at YLA strive to inspire our youth to become the person God wants them to be. We do this by teaching principles focused in the following areas: foundations in truth, healthy relationships, working diligently, creating beauty, servant leadership, independence and accountability.

 

WE WANT YOUTH who Love Truth

“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened”. -Winston Churchill

Truth is the only meaningful foundation upon which we can make wise decisions. In this world of confusion, it is essential to establish how we know what is really true.

Those who seek truth will develop the ability to do the following:

· Know that God is the source of all truth

· Understand the long-term consequences of actions

· Engage in reflective and independent thinking

· Identify, construct and evaluate arguments

· Identify principles of government

· Identify patterns in history

· Identify patterns in human nature

· Identify patterns in nature

· Discern principles of truth

· Detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning

· Solve problems systematically

· Seek relevant sources of information to inform self

 

WE WANT YOUTH who develop Healthy Relationships

Those who desire to have healthy relationships will develop the ability to do the following:

· Value each person as a unique individual

· Become a good friend

· Communication skills

· Teamwork

· Listen to others ideas and perspectives

· Share their ideas and perspectives

· Raise vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely

· Communicate effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems

· Build community

· Discern the good in others

WE WANT YOUTH who Work Diligently and Create Beauty

Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the meantime, continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”⁶

Those who work diligently and create beauty will develop the ability to do the following:

· Curiosity

· Try new things

· Improv skills

· Acting skills

· Stage presence

· Develop talents

· Persistence

· Flexibility

· Do hard things

· Time management

· Money management

· Observing the world

· Create beauty

 

WE WANT YOUTH who are Servant Leaders

A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.

Those who are servant leaders will develop the ability to do the following:

· Acquire statesmanship characteristics

· Seek to understand their mission in life

· Understand the different worldviews commonly held today

· Synergism

· Work in Councils

· Self-leadership

· Develop strategies for overcoming difficulties

· Community leadership

· World leadership

· Speak persuasively

· Write persuasively

· Articulate their worldview

· Strengthen families

 

WE WANT YOUTH who are Independent and Accountable

Those who are independent and accountable will develop the ability to do the following:

· Accountability to God

· Accountability to parents

· Accountability to mentors

· Accountability to peers

· Accountability to self

· Responsibility for actions

· Make and keep commitments

· Aim for excellence