The FSY Guide has the potential to elevate our discipleship in amazing ways. Unfortunately it has also frequently been misunderstood in ways that can make discipleship fizzle. I’ve seen so many misconceptions that I’ve created these resources to help people understand the intentions of the Church leaders who revised the FSY Guide.
Video Playlist of Key Quotes
A YouTube playlist of a few dozen video clips, totaling less than one hour. If you don’t have time for anything else, listen to these.
Top Key Quotes. You can start with this condensed playlist of just the most important quotes, totaling less than 14 minutes.
Printable PDF Collection of Key Quotes
Printable handouts, divided into the seven key ideas leaders teach. If you read nothing else past this point, read these.
Original Sources
A spreadsheet table of every article I’ve found that the Church has published related to the FSY Guide, with the most important key sources indicated. These are the main sources I used in the article series below.
Article Series
What Church Leaders Teach about the FSY Guide
by Nathan Richardson
Church leaders consistently teach seven key ideas when discussing the FSY Guide. Each article in this series contains key quotes teaching one of the main ideas, connecting and illustrating the quotes with graphics, stories, and analogies.
Part 1: Why This Series Is Needed
Personal anecdotes (and an objective assessment) indicate there are widespread misconceptions about the FSY Guide. Fortunately Church leaders have offered several resources to clarify how they actually intend us to understand the guide.
Part 2: Newly-Invented Sins
Why one Apostle recommended that the FSY Guide not mention vaping, and another Apostle asked a bartender for a drink. Also, how is a leaf like a pixel?
Part 3: Meaningful Obedience
Did the prophet obey his list of sabbath rules or throw it away? And what does that have to do with the dashboard of a car?
Part 4: The Revelation Pattern
When Elder Uchtdorf introduced the FSY Guide in general conference, what doctrines did the very next Apostle make sure to speak about? Also, what does a beloved Primary song have to do with how plants absorb rainwater?
Part 5: Sharing Persuasively
How a Brazilian performer used doctrine to coax her producer, and that time Katherine Heigl modeled the FSY Guide for Vanity Fair magazine. Also, Apostles’ ideas for Standards Night activities.
Intermission: How Parents and Leaders Can Help
Each article’s key idea suggests actions adults can take, to support youth in living Church standards. Don’t worry, the image of a written will is not meant literally.
Part 6: Valiance
Take a simple quiz and learn how not to hear the Sermon on the Mount. Also, two kinds of Pharisees and why they both make bad skydivers.
Part 7: Continuity
How President Nelson secretly prepared the world four years before the FSY Guide was published. Also, what does the Church’s counsel about dating sound like ever since the FSY Guide was published?
Part Last: The Meaty Conclusion
What reasons have Church leaders not given for revising the FSY Guide? How do Church publications teach standards in the way that the guide models?
Dating Standards and Counsel
by Nathan Richardson
“Don't Go on Dates until Age 16” Is Still the Church’s Standard
In case it’s still not clear after reading this far, there was no change in the Church’s counsel about dating.
Parable: The Flower of Babel
Why is it so hard to understand what people mean by certain actions? Is it because people don’t communicate in dating, or is it something more subtle?
Other Articles about the FSY Guide
FSY Guide Comparison: 2026 vs. 2022
A side-by-side comparison of the complete text of both editions, highlighting some patterns and possible reasons for the changes.
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