Priest & Laurel Retreat
by Lisa Olsen
 

Here is an idea that started out as a one time experience, and since the first activity over 5 years ago, we now have up to three a year! The day starts about 9:00 AM and sometimes the youth are not back at the church until 10:00 PM.
 

When I was first called as the Stake YW president, I met with my counselors and we discussed the needs of the YW. At our joint meeting with the Stake YM presidency we discovered the young men had the same needs.  We talked about how much this particular age group needs to be together and develop strong relationships and build their testimonies.  From that, we planned and organized our very first Stake Priest/Laurel Retreat.  That was back in 1994.  I served for 5 years and since my release, this activity still takes place and has become a tradition in our stake.
 

The Stake leaders plan the day.  We go out of town (close by) to a cabin or member's house in Mt. Shasta which is about an hour away.  We focus on intermixing the youth, even down to what groups they ride in the cars. Once at our destination, we start off with a mixer game of some sort. After that, we give the youth some free time, usually to play volleyball or just visit.  Then we have some type of organized activity. Here are a few of the things we have done in the past.
 

Book of Mormon Stations: Each leader planned a station that had something to do with a story from the Book for Mormon.  One I did was when Lehi left and was told to build a ship. We talked about the instructions of what type of ship he was to build, and then each group that came by (the groups rotated to each station) had to build a ship out of popsicle sticks.  At the end of the day, we judged the boats and the winner was given a prize.  Another station was the iron rod, where the youth were blindfolded and they had to find their way along the "rod" which was placed between trees in the woods.
 

Another part of this activity included the youth having to make their own video of a Book of Mormon story of their choice.  We gave them some props and sent them off  to film.  This part of the activity has stayed with each retreat.  The end of the day, before the testimony meeting, we show the videos....the youth love this( they can be quite comical!!)  Also, all throughout the day, a leader is filming all the youth and the activities.  During dinner, this video is edited and put to music (you need someone who knows what they're doing for this part!!!) and this is shown also. 
 

Another activity involved teaching the youth about parables...why Christ taught in parables, what a parable is. We read several and discussed their meaning.  Then the youth were divided into groups and given a bag of props. They then had to go and write their own parable. After about an hour, they got back together and acted out and read the parable. This was great. Some of them were serious, others were quite funny.
 

We also plan what we call "Break out groups".  This is where the spirit really starts to be felt. This is usually after lunch.  There is a leader assigned to each group of about 8 youth. Each group finds a quiet place to go (for the summer retreats, each group finds a secluded spot outside).  The leader usually has a list of discussion questions that include topics related to what the youth are going through.  Then the spirit takes over.  These breakout groups are very powerful and allow the youth to share and discuss fears, doubts, what makes their testimonies strong, peer pressure, parents, gospel truths, whatever.
 

After the breakout groups, there is about an hour of free time again.  Then we eat dinner. After dinner, everyone gathers to watch the videos. This is a real highlight of the day.  Then we have someone give a very short "ITS" talk (invite the spirit). This is a leader or invited guest. This only lasts about 5 minutes. Then the time is turned over to the youth for testimonies.  No adults share theirs. Leaders sit in the back and listen. These testimony meetings are very powerful and many youth stand and share how strongly they DIDN'T want to come, but through tears, express how strong they feel the spirit.  We have had many youth decide to serve missions because of these retreats.
 

We have the day planned out well, focusing on building up to the testimony meeting.  After the first retreat 5 years ago, we never thought there would be another one.  Since then, there have been two a year!  Presidencies have changed twice since I was released two years ago, and fortunately, the retreats are still being scheduled. I have had the opportunity to attend several since my release. The success of these retreats really can't be attributed to anything other than the youth bonding together and sharing their testimonies and strength.  All the leaders do is provide the catalyst for the spirit to be felt.
 

We recently were discussing the possibility of having an "alumni" retreat and inviting all the youth that were at the very first one!  Several have since gotten married!  Everyone is very excited about it and we will probably plan this for the fall.