Your cart is currently empty!
“Let Me Tell You What You Should Do…”
We’ve all said it.
Or thought it.
Because we care.
And because we remember being that age—making those same mistakes, asking those same questions.
So we swoop in. We advise. We explain. We fix.
But the more we talk, the less they trust.
Not because they’re rebellious.
Because they’re trying to figure out who they are—and they can’t do that if someone else is always handing them the answer sheet.
Mentoring Isn’t Teaching
It’s guiding without gripping.
It’s standing beside, not in front.
And it starts with listening.
In communication and relationships, youth don’t need us to impress them. They need us to see them.
They need to believe:
- “You care about my thoughts.”
- “You won’t panic if I open up.”
- “You can handle my doubts without shutting me down.”
How to Be a Better Listener—Without Losing the Gospel Thread
- Ask. Pause. Actually Pause.
Ask open questions like:
“What’s been on your mind lately?”
“What’s something that’s been hard for you spiritually?”
Then wait. Let the silence stretch. It’s in the silence that the real answer often comes.
- Mirror Before You Minister
Instead of jumping in with scripture or solutions, reflect what you heard:
“That sounds heavy. I can tell it’s been weighing on you.”
“You’re not alone in feeling that way. I’ve been there.”
- Invite Instead of Instructing
“Would it help if I shared what worked for me?”
“Would you want to read something together about that?”
Mini Add-On: “Mentor Moments” (5 min inside any activity)
Near the end of an activity, pull one youth aside and just check in.
Not to counsel—just to ask and listen.
Do this regularly, rotating through the group. Quiet youth especially benefit from 1:1 care.
This helps youth grow into discipleship because they associate gospel mentorship with warmth and safety, not correction.
Long-Term Discipleship Starts With Relationship
You don’t need to be perfect to be a mentor.
You need to be present.
Curious.
Calm when they’re chaotic.
Honest when they’re unsure.
That’s the kind of mentoring Nephi’s Apprentice is built to support—layering gospel growth with deep connection over time.
Leave a Reply