One Theme, Four Weeks: Planning a Spirit-Driven Monthly Series That Builds on Itself

If your ward’s youth nights feel a bit disconnected—like you’re just cobbling together mutual activity ideas from week to week—you’re not alone. A lot of leaders are doing their best just to fill the calendar.

But what if you could do more than plan activities?

What if you could build momentum?

That’s where the One Theme, Four Weeks model comes in—a method to plan LDS youth activities in monthly arcs that support both fun and spiritual strength for teens. It’s simple, flexible, and surprisingly powerful.

Why One-Off Activities Often Miss the Mark

When activities jump from basketball night to cookie decorating to a quick fireside with no spiritual cohesion, youth may enjoy the variety—but they miss out on deepening their understanding of gospel principles or seeing how it all connects.

A monthly theme gives you a foundation—a lens through which everything is filtered. It helps your youth see how gospel-centered youth activities aren’t just about isolated lessons, but a way of living and growing.

Step-by-Step: How to Plan a Monthly Series

1. Pick a Theme that Feeds the Soul

Choose something doctrinal, relevant, and actionable:

Becoming More Like Christ
The Plan of Salvation
Courage to Stand Alone
Revelation and Personal Truth
Discipleship in Everyday Life

Now you’ve got an anchor.

2. Map Out the Flow (Each Week Builds)

Week 1: Intro and Challenge
Start with a light activity that introduces the concept. Invite youth to set a mini-goal related to the theme.
Week 2: Service or Leadership Focus
Let youth plan or carry out a youth service project idea tied to the theme (e.g., “discipleship = showing up for others”).
Week 3: Deeper Dive
Use a guest speaker, object lesson, or a Come, Follow Me–based discussion. Make this the most reflective night.
Week 4: Testify and Celebrate
Let youth share what they learned, invite testimonies, or do a themed game night that reflects their journey.

The structure is there—but the creativity is still yours.

Activity Plug: “Pass the Spark” (4–6 min)

Hand out small candles (LED or symbolic). Start with one lit. Each youth who shares a goal or testimony “passes the light.” This gives quiet youth a voice, and the room fills with light—literally or symbolically.

A powerful wrap-up for the final week of a themed month.

Stake and Multistake Potential

This format isn’t just for weekly youth nights. It works beautifully for stake youth activities, especially when coordinated across wards. Imagine a regional challenge on “Preparing for the Temple,” with each ward handling one week of activities.

You’ve just created a multistake youth event series with real spiritual impact.

Leadership That Lasts

This model isn’t about working harder—it’s about planning youth activities with purpose. You’ll find that when youth know what to expect and see growth over time, they show up more engaged.

And when you involve them in planning the series? You’ve just unlocked one of the most powerful LDS youth leadership ideas there is: ownership.

Want help designing your first themed month? Our Forged in Faith Planning Guide walks you through the whole process, with ready-to-go ideas and testimony-building tools your youth will love.

Forged In Faith