In a subtle change for the Especially For Youth (EFY) program his year, the theme will now be tied to the young women's and young men's course of study.

EFY's theme for 2007, "Power in Purity," complements The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' theme for its youth as found in Doctrine and Covenants 121:45, which is "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God."

EFY has chosen to use the young men's and young women's program theme this year with the intent to support those programs, said Pete Kadish, EFY program administrator.

The theme will be implemented for sessions in 23 different states and in Canada as well. Some 50,000 youth are expected to participate in the EFY program this summer.

"The goal of EFY is to provide a setting where the youth can come together to learn to recognize the spirit and how to apply it in their lives all the time," Kadish said. "We want the youth to be able to take home what they have learned and experienced while attending EFY and to be able to share that knowledge and those experiences with others in order to be a strength and support in their home wards, their quorums and their classes."

The youths' theme this year is centered on bolstering the "real confidence" of youth in the church and complementing those values outlined in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, according to a January 2007 New Era . It is also centered around moral excellence, right action and thinking, goodness of character and chastity, all listed under the definition of virtue given by President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of the church, in the May 1998 New Era.

Confidence in personal testimony was one thing Philip Wensel, 23, a junior from Irvine, Calif., majoring in global studies, said he came away with after attending EFY years ago.

"[EFY] helped me realize how much of a testimony I really had," Wensel said.

Support and confidence among one's peers is important, especially in the high school years. Ashley Payne, 19, a sophomore from Fortworth, Texas, majoring in exercise science, said one of her favorite things about EFY was the support she received in hearing what others had to say about the gospel.

"It's really good when you're in high school because you have friends at EFY that are going through the same things you are," Payne said.

Copyright Brigham Young University 23 Jan 2007