According to the Pew Research Center, young adults worldwide are less religious by a number of measures. The same can be said, according to Barna, of the generation behind them, commonly known as Generation Z or iGen. This is a concerning trend for any church, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church has a longstanding tradition of teaching and reaching out to children, youth and young adults. This past year Church President Russell M. Nelson and other Church leaders made the rising generation a key focus of their ministering. Below is a list of the year’s major teachings and initiatives directed at the youth of the Church.

President Nelson Challenges Youth to Participate in ‘Greatest Cause’ on Earth

President Nelson and his wife, Wendy, spoke to Latter-day Saint teenagers around the world in June from the Conference Center. “I am inviting every young woman and every young man between the ages of 12 and 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel,” President Nelson said. He challenged Latter-day Saint youth to participate in what he called “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today.”

Advice From the Prophet of the Church to Millennials Living in a Hectic World

How can the rising generation live more happy and meaningful lives? President Nelson told a group of young adults in Las Vegas, Nevada, in February that the answer is found in knowing who they are, why they are here and how they can master divine laws.

Answering Millennials’ Church History Questions

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined two Church historians for an engaging discussion on Church history with more than 250 young adults in a live Face to Face devotional in September. “The early Church was really a church of young people. The converts were often in their teens or their 20s," said Matt Grow, one of the historians. "And it was these people who built the Church. So it's exciting to be able to talk to the young adults of the Church about early Latter‑day Saint history.”

Speaking Their Language: Apostle Answers Youth Questions in the Philippines and Japan

Elder Gary E. Stevenson hosted two Face to Face broadcasts in August for youth in the Philippines and Japan. These were the first such broadcasts in Asia. In Japan, Elder Stevenson spoke entirely in Japanese, a language he first learned as a young missionary.

“You’re representing over half the population of the world in just the broadcast that we’re having today,” Elder Stevenson said in the Philippines of those in the area watching the broadcast. “Each one of you have a very important role to play in building the kingdom of God on earth.”

New Initiative for Children and Youth Will Strengthen Faith in Christ

A new initiative for Latter-day Saint youth, ages 8 to 18, will replace all existing youth activity programs beginning in January 2020, including the Church’s relationship with all Scouting programs around the world. Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president, said, "The happiest individuals are those who engage socially and spiritually in ways which positively build others by also building themselves."

Apostles of Jesus Christ Use Instagram to Share Savior’s Message

As of November, President Nelson, his counselors in the First Presidency and all members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles can now be found on Instagram. Sharing messages of the Savior’s love, hope, encouragement and prophetic guidance on Instagram will better reach the youth and young adults of the world, as 72 percent of teenagers use Instagram every day and young adults between the ages of 18 and 31 also make up a large demographic of Instagram users.