To ask youth workers and parents:
1. What is your reaction to the way Mormon teenagers are formed in their families and faith communities? Is there anything you want to learn from this approach to religious formation? Is there anything that Mormon parents might learn from your congregation? (page 45, 46, 51-52)
2. Let’s talk about our cultural toolkits. A cultural tool is a symbol, a story, a ritual, a practice, relationship, or a worldview that we tend to pick up from the world around us. We use them to find meaning in the world and to guide our actions. What is an example of a cultural tool that you consider important to being Christian? Where did you pick up that tool? Have you ever tried to add a new tool to your toolkit? What happened? (page 48)
3. Dean notes that highly devoted young people seem to share at least four cultural tools across religious traditions: (1) they can articulate a “creed” or a God-story that guides them; (2) they belong to a community that enacts that God-story; (3) they feel called by this story to contribute to a larger purpose; and (4) they have hope for the future promised by this story. Are these cultural tools shared by youth in your congregation? How about the adults? What’s missing? (page 49)
4. Religious certainty in highly devoted adolescents could mean one of two things: (1) confidence in God; or (2) a “foreclosed” religious identity [instead of an “achieved” one]. How does your church deal with doubt and religious uncertainty? Has doubt or mystery played a role in your own religious experience and development? (page 53)
5. In Mormon culture, the primary faith community is the family. How does your congregation view the ministries of families? Does your congregation support faith formation in families, or are families expected to support faith formation in church? Which would you prefer? (page 55)
6. Mormon teens are cited as frequently “taking part in church rituals like public testimony, fasting, baptisms, and blessings.” What is your church doing to give teenagers a vocabulary of faith? Do they take part in church rituals or faith conversation in homes? Do you think they assume their contributions matter? (page 56)
7. Molly has a joyful faith that is so real for her that she wants everyone to share it. Do teenagers in your congregation exhibit this sort of joyful faith? Do they want to share it with people because they know it is real? (page 57)
To ask teenagers:
1. A lot of Mormon teens get up before school every day and go to “seminary,” kind of like confirmation that lasts four years. What would be hard about that? What do you think would be good about it?
2. Have you ever experienced doubt about your faith? Did you tell anyone at church? What happened?
3. Dean notes that highly devoted young people seem to share at least four cultural tools across religious traditions: (1) they can articulate a “creed” or a God-story that guides them; (2) they belong to a community that enacts that God-story; (3) they feel called by this story to contribute to a larger purpose; and (4) they have hope for the future promised by this story. Do you have these tools in your cultural toolkit? Where did you pick them up? (page 49)
4. Do you ever talk about Christian faith with your friends? Why or why not?
5. Which phrase describes you best: (1) church-goer, (2) Christ-follower, (3) neither. Why did you choose the answer you chose?
