Especially for Youth

Especially For Youth (often abbreviated as "EFY") is a week long youth-oriented seminar focused on fellowship and teaching the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Attendance is open to all youth aged 14 to 18. Sessions, which are primarily held in the United States, follow a common curriculum created by the Church, resulting in a common experience wherever EFY is held. Sessions take place during the summer months in order to coincide with the summer break practiced by many American schools. The program is led by Latter-day Saint young adults who serve as counselors in exchange for a modest stipend. Speakers are selected from the Church's Institute and Seminary programs. All sessions are organized and managed out of the EFY headquarters in Provo, Utah.
EFY's mission is to help participants "come unto Christ" by providing an environment where youth can experience physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth.
==History of EFY== 
Created by Ronald C. Hills, EFY began in 1976, when 172 youth and 15 counselors met for the first session of the summer program. Jeffrey R. Holland, now of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was one of the banquet speakers at the founding session. By 1977, only one year later, attendance had risen to 863 youth. Currently, EFY's summer program includes sessions which are held at various locations throughout the United States and Canada. As of 2005, the total number of participants who have attended EFY over the years is 409,484. 
In 2006, EFY celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and held its first session outside of North America, with 900 youth attending a session in Manchester, England.
==EFY themes== 
In 1982, EFY introduced its first annual theme. Since then, a theme, scripture, and musical selections have set the tone for each year's curriculum.
An album of the musical selections is released every year, and has been since 1987. Only the last few years' albums are still available at any given time. They have been published by originally Embryo Records, then Excel, and since 1993, some have been published by Deseret Book. All since 2003 have been published by Deseret Book as that is when the two companies merged. 
Many years there has been a paperback book containing articles from many of the speakers. Those have been published by Deseret Book as well. Only recent years' books are still available although they are regularly found at used bookstores that sell used LDS books. 
The themes since 2006 have now been coordinated with the annual scriptural theme for Mutual that is announced in the fall of the previous year, i. e. the scriptural theme for 'Power in Purity' was announced in August of 2006 as the Mutual theme for 2007. 
 
Year 	Theme 	 	Year 	Theme 	 	Year 	Theme
 	  	 	1991:	Walk With Me 	 	2001: 	Remember the Promise
1982: 	The Time Has Come 	 	1992:	Of One Heart 	 	2002: 	We Believe
1983: 	Ascending Together 	 	1993:	Sharing the Light 	 	2003: 	Look and Live
1984: 	Discovering New Horizons	 	1994:	Serving With Strength	 	2004: 	Stand in the Light
1985: 	Let Your Light Shine 	 	1995:	Return With Honor 	 	2005: 	A More Excellent Way
1986: 	Lovin' Life 	 	1996:	Living the Legacy 	 	2006: 	The Greatest Gift
1987: 	Sailin' Home 	 	1997:	Treasure the Truth 	 	2007: 	Power In Purity
1988: 	Win the Race 	 	1998:	Joy in the Journey 	 	2008: 	Steady and Sure
1989: 	Forever, My Friend 	 	1999:	A Season for Courage 	 	2009: 	Be Thou an Example
1990: 	Learning For Myself 	 	2000:	Forward With Faith 	 	 	 
==Typical schedule== 
The following is a typical schedule for a week-long EFY session.
Monday
* Registration and Check-in
* Meet and greet other youth in their assigned group and counselors 
* Orientation 
* Family Home Evening
Tuesday 
* "Morningside" devotional
* Self Improvement/Spiritual Improvement classes 
* Casual dress dance 
Wednesday 
* "Morningside" devotional
* Self Improvement/Spiritual Improvement classes 
* Game Night
* Pizza party
Thursday - Informally referred to as "Church Day," participants are expected to wear their "best dress" to all activities
* "Morningside" devotional
* Gender segregated classes on the duties and responsibilities of Young Men / Young Women
* Variety Show
* "Fireside" devotional including a musical program 
* Testimony meeting
Friday 
* "Morningside" devotional
* Service project
* Role play activities
* "Taking it Home" activity 
* Closing banquet
* Dance
Saturday 
* Check-out
==Trivia==
* The first EFY session which was held away from BYU campus in Provo took place in June 1986 at San Diego State University. 
* By the year 2002, nearly 2,000 EFY classes had been taught.
* Nearly 410,000 participants had attended EFY by the year 2004.
* The largest EFY session ever was held in June 2006 on the BYU Provo Utah campus, during the first session of the thirtieth anniversary. This session had over 1,600 participants and 200 counselors in attendance, and was directed by Scott Anderson, the only CES instructor to have participated in EFY for all 30 years.
* The first Spanish speaking EFY session was held in 2004 in Salt Lake City. This session had 60 participants and 6 volunteer counselors.
* An EFY-like event is held in Australia called Time for Youth, or TFY. This event goes for three days and has been held in Melbourne (3 times), Sydney (Once), Brisbane (Once) and Hobart (Once). The Melbourne TFY started with Forward in Faith (2002), then Hobart and Melbourne with Look and Live (2004) and then Melbourne (Combined with TAS and SA), Sydney and Brisbane with The Greatest Gift (2007).
==External links== 
*CES Youth Programs - EFY Home Page 
*2007 EFY program
Category:Youth and Children
es:Especialmente para la Juventud-EFY