One of my favorite things is being involved with the young men aged 16-18 at church. We have 45 of them in our small community, and about 30 will show up on any given Sunday. 

All of these young adults give me hope for the future of this world. God has an army within these kids that is so powerful, and the youth’s testimony in my community truly keeps me close to God.

When I teach them the Sunday School lesson, I always start off the class with two things:

Share Good News – The meaning of “Gospel” is literally “Good news,” and I use this time to keep things positive and to help them connect with their peers on a deeper level.

Anonymous Question via QR Code – I share a QR code that leads to an anonymous question they have to answer before grabbing a cookie. I try to make the question something thought-provoking—something they might answer one way at the beginning of the class and think about differently by the end.

I based last week’s lesson on a talk that one of our religious leaders, Brother Brad Wilcox, gave during General Conference in early October. The talk, titled “O Youth of the Noble Birthright,” gave me chills when I heard it live. Brother Wilcox spoke directly to young men with such power and love that I knew I had to use it for a lesson.

For the QR code question, I asked, “Do you think someone can be given a special purpose or privilege from birth?” 

With how the media has twisted ideas around privilege and entitlement, I was genuinely surprised when the results came in. We had 30 answers—70% said “no” and 30% said “yes.” After seeing the responses, no one wanted to dive into it further. So, before moving into the lesson, I made a simple comment: “I’m just extremely grateful that I was born in the United States and not somewhere else,” to which one of the kids replied, “OH DUH,” which got a laugh from everyone.

My goal was to show them two things: (1) they were born with a birthright from God, and (2) this birthright doesn’t give them authority or dominance—it comes with a sense of responsibility.

I broke them into two groups and set the scene: “Imagine you’re on a cruise ship. Some people on board are passengers, just here to enjoy the ride, while others are part of the crew, with important responsibilities to help everyone reach their destination safely.” In each group, the oldest was assigned as the Crew Member, responsible for reading Wilcox’s talk aloud, while the rest were “Passengers,” tasked with listening and reflecting.

Crew Member Role: The oldest participant read the talk, guiding the group’s understanding and setting the tone.

Passenger Role: The rest of the group listened and reflected on why the crew members had extra responsibilities and what that might mean for them personally.

We discussed how, in biblical times, all sons received an inheritance, but the oldest received a double portion. This wasn’t a reward but rather a responsibility—an obligation to care for the family. I explained that we, too, may have unique privileges or birthrights, but they come with an expectation: to help and uplift others, not to simply enjoy the benefits.

1. Being Trusted by God – God trusts each of them with blessings and expects them to be different, to stand out in a meaningful way.

2. Humility in Our Calling – A birthright doesn’t make you superior; it’s a call to serve and uplift others.

3. Living Differently – Choosing to live differently, especially in today’s world, can be challenging. But standing out for the right reasons has real power.

4. Spiritual Compensation – Following God’s commandments and embracing one’s birthright leads to unique blessings that strengthen us for the journey.

5. Youth of the Noble Birthright – We ended with a discussion on what it means to honor their birthright in daily life and how every one of them has a purpose in God’s plan.

At the end, I shared my contact info and encouraged them to reach out if they wanted to shadow someone in a field they’re interested in. I want them to know they’re not alone in figuring out their future; I’m here to support them. And I left them with a simple challenge: recognize the birthright you’ve been given, and use it to bless those around you. As the hymn says, “Because I have been given much, I too must give.”

Each week with these young men reminds me of the strength in this next generation. They truly are the “youth of the noble birthright,” and I’m grateful to tag along for a small part in their journey.

LISTEN TO BRAD WILCOX FULL TALK HERE