What Is FSY? A Parent's Guide to For the Strength of Youth Conferences in 2027
FSY (For the Strength of Youth) is a five-day conference for youth ages 14 to 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church says FSY conferences help youth "strengthen faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, feel an increased sense of joy and belonging, and be empowered to continue having spiritual experiences at home."
Timing matters right now: on-cycle preregistration for 2027 FSY conferences opens October 20, 2026 and runs through January 11, 2027, according to the Church's FSY registration timeline. If your stake is assigned for 2027, now is when families should start.
What does FSY stand for?
FSY stands for For the Strength of Youth. The name matches the Church's guide for youth, For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices. An FSY conference is the event; the guide is the booklet of principles youth study and live.
The official FSY site is at churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth/fsy, and the Church's overview page is at churchofjesuschrist.org/events/fsy.
What do youth do at FSY?
The Church's FSY page lists what youth will do at an FSY conference:
- Learn to receive revelation and answers from the scriptures.
- Develop new, and possibly lifelong, friendships.
- Study truths of the gospel with engaging teachers.
- Experience a fun and positive environment that helps them feel the joy of the gospel.
- Participate in group games that keep their minds and bodies active.
- Share their testimonies through music.
Because sessions bring together youth from many wards and stakes, FSY is a chance to make friends well beyond your own ward.
Who can attend FSY?
The General Handbook says youth may attend "dances, youth conferences, and FSY conferences beginning in January of the year they turn 14." Eighteen-year-olds may also attend, including those who have been ordained elders and those who have been endowed (General Handbook 20.7.2).
The official FSY FAQ puts it this way: "You may attend FSY beginning in the year you turn 14 and may be no older than 18 by the end of the session you plan to attend" (FSY FAQ). Youth may only go to FSY once per year.
Stakes are invited every other year. The FSY timeline explains that "On-cycle refers to units scheduled to attend FSY in 2027, while Off-cycle refers to units scheduled for 2028." Check your stake on the Stake Assignment page.
Friends of other faiths can attend. The FAQ answers "Yes!" and says the youth should meet with a member of the bishopric and agree to follow For the Strength of Youth and the FSY standards. They need a Church account to register, which does not require membership.
What are the 2027 FSY registration dates?
From the Church's FSY registration timeline, fetched October 20, 2026:
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| Bishops can approve youth | Beginning September 18, 2026 |
| On-cycle preregistration | October 20, 2026 to January 11, 2027 |
| On-cycle preregistration finalization | January 13 to January 26, 2027 |
| On-cycle priority registration | January 27 to February 3, 2027 |
| On-cycle open registration | Beginning February 4, 2027 |
| Off-cycle preregistration | February 15 to February 22, 2027 |
| Off-cycle registration | Beginning February 24, 2027 |
| Open registration for all approved youth | Beginning March 3, 2027 |
Preregistering first gives no advantage: "There is no preference given to youth that preregister first over those who preregister last." The FSY timeline does warn that once off-cycle registration begins, "chances of on-cycle youth getting into their preferred session drop drastically."
Deadlines for each session: accommodation requests 45 days before; roommate requests the Sunday two weeks before at 11:59 p.m.; registration and withdrawal the Sunday before at 6:00 p.m. local time.
How much does FSY cost?
For 2027 the official FAQ says: "You will be asked to pay $75 USD or $100 CAD upon registration." It adds that "the ward will be billed $75 USD or $100 CAD for each youth" (FSY FAQ).
| Who pays | Amount (from the FSY FAQ) |
|---|---|
| Participant fee at registration | $75 USD or $100 CAD |
| Ward fee for each youth | $75 USD or $100 CAD |
If cost is a hardship, talk to a member of the bishopric before registering. The General Handbook says "If the cost would keep a youth from participating, the bishop may use ward budget funds to pay all or part of this fee" (General Handbook 20.6.3). The FAQ says the bishopric must mark this in the Youth Approval Tool before the youth registers.
Withdrawing by the deadline (the Sunday before the session at 6:00 p.m. local time) makes you eligible for a refund of charges paid at registration.
How is FSY different from youth conference?
| Topic | FSY conference | Ward or stake youth conference |
|---|---|---|
| Organized by | The Church's FSY program; stake leaders help with approvals and travel | Ward or stake leaders and youth |
| Ages | Beginning January of the year youth turn 14, through 18 | Same ages |
| How often | Every other year for each stake | Usually yearly, except FSY years |
| Cost | $75 USD participant fee plus $75 USD ward fee (2027) | Planned within the ward or stake budget |
| Length | Five days, with check-in on Monday | Usually one to three days |
The handbook is clear that "in a year that youth are assigned to attend an FSY conference, stakes and wards should not hold youth conferences." Learn more in our LDS youth conference ideas guide.
What forms are needed for FSY?
FSY registration happens online. To finalize, the FAQ says youth must "Log in and submit payment" and "Complete any additional campus waivers." Accommodation requests for medical, dietary, or disability needs are due 45 days before the session starts (registration timeline).
Travel is usually the family's job. The FAQ says "You are generally required to provide your own transportation to and from FSY conferences," though FSY provides buses to some stakes. The General Handbook adds, "Travel for FSY conferences should comply with Church travel policies unless an FSY administrator gives local leaders other instructions."
Local pieces, like a pre-FSY stake activity or a ward carpool to the bus, may still need parent signatures. Always follow FSY's own registration and waiver steps first. You can text parents one Ward Waivers link. They read the details and sign on their phone, and you see who still needs to sign. It does not replace any official form your bishop or stake president asks you to use. Set up your activity.
What is on the FSY packing list?
This follows the Church's FSY packing list. Campus-specific rules appear on the Session Information page about two weeks before the session.
Casual clothing for five days
- ☐ Pants, jeans, or shorts, and shirts
- ☐ Comfortable walking shoes (the list notes "there is a lot of walking")
- ☐ Closed-toe shoes (required for games night)
- ☐ Pajamas
Sunday dress clothing
- ☐ Slacks, skirt, or dress
- ☐ Blouse, or collared button-up shirt and tie
- ☐ Comfortable dress shoes
Other items
- ☐ Linens and towels (varies by session)
- ☐ Water bottle and toiletries, including sunscreen
- ☐ Personal medications
- ☐ Spending money for snacks or emergencies
- ☐ Scriptures and For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices
- ☐ Journal and pens
- ☐ Snacks for free time
The list strongly discourages laptops, tablets, and gaming systems, and does not allow skateboards, hoverboards, or in-line skates. Label luggage.
How can parents help youth prepare for FSY?
- Talk about what to expect. Classes, devotionals, games, music, and lots of new people.
- Encourage openness. Many youth feel nervous before FSY. Encourage them to make one new friend the first day.
- Share medical needs early. Make sure allergies and medications are listed accurately in registration.
- Follow up afterward. Ask what they learned and how they want to keep having spiritual experiences at home.
How can leaders support youth before and after FSY?
Ward leaders and FSY representatives can help youth get the most from FSY. Before the conference, make sure every eligible youth has been personally invited and knows how to register, and talk privately with families if cost is a barrier. Afterward, invite youth to share a short experience in a youth activity or sacrament meeting, and look for ways to help them continue the spiritual habits they started.
What questions should parents ask before FSY?
Before preregistration closes, find out: Is our stake on-cycle for 2027? Which sessions are assigned to our stake? Does FSY provide a bus for our stake, or do we drive? Who in the bishopric approves youth in the Youth Approval Tool? Do we need an accommodation request (due 45 days before the session)?
Youth who are anxious about attending can also talk with someone in the ward who has already gone. Hearing from a peer often helps more than hearing from an adult.
What does a day at FSY look like?
The Church's FSY schedule describes a five-day week. Youth are grouped into counselor groups of about 10 youth led by one young single adult counselor of the same gender, and companies of two or three counselor groups.
| Day | Highlights from the official schedule |
|---|---|
| Monday | Check-in 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., meet your counselor and company, orientation, home evening lesson and games |
| Tuesday | Devotional, gospel study, classes, Taking Charge of Technology, dance |
| Wednesday | Classes, games night and cheer-off, pizza night |
| Thursday | Separate Young Men and Young Women devotionals and activities, variety show |
Session-specific details appear on the youth's FSY Dashboard about two weeks before the session.
Frequently asked questions
What is FSY in the LDS Church?
FSY, or For the Strength of Youth, is a five-day conference for youth ages 14 to 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It helps youth strengthen faith in Jesus Christ, feel joy and belonging, and continue having spiritual experiences at home.
What age is FSY for?
Youth may attend beginning in the year they turn 14 and may be no older than 18 by the end of the session. Eighteen-year-olds may attend, including those who have been ordained elders or endowed.
Do you have to pay for FSY?
For 2027 the participant fee is $75 USD or $100 CAD at registration, and the ward is billed the same amount for each youth. If cost would keep a youth from attending, the bishop may use ward budget funds to pay all or part of the fee.
Where do I find FSY dates?
On the Church's FSY Stake Assignment page. Sessions for a stake are communicated at the end of September in the year before the summer it attends. For 2027, on-cycle preregistration runs October 20, 2026 to January 11, 2027.
Is there a youth conference in an FSY year?
No. The General Handbook says that in a year youth are assigned to attend an FSY conference, stakes and wards should not hold youth conferences.
What do youth do at FSY?
They study the gospel with teachers, learn to receive revelation from the scriptures, make friends, play group games, and share testimony through music.
Can non-member youth attend FSY?
Yes. The official FSY FAQ says friends of other faiths can attend if they meet with a member of the bishopric and agree to follow For the Strength of Youth and the FSY standards. They need a free Church account to register.
Ward Waivers is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These resources provide general organizational information, not legal advice. Follow current Church guidance, local leader direction, and any required official forms.