Brad Wilcox - Tips For Tackling Teenage Troubles

First Quarter, Second Down: Adaptation of a story originally published as Mirandas Magic Box, New Era, September 1990, pp. 811.

First Quarter, Fourth Down: Adaptation of a story originally published as Cool-Aid, New Era, June 1997, pp. 1011.

Second Quarter, First Down: Adaptation of a story originally published as May I Have This Dance, New Era, July 1979, pp. 4649.

Second Quarter, Third Down: Adaptation of a chapter originally published in Friends Forever, Randal A. Wright, ed. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996).

Second Quarter, Fourth Down: Adaptation of a chapter originally published in Finding the Light in Deep Waters and Dark Times (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992).

Halftime: Adaptation of a story originally published as I Quit, New Era, September 1992, pp. 2830.

Third Quarter, Fourth Down: Adaptation of a story originally published as Dangerous Question, New Era, March 1997, pp. 4649.

Fourth Quarter, First Down: Adaptation of a story originally published as Are You There? New Era, April 1990, pp. 4650.

Deseret Book is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wilcox, Brad.

Tips for tackling teenage troubles / Brad Wilcox.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Summary: Discusses issues which may present problems for Mormon

youths including low self-esteem, poor communication skills,

inability to cope with pressure and stress, and weak spirituality.

ISBN 1-57345-412-5 (pbk.)

1. Mormon youthReligious life. 2. Mormon youthConduct of

life. 3. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsDoctrines

Juvenile literature. [1. Mormons. 2. Conduct of life.]

I. Title.

BX8643.Y6W55 1998

248.83dc21 98-25900

CIP

AC

Printed in the United States of America

10987654321 72082 - 6414

To my Wendee, Russell, Whitney, and David truly a winning team

Acknowledgments

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, Cultivate a thankful heart.... Walk with appreciation and respect for the blessings... which you enjoy (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], p. 250). Those who have helped me complete this manuscript have truly been blessings in my life. They make it easy to follow the prophets counsel.

I am grateful to my wife, Debi. Her support and sacrifices give me the help I need to juggle everything. Her friendship and love give me the motivation to keep all the balls in the air. I appreciate my family, especially my parents, Ray T. and Val C. Wilcox, and my in-laws, Earl Leroy and Mary Lois Gunnell.

It would have been impossible to finish this project without the assistance of wonderful friends: Barbara Barrington Jones and her husband Hal, David R. Barlow, and John Bytheway, who helped tremendously with the theme of the book as well as the instant replays and game plans throughout. I appreciate the input of JoAnna Brooks, Douglas N. Rich, Thomas E. Myers, David T. Seamons, Eleanor Knowles, Sharon Black, and Birgitte Clawson, who reviewed various chapters. Thanks also to Sheri Dew, Emily Watts, Richard Erickson, and Tonya Facemyer at Deseret Book for their help and expertise.

Finally, I appreciate Bishop Garry and Ann McRae, Shawn and Cindy Hoopes, Barry and Christine Barger, David and Gabriella Amado, and John Perry. It has been a joy serving in bishoprics with such outstanding leaders. I also owe a great deal to four wonderful administrators in the Church Educational System who all recently retired in one way or another. I will always be grateful for the positive influence of these men and their wives. Special thanks to Ronald C. and Donna Hills, E. Mack and Diane Palmer, Glen R. and Ruth McClure, and S. Kenneth and Juanita Robbins.

Pep Rally

You Dont Win by Tackling the Mascot

You Dont Win by Tackling the Mascot

The band is playing. The cheerleaders are yelling. The mascot is running up and down the sidelines. People are crowded into the stands, stomping and clapping to the pounding beat of the fight song. Its a pep rallyyour chance to get pumped for the upcoming game. Nothing can stop you if youre excited, motivated, and prepared for the challenges ahead.

But what are the challenges? You know that youre playing against Satan and his hosts, but what, exactly, are they hitting you with? Barbara Barrington Jones and I asked thousands of LDS teenagers from across the Church to name the biggest problems they faced. The top answers were drinking, drugs, violence, and immorality, but the list went on: dropping out, eating disorders, vandalism, theft, running away, bad friends, gangs, body piercing, pornography, bad music, dysfunctional homes. One young woman even added, having a messy room and not getting homework done on time.

Those teenagers generated quite a list, but as serious as most of those things are, they are not the real problems. They are usually just indicators of deeper problemslike shoulder pads on a 250-pound opponent. Unless we deal with whats underneath the shoulder pads, even our best efforts may not get us very far. Drinking, drugs, immorality, and all the other things on the list are usually symptoms of low self-esteem, poor communication skills, inability to cope with pressure and stress, and weak spirituality. Those are the real troubles you must face and attack. In a football game, what good does it do to tackle the mascot on the sidelines?

Its motivating to be at the pep rally. Its fun to get excited and hyped up, but screaming Go, fight, win or singing We are the champions isnt going to insure the victory. In the pages that follow, I hope you will find some totally terrific tips, teachings, tools, and testimonies to truly help you tackle the tough and tricky troubles that terrify, trap, and tarnish teens today.

Satan and his hosts are a team with lots of experience and practice. They provide plenty of opposition. But no matter how difficult the game may get, youre not alone in the fight. You have some good playbooks in the scriptures. Prophets and other Church leaders are great coaches, and the team owner is out of this world! You receive support from boosters like teachers and advisors, and you could never make it without your teammatesfamily and friends who are right there on the field with you. If thats not enough, there are also thousands of screaming fans cheering for you.

Can you see me up in the stands? Im right between the guy with the popcorn and the lady with the binoculars. Look closely. Im the one who is smiling and yelling, I love you! I believe in you! You can do it!

First Quarter

Kick Off with Confidence: Recognizing Your Self-Worth

Game Plan

Al: Good evening and welcome to the sporting event of the century! This is Al Bethere, and tonight Im being joined by Frank N. Cense. Well be with you throughout the game to offer commentary and analysis.