The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has appointed 14 men to its Young Men General Advisory Council, including former YouTube creator Luke J. Nichols. His appointment comes months after he announced he was stepping away from his massively successful Outdoor Boys channel, citing the need to refocus on what matters most. With this new calling, it is clear what he meant: faith and family.
Fourteen men have been called to serve on the Young Men General Advisory Council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They will assist the Young Men General Presidency as they counsel with other general and local Church leaders to teach, serve and watch over the… pic.twitter.com/KBbimASAOP
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) December 9, 2025
Nichols’ outdoor-adventure channel struck a nerve with millions. Week after week he built structures in the Alaskan wilderness, camped through blizzards, hauled gear through rivers, cooked hearty meals on open fires topped with his now-viral garlic butter, and taught boys and young men around the world what strength, discipline and purpose look like in real time. His calm leadership, moral restraint and steady presence stood out in a digital world that constantly tears men down. Nichols lived what he taught, and audiences recognized it.
The LDS Church announced that Nichols, a former criminal defense attorney, viral YouTube creator and former missionary, began his service on December 1. The Young Men General Presidency, sustained earlier this year, will rely on the new council to teach, serve and guide the rising generation. The presidency consists of President Timothy L. Farnes and counselors David J. Wunderli and Sean R. Dixon.
While we do not subscribe to the Latter-day Saint doctrine, the move itself deserves attention.
For years, mainstream institutions have left boys behind. Organizations once dedicated to forming strong, upright men have abandoned their mission. The Boy Scouts, once a bedrock of American boyhood, embraced ideological trends that diluted the organization’s very identity. Schools, media and cultural voices repeatedly tell young men they are toxic, unnecessary or inherently harmful. Many have heard that message since childhood.
Men like Nichols push back simply by living out what the culture refuses to affirm. He built things. He faced the cold. He made mistakes and fixed them. He showed grit. He provided an example of a man who works, protects and leads with humility. His channel became a refuge for millions who were starving for someone to model sturdy masculinity without apology.
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That is why the LDS decision is so strategic. They are investing in young men. They are building systems of mentorship, challenge and spiritual direction at a moment when many churches hesitate to do the same. Christian organizations such as Trail Life USA have stepped into this gap as well, recognizing the enormous hunger for fatherhood, direction and meaning. Men need physical work, adventure and responsibility. They need older men who will guide them. They need younger men to pour into.
But at the center of all of this is something deeper. Without faith and a living relationship with God, adventure loses its anchor, purpose becomes thin and masculinity drifts into mere performance. The activities matter. The skills matter. The challenge matters. Yet all of it points toward something greater: a man becoming who he was created to be.
Nichols seems to understand that. His choice to step away from fame to protect his family and strengthen his faith speaks louder than any video he ever posted. It is the kind of decision young men need to witness in a world that rewards distraction and self-promotion.
Christian leaders would do well to pay attention. Men everywhere are looking for substance, direction and a place to grow. Churches have an opportunity to step into that calling with clarity, conviction and courage. Ministries that challenge boys to work with their hands, explore creation, face adversity and walk with God are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
Perhaps more men will follow Nichols’ example. Maybe some will start building again, teaching again and leading again. Some might even start their own YouTube channel, reaching young men whom no one else is reaching.
Whatever form it takes, the mission is the same: raise up a generation of men who know who they are, who stand firm in their faith, and who live with strength, purpose and honor.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
