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Young Women General President Fall 2001 Open House Message |
| Young Women is the Lord's organization for girls ages twelve to eighteen. It was established by the prophet Brigham Young, second president of the Church, in 1869. He was concerned about the influence of the world upon his daughters and the other "young ladies in Zion" and so on November 28, 1869, he gathered the girls and their mothers together in the Lion House. Among other things he said: "There is need for the young daughters of Israel to get a living testimony of the truth....I wish our girls to obtain a knowledge of the Gospel for themselves....We are about to organize a Retrenchment Association." Retrench means to cut down, curtail, reduce, remove, delete or omit. He said, "I want you all to join, and I want you to vote to retrench in your dress, in your talkes, in your speech."(Susa Young Gates, "The Founding of the Young Women Association," History of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, pp,6-10). Since that day 132 years ago, the organization for the young women of the Church has been going strong. The name has changed, but its purpose is still to assist parents with rearing righteous daughters. YOUNG WOMEN The young women of this Church are precious and dear in the sight of our Father in Heaven. He loves His daughters. They are dear to those of us gathered in this room today. Oh how their parents love them and we love them. As we travel across the earth to meet them, we see so much beauty welling up from deep down inside each one. We see in their shining eyes the promise of the future; we sense the tenderness of their hearts for gospel truths; we listen to their expressions of love for parents, but earnest desires for support from home and from the young men; we recognize their great need to be loved. These girls represent our future in a very real way. One day they will be the wives and the mothers who will influence husbands and children. The power of their influence will be felt, for good or ill, for generations to come. One day, one of them will take your place. One of them will take my place. In speaking to youth President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Never forget that you were chosen and brought to earth as a child of God for something of importance in His grand design. He expects marvelous things of you." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Youth," Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (Deseret Book: Salt Lake City, 1997), 712). Always remember as you work with young women that they were taught and prepared before this world was to come at this particular time for a wise and glorious purpose. "even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men" (D&C 138:56). In talking at the General Young Women Meeting in March 2000, President James E. Faust said: "During the time of President Heber J. Grant, the First Presidency wrote: 'The true spirit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives to woman the highest place of honor in human life....A...chaste woman is the perfect workmanship of God.' " (James E. Faust, "Womanhood: The highest Place of Honor," (Ensign, May 2000, 95-96). Then he taught us that "one of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity....Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your incomparable power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts, bless the lives of children, women, and men." (Ibid, page 96) I commend his marvelous message to you. It would be very useful to study and understand it thoroughly with the girls whom you serve. Encourage young women to use all they were sent with from heaven to bless this world. As their mothers and leaders, help them develop an understanding of their divine nature and their true individual worth. Their preparation began in royal courts on high and continues here on earth. You remember Alma said, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32) It is our privilege to help them meet the experiences of this mortal life successfully and walk faithfully along the path that will bring them to Christ and back home to their Father in Heaven. Let me tell you about Katie. She knew she was a daughter of God; you could tell it by the way she lived her life. Katie's after school job was to help Farah, who was severely handicapped, to enjoy life a little more. Together they sang, went shopping, read stories and scriptures. They played games and took field trips. Sometimes they had sleepovers together so Farah's family could have a break. Katie dressed Farah, helped her with her personal grooming, and cared for her physical needs. When it was time for Katie to choose a Value project, her thoughts turned to Farah. She wanted to think of something special she could do for her. She searched for a way to express her love for her good friend. In Young Women they had done much with family history and it was on her mind in a major way, so Katie decided to make a Book of Remembrance for Farah. She collected pictures and stories and family histories, all part of Farah's life story. In her spare time she put it together into a beautiful treasure for Farah to enjoy. Seeing her friend happy made Katie happy. She was loved and blessed and wanted others to feel the same way. She lived the Savior's teaching: "As I have loved you, love one another." On December 30, Katie was home with her brother planning to join the rest of the family the next day to celebrate New Year's Eve. She had just completed her own autobiography as part of a school assignment and had packed to take with her to share with her family for their holiday time together. When she left the house the next morning she left a note lying on top of her scriptures at the side of her bed. Perhaps it was part of her school writing project. It was just one paragraph. She had written: "If it were my last day on earth, this is the record I would leave: Make each day meaningful. Be there for others. Stay close to the Lord. Gain all the knowledge you can about the scriptures, the gospel, the creations of the Lord. Smile often, give of yourself, even if at times you feel you have nothing left to give. And always remember Christ for His example and His Atonement and strive each day to be like Him" That day was Katie's last day on earth. The next day as she rode with her brother to join the family to celebrate the New Year, Katie was killed in a tragic automobile accident. (See Write back Soon! by Margaret D. Nadauld, chapter 24) Surely when she meets her Heavenly Father, He will know of her great love for Him. She knew of her divine nature. She lived like a daughter of Heavenly Father should try to live. Help young women catch a vision of who they really are. Help them live up to the great privileges that are theirs as daughters of God. Strengthen Home and Family I am grateful that our Heavenly Father has inspired the Young Women program to help His daughters develop their divine potential and most importantly, a testimony of eternal truths. At its foundation is the Young Women Theme which girls stand and repeat each week. We love this theme and so do the girls and we know that it makes a difference in their lives. There will now be added to the theme four new words. They are "strengthen home and family." This addition has been inspired of heaven in a day and time when the home and family are under attack. It is critical that young men and young women on the threshold of life understand very clearly that the Church has the strongest family values. Therefore the theme will now read as follows: "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will 'stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places' (mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are: Faith Divine Nature Individual Worth Knowledge Choice and Accountability Good Works, and Integrity. We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltaion." |
| We hope that you will take the opportunity to introduce this addition to the Theme in an inspiring and impressive way to young women and their parents. Please implement this change after January 1, 2002 (perhaps at New Beginnings!). New Theme posters will be available at that time. Everything that we do in Young Women must prepare girls to strengthen home and family NOW in the home of their youth and LATER in their own homes with their own families. Help them understand the plan of our Heavenly Father. Help them prepare well for their part in that plan. In November of 1999, we attended the World Congress on the Family held in Geneva, Switzerland, and had an opportunity to address those in attendance. Some of the things we said to that audience about strengthening home and family we would like to share with you today: "In my assignment as president of an international organization for young women who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we focus our attention on our teenage girls who live in every part of the world. We love them and have great faith in their abilities and in their future. Their future is the future of the world for they will nurture the generations yet unborn. With their parents, we are concerned about what these girls hear, read in print, and see acted out on screen. We all know that the media has the power to condone, even promote. Anti-family messages by what they print, what they show, and how they show it. There are those who would have us choose abortion over babies, fully-employed women over motherhood, and in place of parents, government-sponsored day care and after-school programs to watch over what they term 'burdensome' children. "We believe that youth must be taught that this is wrong. We must teach the ideal. That is, that human life is sacred, that children need mothers to nurture, nourish, and teach them, and that they need fathers to love them, to provide for them, and to protect the family unit. "The clammy yellow fingers of moral sickness will reach into every home, every street, and every life unless we are vigilant and proactive. "We must rally this day and in all the days to come to keep the headwaters of the family clear and clean, so that strong, safe, productive boys and girls, men and women may flow freely from them. I honor you for being true to that noble errand to guard your own homes and families and then to be an influence in your larger communities. I would like to offer three suggestions. First, we must teach and model traditional family values. "The solutions offered by some in this world cannot substitute for the daily, individual attention given by parents who are willing to invest their best time and efforts. We must teach and model that happiness, and security comes in families with a father and mother who are married and committed to each other, committed to nurturing children and raising them to be caring, productive adults. "May women, accomplished, capable, well-educated women, never apologize for following the traditions that have made our society strong. Make those traditions of vigilant watchcare over home and family your number one priority. May our daughters aspire to noble motherhood as their greatest calling and not succumb to the demeaning alternative voices of those who would destroy families. "May men of learning and understanding and influence stand prepared to fulfill their duty as provider and protector in the family setting. May we teach our sons to embrace their position of responsibility in future families. May we believe and then teach that marriage between a man and a woman and fidelity in that marriage is the truest safeguard for home and family. "Second, we must teach and model moral values. "There is no viable substitute for the traditional moral values that keep families strong. Encourage youth to develop religious faith, acquire fine educations, understand the relationship between choice and accountability, to do good works, and to live lives of integrity. They must know that THEY are responsible for the nurture and stability of future families, not governments or agencies. "No society ever became great by lowering its moral standards. Politically correct is not always morally correct! We need women who will realize that what is socially acceptable in our world today may not be morally right. To be great, we must be good! "Third, use your influence. I honor you for being true to that noble errand to guard your own homes and families and then to be an influence in your larger communities. We are honored to unite with you in the great cause of preserving the traditional family. If we desert our posts or are unfaithful to our responsibilities, the future outlook for this world is bleak indeed. How large will your sphere of influence be and how far will it reach? You decide. It is up to you. "Neal A. Maxwell has said, "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? " ' Will what happens in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will be standing.' This must be so. We must make it so. It is up to us!" You sisters have been called of God to be His agents working with young women. We pray that you will find inspired opportunities to assist families in teaching young women about the importance of the home, the sacredness of the family, and the everlasting influence they can have to safeguard home and family in this life and for eternity. Study the Proclamation on the Family with the young women; help them understand what it means as they prepare for their future responsibilities. PERSONAL PROGRESS Our wonderful Personal Progress is based on the Young Women Theme. Did you know that an achievement program has always been part of the Young Women experience? We have found requirements for girls dating back to 1916. Remember when President Faust shared some of them with us at the General Young Women Meeting held in March, 2000? Recently Elder Robert D. Hales shared with us a treasure of the Summers' family. It is the young women's achievement program their grandmother had as a girl. We hope that today's Personal Progress book and journal will become a treasure to a girl for all of her life; a treasure that she will share with her daughters and granddaughters with happy memories and great joy. Personal Progress has given direction to young women and in turn the girls have blessed many other lives as they have completed value experiences and value projects. A grandmother recently wrote: "As the grandmother of 13 incredible granddaughters, I wanted to take a minute and share (my feelings) regarding Personal Progress....Our sixteen-year-old granddaughter has done every single activity in the book, except for the Laurel Projects. It is so inspiring to listen to her talk about her experiences and how this program has helped her remain strong in the gospel and overcome many of her trials and weaknesses. There is no doubt in my mind that much of who she is today is because of these goals. I remember a time when she was having trouble being patient with her three younger brothers and so she worked hard at this and it solved her problem. Her relationship with her Father in Heaven is stronger, her family and friend relationships are better and her testimony of the gospel is deeply rooted....I know that the Personal Progress program has been a tremendous guide for her and as a grandmother I am thankful for the direction our young people receive through the programs of the Chruch." We love Personal Progress and endorse it wholeheartedly. Now we have something very exciting to share with you. Your bishop will soon receive an order form with which you can order your new supply of Personal Progress books. When you recieve them they will have an updated look. There will be a Personal Prgress book and a companion journal. It is anticipated that wards will begin implementing the revised Personal Progress books in January of 2002 or as soon after January as your new order arrives. Please be patient with church distribution and the enormous task they have in the months ahead. The new Personal Progress book and journal are smaller to fit with the scriptures the girls use. The color on the front cover is periwinkle blue and they are spiral bound. The title reads, "Young Women Personal Progress, Standing as a Witness of God." These words frame a picture of the new Young Womanhood Recognition medallion depicting the temple spires. This signifies that the goal of Personal Progress is, indeed, to be prepared to receive the ordinances of the temple. The medallion will be available after the first of the year in either gold or silver. Just a word about jewelry for Young Women. When a twelve year old becomes a Beehive, she is given a torch necklace. The torch signifies that young women hold high the light of the gospel and keep its flame burning brightly in their lives as they stand for truth and righteousness. A silhouette of a girl can be seen in the flame. This torch necklace and the medallion which a girl earns through great personal effort will now be the only pieces of jewelry for Young Women. Now let's look inside this marvelous new book which we hope will become a valued and treasured possession of every girl. Inside the front cover is the document, "The Living Christ." This testimony of the Apostles introduces young women to the temple and the picture of the Savior depicts that it is through the temple covenants that we come to Christ. Another wonderful addition to the book is the Proclamation on the Family. Next, there is a special "Welcome to Personal Progress" letter to young women from the First Presidency of the Church. The Young Women Theme. The next page has "Standards for the Strength of Youth." These replace "Standard of Personal Worthiness" and are standards that a young woman can commit to live to help her be an example which will strengthen her family and young men and young women with whom she associates. To complete the Personal Progress Program a young woman will work at her own pace. This is new. The requirements for completion are: Live the Standards in For the Strength of Youth. Complete six value experiences and one value project for each of the seven values. Keep a personal journal. Record her testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. There is an emphasis on inviting parents of young women to assist their daughter in planning and completing the Personal Progress program. Sharing these experiences can strengthen their relationship with her. A girl may modify experiences and projects according to her personal circumstance, interests, and needs with the prior approval of parents and Young Women leaders. Personal Progress can be part of the good things she is doing at home, at church, school, seminary, and in the community. If a young woman completes the requirements before she enters Relief Society, she may continue to progress by completing additional Value Experiences and Projects, compiling her personal history, reading the Book of Mormon, and under the direction of the Young Women president, she can mentor younger girls who are working on Personal Progress. In "the Young Women Value Experiences and Projects" section, girls work at their own pace, not by age-group as in the former book, to complete Value Experiences and a Value Project for each of the seven values. This is a change you will want to note. Each value is introduced by beautiful pictures of the Savior. A young woman will do three value experiences and then complete three additional value experiences which she may select from the options in the book or she may write her own. At the end of each value experience section is a value project. After the young woman has completed six experiences in the value she is working on, she will then create a project that will help her practice what she has learned. The project should be a significant effort that will take at least ten hours to complete. There are some ideas for projects listed with each value. At the back of the book each young woman has her own Personal Progress Record Sheet. When she completes Experiences and Projects for each of the seven values, she will receive an emblem to be placed on her Record Sheet. Now a word on pacing in the new program. Young women may work at their own pace, but they should always be working on at least one experience or project. They may wish to set goals for themselves which will help them work steadily, such as trying to complete one experience or project every month, or no less than nine a year. It is recommended they work on Personal Progress throughout their time in Young Women. After a young woman has completed all of her value experiences and value projects, there is a place in this book for her to record her testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and His Church. She is now ready to receive the Young Womanhood Recognition. On the back cover is a reminder to each young woman to "stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come" (D&C 87:8). These inspired and wonderful changes have been designed to place more emphasis on the Savior and the scriptures, the divine role of women, home arts and family. We pray that you will find ways to encourage parents to become a partner with their daughters in selecting and completing Personal Progress experiences and projects. It can be a valuable tool to help her reach and stretch and discover her divine potential as a daughter of God. Invite the parents to all programs where their daughter is participating. FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH Sisters, we are all aware of the strength of the spirits that these girls were born with. The poet Wordsworth writes that they come "trailing clouds of glory." (William Wordsworth from "Ode on Intimations of Immortality" in Best Loved) It will take all of that "glory" plus a strong testimony and great courage for them and for all of us to stay pure in the polluted envirionment of this world. They look to you as an example of the way to live. We are so grateful that they can look to you with complete confidence because your life is in tune with gospel standards in every regard. That is a mighty responsibility and it is one we must each accept. In addition to example and teachings at home and at church, the booklet For the Strength of Youth has been an invaluable guide to the standards to live by. Soon you will be receiving copies which will have a new appearance. This booklet covers 18 topics of importance to youth, including President Hinckley's "B's." They are based on principles of the gospel. The principles, and standards derived from those principles, are discussed in this booklet. These standards will be a safeguard and guide to all who follow them. We commend For the Strength of Youth to every parent, every youth, and every leader. It can be wisely used in Family Home Evening, at Mutual, at firesides, in lessons and talks, and many other ways you will discover. MUTUAL The world is too much with us, sisters. Destructive influences are creeping in to occupy too much of our time. The Church is not going to retreat. We are, however, going to follow the guidelines given by the First Presidency in a letter sent on February 11, 1999. Therefore, we will meet once a week, where possible, for Mutual. Ensure that this is a well-planned activity time for youth where they can always feel two things: the Spirit and love -- the Spirit of the Lord and the love of their leaders and each other. Mutual should be held on a standard day and time and place in each ward where every young person ages 12 to 18 will meet each week. They will know it and their parents will know it. This will be a great aid to the families of the youth, as well as the leaders, as they plan their weekly calendars. As always, we will welcome visitors to join with us and keep our standards in these wonderful, wholesome weekly activities, but we will not give up the influence of the Church in the lives of the youth at this very critical time! We intend to be even stronger and more determined than ever to hold onto the youth! At Mutual, under the influence of the Spirit, they can come together to learn skills and talents and ideals (and even have fun!) that will prepare them for their important future roles. CONCLUSION It is as true today as it was 132 years ago when Brigham Young said it is time to "retrench in everything that is bad and worthless, and improve in everything that is good and beautiful. Not to make yourselves unhappy, but to live so that you may be truly happy in this life and the life to come." (Susa Young Gates, History of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, pp. 6-10.) President Gordon B. Hinckley reminds us that the season of youth is "the season to set the directions for life." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 723) With all of our hearts, we thank the First Presidency for caring so much about the rising generation and for providing such rich and inspired resources for us to use in guiding them. May we find inspired ways to use these tools wisely and often to strengthen and encourage and build a strong foundation in the lives of every young woman and every young man in our church. May the Lord bless us with the guidance of His Holy Spirit as we rededicate ourselves to His important work at home and at church. We are grateful to you for all that you are and for all that you do to serve our Father in Heaven and His daughters. We are grateful for all the love you give. We are grateful for all the time you give. We are grateful for your exemplary lives which are so very closely watched and imitated by these girls. Thank you for the joy you radiate. Thank you for showing young women that living the gospel makes you happy. We are involved in the work of God. It is inspired of Him. I know this is true. Of this I testify with all my heart, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. |
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