How can we help strengthen young women?

Teach them old values for a new millennium. As their leaders, we cannot afford to be indifferent, or wavering, or weak. We must speak with a strong voice for that which is right, and we must do it in happy and appealing ways. we must stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places.

Values

Divine Nature - Value our divine feminine nature. help the young women know by your attitude and example and teaching that it is a divine and priceless blessing from God to be born to womanhood. President Hinckley has said, "Woman is God's supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, woman was created, and only then was the work pronounced complete and good."

Integrity - As a leader you teach the gospel through the way you live. You must be an example of the positive effects of living with honesty and integrity in all you do. Therefore, "You are expected to keep the commandments, to be kind [to be modes in your speech, in your behavior, and in the way you dress], and to be a faithful servant of the Lord and of those you lead....The principle of being a good example is very important, especially for Young Women leaders.

Let your example of integrity be one they can follow, one that they will want to follow.

Faith - (This was probably the statement which had the greatest impact on me) Do you have the faith to seek for inspiration in your calling? Moments of inspiration can be yours. ... Find out for yourself that Heavenly Father will help.

The world would have you suppose that you could click a mouse and have at your fingertips all the help you need for your calling. But as a church, we subscribe to the time honored value of exercising faith. Seek the guidance of the Spirit as you serve young women. (There is so much in this one statement!!!!)

Knowledge - Church Handbook of Instructions - Teaching, No Greater Call will give you an abundance of ideas and helpful hints. ...Have you tried to implement every idea on the list on page 90? The Activity Book is filled with activity ideas for Mutual relating to Young Women values and how to implement them. ...But always remember sister, the greatest knowledge you can receive comes from a higher source. It is the knowledge that comes through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Choice & Accountability - ....Choose to Pray, Choose to Study the Scriptures.....choose to rely on the scriptures. Let them fill your heart and soul with inspiration. Teach the young women the words of God as you lead them. Teach them the doctrine of the gospel. That is what will save, strengthen, bless and help them.

As we read and pray we will be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.....As we seek the power of the Holy Ghost to influence us, we tap into the power of Heaven.

We are teaching you to have the faith and to be spiritually self-reliant, not too bookstore reliant or too Internet reliant. Let your best friend be Father in Heaven.....

Individual Worth - Help young women care for each other. We are often asked, "How can we teach young people in this day and age to have more respect for each other, sacred things, for their leaders?" This is a wonderful gift that you can give them, sisters, and it is wrapped up in the package called example. We must have a demeanor about us that can be respected. We must dress in a way that is respectful of the Lord when we come to His building. We must speak with respect to one another and teach young women to do the same.

A friend attended a New Beginning where she enjoyed a lovely evening planned for young women and their parents. It was obvious that great effort had gone into the preparation of this special occasion; but as she looked around the room, to her surprise every young woman and every leader was dressed in pants, most Levi's. Their shirts were untucked and not ironed...Young and old alike were definitely in style together. But the way they were dressed sent a message, sisters. It was subtle and I'm afraid it was negative.

Good Works - There are too many of our girls who....are not attending R.S. after they leave us. (This isn't included in the printed material we were given, but she said use to blame the R.S. ...said with a smile...but now she thinks maybe we are the ones who have dropped the baton. ) The day they come into the YW program is the day we need to begin preparing them for membership in R.S. - As you consider preparing YW to attend R.S., think about passing the baton, passing the responsibility for a girl from YW leader to R.S. leader. Don't drop her along the way. Hold on! We are all on the same team! We must win the race. It has eternal consequences.

(This is something else she told us that wasn't included in the notes. She said that we will see the 1st Presidency in attendance at the Broadcast Saturday evening....all three of them. This is such an important meeting that the temple dedications in Mexico were postponed because the 1st Presidency felt it was important for them to be in attendance at the General YW Meeting. She asked, "Do our girls understand how important this meeting is? It is a meeting designed just for them....the Church has General Conference. The Young Women also have the General YW Meeting. This put the Broadcast in even greater importance in my book!!

Camp - Individual Worth can be fostered at camp. Camp is under the direction of local priesthood leaders, the Stake and Ward Young Women Presidencies determine the extent of the camp program for the young women. (See pg. 225 in the CHI) ......When a camp director has been called, the presidency orient her to the YW Program and delegate the responsibility to organizing a camp. But they don't just hand it over to her completely. The presidency work with the camp director, assistant direct, and youth camp leaders......

Worldwide Celebration - During this year of a glorious YW Worldwide Celebration, we unite in faith from the four corners of the earth to commemorate the 2000 years since the birth of the Savior, the Son of God. I think it truly remarkable that the world still remembers that little boy born in Bethlehem so long ago. He lived a life that we still try to follow. He showed us the way. He taught truths we still try to live after two millennia, and the truths He taught are the truths of Heaven. They are as true today as they were then.

He willingly suffered for our sins because He loved us so completely. He gave us the right to repent. And He gave His life that we might be resurrected and live again after death.

What small thing could we do for Him and our Heavenly Father who sent Him? We could stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things, and in all places and in so doing help His daughters understand His eternal truths, old values, as we begin a new millennium. It is our prayer that we will."

(There you go - I loved being able to be at the Open House)

Love,
Alice Gifford - Page, Arizona

Leadership

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