"Key
Points from Spring 2001 Open House Question & Answers Session"
| Submitted by: Linda Bair, Portland,
Oregon yw4me@home.com QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION (ORIENTATION) YW GENERAL PRESIDENCY 1. How many young women in the Church today: There are approximately 600,000 young women. 2. How can we start YW meetings on time? Meetings with General Authorities always begin early because everyone is always there and they end on time. "Starting any Church meeting on time is one of the skills of good leadership." 3. What is the primary role of stake YW leaders - what is our first priority? Sister Nadauld asked: Whom do you serve? She answered: Ward YW leaders! "You are NOT in charge of the young women in your stakes. Your first priority is serve as a resource to the priesthood, to teach and train ward leaders." "You are the eyes and ears of ward YW leaders. Meet with the member of your stake presidency each month and present your concerns, ask for considerations. Help your priesthood leaders - make it easier for them." "Your priority is to lift ward leaders spiritually. Their responsibility is to do the same with the girls. We are in the business of salvation. Bear your testimonies at every opportunity (young women and YW leaders). This is a most holy work. We can be strengthened together." "Stake YW leaders - take a personal assignment to improve gospel teaching in the wards. ' 4. How can stake YW leaders be a better resource to ward YW leaders? 2 stake leadership meetings a year (Church Handbook page 215). Ward visits. Newsletters, phone calls, etc. 2 Council meetings (part of stake conference). Keep in touch with ward YW leaders - love and serve them. "Teach ward YW leaders to bear their testimonies in every single Sunday lesson." 5. Stake YW Leadership meetings: As you plan leadership meetings, use the opportunity to strengthen the leaders spiritually, strengthen their testimonies. Remember President Hinckley's counsel: "There is a genuine hunger and thirst in the world..for things of the Spirit." 6. Can young women teach Sunday lessons? "Young women are to assist only. YW Advisers have been called and set apart to teach gospel principles." Young women can help (like student teaching) - good opportunity to contribute to lessons, develop talents. 7. Is the Young Womanhood application interview with the bishop in addition to her annual interview? The Bishop interviews young women applying for recognition as to Standards of Personal Worthiness, etc. "The more often the young women meet with their priesthood leaders, the better!" 8. What about taking young women out of their homes one night a week? How do we balance sports, drama, speech, etc.? "We are all about saving young women! These extra things are only tools to make this happen. Strengthen them spiritually, build testimonies first. It's not just the young women that leave their homes midweek - but leaders too. We counsel you that one night a week is the best plan. We need to have a higher level of thinking, a new mindset." "Use the Church Handbook of Instructions, use communications from Church headquarters and priesthood leaders. Refer to Proclamation on the Family and letter from First Presidency dated February 1999 - another means of protecting families." One stake found a creative way of presenting a sports program - rather than a 6-8 week tournament program, they hold one night a month round-robin activities. Mutual is a 90-minute gift of time. Can sports be the last 30 minutes? Many wards have YW sports directors - we ask, do you have a drama director? a speech director? 9. What about Mutual - help! Church studies show that the spiritual needs of youth are NOT being met at Mutual. The Church Handbook explains the importance of a balanced activity program. President Monson explained a few weeks ago in one of their meetings that Church-wide programs for youth (dance festival, etc.) were eliminated so that these activities could occur on a stake and ward level - more youth could participate and benefit. This is NOT happening! 10. How can we be a greater resource to the family? "Hold Mutual at the same time, the same place, each week." "Rule: Don't ask families to spend money on youth activities (see Church Handbook). 2 Nephi 9:51: Move beyond activities that cost money and are just fun. Plan activities where young women can feel the Spirit of the Lord. 11. Resource Guides for Sunday lessons: Resource Guides are now found in the September and March Ensign. 12. Young Women bearing testimonies: "We are remiss in that we don't provide more opportunities for young women to bear their testimonies. Incorporate these opportunities into Sunday YW lessons." 13. What about Personal Progress? What about a PP Specialist? "Continue to teach principles - Personal Progress is not just a program, but principles of eternal life. Teach ward YW leaders to involve the family." "The role of the PP Specialist is a "fuzzy" area. Don't turn the PP program over to a specialist. The YW advisers NEED to be personally involved. In wards with large numbers of young women, a specialist can be called but her responsibility would be to assist with tracking and recording progress." "Make the PP program fit into the life of the young woman, not the young woman fit into the PP program. Make your program flexible enough to meet their needs." Sister Larsen shared the story of a Laurel who was "too busy" to work on Personal Progress because she was a cheerleader. Her adviser encouraged her to set a PP goal to help a new Mia Maid who was trying out for the team. The Laurel spent hours training and helping the young girl - completed a PP experience at the same time. 14. Stake and multi-stake activities: Ward and stake YW callings are a lot of work! "We need to fast and pray so our hearts are softened. More work you say? What if it (more work) strengthens testimonies? The work we are doing has everlasting and eternal influence. We're not just asking you to do one more thing - we're asking you to strengthen testimonies!" 15. Where do go with our problems, concerns? Stake Council is an opportunity for you to present YW issues and concerns. If you see a problem or a concern, the proper order is: 1st - stake council; 2nd - high council or bishop; 3rd - from the bishop to individual young woman or YW leader. "Turn to the scriptures. Study and read daily. Many YW leaders were not raised in the generation of daily scripture study. All answers will come to us - sometimes in the still of the night, sometimes while driving, sweeping floors." 16. Young women and missionary service, experiences: Why couldn't the young women receive the missionary lessons as part of a Mutual activity - learn content, presentation, etc.? One stake has asked that every Mutual activity be a "missionary opportunity" for the youth. One bishop extended an official calling and set apart a Laurel class president to act as a missionary to inactive young women. Spring 2001 Open House Message Spring
2001 Open House Workshop
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