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Welcome: Laurel President
Opening Song: If The Savior Stood Beside Me
Scripture: 1st Nephi 17:13
Opening Prayer:
A Young Woman: The Young Woman motto is "Stand For Truth and
Righteousness" The Young Women's theme helps each young woman understand
her identity, purpose and destiny as a daughter of God. Young Women and
their leaders repeat the theme during Sunday Opening exercises and at
other Young Women gatherings. The Young Women's theme supports the
mission of the church in the following ways:
Proclaims the Gospel as we stand as witnesses of God at all times and in
all things, and in all places. Perfect the Saints as we strive to
live the Young Women Values, which are Faith, Divine Nature, Individual
Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works and Integrity.
Redeem the dead because We believe as we come to accept and act upon
these values we will prepare to make and keep sacred covenants, receive
the ordinances of the temple and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
The Young Women's logo is a torch surrounded by the Young Women's motto.
The torch represents the light of Christ, inviting all to "Come Unto
Christ". Moroni 10:32 states, "Yea, come unto Christ and be perfected in
Him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny
yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and
strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may
be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in
Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.;
This logo invites all young women to hold up the light of Christ by
keeping His Commandments.
Introduction of New Beehives: 2nd Counselor
Introduction of Class Officers: 1st Counselor
Young Women of Value (we got this from All
About Mormons Page):
A Young Woman: As young women we are learning
that The Lord Is Our Light by incorporating these 7 values into our
lives: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and
Accountability, Good Works and Integrity. We wanted to share a program
with you that illustrates these values through stories and songs. We
would like to invite you to go back in time with us to visit with
several women who lived in the days of Jesus Christ. These women
faithfully portray the values we are striving to live. We hope that you
will listen carefully to the messages that we will share and that your
heart will be touched. May we all use the Lord as our Light by being
"Women of Value".
A Young Woman: D & C 14:7 "And if you keep my
commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life, which
is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
A Young Woman: The first Young Women Value is
Faith. We are daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us, and we will
have faith in his eternal plan, which centers in Jesus Christ, our
Savior.
An Adult Woman: I am the woman who had a
illness which lasted for twelve years. It was after many attempts to be
healed by the physicians of my day, that my heart recognized defeat. I
felt I had lost my battle to live. I felt certain that I would die. But
then, I heard the news of a Messiah! I was hesitant at first, reluctant
to offer my heart and what little faith I had left, to Him.
And so I began my search for Him. I mingled
in multitudes, asking questions about this Man and learned that He could
heal the sick with a touch of His hand. I learned of His compassion and
concern for the broken-hearted. My faith was kindled and it grew. But,
how would I ever find the courage to ask for His help? He was always
surrounded by so many anxious souls that stood taller and braver than I.
At times, when I heard Him speaking, I felt
He looked straight into my heart and bid me to come to Him–as if He knew
all there was to know about me. I will never forget the day I accepted
His invitations. The multitudes were pressing Him for favors and
blessings. Crouching on my hands and knees, I struggled to make my way
to Him. If only I could reach Him. I need not bother Him. If with one
touch of His hand, He could make me whole, then why not with one touch
of my hand upon Him, could I not receive the same blessing?
Nearer and nearer I came, until I realized
that He was beginning to move towards me. Quickly, I reached out my hand
and my fingers gently brushed His hem. Immediately, I felt strength
surging through my being. For a moment, my joy was interrupted, for He
spoke, asking the people, "Who touched Me?" It was as if he knew–for His
eyes came to rest –upon me. Suddenly I felt afraid. Trembling I rose and
spoke the truth to Him. He was not angry with me. I will never forget
the look in His eyes when He spoke to me, commending me for my faith in
Him and for my courage to come to Him at last.
Truly, the Messiah knew and understood my
heart. He had indeed invited me on many occasions to come to Him and be
freed of the pain that He knew was threatening my life. Patiently, He
waited until my faith in Him was sufficient. He had been reaching for me
for so long - but it was when I finally reached for Him, accepting that
He was the Gift for my broken heart, that I was made whole.
A Young Woman: 2 Peter 1:4-7 "Be partakers of
the divine nature,...giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and
to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."
A Young Woman: The second value is divine
nature. We have inherited divine qualities which we will strive to
develop.
An Adult Woman: I am Mary of Bethany. Sitting
at the Savior's feet was my joy. I drank deeply in the spiritual truths
which He offered me. I considered these truths to be precious pearls. I
held each one carefully and gratefully in my heart. I grew in my
knowledge and understanding not only of the glorious gospel message, but
also of Jesus Christ, the precious Son of God. Oh, if only each of you
could know the joy of being tenderly tutored at His knee, the joy of
gazing into His face and seeing mirrored in His eyes complete
acceptance, perfect patience, compassion beyond description and love
immeasurable for you! As I grew in my love for Him, He taught me to love
myself and to love and serve others. He was the Pearl of Perfection. He
was a living emblem of complete and perfect truth. It was my desire to
become even as He was. At times I grew discouraged, feeling I had so
very far to go, but He always made me feel as if I were so very close. I
know He saw the best in me for often He would smile and say, "Mary, the
kingdom of God is within you." In time, I grew to understand what He
meant. Perfection is not a treasure waiting at the end of a long
journey. Perfection lies within you, waiting to be discovered one pearl
at a time-along the path that leads to exaltation."
Young Women sing: The Light Within (by Janice
Kapp Perry)
A Young Woman: D&C 18&10 "Remember the worth
of souls is great in the sight of God."
A Young Woman: The third value is Individual
Worth. We are of Infinite Worth with our own divine mission which we
will strive to fulfill.
An Adult Woman: I am Mary of Magdala, known
in the scriptures as Mary Magdalene. I was a loyal friend to the Savior,
Jesus Christ. I knew Him very well. I was His faithful follower and
friend. I was healed through my faith in Him, of evil spirits which
possessed me. In my heart, there never was a doubt that He could heal
me. Of the sorrow that plagued my soul. Perhaps, women of today would
call my illness depression. When He found me, my heart truly sang a new
song. I was the first that the risen Lord appeared to. I believe
it was because I was searching so intently for Him. I bear my witness to
you that if you will "search diligently, pray always and be believing"
that there will come a day when you will find Him. It was through His
power and His strength and the joy of His presence in my life that I was
brought to sing His song of redeeming love. I knew I was precious in His
sight.
A Young Woman: D & C 88:118 "Seek learning,
even by study and also by Faith."
A Young Woman: The fourth value is knowledge.
We will continually seek opportunities for learning and growth.
An Adult Woman: I am the Samaritan woman who
went to the well one hot afternoon to fill my water pot. The sun was
blazing overhead and I was tired and thirst. As I neared the well, I saw
a man who appeared to be of Jewish descent resting alone beside it. Jews
and Samaritans were enemies- especially Jewish men and Samaritan women.
I approached the well with downcast eyes hoping to avoid him, but He
immediately asked me for a drink of water. He proceed to tell me that if
I would partake of living water, which only He could offer me, I would
never thirst. Who was this man who spoke in riddles? He seemed more than
a man- perhaps a prophet. He told me all I had ever done and still
offered me wells of compassion. As we spoke that afternoon, I felt my
inner thirst being quenched for the first time. I eventually came to
know and believe that He was Jesus Christ, the Holy Messiah. I ran and
told my people, and nearly a whole city was converted to the Son of God.
A Young Woman: Joshua 4:15 "Choose you this
day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord."
A Young Woman: The fifth value is choice and
accountability. We will remain free by choosing good over evil and will
accept responsibility for our choices.
An Adult Woman: I am Martha of Bethany. The
Savior was a dear friend of mine and a treasured guest in our humble
home. He often came to visit my brother Lazarus, my sister Mary, and me
after His long journeys. My heart has often been misunderstood. The
scriptures do not give a full account of my love and devotion for the
Lord, Jesus Christ. I considered it an honor and blessing to serve Him.
There was on one occasion, however, when I was weary. I wanted
everything to be perfect for Him. He seemed so tired and hungry when He
came to our home that afternoon. I bid Him to ask my sister to help me
with the preparation of dinner. Gently, the Lord invited me to join my
sister Mary at His feet, tenderly telling me that I was "careful and
troubled about many things" but that He understood that I too had needs
that should be met. He gently explained that Mary had chosen the better
par, which fed her spirit and nurtured her soul. It was with a heart
full of love that I served Him. But it was in allowing Him to serve me
that my giving heart was replenished, my weary soul strengthened and the
cravings of my spirit satisfied.
A Young Woman: 3 Nephi 12:16 "Therefore let
your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in Heaven."
A Young Woman: The sixth value is good works.
We will nurture others and build the kingdom through righteous service.
An Adult Woman: I stood in a multitude with
many whose hearts He knew were heavy. I had been trying for many years
to overcome my bitterness and resentment for one I felt I could not
forgive. As I stood in His presence, I felt His compassion fill my soul.
I felt that He understood I had cause to hold a grudge, to harbor
resentment, but I also felt as I listened to His words that He who had
suffered cruelty, rejection and betrayal, had come to free me from my
bitterness and pain. I knew in my heart, that if I would ever hope to be
forgiven of my own misdeeds and sins that I must let go of the offenses
committed against me by others. I was at the foot of His cross when I
heard His voice utter His last prayer. My heart broke in the full
realization of the importance of forgiveness. In His last whisper,
"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. " I understood that
He was speaking to only of those who had taken His life- but also
pleading for those for whom He gave it. It never seemed hard to forgive
again, for the same mercy I hoped to receive for myself I eagerly
offered ever after to others. The compassion I hoped He would extend to
me, became my heartfelt gift to my fellow man. How could I ever judge or
condemn another after beholding the suffering of the only one who's
heart was truly innocent.
Young Women sing: Jesus Was No Ordinary Man
(by Janice Kapp Perry)
A Young Woman: Job 27:5 "Till I die I will
not remove mine integrity from me."
A Young Woman: The seventh and last value is
integrity. We will have the moral courage to make our actions consistent
with our knowledge of right and wrong.
An Adult Woman: I, a nameless widow, had seen
the Savior on many occasions – teaching and healing and performing
miracles. I felt the truthfulness of His message and sensed the divinity
of His calling. My earnest desire was to keep the first and greatest
commandment: to love the Lord with al my "heart and mind and might". I
followed Him to the hillsides where He taught beautiful sermons to the
multitudes. I stood on the shore of Galilee, listening to His flowing
voice as it rippled across the waters to the ears of those who gathered
to the water's edge to hear. I never spoke to Him face to face as other
woman had. I watched, listened, observed, and loved Him from a distance.
But, oh, how I wanted to be His friend. In the temple, the week
preceding His crucifixion, I came seeking further light and knowledge.
Quietly, I dropped my last mite into the treasury. I felt warmth
surrounding me. When I turned, there, standing before me was the Lord,
Jesus Christ. At first, fear clutched my heart. Perhaps He would not
understand the significance of my humble offering. I offered Him more
than a coin. I offered Him my heart.
An Adult Woman: My name is Mary. I will never
be able to express the thoughts and feelings that entered my heart with
great force as I learned of my Heavenly Father's plan for me. How is one
supposed to feel as they learn that they will be the mother of a King?
The Savior of the world? It was so overwhelming at first to comprehend
everything, but amidst all my thoughts was sense of peace I'd never felt
before. As I learned of His role on this earth and the challenges He
would face, I knew that it would not be easy. Sometimes I could hardly
even bear the thought of all that was in store for Him. How could I sit
by as His mother and watch His suffering? Could I be that strong? As He
was born and as He grew, my spirit seemed to gain strength. He brought
so much joy into my life and such peace. I will forever be grateful for
such a sacred opportunity and for the trust my Father had in me. I know
that He was sent here for all mankind, but a part of me knows that He
was also sent here just for me. He truly was my miracle from Heaven.
(All young women, leaders and women of the Scriptures" state theme)
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who
loves us and we love him. .......
Young Women Sing: His Image In Your
Countenance (by Janice Kapp Perry)
Personal Progress Presentation (video--we got
this idea from the YW General Workshops, It's a video of a mother and
daughter setting goals and matching them to the Personal Progress Book
and it will end with the daughter completing the goals and the mother
signing them off in her personal progress book.)
Personal Progress Specialist :Personal Progress recognition.
YW President: Theme for the Year
Bishopric message.
Closing Hymn: The Lord Is My Light Hymn # 89
Closing Prayer:
Refreshments:
Personal Progress
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