From: Diana Franklin queendiana@hotmail.com
Several years
ago, members of the YW General Board spoke to our Region about the theme. They said that
the theme answers the questions that most of us ask in some form,
"Who am I?"
"We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we
love Him."
The values of Individual Worth, Divine Nature, and Faith help answer this, too. (Look at
the explanations with each.)
"Why am I here" (Or "what am I to do with my
life?")
"We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places as we strive to
live the Young Women values."
The values of Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, and Integrity fit
here.
Why should I do these things? (or "Where am I going?")
"We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared
to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the Temple, and enjoy
the blessings of immortality."
They also said every young woman wants to feel, "I am significant. I am
capable. I can contribute." The theme can help her realize her potential.
Throughout our stake, we say, "Stand for truth and righteousness!" and
then rise together for the theme. I think this will become more significant to the
YW next year as we spend a year thinking about what it means to stand as a witness.
Submitted by Debbie
Fish
First, I wrote
the theme in sections on large poster board. And the threefold mission of the church on
wordstrips. If you look in the YW section of the handbook, it breaks down how the theme
relates to the three-fold mission of the church. As I went through the theme, line by
line, I would post that section on the board. I had looked up some of the words in the
theme in the dictionary and had the definitions for those words to share with the girls. I
previously asked some girls in our YW to research a specific value and take a moment to
share what they had learned, through research and/or their own experiences, what that
value meant. (This is a great opportunity to help girls study an area that they may need
extra growth in). So in my outline you will see specific words that I selected to define
and their definitions. Then after going over the theme, section by section, I kind of
paraphrased the theme using the definitions we had discussed. For a handout, I made them
each a bookmark (laminated) with the theme on it and flowers around it colored the
different value colors. Here is the outline that I wrote for myself to use. I hope it
makes sense to someone else. Good luck.
Why do you
think we have a YW theme? - Do you know what the most asked questions by mankind (in one
way or another) are? - Who am I? - Why am I here? - Where am I going?
Our theme answers all of these
questions. It will help us understand our identity, our purpose,
and our destiny. - I think, as with many things in our lives, when we
hear them or see them regularly we tend to take them for granted. I would like us to take
a deeper look at the message contained within the theme that we recite each week.
WE Who is we? ALL of us no matter what size shape or color.
DAUGHTERS What is a daughter? (A female child born to a father and mother) Did you
know that our spirits are born either male or female to our Heavenly Parents? I have a
quote from the first presidency's message from the Improvement Era (currently known as the
Ensign) 1925 "Man as a Spirit was begotten and born of Heavenly Parents, and reared
to maturity in the Eternal Mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth."
STAND AS WITNESSES To stand is to endure without giving in and a witness is one
who gives evidence or is evidence and testifies of the truthfulness of something.
ALL TIMES, ALL THINGS, ALL PLACES This means that you will always
live your life in a way that you would endure and withstand the peer pressure and
temptations that face you to show with your actions your testimony of Christ.
STRIVE To try hard, work hard and struggle to achieve.
Young Women - share value definitions.
Faith Leslee
Divine Nature Natalie
Individual Worth Laura
Knowledge Melinda
Choice & Accountability Melyn
Good Works Ericka
Integrity Britney
ACCEPT To consent to, to say yes to. To take as true or satisfactory, to believe.
To receive with liking and approval. To undertake as a responsibility.
ACT UPON To be influenced by and follow.
COVENANTS A binding and solemn agreement between God and a person or persons. A
promise.
ORDINANCES God's laws and commandments.
EXALTATION is Eternal life, the kind
of life which God lives. If we were to think about the meaning of the theme
and apply it to ourselves as a personal commitment each time we say it, we might think of
it in our minds like this:
I am a spirit child of my Heavenly Father, who loves me and I love him. I will endure, and
always live my life as evidence that I know that God does exist and I am His daughter, as
I work hard to live the Young Women Values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual
Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, and Integrity. I believe as I
agree to and am influenced by and follow these values, I will be prepared to make and keep
solemn promises with God and to receive His laws and enjoy eternal life as with my family
and with God.
What is the three-fold mission of the church?
Proclaim the Gospel
Perfect the Saints
Redeem the Dead
Show how the different parts of the theme fulfill the mission of the church. The
Young Women's program is the inspired program of the church to help you as young women to
realize your value, to know who you are, why you are here, and where you are going. To
believe, receive and undertake as a responsibility the values listed in our theme.
The Personal Progress Program is designed to help you develop your testimonies, self-
confidence and talents.
Close with testimony
Personal
Progress
Leadership
Home |
