Opening Exercises

Opening exercises are held with all young women and leaders. They normally include the following:

• Prelude music. This invites the Spirit.
• Welcome and announcements by a young woman who is a class officer.
• Opening hymn directed by a young woman.
• Opening prayer by a young woman.
• Reciting of the Young Women theme. “The theme needs no embellishment. It is not preceded by statements or charges. We don’t hold hands. We just stand and say it. It is powerful in and of itself in the hearts of the girls” (Susan W. Tanner, Young Women general president).
• Additional music, if desired.
• Song or hymn practice. Occasionally, it is appropriate to spend a few minutes learning a song or hymn for a Young Women event.

(See “Young Women,” section 2 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 221.)