"Follow the Prophet"

Outline of the workshop presentation given at the spring 2005 Young Women open house by Julie B. Beck and Elaine S. Dalton, counselors in the Young Women general presidency.

When the Young Women general presidency meets with the First Presidency, three subjects are consistently discussed:

• Retention of youth
  
• Moral strength of youth
  
• Testimonies of youth

I. Retention of Youth

Young Women leaders have two great tools to help with retention:

Class Presidencies

• Every young woman in every ward and branch in the Church, no matter how different from the other girls she may be, should have friends in her class. Class presidencies are called and set apart to be her friends. Young Women leaders set the example for class presidencies in this and are also friends to each girl.
• “Class officers care for each class member. They help her feel needed and loved. They pray for her, spend time with her, and become genuine friends” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998] 218–19). “Leaders develop caring relationships with each young woman and foster friendships among young women” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 211).

Ward Councils

• Young Women, Relief Society, and priesthood leaders work together to ensure the secure transition of young women into active adulthood in the Church. The First Presidency sent a letter with five recommendations for this transition March 19, 2003. Sister Susan Tanner and Sister Bonnie Parkin gave excellent ideas on how to implement this letter in talks found on LDS.org/Serving in the Church/Young Women/Introduction to Young Women/Helping Young Women with the Transition into Womanhood.

II. Moral Strength of Youth

Ward council meetings and meetings with priesthood leaders can focus on issues that are affecting the moral strength of young women, such as modesty and pornography. (Young Women leaders should not discuss the issue of pornography directly with young women without counseling first with priesthood leaders.)

• Studies show that immodest dress in young women encourages pornography use in young men, that they (young women) are a growing population in the use of pornography, that their future options for worthy temple marriage are at risk, and that they place themselves at risk in the community at large.
• To combat these twin evils, teach the plan of salvation and the principle of the sacredness of the body.

Casual dress in sacred settings is affecting the moral strength of young women.

• Sacrament meeting attendance and temple ordinances are sacred events in the lives of young women and their leaders.
• Teach the doctrine associated with the sacrament to help young women understand the importance of that event in their lives.
• Young Women leaders and mothers should set the example in dress in sacred settings.

III. Testimonies of Youth

“As leaders, we must do everything we can to increase our young [women’s] . . . testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 2004, 15).

• Create events and circumstances where youth can feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost by beginning with high expectations, preparing youth in advance, giving them time to be still, using the scriptures, testifying of truth, using the hymns, loving and accepting all who come, being an example, and praying together.
• Events that honor the commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the organization of the Church are providing excellent opportunities for youth to gain testimonies.
• Memorizing and internalizing scripture principles help testimonies of young women grow. Young Women groups who have memorized “The Living Christ” and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” are feeling the help of the Spirit in their lives. Leaders who use the scriptures to answer everyday questions of young women are building testimony in young women.
• Women of all ages who love young women and who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel are best suited to lead young women.

IV. Vision of the Young Women General Presidency.

A young woman develops a testimony of Jesus Christ and is converted to His gospel as she understands her identity, qualifies for and relies on the Spirit, keeps her covenants, and prepares for her future responsibilities. For the Strength of Youth, Personal Progress, Sunday lessons, Mutual, camp, and other activities are tools to help her gain that testimony.