Last year, our ward Primary president was moving to El Paso, far from us, and if your are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you know that means new callings. I was second counselor in the presidency, then I was called into the Bishop's office and was asked if I would serve as first counselor in the Young Women. That's right. Young Women. I of course, accepted the calling. I was nervous in accepting since it would be my first time in Young Women since I was a Young Woman myself; about thirteen years ago.
When I returned to the Primary room, the newly appointed Primary president, previous first counselor, sat next to me and leaned over, "I just want you to know, I fought for you." I'm not telling you this to brag, but to say that I felt so blessed to be that loved and needed. When I do a job, I always wonder if it's enough. Sometimes I don't do enough, and I know I'm not, and sometimes, I think I'm not doing enough and people thank me for doing so much. Simply put, I'm grateful to know I was doing a good job in Primary.
So, now I come to what this post is really about.
Young Women New Beginnings
If you are not a member of my church, I will explain.
If you are a member, I will still explain.
New Beginnings is an event done with the young women of the church, girls ages 12 through 17. (They leave the Young Women group at age eighteen, or when they finish high school, more of their choice then. I waited until I was eighteen at the end of July so I could do one last Young Women camp.)
New Beginnings is a time to welcome new Young Women to the group, talk about the Young Women program, Personal Progress, the youth theme for the year, and what is expected of the girls and leaders.
The president of our Young Women, Q, plays in an orchestra and around Spring and Christmas, she is very busy. For this, I was put in charge of New Beginnings for the year. I love to organize and throw parties, so I was not only happy to plan New Beginnings, but I was grateful I was fully in charge of it. Not that I don't get along with others, only, when I have a vision of something, I truly like to run with it. Young Women president Q told me she can be creative, but she can't make it come together in party form, and since I did the youth Christmas dance, she knew I could handle it.
We are a very small ward; we have four girls, one of which turned 12 on the last day of February. She is also a new convert, newly baptized, and we are so excited to have her start Young Women.
On to how I planned our New Beginnings.
First thing I did was explore Pinterest.
That helped me decided that I didn't want a theme, but merely a color scheme to go with the 2018 Youth Theme; Peace in Christ.
Pastels and spring were my choosing.
Secondly, I put together the emblem I would repeat.
I would use it all over things.
Third thing I did was sketch out a script:
Conducting: YW president
Opening song: Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God
chorister: YW m.
piano player: Sister W.
Opening prayer: Sister "Me"
Introduction to Young Women Program: YW president
give books to new YW J.
Beehives: YW A.
symbol
scripture
testimony
Mia Maids: YW m.
symbol
scripture
testimony
Laurels: YW M.
symbol
scripture
testimony
YW Values and Symbols: Sister "Me"
2018 Mutual Theme: YW president
Special Musical Number: "Peace in Christ"
YW Camp: Sister "Me"
give book to new YW J.
Closing remarks: Bishop
Closing song: As Sisters in Zion, hymn 309
Closing prayer: Sister P.
When I plan something with lots of talking, such as New Beginnings, I make a script. It seems to be daunting to others when I call it a script, but it's always important for everyone to know when they speak and when they do a movement. Otherwise, you have people looking at you and whispering, "What do I do next?"
In our Young Women, it is only me and Q, no second counselor or secretary, so we had to double up on duties as we have been doing through our whole callings.
It was still so nice.
Lastly, I sketched out the decor plans.
I'd say I came pretty close.
We couldn't find the large standing easels.
Our table.
I made the banner myself and laminated them to be used for years to come!
Each flag is a Young Women Value:
All things the Young Women strive to understand and work for through Personal Progress.
Every year there is a new youth theme and scripture from where the theme comes.
This year is "Peace in Christ," Doctrine & Covenants 19:23
"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."
I love that scripture so much. Having peace in Christ is a great blessing.
The theme and scripture is in the frame on the left,
and the frame on the right says; New Beginnings ----- Ward 2018.
You can see we have pictures of our Young Women, which those are now on the wall of our room.
There are also the bags with the necklaces I made for this year's youth theme inside,
along with a book mark with the scripture on one side and the lyrics to the 2018 theme's song on the other side.
I got all my supplies for the necklace from Hobby Lobby and almost every bit was marked down more than their usual percentage off. The price of each necklace to make was $1.05 to $2.47, depending on if the cord you had was on sale or not.
The larger bag was for our new girl that would receive manuals and jewelry from the past two year's youth themes and the Young Women torch.
Other things on display are the bookmark straps, the gold and silver Young Women medallion, the Young Women torch pendent and pin, and the camp torch patch. As well as a statue of Jesus and flowers in a vase.
We were in the Relief Society room, so the frames on the wall are not Young Women, but the ones on the chalkboard are from our room. The large frame on the left with the Young Women Theme, I don't know where that is from. A previous president got it for the Young Women, and Q didn't know from where it was found.
We put the piano in the corner to change things up and added the pretty greenery on top. The draping around the chalkboard are two plastic table covers. That is one of my favorite party hacks.
Our program table.
I couldn't show you much of the program since I don't have permission from the girls and their parents to use their names and images on my blog.
Basically, the inside left had the scripture of this year, Doctrine & Covenants 19:23, then below that was a list of us in Young Women and our positions.
On the inside right, at the top was the "Peace in Christ" watercolor wreath I put together, and followed below was the program.
On the back I had a quote from the song of the year;
"When there's no peace on earth, there is peace in Christ."
Peace in Christ by Nik Day
I didn't get pictures of the girls doing their parts, and I regret not doing so.
Each level in Young Women is organized by age;
Beehives 12-13
Mia Maids 14-15
Laurels 16-17
A. was our only Beehive until J. turned twelve, so I had her tell about Beehives.
m. is our most recent Mia Maid, so she covered Mia Maids.
M. is our oldest Laurel, so she talked about Laurels.
Beehives are represented by, obviously, a beehive, which represents harmony, cooperation, and work of the early pioneers of the church.
Mia Maid are represented by a rose which symbolized love, faith, and purity.
Laurels are represented by a laurel wreath that has always stood as a symbol of honor and accomplishment.
During their years in Young Women, the girls learn about themselves and about Heavenly Father. The whole reason for them to do any of this work is to become closer to Heavenly Father.
Q, doing her talk about the youth theme for 2018.
Her paper says:
What do you know about Christ that brings you peace?
He loves you.
He will help you.
He does not lie.
He knows how you feel.
And with each one of those lines, she had a scripture to back it up.
All of us singing "Peace in Christ."
There is peace in Christ
When we learn of Him.
Feel the love He felt for us
When He bore our sins.
Listen to His words.
Let them come alive.
If we know Him as He is,
There is peace in Christ.
He gives us hope
When hope is gone.
He gives us strength
When we can't go on.
He gives us shelter
In the storms of life.
When there's no peace on earth,
There is peace in Christ.
There is peace in Christ
When we walk with Him
Through the streets of Galilee
To Jerusalem.
Mend the broken hearts.
Dry the tearfilled eyes.
When we live the way He lived,
There is peace in Christ.
He gives us hope
When hope is gone.
He gives us strength
When we can't go on.
He gives us shelter
In the storms of life.
When there's no peace on earth,
There is peace in Christ.
He gives us hope
When hope is gone.
He gives us strength
When we can't go on.
He gives us shelter
In the storms of life.
When there's no peace on earth,
There is peace in Christ.
When there's no peace on earth,
There is peace in Christ.
I even covered my face because, well, I think I was trying to hit a high note and I look so strange that I couldn't stop laughing at myself! A mother in the crowd took this picture and I'm really glad she did.
It was great fun and I felt the Spirit so strongly.
I am truly grateful to these Young Women I have come to know more about. Two of them I've know their whole life and it's amazing to see how much they have grown. I look forward to getting to know our new Young Women and getting to know them all, deeper.
If y'all want to know more about the Young Women program, just click.
If you are curious about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly know as Mormons, just click here.
If you would like to use my "New Beginnings" wreath or "Peace in Christ" wreath, I give you permission to do so as long it is not used for monetary gain.
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