Here's one of my favorite LDS youth videos.
A young woman from South Africa reads a poem she composed about her significance as a daughter of God.
Questions to consider:
What does it mean to be significant in every way?
How did Pamela Hirwa explain her significance?
How can we come to understand our own significance?
How does a young woman who understands her significance affect those around her?
What is the relationship between understanding our significance and remaining virtuous?
Activity Idea:
Have each young women create an expression of her significance using words, images, or other media.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Worldwide Leadership Training
The new LDS Handbook 2: Administering the Church is an extremely significant resource for young women parents and leaders.
World-wide leadership training accompanied release of the handbook and it's available online.
A second training, with information on auxiliaries is coming up February 12th - mark your calendars!
You can fined detailed information on the upcoming broadcast here.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
General Young Women Meeting Videos
The past few General Young Women Meetings have included excellent videos - perfect for use in Sunday lessons or activities. I've collected them here for you.
2010 - "Be Strong: I Know Who I Am"
2009 - "Virtue: For Such a Time as This"
2008 - "Ask and Ye Shall Receive"
This one is not on YouTube, so I can't embed it. The easiest way to view it is from this list on the old lds.org site.
This last one wasn't shown at a General Young Women meeting. It is a collection of highlights from the 2010 meeting. This might be a good way to promote watching this year's broadcast.
2010 - "Be Strong: I Know Who I Am"
2009 - "Virtue: For Such a Time as This"
2008 - "Ask and Ye Shall Receive"
This one is not on YouTube, so I can't embed it. The easiest way to view it is from this list on the old lds.org site.
This last one wasn't shown at a General Young Women meeting. It is a collection of highlights from the 2010 meeting. This might be a good way to promote watching this year's broadcast.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
General Young Women Meeting
The 2011 General Young Women Meeting will be held Saturday March 26th.
This is an extremely valuable conference for young women, their parents, and their leaders.
Mark it on your calendar!
You can attend the meeting in the LDS Conference Center (phone 801 240-0075 for ticket availability and be sure to let them know if you live outside of Utah) or you can watch it at home, if available, or at district or stake centers. You will hear inspired counsel specifically for young women from a member of the first presidency as well as the entire general young women presidency.
The text, audio, and video from past meetings is a valuable resource for leaders. However, it's a little challenging to find on lds.org (for now).
Where do I find the General Young Woman Meeting online?
Go to lds.org, click on "Menu" - "Study" - "General Conference". When that page opens look at the left sidebar and click "Conferences". The General Young Women Meeting has been part of April General Conference starting in 1994. So click on any April Conference 1994 or later, scroll to the bottom (through the Saturday and Sunday sessions) and you will find the General Young Women Meeting talks. Talks from 2006 forward are available to watch, listen, or download in three formats - text, audio and video. Before 2006 they are available to read online.
Here it is!
Music
Here's a fun little tip. The General Young Women Meeting music is very special. A choir of young women prepares musically and spiritually to sing hymns chosen by inspiration for that conference. You can listen to and download that music.
Here's how: at the top of the General Conference page for each conference that offers streaming and downloading are two toggle buttons - "Show Music" and "Show Feeds". Clicking on "Show Music" opens up all the music within each session. You can listen or download. Clicking again (this time it says "Hide Music") removes the music.
The buttons - to the right of "Entire Conference"
Just think what this music could add to Sunday classes or activities! These hymns would be wonderful choices for young women to perform in special activities and sacrament meetings.
Here's one more tip: the sheet music is available to download as pdf files for some of the 2010 General Young Women Meeting musical arrangements. It's almost impossible to find (temporarily) because of the gradual transition to the new lds.org. But I searched and found it!
Sheet music from the General Young Women Meeting is available to download here.
You will find:
Quick Links
To make life a little easier - here are quick links to the past two General Young Women Meetings (remember to scroll to the bottom) and other key pages.
2010 General Young Women Meeting
2009 General Young Women Meeting
Video clips from 2010 General Young Women Meeting
Sheet music from 2010 General Young Women Meeting
This is an extremely valuable conference for young women, their parents, and their leaders.
Mark it on your calendar!
You can attend the meeting in the LDS Conference Center (phone 801 240-0075 for ticket availability and be sure to let them know if you live outside of Utah) or you can watch it at home, if available, or at district or stake centers. You will hear inspired counsel specifically for young women from a member of the first presidency as well as the entire general young women presidency.
The text, audio, and video from past meetings is a valuable resource for leaders. However, it's a little challenging to find on lds.org (for now).
Where do I find the General Young Woman Meeting online?
Go to lds.org, click on "Menu" - "Study" - "General Conference". When that page opens look at the left sidebar and click "Conferences". The General Young Women Meeting has been part of April General Conference starting in 1994. So click on any April Conference 1994 or later, scroll to the bottom (through the Saturday and Sunday sessions) and you will find the General Young Women Meeting talks. Talks from 2006 forward are available to watch, listen, or download in three formats - text, audio and video. Before 2006 they are available to read online.
Here it is!
Music
Here's a fun little tip. The General Young Women Meeting music is very special. A choir of young women prepares musically and spiritually to sing hymns chosen by inspiration for that conference. You can listen to and download that music.
Here's how: at the top of the General Conference page for each conference that offers streaming and downloading are two toggle buttons - "Show Music" and "Show Feeds". Clicking on "Show Music" opens up all the music within each session. You can listen or download. Clicking again (this time it says "Hide Music") removes the music.
The buttons - to the right of "Entire Conference"
Just think what this music could add to Sunday classes or activities! These hymns would be wonderful choices for young women to perform in special activities and sacrament meetings.
Here's one more tip: the sheet music is available to download as pdf files for some of the 2010 General Young Women Meeting musical arrangements. It's almost impossible to find (temporarily) because of the gradual transition to the new lds.org. But I searched and found it!
Sheet music from the General Young Women Meeting is available to download here.
You will find:
- "Be Strong" (2 versions)
- "Dearest Children, God is Near You"
- "High on a Mountain Top"
- "How Firm a Foundation"
- "O Thou Rock of Our Salvation"
- "If the Savior Stood Beside Me (from 2007)"
Video Clips
On last tip: the earlier version of youth.lds.org had a General Young Women Meeting page with links to videos and excerpts from the talks. I can't find it on the current site, but I'm sure it will be there soon - so here's a link to the old site.
Quick Links
To make life a little easier - here are quick links to the past two General Young Women Meetings (remember to scroll to the bottom) and other key pages.
2010 General Young Women Meeting
2009 General Young Women Meeting
Video clips from 2010 General Young Women Meeting
Sheet music from 2010 General Young Women Meeting
Monday, January 24, 2011
Great Expectations for Youth
Great Expectations for Youth is a new page on the lds.org website about the youth of the church.
It includes a video with words from President Monson and other leaders, plus an powerful group of statements on the "great expectations" of today's youth.
More YW Lessons Updated
Four more lessons from Young Women Manual 3 are now available, integrated with the resource guide and other (fabulous) current lesson support.
Fulfilling Women's Diving Roles
Lesson 4 - Preparing to Become an Eternal Companion
Lesson 5 - Creating a Spiritual Environment in the Home
Lesson 6 - A Woman's Responsibility to Teach
Lesson 7 - Our Purpose in Life
Fulfilling Women's Diving Roles
Lesson 4 - Preparing to Become an Eternal Companion
Lesson 5 - Creating a Spiritual Environment in the Home
Lesson 6 - A Woman's Responsibility to Teach
Lesson 7 - Our Purpose in Life
Sunday, January 23, 2011
"I am a Son of God" - Video
The story of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price is full of significant teachings for young people.
Here's a excellent new video illustrating the experiences of Moses, narrated by Elder Jeffrey Holland:
Questions you could discuss:
You can read Elder Holland's full article here.
You can read the experiences of Moses here.
Here's a excellent new video illustrating the experiences of Moses, narrated by Elder Jeffrey Holland:
Questions you could discuss:
- What happened to Moses after his revelatory experience?
- Why do challenges sometimes come after spiritual experiences?
- How did Moses overcome Satan?
- What can we learn from these experiences?
You can read Elder Holland's full article here.
You can read the experiences of Moses here.
Friday, January 21, 2011
25th Anniversary of the Young Women's Theme
The Young Women's Theme is 25 years old!
"We are daughters of of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him..."
What an important proclamation.
You'll catch a glimpse of the inspiration and power behind the Young Women Theme as you listen to Mormon Times' interview of Sisters Elaine Dalton and Ardith Kapp.
An excerpt:
"I think in 25 years down the road, women of the world will come to the women of the church and say: 'What is it that makes you so happy? What is your secret to having such a strong family?" And those women will recite the theme and say, 'we believe these things.'" (Sister Elaine Dalton)
"We are daughters of of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him..."
What an important proclamation.
You'll catch a glimpse of the inspiration and power behind the Young Women Theme as you listen to Mormon Times' interview of Sisters Elaine Dalton and Ardith Kapp.
An excerpt:
"I think in 25 years down the road, women of the world will come to the women of the church and say: 'What is it that makes you so happy? What is your secret to having such a strong family?" And those women will recite the theme and say, 'we believe these things.'" (Sister Elaine Dalton)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Brand New Youth Website
A new youth website was launched today! It's wonderful!
You can navigate to it from the new lds.org homepage ("Menu" - "Family" - "Youth") or use the address: lds.org/youth
Here are some features:
- Easily downloadable video (maybe I didn't need to write that last post)
- Music - it says "Free Music Downloads" but that doesn't appear to be functional. However you can stream and even shuffle songs.
- Questions and Answers
- and lots more
Be sure to explore the site - and share it with your youthful friends. (There's a "Share" button for sharing via email, twitter, facebook, or delicious - right hand column, halfway down.)
And let me know what you think.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Mormon Messages for Youth Videos
The LDS Church has a growing collection of videos for youth. They are available on the LDS Youth website, but sometimes it's challenging to find just the one you want.
Now there's an easier way. Recently the church created a Mormon Messages for Youth YouTube channel. There's also Mormon Channel with videos for all ages. These channels provides a simple way to view and share these wonderful videos.
These videos could enhance a Sunday class, youth activity, fireside, or family home evening.
These videos could enhance a Sunday class, youth activity, fireside, or family home evening.
How can you show a video at church?
In church buildings with good Wi-Fi it's possible to stream content from the internet so you should be able to show these videos on a laptop, iPad, or even a smart phone. If Wi-Fi isn't available, the best solution is to download the videos in a location with Wi-Fi and then show them on a laptop or other device. It's possible to connect in ipad or smart phone to a TV for viewing - I'll do a post on that in the future.
How do you download a video?
It's possible, but not easy (or entirely legal) to download videos from YouTube. But there are better ways to get these videos.
Youth Website
One way is through the new youth website. There is a video link in the right sidebar - most of the videos are downloadable.
Podcasts
Another way is through podcasts - my favorite because it's automatic. The church created a Mormon Messages for Youth podcast. When you subscribe to the podcast, the videos automatically download onto your computer. Then you can easily show them on a laptop, iPad, or smartphone.
In church buildings with good Wi-Fi it's possible to stream content from the internet so you should be able to show these videos on a laptop, iPad, or even a smart phone. If Wi-Fi isn't available, the best solution is to download the videos in a location with Wi-Fi and then show them on a laptop or other device. It's possible to connect in ipad or smart phone to a TV for viewing - I'll do a post on that in the future.
How do you download a video?
It's possible, but not easy (or entirely legal) to download videos from YouTube. But there are better ways to get these videos.
Youth Website
One way is through the new youth website. There is a video link in the right sidebar - most of the videos are downloadable.
Podcasts
Another way is through podcasts - my favorite because it's automatic. The church created a Mormon Messages for Youth podcast. When you subscribe to the podcast, the videos automatically download onto your computer. Then you can easily show them on a laptop, iPad, or smartphone.
There are numerous audio and video LDS podcasts, including general conferences and CES firesides. If you don't know how to use podcasts, it's worthwhile to learn. The easiest way, in my opinion, is to download and subscribe through iTunes. It's a free, user-friendly program.
Here's some help:
What is iTunes?
How to download and install iTunes
How to use podcasts
Once you have iTunes installed on your computer, click on the Mormon Messages for Youth podcast link and you'll have the option to view it in iTunes and subscribe.
I hope this works for you!
If you need help, ask any teenager.
Here's some help:
What is iTunes?
How to download and install iTunes
How to use podcasts
Once you have iTunes installed on your computer, click on the Mormon Messages for Youth podcast link and you'll have the option to view it in iTunes and subscribe.
I hope this works for you!
If you need help, ask any teenager.
I'm happy to respond to specific questions left as comments.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Young Women Curriculum
Sunday learning for young women is based on three young women manuals created a number of years ago. To update these lessons, resource guides were added the past few years.
This year, there is an exciting new addition to young women curriculum - the manual, the resource guide and extremely current lesson support is available online.
You will find the online manual here. It may look the same as always, but click on any of the first four lessons and look at the right sidebar to see added resources. For example, click here to see Lesson 1: "God the Father." You will see additional resources including suggested discussion questions, words of the prophets (links to talks), additional resources (links to scriptures, art, True to the Faith), and media.
We Believe - 2011 Youth Media
Media supporting the 2011 youth theme and For Strength of Youth standards is now available online here.
It includes wonderful messages from President Monson and Sister Elaine Dalton.
Each bishop and branch president should have DVDs of this media available for youth leaders.
For help in using this media, view this video clip.
2011 Youth Theme
The 2011 Youth (Mutual) Theme is:
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Article of Faith 1:13)
Learn more about this year's theme here.
What is mutual?
"Mutual is a regularly scheduled activity for young women and young men. Mutual is a time when youth can be together in safe places to practice living the gospel of Jesus Christ, feel the Spirit, and prepare for future responsibilities in happy and appropriate ways." (from the LDS Church website)
Learn more about this year's theme here.
What is mutual?
"Mutual is a regularly scheduled activity for young women and young men. Mutual is a time when youth can be together in safe places to practice living the gospel of Jesus Christ, feel the Spirit, and prepare for future responsibilities in happy and appropriate ways." (from the LDS Church website)
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