Videos shared in this blog

I just created a list of all the videos I've shared so far in Blessing Young Women. I'll keep it up to date so you can find videos quickly.

Look near the bottom of the right sidebar.

You have to scroll

down

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YW Manual 3: Lessons 8-11

Families
My daughter teaches Young Women and I just sent her an email with ideas for lessons 8-11.

Maybe it will help someone else if I paste it here:



Are you doing lesson 10 tomorrow?

Here are the resources online

http://lds.org/manual/young-women-manual-3/lesson-10-encouraging-enjoyable-family-activities?lang=eng

Look at the right sidebar.

It doesn't list videos but here are a few I like:

Cute lds commercials about family fun:

Swashbuckler

SciFi

Runaway Stage

You can also search Mormon Ad Homefront on youtube for some of the older ones.

There's a new video on the Mormon Messages youtube channel called Families can be together forever - it's good.

I also really like this video - Two Brothers Apart

Teaching Young Women

Today's Church News has a VERY HELPFUL article by Mary Cook (1st Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency), "Young women: Finding answers to strengthen testimonies."

It's about teaching young women and using the new resources available online.

Read it! Read it!

There are incredible resources online and I'm not sure many leaders know about them. 

I posted on this already, but I'll review:

Access the Young Women Sunday Instruction resources by going to lds.org - Serving in the Church - Young Women - Leader Resources - Young Women Manual 3  (or click the link I just gave you). Lessons do or will have the Resource Guide content plus new current resources in the right sidebar. As of now, only lessons 1-12 have resources added but lessons are in the process of being updated.




Sister Cook shared suggestions for using this content in her article. She points out
discussion questions, current words of the prophets, media, and suggestions for helping young women act upon what they learn during the week.

Her suggestions are each important:

• Relevant questions help young women engage with doctrine and principles and apply it to their lives. 
• Current prophetic word is what keeps us safe and moving in the right direction during these very challenging and confusing times.  
• Media engages youth - the love it! 
• Acting upon learning is essential.  How many times have you actually done something different after a church lesson? We need to help the young women apply and do. That is the way the will build their own firm, unshakable testimonies.

The Video, "Ask and Ye Shall Receive" is mentioned in the article. It's difficult to find online. You can find it listed on this web page.

Video: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

I'm back!

This is perfect advice for parents AND leaders from Elder Hales

Away for a week

I'll be away from my computer for a week. I'll be back to posting on Feb 27.

Mormon Channels

The LDS Church has "Mormon Channel" - its official media channel. It also has a Mormon Channel on YouTube.  They are different and this might be a little confusing. I'll try to sort them out for you.

Mormon Channel (radio.lds.org) is the Church's official media channel, also known as Mormon Radio.  It hosts audio content. Programming is delivered via the internet. You can read more about it here. You can listen live, or to a wide variety of archived programs. There's even a Youth Voices channel (with one broadcast so far). Mormon Channel also offers a number of podcasts - so you can subscribe and have episodes downloaded automatically.



Mormon Channel on YouTube, also known as the Mormon Messages Channel is an official Church YouTube channel. It hosts video content (some of it available in up to 12 different languages).



Somehow I stumbled on this site - also known as Mormon Channel (mormonchannel.org). It seems to be a portal, linking to the other channels.



In addition,  there's a Mormon Messages for Youth channel on YouTube - hosting many of the videos I share on this blog.


There's plenty of youth friendly media available on these sites.

Do some exploring - and share what you find.


I hope this helped!

Music Video: Live Like You Believe

Did you know Church News did music videos? (I didn't)

But here's one from their YouTube channel called "Live Like You Believe":





Music video by the LDS Church News put to the music of Jenny Phillips, "Live Like You Believe. Music used by permission of Jenny Phillips. Visit her web site at www.jennyphillips.com.

The Law of Chastity on mormon.org

Mormon.org is the missionary website - the site for those less familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It's a wonderful website - explore it!  I love the video clips about members that do not exactly fit the typical mormon stereotype. I'll link some of them in a future post.

Here's the mormon.org, law of chastity (virtue) explanation.

Note - there's a video image/link but it's not live in my 'pasted' text. (sorry - I can't find it on YouTube to embed for you). You can watch it on mormon.org - it's worth watching. You could use it to begin a good discussion on virtue.

Live the Law of Chastity

The power and holiness of sexual intimacy requires careful protection so it can be a source of joy and closeness.

Law of Chastity02:02

The power of procreation is a sacred part of God’s plan. It's an expression of love and allows husband and wife to create life. God has commanded that this power and privilege of a sexual relationship only exist between a man and woman who are legally married. This commandment is called the law of chastity. It requires abstinence from sex before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to our spouses after marriage. God expects us to keep our thoughts clean and be modest in our dress, speech, and actions (Matthew 5:27–28).  We must also avoid viewing pornography and engaging in homosexual relations.

We understand that the principles of the law of chastity set The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart and may sound strict to the rest of the world, yet great blessings of peace, self-respect, and self-control come from obeying this commandment.

If you go to the website - this chastity segment is shareable by email, facebook, and twitter.

Popular Youth Video: "Our True Identity"

"Our True Identity" with a message from President Dieter Uchtdorf, is the most viewed of all the Mormon Messages for Youth videos (203,374 views as of now).

I wonder why.

Is it because President Uchtdorf is a powerful speaker?

Yes

Is it because identity is a foundational eternal truth - one that resonates when we hear it and one that all young women desperately need to understand?

Yes, again.





This video would work well with Young Women Manual 3, lesson 33 - "Each Person is Divine and Eternal"

Questions to consider:

President Uchtdorf said, "You are no ordinary beings. You are glorious and eternal."

How does that idea affect the way you live your life?

How does it affect the way you view others?

What does it mean for your future?

World Wide Leadership Training Meeting

The new Church Handbook 2 - is an essential resource for young women leaders. Chapters 1-5 lay a foundation for all service in the church. Chapter 10 is about the Young Women program.

Worldwide training for this handbook was held February 12.

Here's a summary of the training.

And you can go here to listen, watch, or download the messages (great material for leader training meetings).

Music

I'd like to tell you a friend's story about the power of music in the lives of young women (in her own words).

Years ago, I spent seven years teaching early morning seminary. As I was preparing for my eighth, the bishop called me into his office and said it was time to release me. I loved that calling, I loved the youth, and hated to give it up, but the bishop knew it was time for change. 

Then the bishop gave me two new callings. First he called me to be Gospel Doctrine teacher. Wonderful! That fit well with my seminary experience. 

Then he gave me my second calling - choir director.  Choir director?!?  I didn't even know how to lead music. What was I going to do? 

I exercised my faith and said "Yes."

During the next year I had the sweet opportunity to work with a group of loving and supportive choir members. The very experienced organist mentored me and we managed to have fun, harmonize, and uplift the ward with our music. Plus - I learned to lead music and motivate singers. 

To my surprise, a year later the bishop again called me into  his office. This time he released me from both callings and asked me to serve as president of the Young Women. Another new and scary calling. 

I exercised my faith and said "Yes."

When I met the group of young women, I loved them. And I had a strong impression that they needed to sing - and this is why I served as choir director. 

I searched out young women music and found the Church's A Song of the Heart book for young women and wonderful music from other talented LDS songwriters others like Janice Kapp Perry.

We sang and sang and sang - in class, in sacrament meetings, in activities. Those girls sang their testimonies and as they did so - the gospel went deep into their hearts. I saw that happen. Most of those girls are now mothers, married in the temple and raising their families. We lost very few over the years. 

I wonder if the testimonies they built through music helped them stay strong.

Music is not built into the Young Women program, as it is for Primary. It's up to leaders to seek inspiration about their young women and include music in the way they feel is best.

What music resources do we have?

New LDS.org music website

Explore and have fun! You'll find hymns, children's songs, and other music resources.


Youth Music Library

The new youth website has a Youth Music Library. The music can be streamed and downloaded. This is a valuable resource! The new 2011 For Strength of Youth Media songs are included as well as three young women songs:
"Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God"
"In That Holy Place"
"I Walk by Faith"


Using Music to Teach Young Women

The classic Young Women site has Using Music to Teach Young Women.  Another great resource! It has music from some of the past General Young Women meetings. You can listen, view, and download sheet music for many of these songs. Be sure to watch some of the GYWM numbers - look at the faces of the girls - you will see the power of music. Here's a sample: "High on the Mountain Top" - watch or listen.


Selected Young Women Music

 The "classic" (older) LDS site has a Selected Young Women Music page. It has songs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese available to download as music and voice, music only, melody only, and pdf of sheet music (right click, click on "Save As"). The accompaniments are very simple - but the music is powerful.


Young Women Camp Songs

Music and singing are an important part of Young Women camp. This site provides many songs - available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese - downloadable as music only or sheet music.

General Conference

General Conference is a tremendous source of music. Select a session and be sure to click the "Show Music" link near the top of the page.  (For now, the show music feature is only available from the October 2009 session to present.) You can watch and listen to beautiful arrangements of church music. Remeber, that April conference sessions include the General Young Women Meeting sessions - just scroll to the bottom. Here's a sample from General Conference: "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" - watch or listen.

I hope this helps you bring the blessing of music to young women you know.

Here's one more little gift:

I couldn't find this on any official church site, but YouTube has video of  "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days" from the 2007 General Young Women Meeting.



Here's all I could find on the General Young Women Meeting webpage about music from this meeting:

The sheet music for the song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," which was sung at the 2007 general Young Women meeting, was printed in the October 1993 issue of the Friend. A fourth verse was written for the general Young Women meeting. The sheet music is available in PDF format: "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" . Also look for this music in the August 2007 New Era.


The arrangement for "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days," which was also sung at the 2007 general Young Women meeting, is available from Jackman Music in Provo, Utah, 801-225-0859.

For more information on the power of music, read "Worship through Music," by Dallin H. Oaks.

Video: Families Can Be Together Forever

This new video, with counsel from President Henry B. Eyring, is perfect for use with Young Women Manual 3: Lesson 8 - "Eternal Families"




Questions to consider:

Why do we have families? 

How does your family bless you?

What can you do now to prepare to have a 'forever' family?

How will your virtue affect your future family?

Orienting New Young Women Leaders

This training and orientation document, sharing the vision and goals of the Young Women general presidency, is available online to view and download.

You can find it towards the bottom of the classic (old version) of the Young Women home page.   (Right click on "handout" then "Save link as" to download)

Click here to go directly to the pdf document (depending on your browser, it may download automatically or click "File" - "Save as" to download).

This document is ideal as a source of training ideas, as a training handout, and to orient newly called leaders.

Teaching is an Opportunity to Follow Christ

President dieter F. Uchtdorf gave this powerful counsel to teachers in a recent fireside for Church Educational System personnel.

His talk on teaching is available for all of us to enjoy  here on lds.org.

100%

(Young women from St Lucia)

Do you know what it means to be 100%?

For the past few years it has meant three things:

1. Pray morning and evening
2. Read in the Book of Mormon each day
3. Smile!

This year, Elaine Dalton, General Young Woman President, added a fourth step:

4. Obey and live the standards in For the Strength of Youth

This challenge is for young women AND their leaders.  It will open the way for "many might miracles" (Alma 26:12)

Let's all be 100%!


For more information see "Young Women: More holiness give me"

Sister Ruth Hardy Funk

Sister Ruth Hardy Funk, Young Women
General President from 1972-1978, passed away yesterday.

You can read about her in today's Deseret News

BYU Study: Sexual abstinance until marriage leads to stability and trust

We live in a toxic world. Young women today need our help, as parents and leaders, to stay on the path of virtue.

An article, published in the Jan 8, 2011 Church News, describes research support for our standards of virtue and sexual purity. It describes a recent Brigham Young University study, published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Family Psychology, exploring impact of sexual involvement during dating.

Here's an excerpt:

"Research shows that as couples develop their relationship while delaying or refraining from sexual intimacy they are able to form foundations on communication and other social processes."

"When couples become sexual early in the relationship … other areas do not develop as well," Brother Busby said. "Couples who wait spend time talking and sharing their life, getting to know each other in other ways, strengthening their relations and creating greater relationship satisfaction."

Elaine Dalton has consistently emphasized virtue during her years as Young Women General President.

Here are links to a few of her talks on virtue:

"Remember Who You Are!" April 2010 General Young Women Meeting

 "Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord," April 2009 General Young Women Meeting

"A Return to Virtue," Oct 2008 General Conference

Update:

This article is making news in far away places:

The Economist
and The Irish Times

Church News Articles

Over the past year or so, there have been regular Church News articles written by members of the Young Women General Presidency. They are excellent resources for parents and leaders.

Here are some of the recent articles:

"Young Women: New year, new you"
Elaine S. Dalton, Jan 22, 2011

Strength of Youth Media - 2011

"'The Strength of Youth Media' can act as a resource for parents, leaders of youth and priesthood leaders to supplement lessons, use in firesides, to facilitate a discussion and inspired learning in Sunday lesson settings; to use at youth conferences and in family home evening lessons. The possibilities are limitless for using this resource along with the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet, to help strengthen the rising generation" 

"Young women: 'More holiness give me'"
Elaine. S Dalton, Dec 18, 2010

100% challenge for young women.

"In the coming year, as a Young Women general presidency, we will continue to ask young women everywhere to act to increase their faith by doing three things:
1. Pray morning and evening
2. Read in the Book of Mormon each day.
3. Smile as they remember that they are beloved daughters of our Heavenly Father.
In addition to this, in 2011 we will be adding a fourth invitation. We will be asking each young woman to become familiar with and to obey and live the standards in the "For the Strength of Youth." Doing these simple things will invite the companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost. And, as their leaders, we will be doing exactly what we are asking the young women to do."

"Latter-day Saint Young Women: 'In the strength of the Lord I can do hard things'"
Elaine S. Dalton, Oct 16, 2010

Story of a group of young women who walked from the Draper temple to the Salt Lake Temple AND read Jesus the Christ a few months earlier.

"Their ward Young Women president, Michelle Carnesecca, knew what every good leader knows: that there is no motivation in being involved in a mediocre cause. These young women were not only told that they were great, but they were given the opportunity to BE great, to ACT great, and to DO great things. 

"Many times leaders are tempted to protect the youth from experiencing and doing hard things. And yet these noble young women yearn to make a difference and to accomplish the seemingly impossible. This is one of the reasons the youth love to participate in pioneer treks, 50 mile hikes, and Young Women camp. And that is why they were gathered at the temple, ready to walk 22 miles. 

"'She Glowed!' Young woman filled with light before baptism"
Elaine S. Dalton, Sept 18, 2010

Story of Huan Wen Qian's baptism - a beehive who was introduced to Christianity and the LDS church by the Beehive class president.

"What will help this new member of the Church stay on the path back home to her Father in Heaven? What will help every young woman remain pure and clean and unspotted from the world? Baptism is the beginning. It is making and keeping sacred covenants and receiving the ordinances of salvation. It is preparing to receive all that the Father has by remaining worthy to enter holy temples and to receive the ordinances and make the covenants available there?

"Anxiously engaged in a good cause"
Elaine S. Dalton, Aug 21, 2010

The 2010 youth theme is the 13th Article of Faith.

"During the coming year, youth can build on their resolve to remain strong and courageous. It will not be enough to ask the youth not to participate in worldly things. We as their parents and leaders must help them seek after the good and be able to identify those things that are "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy." Perhaps we could say, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we [want to provide the youth] these things."

"Ribbons, recognition and relationships"

Elaine S. Dalton, July 17, 2010

Story of a bishop in Africa who is doing Personal Progress and has young women verify his completion of each experience and sign his book.

He "shared that whenever he completed an experience in Personal Progress, he asked a young woman to verify his completion and sign his Personal Progress book. He had recently completed one of the value experiences in Personal Progress and had asked a young woman in his ward to sign his book."

"He shared with her the things he had learned and done and then she asked to see his journal entry regarding this experience because that was part of the requirement. He replied, "Well, I did not write about this in my journal. I don't have one." The young woman replied, "Well then Bishop, I cannot sign your Personal Progress book. Come back when you have completed all the requirements."

"Bee a mentor - Righteous influences critical in life"
Elaine S. Dalton, June 19, 2010

The Honor Bee

"Earning the Honor Bee in Young Women encourages every young woman to become a mentor. After a young woman finishes her Personal Progress and receives her Young Womanhood award and medallion, she can become a mentor to another young woman and, in the process, she can earn an Honor Bee. The Honor Bee is a symbol of someone who has gone the extra mile and beyond the requirements."

"In the end, mentoring boils down to love — the pure love of God. Mentoring is a belief in the individual and the capacity of that individual to be or become more."

"'We can rise above' - Virtue begins in heart and mind" 
Elaine S. Dalton, May 15, 2010 

It is possible to be virtuous in today's world.

"Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. Virtue is chastity and sexual purity. Virtue is obtained by developing patterns of thought and action based on high moral standards. It is a daily pursuit because patterns are formed as we do things daily that strengthen our resolve."

Sister Mary N. Cook: A call to action  
Mary N. Cook, April 17, 2010

Suggestions on how to teach young women and help them receive the counsel of our prophets.

"We want our youth to be riveted on the teachings of the living prophets. We believe as we give youth opportunities to prepare to learn, teach one another and act on these teachings, "the power of God [will work] miracles in them, they will be "converted unto the Lord and never [will] fall away." (See Alma 23:6.)"

Looking for Videos?

There are many marvelous videos scattered throughout the LDS Church websites - the challenge is to find them.

Wouldn't a media library be nice?

There's the start of one in a place you may not think to look - Mormon.org


Visit the site and look at the top of the page for the Mormon.TV link, then enjoy!

Be sure to explore. I particularly love the "Entertainment" section. It's full of LDS commercials.

Website for Young Women Leaders

There are new web pages for young women leaders (not quite finished). They are part of the new lds.org website.

New lds.org has improved navigation - but it may not be completely familiar to you (yet). To get to the young women leaders web pages through the new menus go to lds.org, click on 'Menu' - 'Serving in the Church' (under 'Service') - 'Young Women' (in the left sidebar).

Here's a direct link to the Serving in the Church: Young Women web page.

To get there quickly at any time, just type the URL:  youngwomen.lds.org