Learning from General Conference

We've just enjoyed another powerful General Conference - essential guidance for us in these challenging times.

The question is - was it just another nice uplifting weekend - or was it a life-changing, spiritually-strengthening, turning point in our lives?

And what about the young women? How much did they capture? And what will they do to live what they have learned and receive the blessings of following the prophets?

Elder Hales address, "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony"has counsel for all of us:

"To the young members of the Church, I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you. The Lord will tell you what He wants you to do with your life....

"This is possible because the Holy Ghost carries the word of the Lord unto our hearts in terms we can understand. When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying; I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me.

"The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them."

Elder Hales talked about the youth curriculum:

"The messages of this conference will also be woven into the online youth curriculum. Parents, you may access youth lessons for yourself on LDS.org. Find out what your children are learning, and make it the subject of your own study, family discussions, family home evenings, family councils, and personal interviews with each of your children concerning what they need to be taught individually."

What can we do to help young women receive the blessings of General Conference? 

• Because this month's unit is on becoming more Christlike - you could use one lesson to talk about favorite ideas from General Conference that help us become more Christlike. Or you could just invite the young women to share and discuss their favorite moments, and then help them see how the things they learned relate to Jesus Christ and his Atonement.
• Review the General Conference messages and find ones that fit well into the curriculum topics you feel inspired to teach. Use them in your lessons and activities.
• Soon excerpts from this conference should appear in the online curriculum. Until then, you may want to keep the memory and significance of General conference alive in the lives of young women by referring to it often in the context of your lessons.
• Emphasize the importance applying, doing, living the teachings of General Conference. Be an example in this. Share your own experiences with the girls.

The church websites can help us highlight and share General Conference

Highlights from General Conference are available on youth.lds.org.  These short video clips are easily downloaded and perfect to share in lessons or activities.

These General Conference excerpts now have quote images - easily shareable on FaceBook

If you want to print these quote images or share them another way, you can click on the Facebook link below the image which will take you to Facebook and you can download them from there. On my mac I right clicked and then chose 'save as.'

Here are just a few of them:

Come Follow Me Youth Curriculum - using the Gospel Library App

If you have a mobile device, I hope you already use this wonderful resource.

It's available for Android, IOS, and other devices.

It took a little getting used to, and I had to kind of force myself to use it for scripture study at first, but once I got going I loved the convenience and portability.

Here's how I use the Gospel Library App:

• Gospel studying in the car (while my husband is driving!) and on other travels
• Note-taking, highlighting, and linking scriptures and all other included church content
• Creating 'study notebooks' to collect resources for particular topics or as notes for church talks and lessons
• Listening to General Conference while walking or driving
• Sharing videos

My favorite things:

• Easy access to church materials all the time - I have the app on my iPhone and iPad
• Linking content from scriptures, manuals, magazines and so many other publications
• Adding extensive personal notes to my scriptures
• Easy video downloading
• Audio options available for most resources
• My notes and links are available on all my devices and on lds.org (if I sign in to my lds account)

Come Follow Me

The entire youth curriculum is available in the Gospel Library App. You can access unit resources, read the lessons, make notes, easily open the linked scriptures and other resources, and view videos right on your device. The best thing for me - you can download the videos with just one click and have them available to show in the classroom. You can also stream the videos - but be careful because it's sometimes difficult to link to church meetinghouse internet and, if you can, sometimes it's so slow that videos won't stream well.

If you don't have the app, you can search 'Gospel Library' in your device's app store or find links to all lds.org mobile apps here.

I haven't been able to find a lds.org tutorial but here are a few resources that will introduce you to the Gospel Library App.

Upgrade announcement from Church News and Events

Review by Productivity Pad

Share how you use Gospel Library by leaving a comment - and let us know if you've found helpful resources on how to use it.

Videos for the Commandments unit

Many wonderful resources are linked within the Young Women Come Follow Me lessons on Commandments.

Here are a few additional videos related to the 'why' of keeping commandments:

The newest one - True Confidence
Two young women share their secret for confidence and self-worth: the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Stay Within the Lines - this is focused on young men preparing for missions, but the metaphor is great for young women as well.

Just as athletes must stay within lines in order to compete in sports, those who are called to labor in the Lord's work must stay within the lines of worthiness. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland charges young men to be active and worthy to serve as missionaries.

There are also some great excerpts from General Conference that relate to keeping the commandments - here are a few of them:

Thomas S. Monson - Obedience Brings Blessings

There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fulness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide—even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God

Quentin L Cook - Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness

We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies. The Lord’s answer to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail brings solace to the heart:

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8).

L. Tom Perry - Obedience to Law Is Liberty

God reveals to His prophets that there are moral absolutes. Sin will always be sin. Disobedience to the Lord’s commandments will always deprive us of His blessings. The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging. Men and women receive their agency as a gift from God, but their liberty, in turn, their eternal happiness comes from obedience to His laws.

Facebook Group

Did you know there's a facebook group for LDS teachers of youth?

Here's a description:

• We're here to discuss how to more effectively teach the gospel and share ideas about the new curriculum. Share what has worked for you, what has NOT worked, and what you would like to see happen in the Church's teaching programs. Our goal is to see teachers and those in the teaching programs become more efficient in delivering the gospel message to everyone because this is a gospel that is for everyone!

You can find the LDS Teachers FB group here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/368559796563438/

2014 Young Women Young Men Mutual Theme

Here is  the youth theme for 2014!

“Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness” (Moroni 10:32).

Perfect

The Work of Salvation Broadcast

Here's a link to this wonderful broadcast - The Work of Salvation.

How could you use it with your young women? I'm sure they'd love to see the segment from Sister Neill Mariott, counselor in the Young Women General Presidency.

There's a new website on the work of salvation as well as a special section for youth.

New Beginnings

Are you thinking about New Beginnings yet?

It's generally held at the beginning of the school year to to help young women and their parents learn about the Young Women program.

The Young Women General Presidency share their thoughts about New Beginnings in this  message.

Here's what Handbook 2: Administering the Church says about New Beginnings:

New Beginnings

New Beginnings is an annual event for young women and their parents, priesthood leaders, and Young Women leaders. Young women who will reach age 12 in the coming year are also invited to attend with their parents. It may be held at the beginning of the school year or the calendar year. It may be held during Mutual.

This event helps young women and their parents learn about the Young Women program. It includes an explanation of Personal Progress and a presentation of the Young Women theme, logo, motto, and age-group purpose statements and symbols (see 10.1). It should help young women and their parents plan for events in the coming year.

New Beginnings provides opportunities for leaders to express love for the young women, encourage parents to help their daughters in Personal Progress experiences, introduce young women who will reach age 12 in the coming year, and welcome young women who have joined the Church or moved into the ward. It is a time to recognize young women and their accomplishments in Personal Progress. The Young Women presidency invites a member of the bishopric to give concluding remarks.

Class presidencies plan the program under the direction of the Young Women presidency. The Young Women presidency may ask specialists to help (for example, to direct a choir or instrumental group, rehearse speakers, or direct a skit). A member of the Laurel class presidency may conduct.