Special Personal Progress New Era

This is actually a "flip" issue of the New Era with Personal Progress on one side and Duty to God on the other.

It's fantastic!

You can link to a pdf here and text here.

Be sure to get a copy and share it with the youth!

Here's a fun section - "Notes to the Good Girls" where young men share appreciation for girls who live the standards.

There are stories and Personal Progress ideas for every value.

And I love Elder Bowen's Personal Progress message and story about precious jewels.


Enjoy!

The Song of the Heart

Young Women love music, don't they? 

Here's a video about a beautiful young woman from Hawaii, Marissa, who loves music for many reasons —most of all because it has led her closer to Heavenly Father.



You can also download an MP3 of Marissa singing “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” in the youth music library.


How could you use this video?

Consider working with your young women to select a song they'd like to learn and share in sacrament meeting or New Beginnings. Be sure to coordinate this through your priesthood leader - there are guidelines for music to be used in sacrament meeting. You can see them here in the music section of Handbook 2.

Or you could show this video and then invite the young women to plan an activity for sharing talents.

or other ideas - you can share how you plan to use this video by commenting below.

Here's a video link to share:  https://lds.org/youth/video/the-song-of-the-heart?lang=eng

New Mutual Theme - 2012

This announcement is on the homepage of the Young Women Serving in the Church website:

What’s New?

For Leaders: A notice dated August 1, 2011, announced the 2012 Mutual theme: “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5).

Be sure to keep checking the Young Woman website - there are updates to "What's New" about once per week.

Improve Teaching and Learning

Here's a new video and link to a Church News and Events article about the Teaching the Gospel section of LDS.org.

Video: I Choose to Be Pure

You will love this new youth website video!

Six youth from six different religions talk about their decisions to stay sexually pure.

They answer these questions:

Why do you choose to be sexually pure?
Some people say they can't control themselves. What do you say to that?
How do you feel about your choice to stay sexually pure?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all young women could answer these questions articulately?

Link to share: https://lds.org/youth/video/i-choose-to-be-pure?lang=eng

(be sure to read the comments below the video)

Leadership and Class Presidencies

Do you understand the responsibilities of class presidencies?

Are you concerned about unity?

Would you like to know more about the process of counseling together?

Mary Cook, 1st counselor in the General Young Women Presidency answers these questions and more in a recent Church News article "Unity: 'For the power is in them.'" 

She refers to a story in her 2011 General Young Women Meeting talk comparing people to the variety of crayon colors - each contributing to a "color wheel of spiritual unity." Young women in San Antonio, Texas applied her talk and learned about leadership and unity.

Here are a few excerpts:

As a Young Women leader, you are called to serve as a guide. You help class presidencies access this "power [that] is in them" as you teach them their responsibilities and how to counsel together to strengthen individuals."

"As they brainstormed ideas, the Laurels reminded the leaders about the "crayon box" lesson and taught the concept to the other class presidencies who were in attendance. They talked about how each girl is a unique individual and needs love."

"Young women have the ability to solve problems often better than we do. Teach them how to counsel together effectively by making observations, concerns and recommendations."

Languages

LDS.org is now available in many languages.

Look at the far upper right corner of most pages on the website and you will see the word "Languages" with a pull down menu to select your language.  You will be able to choose from

Deutsch
English
Español
Français
Italiano
Português

or

"see other languages" for an extensive list that has partial translation.


This is great -  spread the word!