Young Women in Excellence

January 13, 2016 by shelley

Young Women in Excellence “Reflections”

Our theme for Young Women in Excellence this year was “Reflections”. Each girl was to reflect upon the past year and report on the gospel item whether it was a value in personal progress, a talk at conference or a talk at church that had a lot of meaning for her. Each girl got her own mirror to decorate and it was set up by a small table for items that reflected her personality. For refreshments each girl brought her favorite dessert/snack or appetizer which was also a reflection of the YW.

Scripture Treasure Hunt Mutual Activity or Lesson

September 5, 2015 by shelley

Scripture Treasure Hunt Mutual Activity or lesson.

Scripture Treasure Hunt Mutual Activity or Lesson

(Updated) SCRIPTURE HUNT Mutual Activity or Lesson.

To illustrate how important it is to search the scriptures, and to really study the scriptures and find their “hidden” meaning I decided to update (previous post) my Scripture Treasure Hunt Activity.

The final “treasure” is finding the Book of Mormon with a Twinkie and

“like a Twinkie the good stuff is inside”!

Like a twinkie the good stuff is inside!

Each YW got a pocket-size edition of the Book of Mormon with a Twinkie wrapped in a pirate bandana (found in the treasure hunt) and a small treasure chest with gold chocolate and bubble gum coins.

Pirate Treasure

Small treasure chest with chocolate and bubble gum gold coins.

Individual treasure chests

Treasure Chest with chocolate and bubble gum gold coins.

I updated all the clues with a new look:

First clue in a wood box.

Clue 1 in a wooden box

Inside wood box

Clue 1 in a wooden box inside

Treasure hunt clue

Clues Scripture Treasure Hunt (.pdf format) and Clues Scripture Treasure Hunt Clues updated (.doc format)

Clues 5, 6, 7, and 8

Clues page 9, 10,11, and 12

Clues 13, 14, and 15

Master: Treasure Hunt

Master w/answers: here Clues Scripture Treasure Hunt (.doc format) or here Clues Scripture Treasure Hunt (.pdf format)

(place clues 2-15 in the places directed before the activity. The treasure is placed in the freezer in the kitchen.) Each girl needs to have her own set of scriptures to look up each clue. They can take turns reading the clues aloud.

(give 1^st clue to the girls to start the treasure hunt.)

Clue #1: Genesis 16: 7

“And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.”

Answer: Water Fountain (and placement of clue 2)

Clue #2: 1 Timothy 3:1

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”

Answer: Bishop Office (and placement of clue 3)

Clue #3: D&C 133:64

“And also that which was written by the prophet Malachi: For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”

Answer: Oven (and placement of clue 4)

Clue #4: Exodus 34: 31 and 1 John 3:11

“And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.

For this is the message that we heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

Answer: Telephone (and placement of clue 5)

Clue #5: Psalms 69:14

“Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.”

Answer: Bathroom Sink (and placement of clue 6)

Clue #6: Acts 5: 15

“Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on the beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.”

Answer: Couch (and placement of clue 7)

Clue #7: D & C 124: 29 and 3 Nephi 11:26

“For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead—

And then shall ye immerse them in water, and come forth again out of the water.”

Answer: Baptismal Font (and placement of clue 8)

Clue #8: Isa. 22: 18

“He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy Lord’s house.”

Answer: By Basketball hoop in gym. (and placement of clue 9)

Clue #9: Nehemiah 8: 4

“And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose: and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand: and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.”

Answer: Pulpit (and placement of clue 10)

Clue #10: D&C 99:5

“And behold, and lo, I come quickly to judgment, to convince all of their ungodly deeds which they have committed against me, as it is written of me in the volume of the book.”

Answer: Library (and placement of clue 11)

Clue #11: Matthew 5:40 (most northern one)

“And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”

Answer: Coat closet (and placement of clue 12)

Clue #12: D & C 110:3 (southside)

“His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:”

Answer: toilet (and placement of clue 13)

Clue #13: Ether 6:4

“And it came to pass the when they had prepared all manner of food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast or animal or fowl that they should carry with them—and it came to pass that when they had done all these things they got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.”

Answer: Kitchen (and placement of clue 14)

Clue #14: D & C 136: 28 (in YW room)

“If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.” (in YW room)

Answer: piano in YW room (and placement of clue 15)

Clue #15: Job 38: 30

“The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.”

Answer: freezer in kitchen

(This is where the Book of Mormon with a Twinkie wrapped in a pirate bandana for each YW are found)

Poster

Pirate Map with Mormonads

Mormonads:

Mormonad

The Mormonad “Uncover Buried Treasure” may be downloaded here.

Mormonad

The Mormonad “Worth More Than Its Weight in Gold” may be downloaded here.

Mormonad

The Mormonad “Dig In To The Scriptures” may be downloaded here.

Other great Mutual Activities:

Personal Progress Activity (Individual Worth) Johnny Lingo Activity.

Personal Progress Activity (Faith Value) make the Sacrament mean more.

For The Strength of Youth Activity Mock Trial of Molly Mormon Standards.

Mutual Activity Personal Progress Faith Value

July 7, 2015 by shelley

Mutual Activity and Personal Progress

This mutual activity helped the YW complete the 4th value experience under FAITH. Not only did each YW work on completing Faith value experience number four but she also made a Sacrament book filled with pictures of the life of Jesus Christ which she can use during the Sacrament to help her focus on the Savior.

Personal Progress Mutual Activity Faith Value 4 and the Sacrament

INSTRUCTIONS (as you can see for this activity it was a little more involved than what is found under Faith Value number 4.

Faith Value 4 Personal Progress activity instructions

Faith Value 4 Personal Progress activity instructions (.doc format)

Faith Value 4 Personal Progress Activity Instructions(.pdf format)

“4 . Learn more about the sacrament . Read about the Last Supper in Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; and Luke 22:17–20 . Establish a pattern of pondering during the sacrament by listening carefully to the sacrament hymn and prayers . Think about why we partake of the bread and water . After three weeks of following this pattern, write in your journal some of the promises you make as you partake of the sacrament and remember your baptismal covenants and what you do to keep those promises . Record in your journal how your understanding of these promises has strengthened your faith in the Savior .”

The activity was set up in stations. The scriptures required in the value experience were part of the activity, but to help each YW understanding and knowledge of the sacrament two conference talks were included. Each girl received a folder which had a copy of the talks and a small writing journal and a pen to write. Each YW also made a sacrament booklet with pictures of the life of Christ. This booklet was to be used during the sacrament as a visual reminder of what Christ did for each of us.

Signs

Station Number 1

Sign Station Number 1 (.pdf format) Station Number 1 (.doc format)

Station Number 2

Sign Station Number 2

Sign Station Number 2 (.pdf format) Station Number Two (doc format)

At Station Two there was a copy of the requirements for this value experience as found in the YW Personal Progress Book. Also, each YW had to read the assigned scriptures found in Faith Value Experience Four and she also had to read two articles (one a conference talk “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament” Elder Dallin Oaks, Nov. 2008, and the other in the Ensign “Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers” Tanner, May 1987), on the Sacrament and write in her journal.

Station Two

Personal Progress FAITH Value Experience 4 instructions:

Personal Progress Faith Value 4

Faith value 4 A (.PDF format) Faith value 4 A (.doc format)

Faith value 4B (.PDF format) Faith value 4 B (.doc format)

Folder

Each girl received a folder

A journal and pen were included in the folder.

Small journal in the folder

We used cute small black journals but you could make your own.

journal paper (.pdf format) journal paper (.doc format)

journal paper cover (.pdf format) journal paper cover (.doc format)

Sacrament Prayers

Sacrament prayers(.pdf format) Sacrament prayers (.doc format)

And the two articles on the Sacrament: “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament” Elder Dallin Oaks, Nov. 2008, and Ensign “Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers” Tanner, May 1987

Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament by Elder Dallin Oaks (November 2008)

Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament by Elder Dallin Oaks

Sacrament meeting and the Sacrament page two

Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament page three

Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament page four

And the article Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers by John S. Tanner April 1986

Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers – Ensign Apr. 1986 – ensign

Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers 1- Ensign Apr. 1986 – ensign

Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers 2 – Ensign Apr. 1986 – ensign

Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers 2- Ensign Apr. 1986 – ensign

Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers 3 – Ensign Apr. 1986 – ensign

Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers 5 – Ensign Apr. 1986 – ensign

SCRIPTURES

Matthew 26: 26-28

Matthew 26: 26-28 (.pdf format) Matthew 26: 26-28 (.doc format)

Mark 14: 22-24

Mark 14: 22-24 (.pdf format) Mark 14: 22-24 (.doc format)

Luke 22: 17-20

Luke 22:17-20

Luke 22:17-20 (.pdf format) Luke 22:17-20 (.doc format)

Make Sacrament Book

Sign Make Sacrament Book

Make Sacrament Booklet (.pdf format) Make a Sacrament Book sign

Sacrament Book Instructions

Make a Sacrament book inst

Make a Sacrament book inst (.pdf format) Make a Sacrament book inst

The Sacrament Booklet

Instructions:

Instructions for Booklet

Make a sacrament booklet

Make a sacrament booklet-pages

Sacrament Book

We used pictures from the LDS church website.(LDS media website)

download the pictures here: Gospel Art New Testment

Our booklets had 26 pages (including covers):

: outside back cover

: inside front cover

: page 24

: inside back cover

: page 23

: page 21

: page 20

: page 22

: page 19

: page 18

: page 16

: page 17

: page 14

: page 13

: page 10

: page 11

: page 12

: page 8

: page 7

: page 9

: page 3

: page 5

: page 6

: page 4

: page 2

: front cover

: page 15

: page 1

Faith Mustard Seed Necklace

Each girl also received a necklace with a mustard seed from the scripture Matthew 17: 20

Mustard Seed Necklace

Mustard Seed Necklace, Matthew 17:20

Mustard Seed Necklace, Matthew 17:20 (pdf format), Mustard Seed Necklace, Matthew 17:20 (.doc format)

Refreshments sign

Sign Refreshments

Refreshments (.pdf format) Refreshments (.doc format)

The activity:

Refreshments

A great video on the last supper.

Other great Mutual activities:

Johnny Lingo activity

Scripture Study Lesson Treasure Hunt

BYU Women’s Conference 2015

May 26, 2015 by shelley

Landing at the Salt Lake Airport and gazing at the mountains in Utah I feel such a sense of homecoming. Living in Kansas I miss the mountains, oh how I how miss the mountains.

My favorite mountain is perhaps Mount Timpanogos…the backdrop for the BYU campus.

Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Mountain range, Utah

Mount Timpanogos not only is beautiful but has its own legend. There are multiple versions of the legend. If you look hard at Mount Timpanogos you can imagine a young Indian Maiden Princess lying on her back with her hair flowing down. And just as most legends go, the legend of Mount Timpanogos involves two young lovers. (You can read the legend of the beautiful Indian Princess here.)

Women’s Conference is held on the BYU campus between BYU’S graduation (after Winter semester) and the beginning of spring term. The annual two-day event attracts an estimated 15,000 women who come to hear leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attend classes featuring more than 200 presenters on topics such as marriage, family and gospel principles.

Women’s Conference gives me a chance to catch up with two close friends, Ellen Riley and Linda Esplin. Ellen lives outside of Boston and Linda lives in Phoenix. Linda and I became friends when I was in graduate school and she was an undergraduate. We met in the student ward but we bonded over running. I married Bob and moved to Boston for Bob’s internship and residency. Linda married Cordell, (attended law school), moved to Hawaii for Cordell’s internship. Then they moved to Boston for Cordell’s residency. Here we met Ellen. We all became fast friends. Thankfully, we get to meet once a year in Utah for Women’s Conference. It is a time to renew friendship, catch up on news and bask in the learning opportunities afforded at Women’s Conference.

BYU campus is a beautiful campus.

BYU campus

The theme for BYU Women’s Conference this year was: “My soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord.” 2 Nephi 11:5

BYU Women’s Conference Theme

BYU Women’s Conference is the largest two-day gathering of LDS women anywhere in the world. Over 200 presenters share their perspectives and insights on a variety of topics including womanhood and sisterhood, gospel principles, marriage, family, and practical and timely topics of interest and concern to women of all ages.

One of the memorable classes for me was “A Time for a Woman’s Voice” given by Ally Isom and Michael R. Otterson. Michael Otterson is head of public affairs for the church and he talked about the church and social media today. It really opened my eyes to the need that we need to make a presence on the internet.

I also enjoyed Elder Ballard’s presentation.

Elder M. Russuell Ballard and Sister Barbara Ballard at the Marriott Center.

BYU Women’s Conference

General session speakers in the Marriott Center included Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president; Kevin J. Worthen, BYU president, and his wife, Peggy; and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

I also enjoyed a special presentation at the Fine Arts Museum on the BYU campus. Artist Brian Krishisnek

spoke on “Nativity and Other Paintings of Women”.

Nativity by Kershisnek

also on view through 2016 is a breathtaking display of color:

Gabriel Dawe’s stunning Plexus no. 29 at BYU Museum of art

The two translucent structures filtering through the Museum’s skylight appear to be luminous rays of light refracted through a giant prism. Gabriel Dawe’s stunning Plexus no. 29 is a corporeal installation of colored filament meticulously threaded between the Museum’s mezzanine walls and oculus.

I also got to spend time with my daughter Jen and my grandchildren Becca, Henry, Caroline and Emily!

Eating at the Lion House Pantry

Enjoying yogurt

Henry and Becca checking out the fish at City Creek

And the beautiful flowers at temple square…

Flowers at temple square

LDS (Mormon) Young Women New Beginnings

February 5, 2015 by shelley

LDS Young Women New Beginnings

“EMBARK”

New Beginnings “EMBARK”

The theme this year for mutual is:

“O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day” (D&C 4:2).

LDS Mutual theme 2015

We decided to use this theme for our New Beginnings.

We decided we would “Embark” upon a quest. This quest would take us to the

“Island of Love (Heart)”

The Region of Might”

“The Wilderness of Mind”

and

“The Country of Strength”

We started in the Relief Society Room with opening exercises and then we used four classrooms; one for each of the “quests”. The refreshments were set up in the Young Women’s room.

Our invitation:

New Beginnings invitation 2015

YW New Beginnings invitation: Embark New Beginnings Invitation .doc format, Embark New Beginnings Invitation pdf format.

Embark New Beginnings Invitation

Embark New Beginnings Invitation, pdf format

We used vintage stamps using the Nautical theme:

New Beginnings invitation 2015

Our program:

(Many of our printables came from the Red Headed Hostess Blog.)

Program cover (page 1)

Program inside cover (page 2)

Program page 3

: Program page 4

: Program page 5

: Program page 6

: Program back cover (page 8)

: Program page 7

Each girl received a nautical bag with goodies (mints and information folder) and an “Embark” necklace:

Nautical bag

Embark necklace

As each quest was accomplished they received a reward: A box of conversation hearts for the Island of Love (Heart), Lip Balm for the Region of Might, a sailor hat for the Wilderness of Mind, and an anchor charm for the Country of Strength.

Conversation Hearts upon completing quest on Island of Love (Heart)

lip balm upon completing the quest Region of Might

Sailor Hat upon completing the quest of Wilderness of Mind

anchor charm upon completing the Country of Strength

Instructions were given room by room:

Quest to the Island of Love (Heart)

Island of Heart

The Young Women did a “Heart Attack”

First the book, “Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch” was read to the Young Women.

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch

And then each girl planned who they would give “hearts” to:

Heart Attack on the Island of Love (Heart)

Region of Might

Some of the Mightiest Women are found in the Scriptures or in our church history. We played a game of “Who Is It?”

Each girl gave clues as to their favorite Scripture or church history woman and everyone tried to guess who it was.

Women in the scriptures and church history are some of the best examples of a person (women) of might.

Region of Might “Who Am I”

Wilderness of Mind

The ability to know is not always an easy thing. Yet Joseph Smith stated:

“I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it;”

The Young Women watched a clip of the Joseph Smith First Vision and then wrote their testimony on paper.

For the movie clip we used the first 8 minutes of

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration

Joseph Smith First Vision

found on youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xVw6PsSinI&list=PLGOMK5FZ-LJZIc2Wt7-eJujU6hOYVnNsI

After watching the clip of the Joseph Smith First Vision the Young Women wrote down their testimony.

Embark PAPER

Country of Strength

For the Country of Strength we used FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH. In preparation for one Mutual Activity before New Beginnings we had each Young Woman make her own Mormonad. These were put up around the room along with Mormonads from the church. Each YW class prepared either a commercial or news broadcast or music video or cheer that had to do with FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH.