No Regrets

Guardians of Virtue

This photo is a representative few of the wonderful men in our stake who have completed their YW Virtue value and earned themselves a Gold Virtue Tie. 

Sister Smithson gave the priesthood men a challenge to complete the virtue value soon after it was given to the Young Women of the church.  These are the men of our bishoprics, stake presidency, high council and valiant fathers, and other priesthood holders who honor womanhood and cherish virtue. 

Sister Dalton had given a similar challenge to the priesthood leaders she works with and at our auxiliary training meetings in April of 2009 she reported that she gave President Dalquist (then the YM General president) and all the YM leaders who attended their auxiliary training meeting the night before, the virtue value insert and challenged them to do it too.  Virtue is not gender specific! Virtue is Preisthood power. (D & C 38)

She asked "If we won't stand for virtue, who will?"

The YM leaders stood as Sister Dalton took the stand for our meeting, to show her respect as a women, and leader of Young Women.  She told us that their simple gesture was evidence that these good men are "guardians of virtue".  As YW leaders we work together with the YM leaders. 

In Sister Smithson's challenge, given during a stake priesthood leadership meeting, she shared some of the same ideas from Sister Dalton and reminded our priesthood leaders of their importance in the lives of the YW in our stake.  As fathers, youth leaders, bishopric members and stake presidency members the young women look to them to model righteous behavior--like the Savior's--each day.  Their willingness to take this challenge has been a visual reminder of their covenant keeping obedience. And has been a source of strength to the young women in our area.

We are proud to work along side these (and other) good men.  We love their role as leaders and bearers of the priesthood.  We appreciate their support and love.  And we recommend, to all our beautiful and beloved young women, their examples in following the Lord Jesus Christ in all things.

Power of Prayer by President Monson

President Monson: The Power of Prayer

Prayer is a great blessing that can provide inspiration in the lives of all of Heavenly Father’s children, President Thomas S. Monson says. “Men and women of integrity, character, and purpose have ever recognized a power higher than themselves and have sought through prayer to be guided by such power,” he says.
“From the very beginning, Father Adam was commanded to ‘call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore’ (Moses 5:8). Adam prayed. Abraham prayed. Moses prayed, and so did every prophet pray to that God whence came his strength,” President Monson says, noting that the prayers of generations led up to the birth of Jesus Christ, an event “for which prophets prayed, psalmists sang, martyrs died, and mankind hoped.”

The Savior’s Example of Prayer

In prayer, as in all things, the Savior provides the ultimate example for us to follow. “More than any prophet or leader,” President Monson says, “He showed us how to pray. Who can fail to remember His agony in Gethsemane and that fervent prayer: ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt’ (Matt. 26:39). And his injunction: ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation’ (Matt. 26:41). It is then that we remember:
“‘When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. …
“‘But thou, when thou prayest, … pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. …
“‘After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
“‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
“‘Give us this day our daily bread.
“‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
“‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever’ (Matt. 6:5–6, 9–13).”
President Monson says that “this guiding instruction has helped troubled souls discover the peace for which they fervently yearn and earnestly hope.
“Unfortunately, prosperity, abundance, honor, and praise lead some men to the false security of haughty self-assurance and the abandonment of the inclination to pray. Conversely, turmoil, tribulation, sickness, and death crumble the castles of men’s pride and bring them to their knees to plead for power from on High.”

Heavenly Father Still Answers

Does Heavenly Father still hear prayers today? Does He answer prayers? President Monson says that in response to such questions, he promptly replies: “There is no expiration date on the Lord’s injunction to pray. As we remember Him, He will remember us,” noting that “most of the time there are no flags waving or bands playing when prayer is answered. His miracles are frequently performed in a quiet and natural manner.”

Pray and Go

President Monson also says that it is important, after praying, to go and to do.
“Many years ago,” he says, “on an assignment to Tahiti, I was talking to our mission president, President Raymond Baudin, about the Tahitian people. They are known as some of the greatest seafaring people in all the world. Brother Baudin, who speaks French and Tahitian but little English, was trying to describe to me the secret of the success of the Tahitian sea captains. He said, ‘They are amazing. The weather may be terrible, the vessels may be leaky, there may be no navigational aids except their inner feelings and the stars in the heavens, but they pray and they go.’ He repeated that phrase three times. There is a lesson in that statement. We need to pray, and then we need to act. Both are important.
“The promise from the book of Proverbs gives us courage:
“‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Trust Heavenly Father

“As we offer unto the Lord our family prayers and our personal prayers,” President Monson says, “let us do so with faith and trust in Him. Let us remember the injunction of Paul to the Hebrews: ‘For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him’ (Hebrews 11:6). If any of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now.”

10 ways to help daughters with Personal Progress

Reclaimed

Learn from this Mormon Message for Youth that just as a garbage dump can be turned into a beautiful park, a life of sin can be cleansed and changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Who ARE you?

Patterns of Light

Five Principles of Gospel Learning

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches five basic principles that should guide Latter-day Saints in their pursuit of gospel knowledge.

1. Vital instruction is not hidden, but repeated. “Instruction vital to our salvation is not hidden in an obscure verse or phrase in the scriptures. To the contrary, essential truths are repeated over and over again.”
2. Knowledge should be balanced. “Every verse, whether oft-quoted or obscure, must be measured against other verses. There are complementary and tempering teachings in the scriptures which bring a balanced knowledge of truth.”
3. The Lord is consistent. “There is a consistency in what the Lord says and what He does, that is evident in all creation. Nature can teach valuable lessons about spiritual and doctrinal matters. The Lord drew lessons from flowers and foxes, from seeds and salt, and sparrows and sunsets.”
4. The scriptures sustain each other. “Not all that God has said is in the Bible. Other scriptures—the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—have equal validity, and they sustain one another.”
5. The Holy Ghost can make things plain. “While much must be taken on faith alone, there is individual revelation through which we may know the truth. ‘There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding’ (Job 32:8). What may be obscure in the scriptures can be made plain through the gift of the Holy Ghost. We can have as full an understanding of spiritual things as we are willing to earn.”

Avoid Deception

President Packer also adds this caution: “There is an adversary who has his own channels of spiritual communication. He confuses the careless and prompts those who serve him to devise deceptive, counterfeit doctrine, carefully contrived to appear genuine.
“I mention this because now, as always, there are self-appointed spokesmen who scoff at what we believe and misrepresent what we teach.”

Learn from His Friends

President Packer also shares this experience: “As a young seminary teacher, I learned a valuable lesson from our principal, Able S. Rich. He told me, ‘If you really want to know what a man is, and what he believes, do not go to his enemies. Go to the man himself or to his friends. He does not confide the thoughts of his heart to his enemies. His friends know him best; they know his strengths and his weaknesses. They will represent him fairly. His enemies will misrepresent him.’”

Learn from Doctrine

President Packer also promises Latter-day Saints that if they will remain faithful they will continue to learn.
“As a grandfather who has lived a long time,” he says, “I counsel you to have faith. Things have a way of working out. Stay close to the Church. Keep your children close to the Church.
“In Alma’s day ‘the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it … had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God’ (Alma 31:5).
“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

President Naugle!

Closing Ceremonies, Squirrel Dance, Stake Presidency, Bishopric Dinners

Game Day @ Stake YW Camp

More Repelling!

Opening Ceremonies with Effie and Pres. Atkinson

Repelling @ YW Stake Camp

VIRTUE

Vision

YW Stake Camp

Stake YW Camp

The first step...

INTEGRITY

What do you reflect?

Modesty Matters

A prophet has said, "Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Our Responsibility to Our Young Women," Ensign, September 1988, p. 11).

If our young women know this, they know much more than how to dress— they will know how to live. And they will have the courage they need to avoid the moral decline of the world in action, in thought and in dress.

--Sister Elaine S. Dalton (see her whole article here )

Your beauty is purity

Why You Should Keep A Journal by Janette Rallison

GOOD WORKS

Lighthouse of the Lord

For The Strength of Youth~Education

Education

Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18

Other Standards

Education is an important part of Heavenly Father’s plan to help you become more like Him. He wants you to educate your mind and to develop your skills and talents, your power to act well in your responsibilities, and your capacity to appreciate life. The education you gain will be valuable to you during mortality and in the life to come.

Education will prepare you for greater service in the world and in the Church. It will help you better provide for yourself, your family, and those in need. It will also help you be a wise counselor and companion to your future spouse and an informed and effective teacher of your future children.

Education is an investment that brings great rewards and will open the doors of opportunity that may otherwise be closed to you. Plan now to obtain an education. Be willing to work diligently and make sacrifices if necessary. Share your educational goals with your family, friends, and leaders so they can support and encourage you.

Maintain an enthusiasm for learning throughout your life. Find joy in continuing to learn and in expanding your interests. Choose to actively participate in the learning opportunities available to you.

Your education should include spiritual learning. Study the scriptures and the words of the latter-day prophets. Participate in seminary and institute. Continue throughout your life to learn about Heavenly Father’s plan. This spiritual learning will help you find answers to the challenges of life and will invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

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How can an education benefit me and my future family?

Because I Have Been Given Much Video

Make a difference

The Coat: A Story of Charity

CHOICE & ACCOUNTABILITY

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But We Were in Love

Name withheld

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I knew the counsel—no steady dating in your teens. But I thought we were the exception to the rule.

I am a senior in high school, and I am a recovering steady dater.
When I was finally 16, the guy I’d liked for a long time asked me on my first date. I was excited and couldn’t believe he was actually interested in me. One date turned into two, two became three, and before I knew it, we were a couple. I started liking him more and more, and I wanted to spend all my time with him. It started off so magical, almost like a movie—we got along great, understood each other, and never fought. He treated me like a princess.
As we continued to date only each other, my parents became concerned and tried to limit our dating. “But what do they know?” I would think to myself. After all, we had set our own rules and promised not to cross any lines. My parents started wanting to know where I was every second. Eventually I began to lie about who I was with or where I was. “But what is the harm in that?” I would think. “After all, I am being a good influence on my boyfriend; I am encouraging him toward a mission. And I’ve never been happier. If my parents just understood that, then they would allow us to steady date, because we are surely the exception to the rule.”

As we entered the fifth month of our relationship, it seemed like true love. I thought we would continue to date until his mission, and then I would wait for him. It was perfect. However, as we began to talk about our future, our views about his mission didn’t match up, and we decided to take a short break from the relationship.
As word of our “break” spread, news of his problem with the Word of Wisdom reached me. I felt betrayed and was devastated. How could he have been hiding this from me? When I found out the rumors were true, I did the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do: I broke off our relationship permanently.
I am still amazed how hurt and distraught I was over that breakup. I had fallen so hard for my boyfriend that I had actually begun to think I was “in love.” I was hurting inside and tried to find distractions to ease the pain.

One day it finally all made sense: “I am not the exception to the rule. No one is the exception to the rule.”

One day I was thinking about those five months, and it finally all made sense: “I am not the exception to the rule. No one is the exception to the rule.” Though I had been careful to remain morally clean and had done my best to prepare my boyfriend for a mission, it was still no excuse for my actions. I was still going against what the prophet counsels us to do. No matter how I looked at it from that moment on, I realized I had knowingly gone against the wishes of my parents, teachers, the prophets, and my Heavenly Father. How had I been able to become so distant from my Heavenly Father? How had I allowed myself to tune out the Spirit for so long and become so close to physical temptations?
I began to see every lie that Satan had led me to believe. It terrified me to know that I had let Satan have so much power over me in those five months.

I began to realize other things, including that we are counseled to stay away from steady dating for more than just the purpose of being morally clean. Steady dating brings on emotions, feelings, and pain that our young hearts are not ready to handle. Steady dating can keep us from meeting new people and going on dates with others, and ultimately we miss out on bigger opportunities in life. Steady dating can ruin our parents’ trust in us. Steady dating can lead to other sins, such as lying, losing the Holy Ghost, and ultimately jeopardizing our worthiness for a mission and the temple.
I also realized that even if our eternal companion may end up being someone we met in high school, as teens we are not yet emotionally or spiritually prepared for that type of relationship. We are always overestimating our maturity and are in a rush to grow up. But there is really no need to rush when we’re teenagers. We will have all eternity to be with our eternal companion!

Do not let yourself be blinded by your feelings. Do not lie to your parents or to yourself about your relationship with another person. Steady dating is simply not worth it.

I’ve learned that it is dangerous to let yourself believe that you are the exception to any rule. Do not let Satan’s enticing lies talk you out of doing what you know is right.
Do not let yourself be blinded by your feelings. Do not lie to your parents or to yourself about your relationship with another person. Steady dating is simply not worth it.

For the Strength of Youth

“You should not date until you are at least 16 years old. When you begin dating, go with one or more additional couples. Avoid going on frequent dates with the same person. Developing serious relationships too early in life can limit the number of other people you meet and can perhaps lead to immorality. Invite your parents to become acquainted with those you date” (For the Strength of Youth [2011], 4).

Topics: Dating, Repentance, Obedience, Standards

Recieving Revelation

Your Day For A Mission

You are an influence

Most important commandment

KNOWLEDGE

Two of Our Favorite Ladies

Sister Dibb welcomes the YW leaders to the meeting.

Sister Dalton tenderly speaks with a YW leader.

We were lucky enough to attend one of the YW Auxiliary training meetings just before General Conference.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

5th Ward's New Beginnings

One of the best things we get to do as Stake YW leaders is visit the wards for their activities and, in  the first quarter of the year, that means NEW BEGINNINGS.  Last night was the 5th ward.  Here are some highlights:

The girls did a special musical number.  "Arise".  It was lovely!

And Melanie earned her YW Recognition Award and received her medallion last night!

Sister Naugle presented Melanie with her temple.  It is our gift to each girl in the stake who earns her medallion.  We look forward to the YW of our stake being prepared to make and keep the temple covenants by learning and practicing what they understand from their own Personal Progress.

INDIVIDUAL WORTH