Manual 1 Lesson 2- Jesus Christ the Savior

After teaching this lesson, the girls wished I would have given them this handout that I used as a display poster.

Handout made by proclamationpictures.blogspot.com

Handout made by me... idea from Emblishthedetails.blogspot.com

I am going to use testimonies from each of the 16 latter-day prophets, that are found on the church website here

I think it will be great for the girls to know that Jesus Christ is real and loves them.

Manual 1 Lesson 1- You are a Daughter of God

Handout by LDSHandout.blogspot.com

Not every young woman had the same relationships (for example, some may not have sisters or cousins) but that all have had a mother and father, and so all of them are daughters. Focus on one of these relationships: the father-daughter relationship.

(Poster from holyhandouts.blogspot.com)

They are literally daughters of Heavenly Father, and he loves them. By their actions and choices, they determine the strength of the relationship they will have with him. He will never turn away. As they do his will, praying for his guidance, they will know the path their lives should follow and be assured that they are daughters of God who are truly loved by their Father.

My favortie quote I used in this lesson...
Remember Who You Are- Elaine S. Dalton

You are young women of great faith. You brought your faith with you when you came to the earth. Alma teaches us that in the premortal realms you exhibited “exceeding faith and good works.” You fought with your faith and testimony to defend the plan that was presented by God. You knew the plan was good, and you knew that the Savior would do what He said He would do—because you knew Him! You stood with Him, and you were eager for your opportunity to come to earth. You knew what was going to be required of you. You knew it would be difficult, and yet you were confident not only that you could accomplish your divine mission but that you could make a difference. You are “choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work, including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein.” And now you are here to do what you have been reserved and prepared to do.

As I look out at you tonight, I wonder if this is what Helaman’s stripling warriors’ girlfriends must have looked like!

No wonder Satan has increased the intensity of his attacks on your identity and virtue. If you can be dismayed, discouraged, distracted, delayed, or disqualified from being worthy to receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost or to enter the Lord’s holy temple, he wins.Young women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, remember who you are! You are elect. You are daughters of God. You cannot be a generation of young women who are content to fit in. You must have the courage to stand out, to “arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.” The world would have you believe that you are not significant—that you are out of fashion and out of touch. The world calls to you with unrelenting, noisy voices to “live it up,” “try everything,” “experiment and be happy.” Conversely, the Holy Ghost whispers and the Lord invites you to “walk in the paths of virtue,” “lay aside the things of this world,” “and cleave unto [your] covenants.”

40 Day Book of Mormon Reading Challenge- Virtue Value Project

I found an idea online for a 40 Day Book of Mormon Reading Challenge- I thought this was awesome. The one that I found was geared more towards the Relief Society Organization, so I revamped it a bit for the Young Women.Each day there is a Spiritual/Inspirational Thought, Reading Assignment for the day, and a scripture to mark and ponder.I am so excited to introduce this at our first Personal Progress Activity of the year. This will be a great way for all the YW to work on their Virtue Value Project.
Right now it is in word format and I don't know how to upload it yet, but as soon as I can talk to the Help Desk (aka Ryan, aka Super Nerd) I will get it done.

YW Manual 3 Lesson 40- Loving Ourselves & Others

(Handout from Jack and Jill of Many Trades)

What are some characteristics of a person who feels good about herself?
She is happy.
She loves her family members and friends.
She is willing to admit her mistakes.
She is aware of others’ needs.
She is teachable.
She likes to make others happy.

We have many reasons to love ourselves: we are children of God, we have many talents to offer others, we have the ability to overcome our weaknesses and become strong, and we have the potential to someday become like God.The proper love for oneself is not conceit or pride. A person who loves herself in the right way knows that she is a child of God, that God loves her, and that she has many talents. But she knows that other people are also children of God and that she should use her talents to serve them.

LOVING OURSELVES

You Matter to Him- Pres. Dieter F. Ucthdorf (October 2011)

We Are Less Than We Suppose

The more we learn about the universe, the more we understand—at least in a small part—what Moses knew. The universe is so large, mysterious, and glorious that it is incomprehensible to the human mind. “Worlds without number have I created,” God said to Moses. The wonders of the night sky are a beautiful testimony of that truth.There are few things that have filled me with such breathless awe as flying in the black of night across oceans and continents and looking out my cockpit window upon the infinite glory of millions of stars.Astronomers have attempted to count the number of stars in the universe. One group of scientists estimates that the number of stars within range of our telescopes is 10 times greater than all the grains of sand on the world’s beaches and deserts. This conclusion has a striking similarity to the declaration of the ancient prophet Enoch: “Were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations.”Given the vastness of God’s creations, it’s no wonder the great King Benjamin counseled his people to “always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness.”

We Are Greater Than We Suppose

But even though man is nothing, it fills me with wonder and awe to think that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind. In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.

LOVING OTHERS

"You Are My Hands"- Pres. Dieter F. Ucthdorf (April 2010)

A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”We Are the Hands of ChristThere is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.On this beautiful Easter morning, our thoughts and hearts are drawn to Him—the Hope of Israel and the Light of the World.

As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.

YW Manual 3 Lesson 39- Recognizing Our Individual Worth

As Children of God, We Are All Important
“A few weeks ago on a day when this area was experiencing one of its worst snowstorms, and that is saying quite a bit because we had plenty of severe weather this past winter, a handsome young serviceman and his beautiful bride-to-be encountered extreme difficulty in getting to the Salt Lake Temple for their marriage appointment. She was in one location in the Salt Lake Valley and he was to come from another nearby town. Heavy snows and winds had closed the highways during the night and early morning hours. After many hours of anxious waiting, some of us were able to help them get to the temple and complete their marriage plans before the day was over. “How grateful they, their families, and friends were for the assistance and concern in their keeping this most important appointment. My friend—we will call him Bill—expressed his deep gratitude with, ‘Thank you very much for all you did to make our wedding possible. I don’t understand why you went to all this trouble to help me. Really, I’m nobody.’ “I am sure Bill meant his comment to be a most sincere compliment, but I responded to it firmly, but I hope kindly, with, ‘Bill, I have never helped a “nobody” in my life. In the kingdom of our Heavenly Father, no man is a “nobody”’” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1973, p. 20; or Ensign, July 1973, p. 24).
“One of the greatest challenges is to overcome the feeling that we are unimportant, that we are not special and unique. Do you think for a moment that Heavenly Father would have sent one of His children to this earth by accident, without the possibility of a significant work to perform? … “My dear friends, you are a royal generation. You were preserved to come to the earth in this time for a special purpose. Not just a few of you, but all of you. There are things for each of you to do that no one else can do as well as you. If you do not prepare to do them, they will not be done. Your mission is unique and distinctive for you. Please don’t make another have to take your place. He or she can’t do it as well as you can. If you will let Him, I testify that our Father in Heaven will walk with you through the journey of life and inspire you to know your special purpose here” (“Your Life Has a Purpose,” New Era, May 1979, pp. 4–5).

YW Manual 3 Lesson 37- The Word of God

(Handout made by me...)

Each young woman will determine how the word of God can be used as a standard in coping with worldly philosophies. Satan supports many false philosophies that deceive people and lead them astray. We do not have to be deceived, however. We are blessed to have scriptures and teachings of the modern prophets to combat each of the evil influences. Standards for Meeting Challenges Are Found in the Scriptures2 Nephi 31:20. (Go forward with steadfastness in Christ, love God and all men, feast upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end.)1 Peter 1:24–25. What does this scripture teach about the difference between the philosophies of men and the word of God?

Oct. 2001 New Era "Spiritual Crocodiles" by Pres. Boyd K. Packer

I talked with a young ranger, and he was surprised that I knew many of the African birds. Then he volunteered to rescue us. “We are building a new lookout over a water hole about 20 miles from the compound,” he said. “It is not quite finished, but it is safe. I will take you out there with a lunch. You may see as many animals, or even more, than if you were driving around.”On the way to the lookout he volunteered to show us some lions. He turned off through the brush and before long located a group of 17 lions all sprawled out asleep and drove right up among them.We stopped at a water hole to watch the animals come to drink. It was very dry that season and there was not much water, really just muddy spots. When the elephants stepped into the soft mud, the water would seep into the depression and the animals would drink from the elephant tracks.The antelope, particularly, were very nervous. They would approach the mud hole, only to turn and run away in great fright. I could see there were no lions about and asked the guide why they didn’t drink. His answer, and this is the lesson, was “Crocodiles.”I knew he must be joking and asked him seriously, “What is the problem?” The answer again: “Crocodiles.”“Nonsense,” I said. “There are no crocodiles out there. Anyone can see that.”I thought he was having some fun at the expense of his foreign game expert, and finally I asked him to tell us the truth. Now I remind you that I was not uninformed. I had read many books. Besides, anyone would know that you can’t hide a crocodile in an elephant track.He could tell I did not believe him and determined, I suppose, to teach me a lesson.

We drove to another location where the car was on an embankment above the muddy hole where we could look down. “There,” he said. “See for yourself.”I couldn’t see anything except the mud, a little water, and the nervous animals in the distance. Then all at once I saw it!—a large crocodile, settled in the mud, waiting for some unsuspecting animal to get thirsty enough to come for a drink.Suddenly I became a believer! When he could see I was willing to listen, he continued with the lesson. “There are crocodiles all over the park,” he said, “not just in the rivers. We don’t have any water without a crocodile somewhere near it, and you’d better count on it.”The guide was kinder to me than I deserved. My “know-it-all” challenge to his first statement, “crocodiles,” might have brought an invitation, “Well, go out and see for yourself!”I could see for myself that there were no crocodiles. I was so sure of myself I think I might have walked out just to see what was there. Such an arrogant approach could have been fatal! But he was patient enough to teach me.I hope you’ll be wiser in talking to your guides than I was on that occasion. That smart-aleck idea that I knew everything really wasn’t worthy of me, nor is it worthy of you. I’m not very proud of it, and I think I’d be ashamed to tell you about it except that telling you may help you.

Those ahead of you in life have probed about the water holes a bit and raise a voice of warning about crocodiles. Not just the big, gray lizards that can bite you to pieces, but spiritual crocodiles, infinitely more dangerous, and more deceptive and less visible, even, than those well-camouflaged reptiles of Africa.These spiritual crocodiles can kill or mutilate your souls. They can destroy your peace of mind and the peace of mind of those who love you. Those are the ones to be warned against, and there is hardly a watering place in all of mortality now that is not infested with them.

YW Lesson- October 2011 Conference

(Handout from Jack & Jill of Many Trades)

"Forget Me Not" Pres. Dieter F. Ucthdorf (October 2011 Conference)

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.
I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.
Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.
An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.
Giving up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter’s Sunday outfit may not be such a good sacrifice.
Third, forget not to be happy now.
In this classic children’s story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket.
Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel.
In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.
Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.
Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.