World Wide Training + An Invitation to study the revised For the Strength of Youth by Sister Dalton

Wasn’t the recent World Wide Leadership Training Meeting incredible?  We encourage you to review it again several times throughout the year. Most especially we ask that you ponder and then act upon this counsel from President Uchtdorf:

“…There is little good in hearing the word of God if we do not translate what we hear into our lives. Consequently, we ask that you take the following steps without hesitation and continue to do so throughout your service in your callings. (bold added)

• First, individually and as councils, prayerfully consider the instruction you have received. Think of priesthood power in the home, honoring divine covenants, rescuing others, focusing on the one, strengthening our youth, and building eternal marriages and families by applying gospel principles in our daily lives.  As you consider these topics, ask yourself about the “why” of your service and ministry and the resulting “therefore what” in your responsibilities as individuals and as councils. In this process, please open your hearts and minds to the will of heaven, and I promise that the Spirit will reveal the things that matter most—for you, your family, and your responsibilities in the Church.
• Second, as a result of pondering and discussion, determine a few specific actions you will commit to implement. Please keep in mind that the actions of each organization, ward, stake, family, and individual may be different. They should fit your circumstances and needs. The unity we seek is not necessarily that we all do exactly the same things at the same time but that we each listen to and always follow the direction of the same Holy Spirit.
• Third, once you have made these commitments, follow up on them within the scope of your responsibilities and callings at each of your council meetings. Please do this. We ask you also to bring your decisions and efforts before the Lord in your daily prayers and ask for further light and direction. Trust Him. He knows you, and He loves you.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf; “Acting on the Truths of the Gospel”, Worldwide Leadership Training 2012, lds.org.)

If you have not already received the revised For the Strength of Youth booklets, they are on their way.  (Be sure to let us know if you have not received them by mid March.)  While the standards have not changed, they have been clarified with updates for our technologically advancing time. One of my favorite parts of this revised edition are the questions posed at the end of each section. Questions like:

• Are my choices leading me toward lasting happiness?
• How sensitive am I to the needs and desires of my family members?
• Am I dependable and willing to do what I say I will do?
• Do I recognize that all I have comes from the Lord?

We hope that once you get your hands (and hearts) on a copy, you will pour through it and find ways to implement it in Young Women’s, in your family and in your own life.

One way all of us can study it has been suggested by Sister Elaine Dalton, General Young Women’s President:

“I…suggest that as leaders and parents read through this booklet and make note of how many times the Holy Ghost is mentioned. Standards are guidelines that help all of us qualify for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. When you receive your hard copy of these standards, you might want to circle every time the Holy Ghost is mentioned and have your young women do the same. Also, make note of the promised blessings associated with living these standards and help each young woman desire to receive them.” (Elaine Dalton; “This is the time for youth to live standards with exactness”, Church News, Jan 21, 2012 as published at lds.org.)

What a wonderful idea to use during personal study time or as a way to open or close a presidency meeting.
Be sure to take a look at the calendar updates Sister Amy Edwards made here on our blog. You’ll find them by clicking on the “Calendar” tab above.   We are looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming activities.

With Love & Gratitude,
Sister Shannon Gish
Exeter Stake Young Women President

February Presidency Message

Because of my job as a sign language interpreter, I am often impressed by the words or signs that are chosen to represent an idea.  This past week I listened to President Packer's seminary address and watched the ASL interpretation at the same time. I was struck by the sign chosen for  "atonement."  I love the simple dissection of that word "atonement."  At-one-ment.  For so long I have relied on that definition for my (basic) understanding of that word and that concept.

As I listened to President Packer and watched the interpreter I noticed the sign that was chosen for atonement.  The sign chosen literally means "to replace, instead of."  I stopped the recording and watched it again.  I have been thinking a lot about the use of that sign.

As interpreters our goal in the translation is to convey meaning.  What is the meaning of the atonement?  What is our understanding of that sacred, personal and hugely important gift that we each have been offered by our Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ?

The process of the atonement was done so that Christ would suffer INSTEAD of us, that he, his body, his mind and heart truly would REPLACE ours so that we would not have to be hurt or afflicted. (Alma 7: 11-12)  Accepting this gift literally requires us to step aside and let Him stand in for us.

Language is such a marvelous and beautiful tool.  The more we know, the better we can express ourselves; the better we can understand and be understood.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the same - the more we know of Him the better we can express ourselves through love, service, kindness and patience.  The more we learn of him the better we can understand ourselves and each other.

Christ's language is one of love.  May we learn more of his language day by day that we can interchange our lives with His so that our weaknesses and mere mortal countenances may be replaced with His strength and His radiance.

Renee Kelly

1st Counselor 

Exeter Stake Young Women Presidency