April Presidency Message

 

Dear Sisters,

Imagine my surprise when my husband and I, AND our 11-year-old daughter, Emma, were recently invited to attend the Exeter Ward YW New Beginnings. Is it possible that her primary years are already coming to a close and the YW program is just around the corner this fall? Where has the time gone? My tiny little princess is growing up and growing ever closer to the “terrific teens,” as President Monson calls them.

Emma is a very special girl. She already has a strong budding testimony and an inner drive to learn and serve and participate. She is ecstatic about joining the YW program. She cannot wait to begin Personal Progress, attend Girls Camp and go to mutual. She is a tremendous example to me and her enthusiasm could, quite possibly, light an entire city.

Another thing Emma is looking forward to is going to the temple. She has been asking me when she can go for years and years. We are planning to go the day after her 12^th birthday. She and her grandfather, Brother Bibbins, are planning to prepare some family names this summer for her to take to the temple for her first time. This will be a very special day for our family because Emma will be doing proxy work for our cousin, Carole, who passed away last year.

Last general conference, Elder David A. Bednar invited the youth to become anxiously engaged in doing their own family history and temple work for those who have passed on without the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

At our recent General YW Meeting, Sister Dalton said to the young women, “As he [Elder Bednar] issued this invitation to you, my heart leapt inside. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read of “other 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 … temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead.” This is your day, and your work has begun! … The promised blessings of the temple extend not only to you but to all generations. As you make the temple your goal, your influence for good will transcend time and place, and the work you perform for those who have gone before will be the fulfillment of prophecy!” (Elaine Dalton, "Now is the Time to Arise and Shine!" March 2012 Young Women General Meeting)

In Sister’s Dalton’s talk, Return to Virtue, she says that, “the temple is the reason for everything we do in the church.” “We must help every young woman to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple.” (Elaine Dalton, "A Return to Virtue" October 2008)

Sisters, may you be mindful of the temple as our goal for the young women in every lesson you teach and every activity you plan this year. Be a shining example to them by your own temple service. Tell them about it. Share your feelings and testimony of how your temple attendance benefits your life. I know that if we retain our vision of the temple we will be strengthened, uplifted and blessed. I have a testimony of temple service. I will strive to continually teach my daughters of its importance and I look forward to the day when we will all be there together. Let us all look forward to the day when our young women will arise and take their places at the altars of the temple.

LET’S SERVE TOGETHER:

Sisters, join us on Friday, April 20^th as we prepare for Stake Conference by attending our stake conference temple night together in the 7:00 or 8:00 sessions.

Love,

Sister Amy Edwards

Exeter Stake Young Women Secretary