What Should I Focus On?
My Calling as a Young Women Counselor
Lead in the Savior’s Way
You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship includes teaching, leading, and serving others. President Henry B. Eyring taught: “You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands” (“Rise to Your Call,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 76).
The following leadership principles will help your presidency and the class presidencies as you seek to bless the young women in your ward:
- Prepare spiritually.
- Counsel together.
- Minister to others.
- Teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Administer the organization.
For more information, see Handbook 2, 3.2.
Know and Love Each Young Woman
As you come to know and love the young women, you can help them progress toward lifelong conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Dale G. Renlund gave inspired counsel about loving those you are called to serve:
“In the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them” (“Through God’s Eyes,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 94).
Together with class presidencies, you can come to know and love the young women you serve by:
- Praying for each young woman.
- Getting to know each young woman’s interests, strengths, weaknesses, and challenges.
- Reaching out to young women who are new members or who are less active (see Handbook 2, 10.3.2).
- Loving each young woman in ways that are suited to her needs.
- Sharing your personal experiences and testimony to help guide the young women along the covenant path.
Teach in the Savior’s Way
Every lesson and activity is an opportunity for young women to learn the truths of the gospel and how those truths apply to their daily lives. Create a setting where the Spirit can teach. Help young women recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and invite them to act on what they hear and feel.
- Review upcoming Come, Follow Me lessons and activity plans as a presidency. Counsel with class presidencies when you can. Discuss the needs of the young women and what gospel principles will meet their needs.
- Instruct and mentor young women who are invited to teach a lesson or a portion of a lesson. Help them gain confidence in their ability to teach by the Spirit.
- Participate in teacher council meetings. In these meetings, teachers discuss the principles in Teaching in the Savior’s Way. At least one member of your presidency and the Young Women advisers should attend these meetings (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 3).
- Oversee efforts to improve learning and teaching in Young Women. The Sunday School presidency can be a resource for ideas to improve gospel learning and teaching. Counsel with them as needed.
Help Lead the Ward Young Women Organization
- Set an example of love and leadership by (1) providing a welcoming and reverent environment for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and (2) strengthening young women and their families.
- Help organize and delegate the work of the Young Women to advisers, class presidencies, and activity specialists so that all have opportunities to minister to the young women and to one another.
- Work with class presidencies to plan and carry out meaningful Mutual activities.
- Pray for inspiration. The Holy Ghost will inspire you with ways you can serve the young women, advisers, and activity specialists. Act on the impressions you receive (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2; 121:26).
- Create a safe environment for young women and their leaders. When adults are teaching young women in Church settings, at least two responsible adults should be present. Be familiar with Church policies and guidelines on preventing and responding to abuse.
Minister to and Support Other Young Women Leaders
- Help each leader understand her important responsibility to teach and help build a sin-resistant generation.
- Minister to leaders with genuine friendship and simple service.
- Help leaders create opportunities for young women to feel and recognize the Spirit, feel Heavenly Father’s love, and learn eternal principles and sacred truth.
Strengthen Young Women through Activities
“Activities strengthen [young women] by giving them a sense of belonging and support. Activities should help [young women] feel connected to others their age, to their leaders, and to their families. Activities should also help [young women] see how living the gospel brings ‘the joy of the saints’ (Enos 1:3)” (Handbook 2, 13.1).
Class presidencies have the primary responsibility to plan and implement activities. Seek to involve other young women so all can contribute and gain experience. Adults leaders prepare, guide, and support youth so they may succeed. Plan activities using Handbook 2, 10.8 and chapter 13. Also see the For the Strength of Youth website, the annual First Presidency safety letter, and the Safety and Health page on LDS.org.
Mutual
Young women activities usually take place during a regularly scheduled time called Mutual. The term Mutual suggests shared experiences in which there is mutual respect and support for one another. Mutual activities are held on a day or evening other than Sunday or Monday. Help the class presidencies plan Mutual activities that:
- Provide a variety of opportunities for the young women to serve others and develop spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually (see Luke 2:52).
- Encourage the young women to develop meaningful relationships with each other outside of Sunday meetings.
- Help the young women find ways to apply the gospel in their lives and live their covenants.
For more information about Mutual, see Handbook 2, 10.8.1.
Standards Events and Bishopric Youth Discussions
Standards events emphasize moral values and eternal goals. They also help youth understand and commit to living gospel standards, which brings them closer to the Savior. Use the For the Strength of Youth website to find inspiration for these events.
The bishopric plans and carries out bishopric youth discussions. These discussions may be held with all the youth or a certain age-group and can address specific needs as determined by the bishopric.
For more information, see Handbook 2, 10.8.2 and 10.8.5. See also the For the Strength of Youth website and True to the Faith.
New Beginnings and Young Women in Excellence
Young Women Camp
Camp gives young women a unique spiritual experience away from worldly influences. When possible, hold Young Women camp annually. See Handbook 2, 10.8.6, and the Young Women Camp Guide for more information.
Youth Conference
Young women and young men ages 14 to 18 are invited to participate together in an activity or series of activities called youth conference. Youth conference is usually held once a year on a ward or stake level. It may also be held on a multistake or area level. Youth should have the primary responsibility to plan and organize youth conference. Help them succeed in their efforts. For more information, see Handbook 2, 13.4, and the youth conference information on the Youth Activities page at youth.lds.org.
For the Strength of Youth (FSY) Conference (Outside the United States and Canada)
Encourage Personal Progress
Personal Progress can be a fun, rewarding process of learning, growing, and achieving goals. Personal Progress can help young women:
- Strengthen their faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Strengthen their present family and their future family.
- Prepare to make and keep sacred covenants and receive temple ordinances.
- Prepare to be faithful, contributing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
See Handbook 2, 10.7, and the Personal Progress website for more information.
Guide and Support Class Presidencies
Young women class presidencies have been called of God and set apart by those who hold priesthood authority. Your presidency can help the young women in each class presidency develop as leaders by meeting with them regularly. In these meetings you communicate clear and loving expectations for the young women to lead, teach them how lead, and express your trust in their ability to lead.
For more information about helping Young Women class presidencies, see Leading in the Savior’s Way: Leadership Lessons for Young Women Class Presidencies and other training resources on youngwomen.lds.org.
Participate in Leadership Councils
“The Lord’s Church is governed through councils” (Handbook 2, 4.1). The Young Women president may invite you to attend ward council or bishopric youth committee meetings in her absence. These councils meet regularly to discuss and plan how to support members in:
- Building testimonies.
- Receiving saving ordinances.
- Keeping covenants.
- Becoming consecrated followers of Jesus Christ.
Support Young Women Serving as Ministering Sisters
The Relief Society presidency may assign Laurels and Mia Maids to serve as companions to Relief Society sisters in ministering to the needs of women in the ward. Encourage and support young women in these assignments. Find opportunities through lessons and activities to prepare all young women for this important work.