Getting Started
My Calling as a Young Women Secretary
From the Young Women General Presidency
Dear Young Women Secretary,
Thank you for accepting the call to serve in the Young Women program. We are excited for you to begin this wonderful journey. We know that Heavenly Father loves His daughters dearly, and He loves you! He will bless you as you draw nearer to Him and help the young women do the same.
This is a glorious time to serve in the Young Women organization. President Russell M. Nelson has lifted our vision to a higher and holier way to serve, and he has called on our youth to be active participants in the work. As you ponder your new responsibilities, you will realize that your calling is not a list of things to do for young women. It is an opportunity to guide and nurture young women as they become covenant women of God. Their time in the Young Women program is a time for them to gain confidence in their ability to:
- Seek personal revelation and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
- Act on the doctrine they are learning and the covenant they made at baptism to follow God’s plan.
- Minister to one another with Christlike love.
- Stand as witnesses of God “at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as they actively engage in gathering Israel and building the kingdom of God.
You have the important task of mentoring class secretaries. These capable young women have been called by priesthood authority. Teach them how to serve under the direction of the Spirit. Nurture them as they learn to lead in the Savior’s way. Help them succeed.
Your love for the young women will touch their hearts. They will be better able to recognize the love of their Father in Heaven and their Savior, Jesus Christ.
We know that this is the Lord’s work and that He will assist you. Heavenly Father will help you to see His precious daughters as He sees them. He will direct you and magnify your efforts as you devote your time and love to the work. We pray you will feel the joy of working with young women and the peace of serving the Lord to the best of your ability.
With love,
Bonnie H. Cordon
Michelle D. Craig
Becky Craven
Young Women General Presidency
Where to Start
Before You Are Sustained
- Counsel with the member of the bishopric who called you about where to begin.
- Seek guidance from the Spirit through prayer, scripture study, fasting, and, if possible, temple attendance.
- Become familiar with the Young Women program and its purpose (see Handbook 2: Administering the Church, chapter 10). Also review Handbook 2, chapters 1–5, which summarize the doctrinal foundation of God’s plan and give additional guidance.
- Understand your responsibilities as the Young Women secretary (see Handbook 2, 10.3.3).
After You Are Sustained and Set Apart
- With so many responsibilities, remember that your family is your first priority.
- Assist the Young Women president in preparing agendas for presidency meetings. In these meetings, take notes and keep track of assignments. Suggested agenda items for these meetings are listed below.
- Read and discuss scripture passages and instructions from Church leaders that relate to your responsibilities as Young Women leaders.
- Discuss the effectiveness of Young Women classes. Plan ways to help leaders, advisers, and young women improve their gospel teaching and learning.
- Counsel together about the strengths and needs of each young woman and her family.
- Identify ways to prepare and support class leaders as they fulfill their assignments to lead and minister to the young women they serve.
- Prayerfully counsel together to recommend individuals to your bishopric for callings in the Young Women organization.
- Review counsel and assignments from the bishop, the ward council, and the bishopric youth committee. Plan ways to follow the counsel and fulfill the assignments. Discuss how to engage young women in following the counsel and fulfilling the assignments.
- Counsel together about how your presidency and class presidencies can strengthen the young women and their families (see Handbook 2, 10.2).
- Review attendance records and discuss ways to encourage participation in Young Women classes.
- Instruct class secretaries and oversee their work in keeping class attendance records.
- Compile quarterly reports of attendance. Review the reports with the Young Women president, and submit them to the ward clerk.
- Ensure that the Young Women presidency is aware of young women who are not attending meetings regularly and young women who will soon advance to another class.
- As assigned by the Young Women president, record the progress of individual young women as they participate in Personal Progress.
- Work with the president to create and maintain an annual budget.
- Under the direction of the bishop, participate in training from the stake Young Women presidency and in other training as available.
- Study the principles in the Teaching in the Savior’s Way booklet.