My Calling as a Stake Young Women Presidency Member

What Should I Focus On?

The purpose of all we do in Young Women is to strengthen faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.

The Young Women program is unique. It is not an adult-led program with youth involvement but rather a youth-led program with adult support. The Lord trusts these young leaders, and so must we. President Russell M. Nelson has given us this charge: “We need to let the young people lead. Particularly those who have been called and set apart to serve in class and quorum presidencies. Priesthood authority will have been delegated to them. They will learn how to receive inspiration in leading their class or quorum” (in “Supporting Children and Youth: A Broadcast for Parents and Leaders” [June 6, 2021], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

As stake Young Women leaders, you should get to know and love the young women in your stake. However, your purpose in your calling is to instruct, train, and be a resource to the ward Young Women presidencies, who will be working closely with the young women in their wards or branches. You will not fulfill assignments that should be fulfilled at the ward or family level. Do not create additional responsibilities for ward Young Women presidencies (see General Handbook, 6.7).

Meetings, Councils, and Other Responsibilities

• Hold regular stake Young Women presidency meetings (see General Handbook, 6.7.1). Work with the secretary to prepare an agenda for each meeting.

  • Read and discuss scripture passages and instructions from Church leaders that relate to your responsibilities, especially the General Handbook.

  • Share and act on the impressions you receive as you counsel together as a presidency.

  • Plan ways to instruct ward leaders. Encourage ward presidencies to counsel with the bishop about their ward needs.

  • Consider ways to minister to ward Young Women leaders who need strengthening.

  • Plan ways to help ward Young Women leaders improve their gospel teaching and learning.

  • Prayerfully counsel together to recommend individuals to your stake presidency for callings in the stake Young Women organization.

  • Review the stake Young Women budget and expenditures.

• Serve on the stake council (presidents only), and meet monthly if feasible (see General Handbook,  29.3.8). Your voice is important, so don’t hesitate to participate. Come with recommendations and solutions for issues you are facing.

• Instruct ward Young Women presidencies during stake leadership meetings (see General Handbook, 29.3.4).

  • Consider using these resources in training: the scriptures, the General Handbook, the ward Young Women website leadership instruction, ChildrenandYouth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the Young Women Camp Guide (2018), and Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes.

  • The ward Young Women presidency and secretary serve under the direction of their ward bishop or branch president, and you serve as a valuable resource for them. Remember that they have the responsibility to mentor and minister to Young Women class leaders.

  • Bishops may request your presidency to provide additional training and instruction for their ward Young Women presidencies.

• Serve on the stake youth leadership committee (see General Handbook, 29.3.10).

  • The stake Young Women presidency and secretary and the high councilor assigned to Young Women serve on the stake youth leadership committee (see General Handbook, 29.3.10).

  • As youth are invited to participate on the committee, allow them to lead in the planning and preparations for all of the stake service and activities listed below. Remember that Children and Youth is a youth-led, adult-supported program.

• Your presidency may arrange with ward Young Women leaders to visit their meetings and classes periodically.

  • This is an opportunity to uplift ward Young Women leaders, to express confidence in them, and to see where more training may be needed to encourage a youth-led program (see General Handbook, 29.3.4).

• Offer ongoing support and instruction to ward Young Women presidencies.

  • Communicate regularly to learn of their needs and the needs of the young women they serve.

• Communicate regularly with the member of the stake presidency or high counselor responsible for the Young Women (see General Handbook, 29.3.4; 6.5.1).

• Attend coordinating council meeting when invited by the Area Seventy (see General Handbook, 29.4).

• Speak in sacrament meetings and other settings when invited by the stake presidency.

Stake Youth Service and Activities

• Your presidency may occasionally plan combined Young Women activities. Areas with a small number of youth may need additional stake activities. These require the approval of the stake presidency and are coordinated in stake council meetings (see General Handbook, 20.3.2). Consider holding periodic stake and multistake activities when such activities will help accomplish the purposes in General Handbook, 20.1. Be mentors to youth as they plan and lead in stake activities, and notify ward leaders of stake activities well in advance. Ensure that stake activities supplement ward activities rather than compete with them (see General Handbook, 20.3.2). Avoid planning stake activities that would be more appropriate or effective at a ward or branch level.

• Beginning in January of the year they turn 14, young women and young men may participate together in a ward, stake, or multistake youth conference (see General Handbook, 20.4). A youth conference should not be held in a year when youth are assigned to attend an FSY conference. Stake youth conferences are planned and carried out by the stake youth leadership committee (see General Handbook, 29.3.10).

• Priesthood leaders may call women from the ward and stake to help plan and administer Young Women camp. Under the direction of the stake presidency, you have the option of holding camp at the ward or stake level (see the Young Women Camp Guide, 6–7).

• For information about FSY conferences, see fsy.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• Hold “a meeting for youth and their parents near the beginning of the year. It can be held for young men and young women separately or together. It can also be held at the ward or stake level” (General Handbook, 11.2.1.3; see also ChildrenandYouth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Hold “at least one activity emphasizing the standards in For the Strength of Youth” (General Handbook, 11.2.1.3).

• For information about sports, see General Handbook, 20.5.9.

• For information about temple visits, see General Handbook, 20.5.10.

• For information about unapproved activities, see General Handbook, 20.5.11.

• For information about policies and guidelines for funding activities, see General Handbook, 20.6.

• For information about safety policies and guidelines for activities, see General Handbook, 20.7.

• For general information about holding activities for the Children and Youth program, see ChildrenandYouth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Resources for Issues Facing Young Women

• General Handbook, 38.6

• The Life Help section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Counseling Resources