My Calling as a Young Women Class Presidency Member

What Should I Focus On?

As a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ, you are called to help those you serve draw closer to our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful and sacred opportunity. As you seek the Lord’s guidance, He will help you. This may sound overwhelming, but remember it happens one smile, one activity, and one ministering effort at a time.

Lead in the Savior’s Way

You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship includes loving, 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). Look to the Savior as your example, and He will help you.

Know and Minister to Each Young Woman in Your Class

As you come to know and love the young women in your class, you can help them draw closer to the Savior and grow stronger in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully counsel together as a presidency and with your Young Women leaders to decide who needs your time and attention. As you reach out to those you are inspired to serve, you will find that your love for each young woman increases. As you pray for the gift of charity, your heart will be filled with love for the Savior and for others (see Moroni 7:46–48).

As a presidency, study together “Lesson 5: Ministering,” in Leadership Lessons (2021, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ministering should be a part of every presidency meeting agenda. Make plans to act on the promptings you receive.

In addition to the ministering you do as a presidency and as a class, young women who are age 14 and older may be assigned by the Relief Society presidency to serve as companions to Relief Society sisters in ministering to the needs of women in the ward. Encourage and support the young women in your class who have accepted these assignments. For more information about Young Women and ministering, see General Handbook, 11.2.2.1; 21.2.2.

Participate in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation

All youth have been called by a prophet of God to enlist in the Lord’s battalion and participate in the gathering of Israel (see Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Read Doctrine and Covenants 64:33–34. What is this “great work” the Lord is talking about? General Handbook, 11.2, defines this work as the work of salvation and exaltation. It is simply to live, care, invite, and unite:

• Living the gospel of Jesus Christ (see General Handbook, 11.2.1; 16)

• Caring for those in need (see General Handbook, 11.2.2; 21)

• Inviting all to receive the gospel (see General Handbook, 11.2.3; 23)

• Uniting families for eternity (see General Handbook, 11.2.4; 25)

As a presidency, study together “Lesson 3: The Work of Salvation and Exaltation,” in Leadership Lessons, and counsel about how you can use your Sunday meetings, service, and activities to help all the young women participate in this great work.

The youth share this work with the Relief Society and the elders quorum under the direction of the bishop.

Counsel Together as a Presidency

“Heavenly Father has established councils as an important part of receiving inspiration, making decisions, and accomplishing His work” (General Handbook, 4.3).

As a presidency, study together “Lesson 2: Counseling Together,” in Leadership Lessons, and consider how this eternal principle will bless you in the following meetings.

Class Presidency Meetings

Class presidency meeting can be a place of revelation, and counseling together as a presidency will bring unity and joy to your service. It is in class presidency meetings that you will plan how to help young women draw closer to the Savior and engage in the work of salvation and exaltation (see General Handbook, 11.3.4.3).

As a presidency, study together “Lesson 1: Preparing for and Conducting Meetings,” in Leadership Lessons, especially the video “Secrets to Conducting Effective Youth Presidency Meetings” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Class presidents lead and conduct class presidency meetings. Your adult leaders can help you prepare ahead of time so you can lead the meeting with confidence.

• Hold class presidency meetings regularly, even weekly, either virtually or in person. These meetings do not need to be long. Where possible, meet for 15–20 minutes each week and hold a longer meeting once a month.

• Use an agenda to help you be more effective in your meetings. The class secretary can help you prepare one in advance. See “Quorum and Class Presidency Resources” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org for a sample agenda.

  • Begin and end each meeting with prayer, and take time each meeting to counsel about the needs of your class.

• Strive to develop leadership skills in presidency meetings. These five lessons from Leadership Lessons are a great way to begin your service as a presidency.

  • Lesson 1: Preparing for and Conducting Meetings

  • Lesson 2: Counseling Together

  • Lesson 3: The Work of Salvation and Exaltation

  • Lesson 4: Planning Service and Activities

  • Lesson 5: Ministering

Ward Youth Council Meeting

This meeting is held monthly. The president of each Young Women class attends. If the president is unable to attend, she may invite one of her counselors to attend in her place. If there is only one Young Women class, the class president and her counselors should all attend.

In this council meeting you will discuss how to strengthen the youth in the ward and how to help them participate in the work of salvation and exaltation. You can bring items to this council for discussion and offer input on matters presented by other youth leaders. The president of the oldest class can also share what her counselors are learning in the coordination meetings mentioned below. For more information, see General Handbook, 11.3.4.4; 29.2.6.

Ward Temple and Family History Coordination Meeting

A member of the oldest Young Women class presidency attends this brief, regular meeting to coordinate temple and family history efforts, which are an important part of the work of salvation and exaltation. You can bring items to this meeting for discussion and offer input on matters presented by others. Bring what you learn back to the class presidency meeting and counsel together about how the class can participate in this great work. For more information, see General Handbook, 9.2.4; 25.2.7.

Coordination Meeting for Sharing the Gospel

A member of the oldest Young Women class presidency attends this brief, weekly meeting to coordinate efforts to share the gospel and strengthen new and returning members. Youth are vital in this effort, especially in inviting and strengthening other youth. Bring what you learn back to the class presidency meeting and counsel together about how the class can be a part of this great effort. For more information, see General Handbook, 23.5.7.

Plan and Conduct Sunday Young Women Meetings

Sunday Meeting

Sunday Young Women meetings are sacred opportunities for you and the young women in your class to increase in knowledge and testimony of our Savior. In these meetings, you and the members of your class learn doctrine from the scriptures and general conference messages, discuss how the doctrine applies to your lives, and counsel together about how you can act on what you are learning.

There are two parts to every Sunday meeting:

• Counsel together as a class for 10–20 minutes about how to participate in the work of salvation and exaltation (see sample questions in each lesson outline).

• Have 25–35 minutes of gospel instruction using Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes.

This video, “Conduct Class Meetings to help the Lord” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), will show you how it all works.

Plan and Conduct Service and Activities

Weekly Service and Activities

Gathering together for service and activities with other faithful youth is a source of strength—and it is a lot of fun! Your presidency has the primary responsibility to plan and implement service, activities, and events for your class. Your Young Women leaders will guide and support you in your planning.

The Savior has promised, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20.) Seek His guidance, and He will help you.

As a presidency, study together “Lesson 4: Planning Service and Activities,” in Leadership Lessons, and see General Handbook, 11.2.1.3; 20. Remember that weekly and annual activities do not need to link to individual goals or rotate among the four Children and Youth areas of growth.

Focus on the needs of your class and plan a variety of service and activities to unify and strengthen class members, build testimonies, bless others, and have fun. You will find you are accomplishing the Lord’s work as you:

• Help one another live the gospel of Jesus Christ, strengthen one another, and become self-reliant both spiritually and temporally.

• Join together to serve and care for those in need in your class, families, ward, and community.

• Invite others to join with you. Reach out to others who are not attending or those who are not members. Learn and practice ways to share the gospel, including preparing for missionary service.

• Plan activities and service to unite families. Strengthen your families now, develop skills and talents that will bless your future families, and participate in temple and family history work that will bless your eternal family.

This video, “Six Tips to Planning Awesome Activities” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), can be a useful resource.

Annual Activities

As a class presidency, you also help plan the following annual activities:

• Young Women camp (see Young Women Camp Guide [2018])

• Ward or stake youth conference (see General Handbook, 20.4) or a For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conference—especially the pre- and post-activities (see FSY.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• An annual meeting for youth and their parents near the beginning of the year to review and celebrate the Children and Youth program (see General Handbook, 11.2.1.3)

• At least one activity emphasizing the standards in For the Strength of Youth (see General Handbook, 11.2.1.3).