FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE SAVIOR: - CLICK
Here for an idea for a YW Recognition Award program, a fireside
or special lesson. -- from Linda
Bair, Portland, Oregon. STAKE NIGHT: - Our stake leaders do a standards
night for us every April. It is done like a Stake fireside only parents
are invited. STAKE PRESIDENT/STANDARDS OF YOUTH: - Our stake
Pres conducted an open discussion on the standards of youth. His focus was "If you want temple marriage and eternal
life, but by not following the prophet now, odds are you will not attain
that goal." He lead an open discussion on each area of the
'For Strength of Youth'. He was well prepared with statistics, stories,
quotes and scriptures for each question. The youth with his leadership
drafted their own stake title of liberty. Only a very in tune, loving,
prepared leader could do this, but it was great and had a lasting effect
on many youth. TEMPLE MARRIAGE/NEWLYWEDS: - Opening took
place, then about a dozen girls (recent newlyweds that most of the girls
should know) in full wedding dresses, spotlighted in a slghtly lit
room, walked down the aisles, to 'I hope to see the temple'. Two
of of the girls spoke about their feelings about temple marriage.
A well known older sister spoke about eternal families. A couple special
musical numbers and close. The spotlighted brides stood in front
the whole time, a very large drawing of the temple in the background. MORALITY THEME: - I am in the process of trying
to put together a standard's night for our ward!! I am going to invite
the parents to come. I will divide the girls from their parents for
the first half hour to have a very frank discussion with the girls regarding
MORALITY! (the girls would feel more comfortable to ask
questions if their parents were not present). I will give a letter
to the parents to inform them of the discussion that we will be having
during that time. This letter will go out ahead of time, in case
of any concerns. While I am with the YW, the parents will be in another
meeting reviewing the standards with the parents (basically those
covered in the "For the Strength of the Youth" Booklet. This will
give the parents an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns that
they may be having with their own daughters. ----- Finally, I will bring
everyone together for a final message. I am going to have a
beautiful China plate set at a beautiful table setting. I am going
to remark about How the china is unique, How it is delicate and special.
How it is often only brought out for special people visiting, and how expensive
and sometimes rare some pieces are. I am also going to have a plain
white paper plate set at another table.. I will discuss how there is nothing
real unique about this paper plate, it's like all the others. It
is not very sturdy. It is used for one occassion and then tossed away.
It's used more frequently than china and therefore is not considered very
"special". I am then going to step back over to the china and pick
up the plate. I am going to carefully place it into a garbage can
(you could buy a China plate from a Thrift Store or Deseret Industries
and actually break it) and then compare this to our "virtue" and
how special it is...How we shouldn't treat it like trash!!!
STANDARDS NIGHT PROGRAM: - Janice Kapp Perry &
Joy Saunders Lundberg have a book called "When It's Love: A musical
program to help youth prepare for Temple Marriage".
VALUE INTRODUCTION: - Have each speaker introduce
a value by saying, "It's a wonderful time to develop (or learn about one
of the values)." Then the speaker describes ways to develop that value
in the Personal Progress Program and during activities. MORE ON VALUES: - Have everyone introducing a value
start like she just received an Academy Award. E.g.--"I'd like to thank
the Academy for helping me to where I am today. I want to thank my leaders,
my Bishop, my parents, my siblings, etc. And I'd especially like to thank
Divine Nature. I could have never done it if I didn't know that I had God-like
characteristics that I could develop. For example, I could have never completed
my life so well if I hadn't been patient. And loving others unconditionally,
that has really made my life happy. . . "