Sharing with Young Women

Every now and then I have a really big lesson. This was one of those that was a real success for me and made a lasting impression, hopefully on my girls too! So I thought I'd share what I did for it.

First, I looked over the lesson content. I decided, I wanted the focus to be on the goal of temple marriage and eternal families. I also determined that I could do a lot with the concept of "gifts". And so I began.

I read through the lesson several weeks before. I knew I was giving it to the entire group so I'd have more girls and all ages to consider. I already knew I wanted to do a handout telling them that the greatest gift they could give to their husband was their reflection of purity, because I was given a handout with this saying as a beehive and it stuck with me. The rest started to snowball once I got the ball rolling.

I did my lesson outline and printed my notes out on index cards for easier handling and referencing during my lesson. This was a tremendous help.
Click on the Lesson Notes link

I took a box and wrapped it all up pretty with a gold bow and white paper. I put it on the table. Inside, I had another smaller box wrapped the same way and inside that box I had the handouts for the lesson.

As I listened to conference I knew I wanted to reference President Hinckley's talk on women and marriage and as I listened to the YW General Presidency counselor I got the vision for the first part of my lesson. I pulled a picture of a temple and a a mountain from my visual aid pile. And I created some gray clouds with words and images of the tugs and pulls of the world. These I put at the bottom of the mountain to represent the world. I asked the girls how we rise above the world and these pressures. The answer is in the FTSOY book and I then put up all these standards to show how they each lift us up to our goal and help us reach the top.
Pulls of the World
FTSOY Standards

As we talked about the first gift I put up the comparison photos for the girls to see on the overhead. I'd put one down and then the next. At the end I'd put them both up and show the stark comparisons.
Comparison Transparencies

As we moved on and talked about chastity I used some posters to keep us on track with the important elements. And I pulled the second gift out of the first and set it next to it on the table. This represented how this sacred gift was found within our bodies.
Chasity Posters

I ended my lesson by telling the girls that I had a special gift for them too. I opened the small gift box and held up the handout. I read the card and told them that the small gift box was to remind them of this pure gift that was to be used only in the bonds of marriage. I introduced my friend, Margo Edgeworth, who graciously came to perform her award winning New Era song, "Somewhere, There's Somebody Waiting".

The handouts have the quote on the back from Elder Packer about guarding and protecting this gift. When I was walking through Michael's the day before my lesson I saw these little clear boxes in the brides isle. They were on sale and I knew I had to have them. I thought it would be a nice touch to put the interlocking silver rings inside.
Procreation Handouts
The quote on the back reads: "Protect and guard your gift. Your acutal happiness is at stake. Eternal family life, now only in your anticipations and dreams, can be achieved because our Heavenly Father has bestowed this choicest gift of all upon you - this power of creation. It is the very key to happiness. Hold this gift as sacred and pure. Use it only as the Lord has directed."

This is one lesson that I know I will always remember.

Best wishes to all of you!
Holly


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