Last Saturday, was the Young Women General Broadcast. I am not currently serving in the young women’s program, and I don’t have any daughters that are the age of the young women. But, I do have a daughter. She is 5 years old, going on 6 in a couple of months, and I worry about so many challenges she will face as she grows older. I worry about my boys too, but I guess since I’ve been a girl, and a teenager, and a young woman, I know how difficult life’s challenges can be. And, I know they are even harder today than when I was growing up.
But, I decided to read President Monson’s address, Believe, Obey, Endure to the current group of Young Women. You can find his whole address here. It was very enlightening to me as I think about my own daughter and the things I want to teach her as she grows older. Even as a tiny kindergartener, she is witnessing older kids around her say and do things, and I am of the belief that you can never start to young to teach your children to be strong, kind, loving, and decent human beings.
The Prophet counseled these “terrific teens” as he called them on three things. Believe, Obey, and Endure.
When speaking of Believing he emphasized knowing that they are daughters of God. Believing the YW theme as they read it each day, attending seminary, and trusting in the Lord.
When speaking of Obeying, he shared a story of a YW that made a good choice when tempted to make a wrong one, and as a result was shunned by some friends, he counseled, “Precious young women, make every decision you contemplate pass this test: “What does it do to me? What does it do for me?” And let your code of conduct emphasize not “What will others think?” but rather “What will I think of myself?” Be influenced by that still, small voice.” If the young women can do this every time they make a decision, they will be much stronger because of it.
When Speaking of Endurance, he shared the definition that endurance means, “to withstand with courage”. It takes courage to be a latter-day saint today, whether 16 or 60.
I’m grateful that we have a living Prophet today to guide us. With all of life’s challenges, it is so encouraging to know that we are not alone. We have someone to show us the way. With General Conference coming up this weekend, I am ready for some spiritual uplift that will keep me facing my own challenges.