Young Women in Excellence Invites and Program Printables

I had an amazing viewer who asked for my New Beginnings invites to be modified so they could be used for Young Women in Excellence. Here they are:

Click here for the downloadable pdf file of all of the full page free printables: YW in Excellence Free Printables 2015

YW in Excellence Invites:

4X6 this can be printed right on 4x6 photo paper. Here's the Download: 4x6 YW in Excellence Invite Embark

8 1/2 by 11 there are (4) 4x6 size invites on this sheet

4X6 this can be printed right on 4x6 photo paper. Here's the download: 4x6 YW in Excellence invite

YW in Excellence Program covers:

Folding type, program can be printed on the inside

Program can be printed on the other side

YW in Excellence Cupcake or Brownie toppers:

New Cupcake Toppers!!! Here's the link for the FREE DOWNLOAD!!

LDS Come Follow Me Lesson and Mutual Ideas August 2015: Marriage and Family

Last year I posted some ideas for the Come Follow Me lessons, here is the link: LDS Come Follow Me Lesson and Mutual Ideas August 2014: Marriage and Family. See more ideas below. Good luck with your lessons!! This is such an important and special topic!!

For August 2015 the topic for "Come Follow Me" is,

Marriage and Family

Here are the links to each organizations page for the month: Young Women, Aaronic Priesthood, Sunday School

Since, each organization has their own outlines and each lesson will need to be specified to the individual class members and there are already amazing outlines that can be used for guidance, I am only going to share some general ideas that can just be used as supplements. The great thing about this program is to allow the spirit to guide you to the needs of the youth in your class. Prepare before hand, Pray for guidance, Listen to the Promptings of the Spirit and invite the youth to do the same.

Here is the Scripture for the month:

“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and ... the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129).

Lesson Ideas: There are so many topics to choose from this month. I am just giving supplemental ideas to a few of them. Please refer to the church's website for the wonderful outlines they have for all of the topics, see links below. A great idea to begin each lesson is to invite each class member to come with a scripture or spiritual thought to share with the rest of the class. (When I was a youth we did this in one of my classes, it is a class I loved to attend and had the most participation in it.)

Young Women:

Why is family important? Begin by giving each youth a piece of paper. Invite the youth to take a minute and right on the paper why their family is important. Draw a large circle on the board. In the middle of the circle write "Family". In the large circle invite some of the youth to share with you something they wrote on their paper, why their family is important. Write these things in the large circle. Invite a youth to read, “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and ... the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129). Invite the youth to share what "...the family is central to the Creator's plan..." means. Discussion might include that central means of the greatest importance or essential. Why would families be essential to Heavenly Father's plan? Draw some lines extending out from the circle connecting to another circle at the end of each line. In these circles write, "Pre-mortal life", "Mortal Life", "Eternal Life". Before hand print out "The Family: A Proclamation to the world" Cut it up into paragraphs and number the paragraphs. Pass these paragraphs out to the youth. Invite them to read their paragraphs in order. Stopping after each paragraph to discus the paragraph, to find which circle the paragraph pertains to and writing some things that stand out in that paragraph next to the circles.
Why is temple marriage important? Give each youth a small paper. On the paper invite the youth to write one of their goals. Under the goal invite the youth to write some things that they will need to do to hel p the accomplish their goal. Invite some youth to share. Show the youth a picture of the temple. Explain that temple marriage is one of those essential saving ordinance that we need to obtain the Celestial Kingdom. Invite a youth to read, "In our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness, the only way to obtain exaltation is through the new and everlasting covenant of celestial marriage (see D&C 131:1–3). When a man and a woman are sealed to each other for time and all eternity in the temple, they have the assurance that their relationship will continue forever if they are true to their covenants. They know that nothing, not even death, can permanently separate them." Write the word Goal at the top of the page: Next to it write, "Exaltation". Under exaltation write the words, "Temple Marriage". Explain that our ultimate goal is exaltation or eternal life with our Father in Heaven. To get there we need Temple Marriage, which is also a very important goal. Invite the youth so share ways they can prepare for a Temple Marriage. Bring a paper chain (strips of paper linked together), also bring a metal chain. Explain that when someone is married civilly they are linked together like the paper chains, when someone dies the chain is broken, they are no longer bound together. Temple marriage is like the metal chain. When sealed together in one of our Heavenly Father's temples we have a strong bond that not even death can sever. We are sealed together as a family for all eternity.
Why is chastity important? Invite the youth to think about the most precious thing that they own. Now have them picture someone taking the thing that is most precious to them and they tarnish it and maybe even break it. Ask them how they would feel? Explain that Heavenly Father loves us so much that he has given a very precious gift. This gift is the power to create life. It is a gift that we should hold dear to us. Give the youth a piece of paper and invite the youth to write on the paper what they think of when you say the word, "Chastity". Explain that these papers will be folded up and passed in and discussed as a class. Invite discussion. Now give the youth another piece of paper, on this paper invite the youth to write a question they have about Chastity. Have them fold that paper up and pass it in. Use the, True to the Faith book for Chastity to help answer any questions. Play the video, “Chastity: What Are the Limits?”
What are the Church’s standards regarding dating?
How can I prepare now to become a righteous wife and mother?
How do the roles of men and women complement each other in families?
How can I strengthen my family?

Aaronic Priesthood: (See ideas above under Young Women)

Sunday School:

How will keeping a personal journal bless me and my family? Begin by showing the following pictures, Brass Plates and Gold Plates. Ask the youth what the picture is of? Ask the youth who wrote on the plates? Ask they youth if they have been blessed because of the writings on these plates? Now show the children your own personal journal if you have one, or you could share an ancestors. Share how you and your family have been blessed from your journal or an ancestors journal. Play the video, “O Remember, Remember” . Give each of the youth a piece of paper that says, "How have I seen the Hand of God in my life?" Invite the youth to take some time to write there thoughts and feelings to that question down. Before writing invite them to really ponder about the day, or even the week and think about how they have seen God in their life.
Why is it important to learn about my family history? Give each youth a pedigree chart, see printables below. Invite the youth to write their name in to spot that is for them, write there birth date. Explain that all of the other spots on the page are their family and as they begin to fill it out they will be learning more and sharing more of their family history. Have them next write their parents names on the paper in the appropriate spots. Invite them to think about something interesting or memorable about their parents. Invite them to write that next to their names. Next invite them to write their grandparents names on each side if they know them. Invite them to think about something they remember about each of their grandparents or something they have heard about each of the grandparents and have them write that on the paper. Point out the lines on the pedigree chart. Explain that we are linked to our family members. Invite a class member to read the following quote, "Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness enables family relationships to continue throughout eternity. " (Come Follow Me: Sunday School: August) Play the video, "Elder Bednar addresses Youth" Invite a youth to read, "Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life." (The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, Elder Richard G. Scott, October 2012 General Conference) Remind the youth that we have been promised Divine Protection as we participate in Family History work.
How can I teach others how to do family history work? Draw a sketch of a small cliff on the board with a pathway leading to the base of it. Ask the youth if they could lift someone up to the top of the cliff if they were standing down the trail behind the person? No they would not be able to easily do so. Ask the youth if they could lift the person up if they were standing on the cliff higher than that person. Yes. Explain that the same could be said of teaching someone to do something. We first need to learn how to do it ourselves before we can teach someone else. Write the phrase, "How can I teach others how to do family history work?" on the board. Invite the youth to think for a moment how they would answer that question. Then invite the youth to come up and write an answer to that question onto the board. Explain that one of the reasons they are on the earth today, is that their talents and abilities are needed at this time to build the kingdom of God. Ask the youth if they know how to use the computer? Ask them if they know how to take and upload pictures? These are talents and abilities that they can share with others. Share some of the videos found on the youth page "Serve". Here are their links: "Help Others Find Records by Indexing"; "Help the Families You Home Teach"; "Help Others Come Back to Church"; "Help New Members Take a Name to the Temple"; "Help Others Add Photos and Documents to Their Family Tree"
How can I explain the importance of marriage and family to others?
What opportunities are there for learning and teaching in the home?

For more ideas here are my ideas from August 2014: LDS Come Follow Me Lesson and Mutual Ideas August 2014: Marriage and Family

***I will continue to update ideas on this page throughout the month.***

Idea's for Mutual: Here is a link to the Youth Activities Planning Site. *** This site is amazing! We recently had a short little training on this site at one of our Round Tables. It is a great resource for planning activities. It will only continue to grow as wards submit more ideas. One really need thing about it is it can link the activities right into your stake or ward calendars. ***

Printing tip: Click on the image and save to your computer. You will then be able to print the image from your computer.

HANDOUT

YOUNG WOMEN LESSON

JOURNAL PAGE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Sunday School lesson Family History

August 2015 Relief Society Visiting Teaching Message: Divine Attributes of Jesus Christ: Meek and Humble

August 2015 Relief Society Visiting Teaching Message:

Divine Attributes of Jesus Christ: Meek and Humble

Free Printable: Printing tip: Click on image and save it to your computer.

You will then be able to print the image from your computer.

8 1/2 X 11 Full page

2 to a page

My Thoughts:

Meekness is not Weakness! Quite the contrary. I think you have to be a strong person to be meek. It takes effort to set aside the natural man and to truly submit your will to Heavenly Father's will. I think of it kinda being like little toddlers, you know they want what they want, when they want it. Sometimes we can also be that way. We start caring more about what we want, or what the world says that we should want. But when it comes down to it, the thing that will make us the happiest and the thing that is the most important, is what our Heavenly Father wants of us.

So what does it mean to be meek? What does it mean to be humble? In Elder Neal A. "Maxwell article, Meekness—A Dimension of True Discipleship", found in the March 1983 Ensign he states, "The Greek rendition of the word meek in the New Testament, by the way, is “gentle and humble.”

Actually, meekness is not an attribute which is essential only in itself, said Moroni. It is also vital because one cannot develop those other crucial virtues—faith, hope, and charity—without meekness."

On the Gospel topics page on lds.org it states this about humility, "To be humble is to recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord—to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that our talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous."

When looking for an example of meekness and humility there is not better example, then that of the Savior. His whole life was spent doing His Father's will. He knew that all He had, all He was, all He did, came from His Father.

In asking the question to myself, "How can having humility help us love as the Savior did?" These thoughts came to mind. When I humble myself and avoid judgement but instead try to look at others as they really are, sons and daughters of the same Heavenly Father. Loved by Heavenly Father unconditionally. Each son and daughter having no greater worth than the other, but having GREAT worth to the Father. Knowing this would I not also want to love as the Savior did. The world tries to tell us that money, beauty and prestige is what defines our worth, but it is a lie. The richest man on earth is of no greater worth then the poorest. The most educated is of no greater worth the the least educated. We are no better or less than another. So I guess what I am trying to say is that humility and meekness helps us filter through the lies that Satan throws at us daily, it helps us see others the way the Savior and our Heavenly Father sees them. My desire is to work each day to be more like my Savior, submitting my will and living my life the way my Heavenly Father knows best.

Gift Idea:

Gentle, Kind, Humble. These are all words that go along with this month's Visiting teaching Message. So I think anything having to do with hearts for kindness, a flower for gentle, humble could be a picture of the Savior washing His apostles feet.

Here is the link to previous Visiting Teaching Posts.

LDS Sharing Time Ideas for August 2015 Week 3: Jesus Christ has power over death.

2015 Sharing Time Outline Theme: "I Know My Savior Lives"

August 2015 Sharing Time Topic: Jesus Christ Is the Son of God, and He Is a God of Miracles

August 2015 Scripture: “For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; … and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith” (2 Nephi 27:23).

August Week 3 Topic: Jesus Christ has power over death.

Free Printables: (Printing Tip: Click on image to open and then save image to your computer. You can then print the image from your computer.)

Preparation:

Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Sharing Time Instruction:

Begin by showing the children the picture of the dead plant (or you could actually bring a dead plant or flower). Show the picture of the living plant (or you could bring a living plant). Invite the children to explain the difference between the two. Discuss with the children that plant in the first picture is dead and the plant in the second picture is living. Could the plant in the first picture come back to life and be like the plant in the second picture?

Explain that their is someone who has power over death. Show the children the week theme poster and invite the children to repeat the phrase with you, "Jesus Christ has power over death."

Ask the children if they know what a witness is. Explain that a witness is someone who sees and event happen, they can be evidence or proof of that event. Explain that you are going to share some stories of some witnesses that Jesus Christ has power over death.

Invite a primary child to come up dress them up, as a person from the Savior's time. (You could use a towel, dish rag or cloth and a tie to tie onto their heads. Place the name tag on the child that says, Lazarus. Say to the children, "This is Lazarus and I am going to tell you his story." Precede with reading John 11:1-45. When you have completed telling the story, explain that Lazarus is a witness that Jesus has power over death.

Invite another child up and dress them up. Place the name tag on the child that says, Jairus’s daughter. Say to the children, "This is Jairus's daughter and I am now going to tell you her story." Precede with reading Mark 5:21-24, 35-43. When you have completed telling the story, explain that Jairus's daughter is another witness that Jesus has power over death.

Invite another child up and dress them up. Place the name tag on the child that says, The widow’s son. Say to the children, "This is the widow's son and I am going to tell you his story". Precede with reading Luke 7:11-16. When you have completed telling the story, explain that the widow's son is another witness that Jesus has power over death.

Invite one last child up and dress them up. Place the name tag on the child that says, One of Christ's Apostles. Say to the children, "This is one of Christ's apostles we are going to tell the story of how he witnessed the Savior overcome death and be resurrected." Precede with reading John 20:1-18. When you have completed the story, explain that the Saviors apostles were witnesses of His death and Resurrection and that He has power over death.

Close by sharing your testimony.

OTHER SHARING TIMES THIS FOR AUGUST:

Click this link for past Sharing Time post: LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2015 Outline for Sharing Time, you can find a link here: 2015 Outline for Sharing Time

Family Home Evening on Fun Family Activities

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is:

Fun Family Activities

Free Printable:

Preparation: I hope and pray that you can use these ideas as a guideline and adjust them to the needs of your own specific family. Our prophet President Monson says, "We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest." On Lds.org there are resources available in helping to make your Family Home Evenings successful, here is a link to that site on Family Home Evenings.

Invite a member of the family member say the prayer

Sing: "The Family" Children's Songbook pg 194

Discuss any family business

Follow-up with last weeks FHE.

Scripture: Read: D & C 24:25-28

Family Home Evening Instruction:

"Play Together, Stay Together" , these are the words you would find if you visited the webpage, "Happiness in Family Life: Activities" . So for tonight's family home evening is going to focus on what kind of activities we would like to fit in this summer. With summer winding down, it seems to be crunch time. I plan on doing this for each season with my family. I've noticed as we spend time out and about together, our relationships are strengthened and memories are developed.

The plan is to gather together and ask each family member what are the things they would like to do this summer. Then make a plan on the calendar of when to do them. Above I have provided a couple printables that could be used.

It would also be a good time to reflect on the things you have already done this summer as a family. What were some of the favorite activities.

We will finish with this quote, "Families that play together stay together, especially when their play is uplifting and wholesome. Family vacations, holidays, birthday celebrations, and other activities build strong bonds and feelings of self-worth. The phrase “Remember when we…” is sure to bring love and laughter in the years to come." ("Happiness in Family Life: Activities" )

Close by sharing your testimony.

Close with a Family Prayer.

For More Family Home Evening Ideas Click this Link: Family Home Evening Ideas