2008 - 2012 MUTUAL THEMES:

 Click here to see 2008 Theme Ideas
 Click here to see 2009 Theme Ideas
 Click here to see 2010 Theme Ideas
 Click here to see 2011 Theme Ideas
Click here to see 2012 Theme Ideas
Click here to see 2013 Theme Ideas

ACTIVATION/INACTIVES:

 Click here for youth activation ideas

ACTIVITIES:

Activity Planning - Instead of the usual planning meetings, I decided to write out lots of different activity ideas such as; hiking, volley ball, ironing service project, recipe book making and so on.  I grouped them all into categories, for example; homemaking, sports, spiritual and educational etc, I put all of the groups of ideas into individual balloons and blew them up.  I separated the girls into two groups, so I had prepared two sets of balloons.  I then pinned them to a dart board one at a time and had the 2 teams take turn in throwing a dart at them until it popped.  In their groups they then decided which activities they would like to do, ones they didn't mind and ones they wouldn't want to do.  This was a great activity and kept them entertained.  To finish the planning session I kept them in their groups and gave them party whistles to blow when they had an answer, I then said a word, for example; 'sausages' and the groups had to come up with the best activity involving 'sausages' or something they related to the word 'sausages', one group came up with a BBQ on the beach and the other came up with food hygiene and learning to cook meat.  It was a great way to get the girls thinking and we came up with lots of new ideas that they hadn't done before. (Idea shared by Hannah Hart / ga11082007)
Activity Reminder Calls - Our Beehive leader has done something that I thought was really neat.  The have a phone tree set up. The Beehive President calls her two counselors and secretary.  Each one of them has a couple of young women to call. The last young woman on the tree list calls the leader to let her know they have been called. If the leader doesn't hear from the last young woman at the end of the list she knows the ball has been dropped somewhere. (Idea by Jennifer Erickson / ga12052006)
Click here for Activity Ideas
 Fireside Ideas
 I am the young women secretary in our ward.  In order to help prepare the young women for their meetings, activities and upcoming events; I started emailing our girls weekly. Since I started doing this, our girls come more prepared to activities and meetings and attendance count has gone up on a regular basis.  (Idea by Renee M. Martin / ga09262007)
Unity Activity Ideas
 Year-at-a-glance YW Activity Calendar by Michonne Terry
 Yearly Planning Session by Trish Haley - good idea any time of year...doesn't have to be January.
Young Women Retreat - Fishers of Men (Credit Unknown - transferred from lds-yw files)

ACTIVITY PERMISSION FORMS:

 Activity Plan
 Parental Permission and Medical Release
 Performance Contract
 Talent and Interest Survey

ARTICLES FROM CHURCH MAGAZINES THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL:

 The Principle of Presidency - A good article to review with your presidency to create unity and harmony

ATTENDANCE FORMS:

 Attendance Rolls (editable for any organization) by Melanie Day

BEEHIVE CONFERENCE IDEAS

Beehive Bash
 Beehive Conference 2010

BINDER COVERS:

 Beehive/Miamaid/Laurel Binder Cover Sheets by Kelley Kirkland
 Class Binder Covers by Kassie Moen
 Flower Binder Covers by Angela Nelson - This could work for YW Presidency as well as class presidencies
 Polka Dot Binder Covers by Robin Lyman
 Value Binder Cover Insert by Angela Nelson
 Young Women Theme Binder Cover by Melanie Day
 Young Women Theme by Joy Kuoha
Young Women Binder Cover by Lisa Clayson
 Young Women Binder Covers by Shailynn Greenhalgh
 Young Women Resource Binder Cover by Cher Castle - Binder for the YW to keep all their handouts
 YW Spanish Binder Covers by Mariajosé Martinez Cortés

BIRTHDAY IDEAS:

Some Birthday Ideas
 Young Women Birthday Organizer by Jill Galyan 

BLOGS TO HELP INSPIRE YW:

The life of a Mormon teen

BULLETIN BOARD IDEAS:

 Click here for bulletin board ideas

CALENDARS:

 Holly's experience and learning curve with calendars
 January YW Calendar Template by Cecilia Powers
 Printable Calendars

CANDY BAR WRAPPERS:
 
Lifesaver Wrapper
Stand ye in holy places
Standing as a witness of God (blue)
Standing as a witness of God 1 (pink)
Young Women Values

CELL PHONES:

 Click here for ideas on how to deal with cell phones

CENTERPIECE IDEAS:

Flowerpots with different colored flowers (representing the different value colors)
 Glass Block Centerpieces by Ginger Shumway
Value Centerpieces  

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS:

 Click here for Christmas Gift Ideas for your Young Women

CHURCH ISSUED LETTERS: (Click here to see other letters related to Young Women)

 "Helping Young Women with the Transition into Womanhood; Monthly Joint Opening Exercises of Young Women and Relief Society." - This letter was sent to priesthood leaders for discussion with Young Women and Relief Society leaders in ward council meetings. The second page lists seven suggestions to help leaders as they develop plans to help young women with the transition into womanhood, including monthly combined opening exercises. 
 Not wearing all white outside of the temple
 Revised Young Women Theme (December 2008)
 "Safety Guidelines for Activities" - parents/leaders are asked not to take their younger children on Church sponsered Youth activities.
 "Safety Guidelines for Handcart Trek Youth Activities," dated December 17, 2007
 "Transportation Safety in Youth Activities," dated September 21, 2001

CLASS PRESIDENCY HELPS:

 Click here for Class Presidency Helps

CLIPART:

 Princess Verbena
 Value Flowers from Emma's Place

CONDUCTING HELPS:

 Magnetic Conducting Boards by Nicole Funderburk 
 March YW Conducting Sheet by Billie Jean Pew
 YW Conducting Sheet & Mutual Opening Exercises by Whit Larson
 YW Opening Exercise and Presidency Template by Stephanie Jimenez 
 YW Opening Exercise Form by Jennifer Annes
 YW Opening Exercises Worksheet by Lizz White 

CRAFT IDEAS:

 Personalized Value Letter
 Washer Necklaces by Melinda Beachell
 Scrappy YW Notepad Stand by Colette Bomsta
 Young Women Journal with Tabs by Charlene Harreveld
 
DANCES:

LDS Music Charts - "What type of songs should be played at a stake dance?"
 Youth Dance Ideas

DISABILITIES:

 Click here to see helps with those with disabilities

DISTRIBUTION CENTER (Online):

 Order Young Women Materials Online (English)
 Order Young Women Materials Online (French)
 Order Young Women Materials Online (Spanish)

DESSERT/REFRESHMENT IDEAS:

 Quick and Easy Dessert Ideas for any YW event
 Refreshment Ideas from YW Connection
 Value Themed Desserts

FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH...click here.

FUNDRAISER IDEAS:

 Our Scoop - For Mothers Day, we sold chocolate covered strawberries and caramel chocolate dipped pretzels. They were such a big hit! We are already getting asked if we are going to do it again. We are planning on doing it every year. We earned about $700. We made and delivered them the Saturday before. We got together in the ward kitchen and made them and cranked them out by noon. The girls loved it. I made them all wear gloves so we could keep everything sanitary. No finger linkn' :)

GAMES:

For the Strength of Youth Jeopardy
 Mad Libs
Scriptionary Game
Scriptural Squares
 Tower of Flour Game by Jill Garrison
Young Women General Presidents Who am I game? - Just scroll down and look for this game under "Class Activities"....it's towards the bottom.

GENERAL BOARD:

 Biography and picture of Elaine S. Dalton, General Young Women President
 Biography and picture of Mary N. Cook, 1st Counselor on General Young Women Board
 Biography and picture of Ann M. Dibb, 2nd Counselor on General Young Women Board

GENERAL CONFERENCE:

General Conference ideas specific to Young Women

GET TO KNOW YOU FORMS:

 All About You by Joy Kuoha

GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUNG WOMEN GRADUATING TO RELIEF SOCIETY:

Candy Gram Bye!
 For the past few years, we have given our graduating Laurels a journal. Before she gets it, I have had all of the other Young Women and leaders write a note to the girl on the first few pages of her journal. Hopefully she will continue to keep the journal, and have these notes of good luck and love from her Young Women peers to keep forever!  (Idea by M. Thompson / ga09192008)
 One Heart, Once Voice by Lisa Nokes
 Recipe Tins by Heather Dreier

GIRL'S CAMP:

 Click here for Girl's Camp Ideas

HANDOUTS:

 Be an angel and give a thoughtful gift 
 Make Something of Yourself
President Benson quote (5x7) by Alyssa Snell / Trans. from LDSYWYahooGroup
 Value Backgrounds by Mynnette Kitchen
Value Mix
Young Women are like Jelly Beans
 Young Women Shrinky Dink Key Chains
Young Women's Theme - Bookmarks
Young Women Theme - Sign

HOLIDAY & SPECIAL OCCASIONS:

 Back to School
Easter
 Halloween
 St. Patrick's Day
Thanksgiving Idea
 Valentine's Day

INACTIVES/ACTIVATION:

 Click here for youth activation ideas

LANGUAGES:

 German Young Women Helps
 Portuguese Young Women Helps
 Spanish Young Women Helps

LEADERSHIP HELPS:

 Click here for Leadership Helps
 Purchase your Young Women materials online
 YW Leadership Ideas

LESSON HELPS:

Christmas Lesson Helps
 Easter Lesson Helps
 Manual 1 Lesson Helps 
 Manual 2 Lesson Helps
 Manual 3 Lesson Helps 
Pop Quiz - a fun way to ask your lesson questions 
 Young Women Journals by Trisha Lee - Help your girls get the most out of your lessons

LIVING CHRIST CHALLENGE:

 Living Christ Cards by Allison Marcroft
 Living Christ Challenge by Wendy Christensen
 The Living Christ - Memorization Activity

MEETING HELPS:

Planning with a purpose
Sample Meeting Agenda

MUSIC:

 Joan Sowards
 Music published in the New Era
 Sally DeFord's Website - Lots of free music!
Selected Young Women Music (English, Spanish, Portuguese - MP3 & PDF)
Seminary Music
We, the Youth in Zion's Army, September 2001, New Era
 Will you be an angel? by Kerrie Neu
 Young Women Camp Songs
Young Women Music Director

NEW BEEHIVES.......click here for ideas on welcoming new Beehives
 
NEW BEGINNINGS IDEAS....click here.

NEWSLETTERS:

Sample Newsletter (scroll down to "newsletter")
Here are several templates you can download and use to create a newsletter.
Newsletter Idea by Mary Dahl
Young Women Newsletter Template - 2 pages (Winter Theme) 
 YW Newsletter Template by Andrea Walker

OBJECT LESSONS:

Grain of Sugar, Skittles and DumDum - To help them to understand how a little participation on their part can greatly increase their understanding of the gospel and make young women's more than just a "place to be".  
Serving up the gospel

ONLINE VIDEO CLIPS (examples of faithful YW):

 For Madison
 Live like you believe
 Rachel Esplin - Panelist at Harvard Day of Faith

OPENING EXERCISES:

 This year we started a "Strength Training" segment before we split. We have a water bottle full of little slips of paper that have situations/questions they might encounter with their friends (why don't you drink tea?, why can't you date until you are 16?, why can't you go to rated R movies?). One question per week is pulled out and then we have the youth answer the question followed by redirection/input from the youth leaders. I think it has gone over very well and the youth are always interested. Sometimes I put in a silly question (Why is Brother so-and-so cool?, or What is your favorite activity?) I think we are going to continue doing this for the next year. (Idea by Amy Williams)  * This book has more than 100 questions and could be helpful.....here is a sneak peak.

OTHER:

1916 Beehive Requirements
 Binder Quotes by Jessica Roberts
 Binding Personal Progress Books by Julie Clegg
Blank box or cube pattern
 Chalkboard Testimonies
 Clock Face by Jeannie Hunt
Conducting Sheets [Mutual] and [Sunday Opening Exercises] by Brenda Pulsipher 
 Easter Egg Thank You (Teacher Appreciation at Easter Time)
 Event Planning Sheet by Tammy Mazzaferro
 Good News Minute
 Graduation Gift Ideas
 Gratitude Jars by Laurie Mecham
 Handmaiden - the story of the girl on the Young Women Medallion
 History of Symbols and Colors
 Hunting for Primary Peace
Idea on how to get the Young Women more involved...
I'm pocketing my values! - An idea especially for YW and Personal Progress Leaders
 Internet Safety
 Jill's Value Posters
Letter to Parents 
 Mom and Me Moment
Nurturing better relationships among the Young Women
Online Young Women Resources 
Outgoing Presidency Gift Ideas
 Personalized Crossword Puzzles
Priest & Laurel Retreat  
Recognition Letters - Young Women President can request Letters of Recognition for the Young Women and leaders that receive their Medallions.
Scripture Journal Pages
Secret Sister Idea by Kathy Macloed
Small Gift Ideas
Special Needs Girls in Young Women's
Spotlight Forms - by Brenda Pulsipher / ga11132006
Unity Idea - Why not start a small scale visiting teaching program in your young women program if there are problems with unity?  The Young Women President and Beehive, Miamaid and Laurel class presidents would meet together to prayerfully assign partners.  It would work just like the visiting teaching program does currently.  The companionships could give their own messages from that month's New Era (they can choose).  The partners would report to their coordinator (class presidents) and they in turn would report to the Young Women President.  It would give the youth practice for when they enter Relief Society and would  help to unify, increase love and possibly reactivate some of the inactive.
Value Centerpieces  
 Value Pillow by Gwen Musick
Value Quilt
Young Women Cross Stitch & Embroidery Patterns
Young Women Key Tag Chains - Color and Laminate as key ring holders
Young Women Personal Progress Book
Young Women Stationary
Young Women Value's Booklet

PERMISSION SLIPS:

 Parental or Guardian Permission and Medical Release Forms

PERSONAL PROGRESS IDEAS....click here.

PIONEER TREK

 Making the most of trek by Linda Morgan
 Our Pioneer Trek Preparations by Kerry Bradshaw

POEMS:

As Young Women's Ends (Poem for those entering Relief Society)
For the new Relief Society Sister (Given to the Young Women advancing into Relief Society)
 I'm nothing but a window by Sue Peterson
Values Like Stars

PRINTABLES:

 Beehive, Miamaid and Laurel Posters by Brandy Barnett
 Binder Quotes by Jessica Roberts

PRODUCTS FOR PURCHASE:

Charming Gifts - A website advertising LDS pins and charms for around .69 cents each.  Zipper pull is .10
 Fabric Value Banner by Corrine Beaumont
 LoriNawyn's Etsy Shop - She has lots of fun things but my favorite is this ----> click here.
 Try on Zion - T-shirts with awesome logos for Girl's Camp, Youth Conference and more!
 Value Flags by Michelle Shirley
Value Soap
 Young Women Value Banners by Allison Oliver
 Young Women Value Bracelet by Doodle Beads
 Young Women Planner
 Young Womens in a Box
 Young Women Plaque

QUOTES:

 One Liners
 Quick Quotes
Quote directed to Young Women from President Hinckley
Quotes for Lessons in Manual 1
Quotes for Lesson in Manual 2

REVERENCE IDEAS:

Got Reverence? by Paula - Fun idea for encouraging girls to be reverent
Have young women wait in the hall while leaders set up room and someone plays the piano while they walk in... we tried it on Sunday and it ran SOOOOO smooth. (Idea shared by Brittney Rivers)
Reverence Help - We are having a member of the bishopric come in and participate during opening exercises each week.  This really helps with the reverence problems and also helps both the girls and bishopric know what's going on.  (Credit Unknown)

ROAD SHOW IDEAS:

 Click here for Road Show Ideas

SECRET SISTERS:

 Our Beehive class has been doing this for a few weeks and it is so much fun! What you do is you draw names from your class (you can't tell anyone who's name you have).  Throughout the week you do a secret service for them or give them a card or a little gift.  If you do get them a gift, you don't need to spend a lot of money. I would suggest a candy bar and a little note to go along with it. At the end of the week you guess who your secret sister is and draw a new secret sister. This is a lot of fun! (Idea by Jessica Fox / ga06122008)

SECRETARY HELPS:

Young Women Tracking Sheet

SKITS:

Young Women Values Pageant Skit

STANDARDS NIGHT IDEAS:

Click here for ideas on Standard Night

SUNDAY TEACHING:

Class Journals - At the beginning of the year, I give each young woman in the class a journal (an inexpensive notebook will do).  At the end of Sunday lesson, pass your the journals to the girls and ask them, "After today's lesson, what do you think the Lord would most want me to do or learn?"  They write their responses and give them back to you.  During the week you read them and write a little comment back about what they wrote.  It can be as simple as, "I enjoyed your comments" or "I'm working on that too!"  If someone isn't there that day you can write, "I missed you today".  You can also tell them they can write about things they disagree with or have questions about.  Sometimes the girls might not feel comfortable asking a question or making a commend in class, but they will in the journal.  This helps you clarify what you taught and gives you the opportunity to develop a closer relationship.  Another way to do this is after the lesson, ask the girls to write down some of the things they learned during the lesson or thoughts that they had.  Tell them that you're going to call on a few of them to share with the class what they wrote.  This gives them time to dig a little deeper and to focus their thinking so they have something concrete to offer the class.  You'll know who to call on and the others you can read at home and again make comments in the journal.  At the end of the year or when you are released, you give the journals to the girls to keep.  (Idea by Missy Huller)
Table Centerpiece - There are always those lessons where you need a pen to have the girls write something right?  Well, you'll always have pens with this centerpiece.  You need a large terracotta pot (few dollars at Wal-mart) flower arranging sponge, Spanish moss, green floral tape and a silk flower in each of the value colors.  The dollar store is a great place to get pens, flowers, etc.  You put the stem of the flower along side the pen and wrap the green tape around it, all the way to the end of the pen.  So the pen looks like a stem and the flower is at the top of the pen.  Then you put the flower arranging sponge in the pot and cover it with Spanish moss.  Then you arrange all of your flower pens in the pot by sticking them in the sponge.  Tie a bow around your pot and your finished.  This works great and you'll always have a pen handy as well as a cute centerpiece for your lessons. (Credit Unknown)

TALKS:

“Why Your Daughter Needs the Young Women Program,” Ensign, Aug. 1978

TEACHER APPRECIATION IDEAS:

Ideas for encouraging or thanking leaders or teachers
Substitute Teacher Thank You Ideas
Teacher Appreciation or Thank You Ideas

THANK YOU CARDS:

Thank you card with flowers
Thank you pass along cards

THEMES:

 CLICK HERE to see some of the different themes listed on my site.

TRANSITIONING TO RELIEF SOCIETY:

This comes from the Church Handbook of Instructions, pg. 214….”Young Women and Relief Society presidencies work together to make the transition into Relief Society successful. Preparation for this transition should begin gradually when a young woman enters the YW program. The ward Relief Society president could visit the class of the l6- and l7-year-olds and present a preview of Relief Society She also could arrange with the Young Woman’s president to have the Young Women visit and participate in Relief Society Sunday meetings, [Relief Society] meetings, or activities suited to their interests.” You could also invite Young Women to participate with the Relief Society in compassionate service.

 Embracing Sisterhood: Helping Young Women Successfully Transition into Relief Society
Our young women have been meeting with the Relief Society once a quarter on Fast Sunday.  This is when they has their presidency message, so they teach the Young Women lesson that is scheduled to the Young Women and Relief Society. This has worked out very well for us. We had two graduating Laurels last year when they turned 18 and three this year that will do the same.  (Idea by Kathy Hitz)
Transitioning into Womanhood from the Church's website
 YW Treasure Boxes by Wendy Killian

TRIVIA:

 Young Women and Personal Progress Trivia by Shannon Foster

VALUE POSTERS & PRINTABLES (for binders, bulletin boards, displays, etc.)

 Amy's Value Prints
 Jill's Value Posters
 Make it Perfect
 Nicole's Value Posters
 Value Cover Sheets by Melanie Day
Value Statement Centerpieces by Colette Bomsta
 YW Value Flags and Banner by Dina Acreman

VALUES:

Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice & Accountability
Good Works
Integrity
 Virtue

VIDEO CLIPS:

A calling to serve - A bishop extends a call to a new Young Women president. This video was originally presented in the January 2004 Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting. 3:54 min
 How to thread the Personal Progress bookmark 
 Video Clips for Young Women from the Church's Website
 
WEBSITES:

Helpful websites for Young Women Leaders

YAHOO GROUPS FOR YW LEADERS:

 LDS Young Women - Moderated by me...come join us!
 lds youngwomen
 LDS Girls Camp Leaders

YOUNG WOMEN BLOGS:

 Mia Maids Rock
 The Young Women Spot

YOUNG WOMEN RECOGNITION EVENING IDEAS:

 For our Laurels we do a short program in the evening (20 minutes) during which time she is a presented with a binder that has a letter from the General YW Presidency with letters from family (we even ask her parents to contact grandparents and extended family to request letters) and ward members that are close to her expressing their pride in her accomplishments, their love for her, and noting any special qualities they see in her. We have the bishop give remarks about the significance of what she's accomplished (5 minutes) and maybe a musical number, etc. We display pictures of the YW (baby/childhood pictures, pictures from present day, any photos from mutual activities/girls camp, etc.) on a table as people walk in. At the end the bishop presents her with the necklace and her mother or father is standing next to her to help put it on. (Idea by Hope Taft)
 I had friends and family write her letters of congratulations similar to what the boys would receive during their eagle court of honor. I then put those together in a scrapbook that was presented to her. I found a company online that makes a plaque for the girls personal progress award. We had a special dinner and invited the bishop to come a make a special presentation of her medallion. The area we live in didn't do anything other than present during sacrament meeting. My son was getting his eagle at the same time and I wanted to make the presentation and accomplishment of the YW award as special as I could. I felt sometimes the girls don't feel their accomplishment is as big of a deal as what scouts does for the boys. (Idea by Lanna Nunez)
 In our ward, we also have a recognition night for any YW who completes her Personal Progress, but the family is in charge of it...we support and provide assistance and help them plan, but ultimately the parents (and the YW) make the decisions as to what they would like to do, who they would like to speak, etc. We do have one YW whose family didn't want to do anything and so we put together something for her, but other than that, we let the family take the lead and provide assistance/help as they request. (Idea by Stephanie Gisseman)
 Our stake does an annual recognition for the girls, parents, bishops and YW Presidencies.  They have all the girls who earned their medallions set up a table in the cultural hall highlighting themseves.  They can decorate their table anyway they want.  There's time at the beginning for everyone to walk through the cultural hall and view the displays and then everyone gathers in the chapel for the program.  The Stake YW Pres. and her counselors each give a talk, then they do a video presentation of each girl as they walk up to the pulpit.  Each girl gets to say a few words about what Personal Progress means to them and their efforts in earning their medallion. As they leave the pulpit, they are greeted by the Stake YW Pres., Stake Pres., Bishop and YW President who shake her hand (or hug her!).  Each girl gets a flower handed to her by the Stake YW Pres. and her medallion handed to her by her Bishop.  After the recognitions are done we have refreshments.  It's always a very beautiful evening.  It's great to do it on a stake level because it gives all the girls a strength to see the older girls earn their medallions.  It's very motivating! (Idea by Jayna Raymond)
 Our recognition evening by Kathy
 Personal Progress Award - Music Theme
 Personal Recognition Night for EVERY girl who earns it.... by Vonda Dastrup
 Pocket your values by Stacy Pincock
 Youth Certificates
 Young Women Personal Progress Award: "It's O-Fish-Al!"

YOUNG WOMEN THEME:

 History of the Young Women Theme - how it came about
 LDS Creativity Corner
 Polka Dot YW Theme by Robin Lyman
 Young Women Posters by Amy Gregson
 Young Women Theme in Sign Language
 Young Women Theme Bookmark by Julie Jensen
 Young Women Theme and Logo
Young Women Theme from Holy Handouts
 Young Women Theme including Virtue by Rachelle Ludwinski
 Young Women Theme - Poster/Printable by Joy Kuoha
 Young Women Theme Poster from Poppy Seed Projects
 Young Women Theme Printable by Andrea Walker
 Young Women Theme Printable by Angie Iacobazzi
 Young Women Theme Printable by Nancy Yang
 YW Theme - 4 to a page by Dina Acreman
 YW Theme Posters by Tiersa Ludlow
 Young Women Theme Posters in English and Spanish by Cynthia Gentry
 YW Theme Printable by Dina Acreman 
 YW Theme Printable by Summer Rodrigue
 YW Theme with Temple
YW Value Printable by Ashley Jorgensen
 YW Value Scrapbook Paper by Andrea Walker
 




YW Theme and Value Cards by Michelle Shirley