February Thoughts-11th Ward

“Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the 

nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5)

Young Women in Excellence for the Grantsville 11th ward was a night

of sharing gifts received from Heavenly Father.   The experience was 

uplifting and impressive.  They truly shined!  D&C 88:33 For what doth it

 profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? 

Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in

 him who is the giver of the gift.    The ways in which Heavenly Father 

blesses each of us are immeasurable.  We are all given gifts and to have 

the ability to share these gifts is then a gift for others to enjoy.  To 

express our gratitude, we share these gifts and by so doing we truly 

receive them. 

11th Ward

January Thoughts

Happy New Year!  I hope all of you have had a great Holiday season.  2011 was a fun and fulfilling year.  Let’s make 2012 the same.  This year in our Sunday School classes we will be studying the Book of Mormon.  This provides us with a wonderful opportunity in assisting the young women of our wards in achieving their virtue project for Personal Progress.  As leaders, it is our stewardship to lead and guide the girls in finding the Savior in their lives.  President Monson in a 2002 New Era related the young women to Alice in Wonderland.  As Alice is running along the path she comes to a crossroad.  She meets the Cheshire Cat and asks, “Which way should I go”?  He replies, “That depends on where you want to go”.  May I suggest that we take the place of the Cheshire Cat and guide the sisters in our charge to the path that leads to happiness, righteousness and Eternal life.  Reading the Book of Mormon will bring the young women closer to the Savior and help them be a light and ensign to the nations that Jesus Christ lives and will bring truth and happiness to their lives.

I have adopted a motto this year from the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  It is a quote from the character Aibileen who is a maid and nanny for a Southern family.  She says to the little girl and I would like to say it to you, “You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important”.  On behalf of the Stake Young Womens Presidency I would like to add; you is loved and you is appreciated.  Thanks for all you do. 

Pat Parkinson

December Thoughs

December Blog

Thanks to all for your beautiful YW in Excellence programs.  We are truly blessed with great young women and leaders.

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Such a wonderful time of year is upon us.  The air is full of gratitude and thoughts of serving others.  I love the thoughts of Pres.Hinckley as he tells us;  “I am grateful for Christmas, I am grateful for the spirit of the day and grateful for the outreach that comes into our hearts at this season of the year when we think a little more kindly of one another, when there is a little less bitterness, when there is a little less of hate, when there is more of love and more of a reaching out to those in trouble and need and distress.  I thank the Lord for Christmas.”

I too am thankful Christmas, for my Savior Jesus Christ, and the peace that the gospel brings to me.  I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, and am grateful for the Book of Mormon.  I am grateful for my calling and thank each of you for your good examples.  You truly are beloved daughters of our Heavenly Father. 

Joan Painter 

November Thoughts

As I was thinking of what to say, my time spent at camp kept coming to my mind.  The day we had our devotional especially stands out to me.  I loved being able to see some of the girls share their talents with us and observe the way the other girls responded to them.  I could see the love and appreciation they had for one another.  This also gave each of us a chance to get to know these young women just a little bit better than we did before.  We truly have great young women in our stake.

I would like to share one of my favorite quotes from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our church callings, and in our livelihood.  Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships.  It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations.  Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect.  It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate.  Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope.  Love should be our walk and our talk.”

In closing, I would like to bear my testimony.  I know that this is the only true church here upon the earth today and that Joseph Smith restored the gospel to the earth.  I am so thankful for parents that taught me the gospel.  I am grateful for the scriptures and for the knowledge we gain from reading them.  I am so thankful for my Savior and for his atoning sacrifice for me. I know he loves me. I have seen evidence of this time and time again.  Due to different twists and turns in life, as a teenager I became inactive so I didn’t get the opportunity to do personal progress.  I know that this is a great program for our young women and look forward to doing it with my own daughter.  Now that I have been on both sides of the fence and know what it’s like not to have the gospel in my life. I now know that I never want to have that feeling of unhappiness in my life again.  I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tischa Castagno

October Thoughts

As I thought about what I could share with you I contemplated several different things, I decided to go with a little bit of everything that I have thought about.


First- I will share with you a link to a talk given by President Uchtdorf at the General Relief Society Conference.  His talk was inspiring and uplifting to me.  I encourage you to take the time to read or listen to his talk-"Forget me Not".


http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/forget-me-not?lang=eng

Second- I would like to share with all of you my love and appreciation for all you do.  Being a mother of 5 Young Women I find great strength in knowing that I am not alone in raising them.  I am sure other mothers feel much the same as I do.  I know our daughters are in good hands.  Thank you!




Lastly I would like to share my testimony.  


I know that I am a daughter of God.  I know he knows me personally and loves me regardless of my imperfections.  I know and love my Savior-Jesus Christ.  How grateful I am for his atoning sacrifice and the unconditional and selfless love he has given me.  I know that we are only given the trials and obstacles in life to help us grow and become more like our Savior.   It is through my faith and love of the Savior that I am able to overcome all those trials.   I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet chosen to come forth in these latter days to restore to gospel to the earth for each of us.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I love this book and have a testimony of the truthfulness of it.  I know the Young Women program is for each of us.  If is here for all to become stronger and more faithful saints and to help our Young Women come to know who they are-Daughters of God!   I leave my testimony with you and express my love and gratitude once again for each of you.  Amen.


Love,
Debbie Castagno

September Thoughts-10th Ward

The Young Women in the 10th Ward have had a couple of activities that we would love to share with you.

In May we had a

"Choice and Accountability Dinner" 

Each of the Young Women were given a list of words taken from the 13th article of faith.  They had to choose which words they wanted for each course of the 4 course meal.  We then took their choices and filled their plate accordingly.  After each course the table was cleared and then the next course was brought out.  The Young Women had a fun time seeing what consequences their choices brought.  Some had Ice Cream with their lettuce salad and no way to eat it.  Others had a brownie with ranch dressing.  It was a very fun night!

 Youth Conference "Amazing Race"

Our Youth Conference Theme was: 1 Nephi 17:13

"And I will also be your light in the wilderness;

and I will prpare the way before you, if it so be

that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore,

 inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments

 ye shall be led towards the promised land; and

ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

We started off our first day of Youth Conference by doing an Amazing Race.  We had 4 different car loads of youth with clues to the different places they were to go.  Each of the places provide us light; both spiritual and physical.   Each group had to take pictures of themselves at the designated spot.  Following is a list of the places we went to:

1.  Rock out by the Great Salt Lake

2.  The Doors of the Salt Lake Temple

3.  Christus in the Visitor Center

4.  "Light" rail Trax Train

5.  Planetarium Museum

6.  The original Book of Mormon in the Church History Museum

7.  Top of the waterfall at the Conference Center

8.  President Hinckley's Grave site

9.  Torch at the Uof U from the Olympics

10.  This is the Place Monument at the Park

We all met back together for a wonderful Dutch Oven Dinner after the race.  It was a good reminder that there is light all around us in our everyday lives.    If we look for blessings in our lives we will find them and know that our Heavenly Father is aware of each of us and the things that we need in our lives.

August Thoughts-13th Ward

The scripture we used as the focus of our Youth Conference this year seems to be a fitting theme for our year as well. Alma 37:36 "Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all they doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever." Some of our most spiritual and impactful activities were centered on finding ways to be centered on the Lord and to hear his voice. 

We did a really neat activity a few months ago where we invited all of the youth to the church on Mutual night to come dressed in their Sunday best. They arrived at the church not knowing what we had in store for them, and quite obviously nervous! We divided them up into four groups and told them we had some special classes set up for the evening. We sent each group into a classroom with a teacher waiting patiently for them. Once their classes began, they soon found that they couldn't understand a word that was being said. The classes were being taught in Japanese, Czech, Spanish and Portuguese. Their classes lasted 15 minutes and then we released them to the chapel. Every one of the youth was visibly upset and frustrated by not being able to understand their teacher. Once we gathered in the chapel we talked to them about how if they aren't practiced and don't know what they are looking for, the language the Holy Ghost speaks can sound like a foreign language to them as well. They need to practice listening and acting on the promptings that they receive in order to understand and hear him better. We also talked about the importance of taking some of the noise and distractions out of their lives so the still small voice can be heard. What a wonderful opportunity to see the youth as they shared their feelings and their testimonies about the importance of being able to hear God's will for them. Our Heavenly Father has truly saved the strongest and most elect of his spirits to come forth now. How thankful we are to be able to serve the Young Women of our ward and learn from them.


13th Ward