I had two girls go through the Young Women program, and I have to be honest, it was a hard time for them.  When they served as presidents of their classes, the advisors typically took over, not giving them the opportunity to exercise leadership skills.  Activities were usually thrown together at the last minute, if planned at all, and they usually didn’t have a purpose.  Granted, the Young Men program was in even worse shape; they usually just played basketball, for their lack of planning.

I believe the leaders meant well.  Teenagers are very busy these days, and by the time they have reached Young Women age, the girls have their own ideas and way of doing things, and without support of the parents, Young Women leaders often have their hands tied.

We as parents need to support this program a little more than we do, under the stipulation that it is organized and has a detailed program in place.  The program demands cooperation from everyone.

Now, in my own opinion, motherhood is not emphasized enough for our Young Women.  I remember creating babysitting kits and learning about various ages of babies and toddlers; I don’t believe they do anything like that anymore.  In fact, it is often difficult to even find a babysitter these days over the age of 13.

It seems to me if we want our girls to understand about life we, as mothers and leaders, need to teach them…together.  Our girls should learn how to cook, how to clean a house properly, manage a household, and learn a skill.  They often have jobs, but they aren’t taught how to live on a budget, saving 50-75% of their money.  If these girls graduate from high school with a skill under their belt and savings in the bank, they are miles ahead of so many others.  Their skill can earn them a higher paying job that will allow them more flexibility in college.  Their savings will give them security to really get what they want out of life.  And what they should want out of life is to prepare themselves for marriage and motherhood.

In this day and age, it is harder and harder for new couples to make it; so many end up going back to live with the folks; they have to take out loans; they often wait to have children until they feel they can afford them.  If their time in Young Women’s were used a little more creatively, with sites for the future, these girls would get hold of life earlier, plan better for themselves,  be able to survive these major decisions that seem to hit them all at the same time.

We as mothers should be teaching them first and foremost, but with the help of the Young Women advisors, there becomes a partnership, where our girls are prepared for the very difficult world in which they face.  Can you imagine the head start these girls would have if they were taken under the wing by the true power of the Relief Society, literally raising them in the ways of valiant, strong women?

We have the opportunity to train our girls how to not settle in life, but to go after what they want: college; proper communication skills; how to stay away from debt, and how to save.  How cool would it be for a young woman, on the eve of her wedding, to be graduated from college (or more than half way), have already put into practice many communication skills with her man, to not only have zero debt, but have money in the bank for a future down payment on a house, a car, a nest egg to allow her to stay home and start a family.  Our young women need guidance, and training, to get a good start in this world.  It will only get tougher for them.  There is no time to waste.

When a young woman is temporally prepared for the world, she can focus on the spiritual nature of her role as woman.

This is what the Relief Society can do, as sisters work together, teaching and training as a team, to secure the future of those we love and rise triumphant from this earthlife.