Relief Society Objectives notebook for YW entering RS

Hi my name is Pennee, I live in Utah I made this little booklet for my secret sister that is transitioning into Relief Society this summer to just introduce her to a few of the objectives, purposes, and motto of the Relief Society.  (according to www.lds.org, alot of them I didn't know, so it was a learning experience for both of us).  It's just a cute little notebook that secures closed with stretchy string. I wrapped it up in a cute cellophane bag and sent it to her with a note that read something like this:   I made this little booklet just for you. Since you will be transitioning into Relief Society soon, I wanted to share with you a little bit about the specific goals, purpose, and objectives each sister should strive for in Relief Society. (this is according to what I researched on www.lds.org) I learned many things in the process that I really didn’t know before either. (so, of course, I had to make a booklet for me too). But, as far as I can tell, Relief Society doesn’t have a yearly theme or motto like YM/YW or primary. Relief Society’s purpose, objectives, and motto are more constant and continuous, like forever and righteous. Because “Charity Never Faileth”.  Right? It is the pure love of Christ. Relief Society is a symbol of service and sacrifice. The wonderful thing that it doesn’t say is: that through this service and sacrifice we can truly find ourselves. In Sheri Dew’s new book “Saying It Like It Is” she defines a wonderful message in knowing who you divinely are, and the blessings that come in being that person: “Noble and great.  Courageous and determined.  Faithful and fearless.  That is who you are and who you have always been.  And understanding it can change your life, because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way”. So take a look at exactly what the purpose and objectives of Relief Society are and how carefully and strategically Young Women has prepared you for this next step in your existence.  Always remember your values.  Let them color your life, because in this world of learning, it’s always going to be: ”line upon line, precept upon precept……” And I can testify-- if you always know who you are, follow your values, remember where you’ve been, and be aware of where you are going, you will forever be prepared and at peace in the world--but most of all, You will keep the Savior close to your heart and you will feel his comforting presence in your life. That is when you learn the true meaning of charity.   With all my love Your Relief Society Secret Sister

Click on picture for a close up of booklet pages

On a Sunday close to Graduation we have a special Sunday for the Senior girls, we have their Mom's come in, they tell us a little bit about them, show pictures, we give them a gift, and introduce them to RS, as well as give them a packag about RS.

Also our girls start to VT with their Mom's when possible a few months before they graduate.

• Our ward has stated having the Young Women and Relief Society meet together for opening exercises once a month, it let the YW know what RS is like and what they can expect, plus I think it is great for the RS to see what is going on in YW and hear the YW theme. Here is a letter from the church about this idea. TransitionLetter_2007.pdf

The following ideas were passed on to me from Sharma Worthen Anderson, she has collected these over the years, if some one recognizes an idea that is theirs, please let me know and I will give you full credit! Thanks Liz

Many have asked if I have more info on some of this ideas, I wish I could help, unfortunate these ideas are ones that Sharma sent to me, I don't have any other information or email address to the people responsible from the start! She gather these ideas form email lists she was on over the years.

IDEAS FOR HELPING YOUNG WOMEN MAKE THE TRANSITION TO RELIEF SOCIETY

  "Relief Society can be a blessing for young adult sisters.  Within a loving sisterhood they can enlarge their understanding of gospel principles, build firm testimonies, and give Christlike service."  (Church Handbook  of Instructions, Book 2, p. 206)

  "Young women ordinarily move into the Relief Society when they reach their 18th birthday.  However, because of special circumstances, such as individual maturity, desire to continue with peer group associates, school graduation, and college attendance, a young woman may move into Relief society early or remain in Young Women longer.  Such exceptions should occur after the young woman consults with her parents and the bishop and receives their approval.

  "Young Women and Relief Society presidencies work together to make the transition into Relief Society successful."  (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 214)

 EARLY PREPARATION

1. All sisters should be positive and supportive of Relief Society, setting a good example.  They must be aware that their attitude toward Relief Society leaders and the work of Relief Society has a great impact on young women, as well as other sisters.

2. Young Women and Relief Society leaders should build positive relationships with each other, all working together to prepare young women for their transition into Relief Society.  Brainstorm with Relief Society leaders and Young Women leaders for other transition ideas.  Work together and calendar events together all year. PLAN AHEAD!!

3. Have one mother-daughter (all ages) Enrichment night during each year. Start early, even Primary age, so girls become familiar and comfortable with Relief Society and Relief Society Sisters.  Sister Mary Ellen Smoot suggested we start "when they are infants" to prepare girls for Relief Society.

 DURING YOUNG WOMEN YEARS

4. Continue inviting young women to occasional Enrichment meetings and other appropriate activities.  Learn what their interests are and incorporate them into your planning.

5. Coordinate with Young Women leaders to offer some Enrichment classes  that will help young women pass off Personal Progress requirements..

6. Encourage sisters to get to know them, learn their names, talk to them, sit by them, love them, show them they are cared for.

7. Invite young women to participate in compassionate service or community service with Relief Society sisters.

8. Be sure there are lessons taught in Young Women about Relief Society, preparing the young women and encouraging them to be excited about Relief Society. Help them develop testimonies of Relief Society before they become part of Relief Society.

9. Don't assume that when a young sister goes away to college, she will then learn about Relief Society.  Some fall through the cracks.

10. Work with the Young Women presidency to make graduating from Young Women a womanhood experience, a crossing over, a preparation for their life as a sister in Relief Society.

 IN THE YEAR BEFORE GRADUATION

11.  A young adult specialist could be assigned to help young women make the transition to RS.

12. The Relief Society Secretary works with Young Women leaders and mothers, identifying Laurels for the Relief Society presidency, becoming acquainted with their talents, interests, abilities, accomplishments.

13. When planning for the new year, examine the Sunday lesson schedules for Relief Society and Laurels and when the topics can be integrated, invite the Laurels to attend a Sunday lesson in Relief Society.   Laurels could be invited to attend Sunday Relief Society 4 times a year.

14. Continue inviting Laurels to Enrichment, and other appropriate activities or socials, keeping their interests in mind.

15. A ward Relief Society luncheon or dinner for graduating Laurels could be planned by the ward Relief Society presidency and Young Women leaders. A special presentation on Relief Society could be made by the Relief Society and Young Women Presidencies.  Explain the Purpose and Objectives of Relief Society (see General Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 193).  Give the Young Women the opportunity to ask questions about Relief Society, perhaps submitting them ahead of time.

16. The Laurel class could teach a Relief Society lesson on Sunday or at HFPE.

17. Assign Visiting Teachers in the month before graduation and plan for the transitioning young women to be Visiting Teachers, teaching them the responsibilities of Visiting Teachers (see General Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p.203) and  pairing them with an experienced 'trainer'.

 AT TRANSITION TIME

18. Remember where these young women are coming from.  In Young Women they were peer leaders.  Now they are the newbies.  Some may feel inadequate at first.  Remember, each young woman's needs are different.

19. Suggest to your Bishop that he call 18 year old Young Women to a "lifetime of service in Relief Society".

20. Be aware of where the mother of an 18 year old young woman is serving during the transition time.  If the opportunity is there, make sure the mother can accompany her daughter to Relief Society.  Some girls won't need this, some will.

21. Prepare a 'welcome packet' containing a Relief Society manual,  Relief Society Declaration bookmark, Pursuit of Excellence booklet, list of  the Relief Society objectives, scripture marking pencil,  pencil, notepad,  or other appropriate items.  Have each new sister fill out a survey to see what she is interested in learning and what she could share.

22. When she attends Relief Society for the first time, the graduating Laurel could be spotlighted in Relief Society.  With previous notification, she could tell about herself or if she is shy a member of the Relief Society presidency or her mother could tell about her.  At the close of the meeting, the Relief Society president could stand at the door with the new Relief Society sister to be introduced personally to each older sister.

23. An individual interview or home visit could be made by the Relief Society president alone or with the ward single adult representative. If desired, introduce her to Pursuit of Excellence program.  Give recognition as she achieves her goals.

24. Train teachers to keep these young sisters in mind as they prepare their lessons, including items relating directly to them with an understanding of their needs and concerns in life.

25. Involve these young sisters! A.  Assign them as Visiting Teachers, preferably with older, conscientious sisters who are instructed in their responsibilities to train the young sisters in Visiting Teaching. B. They could teach a miniclass.  Draw on their talents or give them a subject and a book.  They can learn then teach.  Your Enrichment leader or another sister could work with them. C. They can be on a committee; entertainment,
decorations or food, etc  for a social. D. Ask them to participate in compassionate service. E. Assist/ mentor them whenever they are called on to serve.  Use their moms or another sister.

26. Give each young woman a responsibility, a friend, and nurture her with the good word of God.  (Sound familiar??)
submitted by Ann Amadori, Frederick, MD Stake RS

Secret Sisters

Our ward just completed a wonderful activity for the YW that was organized by the RS!  It was our RS presidents idea.

 They assigned a RS sister to each of the YW in our ward to be her secret sister for 6 weeks.  When they presented the idea in RS to the sisters the RS President asked for the sisters to only sign up if they were willing to follow through for the entire six weeks.  
They were to secretly give little notes/letters and small gifts to the girls once each week for six weeks.  They were told to share scriptures, testimony of RS, positive thoughts about being a wife and mother.  The letters were to be of a spiritual nature.  They started it the first week in January.  Then last night we had a combined YW and RS Enrichment night where the girls found out who their secret sister was.  The RS had a dinner and after dinner they had each girl come up and tell a little bit about what her secret sister had done for her and how she felt about it.  Then the sister who had her would reveal herself and come up and give her a red carnation.  It was so much fun.  Each week in opening exercises the girls were all a buzz talking about what the got and what their letters said.  They were really excited about it.  Then last night it was great to see how much the RS sisters and girls had come to love each other through this. They all gave each other hugs.  There was a special bond between them now that will always be there.  For our graduating Laurels it was wonderful!  They now have a special friend waiting for them in RS when they leave YW.  It will help make the transition a bit easier for them.   

One YW said in her comments that because she didn't know who her secret sister was she felt a great love for all the sisters in the ward, because it could have been any of them. 
April

Laurel Graduation Brunch

We have a laurel graduation brunch with graduating laurels and their mother's.  We also invite laurel advisers and relief society presidency.  We start with prayer, brunch, then while we are eating we have the laurels tell us what their future plans are.  We have
the YW president speak on the mutual theme of the year and how it will apply to them as they go forward with their lives.  Then we have the relief society president speak on transitioning to RS.  We then have each mother say a little something about their daughter and by this time everyone is usually in tears.  We end with a testimony meeting.  We have made giving the graduating laurels a temple bag which we make from a lacey material along with the magazine Temples .  Our YW love this and look forward to it when it is their turn.
Hope this helps.
Pam

  Girls night out

For Enrichment in July the Relief Society has invited the young women to a "Girls night out".  It is going to be like a little girls tea party with cookies and punch and a program etc.   The program is going to be fun and light with stories and music by women and girls.  Then at the end they will turn a little more serious and talk about how we are all girls, just different ages, sizes, etc etc.  Some one will end by singing the song, "Angels amoung us."  Anyway the young women leaders have been asked to do a dance to the tune of "Girls just want to have fun".  They want us to write new words to it that say something like "Girls just want to be friends"
talking about how we are all sisters and we can enjoy each other and have fun together. (They want to make the point that RS isn't just for old fuddy duddies.) They want us to dress up and make it funny. 

Laurel Legacy

We have a Laurel Legacy just before camp to get our Laurels jazzed up to be YCLs, but we incorporate mini-classes that they suggest, and it has been great for the last two years! You might think about doing something like that in conjunction with the Stake, maybe, so your girls don't feel like they are being singled out.

Here is what we have done:

We had our LL at the Institute Building (I am in Raleigh , BTW), and the Institute president was thrilled to have the girls there. They now know where it is, and by being in the building, they can see some of what goes on there.

We did an all-morning activity, with a brunch and 3 or 4 mini classes that the girl's rotated through. We all met together afterwards to do camp stuff, and have a lesson on how to give a devotional.

The classes were taught by sisters in our Stake, and one that has been requested twice was "The REAL World - Life After High School". Last year, it was taught by a sister that had just gotten her degree at a local University, and was heading out into the workforce. This year, it was taught by a young sister from my ward that is starting her third year at BYU-Idaho. They both talked about how they adjusted to roommates, how important college has been to them not only in their dating and social lives, but how it has
strengthened their testimonies. They also pointed out that 1/3 of the women in the Church are single, whether never-married or divorced or widowed, and it is good to have a career path that you can take to be able to support yourself (and your family) if you need to.

Other classes (in the last two years) have been: "Recognizing and listening to the Spirit", "Modesty Chic", "Dating Family Feud - what the YM are REALLY thinking", "Self Worth" and "The Dating Game - Creative Dating Ideas". If you want information on any of these classes, let me know.

Hope this helps! We still have YW talking about the LL from 2003, and the 2004 one was at the same time as "Time Out for Women", but the ones that came really enjoyed the classes!
Christy
www.christysclipart.com

Ice cream social with RS presidency

When I was in the RS Presidency just before being called as our YW President, we
did a special ice cream social with our presidency and the new girls coming in. It was very informal. We met at the President's home and made our sundaes and shared interests with each other. We talked to the girls about what their plans were and learned more about them. Then we put together some special welcome packages for each on that we delivered the following Sunday. We included a copy of the Relief Society declaration and a special letter from us, (the president wrote a sweet note about how the RS sisters are not just all old and serious and we explained that just as they had a theme in YW, the RS had
one too - the declaration) a magnet with our presidency information, the monthly RS
bulletin, a RS logo pendant and RS list. Our entire presidency went in the following Sunday to present the graduating girls with their packages.

  Other ideas

One thing that a mother shared with me a few months ago was how she'd like to see the RS sisters duplicate what you experience in the temple when you go your first time.  She shared how the sweet matrons are so friendly and abundant!  You can't go to the wrong place because they're all there to help you and they make you feel so welcome.  She said that she'd like to see the secret grandma concept reversed and have a group at least 6 women take on a secret grand-daughter who is soon to come into RS.  She shared her vision of how they could do little things for the girl and get to know her making her
transition easier.  I thought it was a GREAT idea!
Hugs,
Holly

"Two of the women in our RS presidency gave the lesson in the Laurel class this last Sunday. They came into opening exercises, in dresses that they wouldn't wear, sloppy lipstick, knee highs, and grandma type stuff in their purses, etc.  Their point was to look like the image that these laurels have in their mind about RS women. I guess they gave a great lesson and even gave the girls "Pop Rocks" and put a little  paper over "pop" and wrote Relief  Society. When they gave them those, they danced around"

When I was in the RS presidency, I put together a special welcome package and letter.  The letter explained how similar the RS is to the YW - right down to a focus of a theme.  We included a copy of the declaration and put it in the welcome package.
 

Now that I'm in YW, we've done the following to help:

* starting in January through graduation in May, we have the laurels attend RS once a month for the lesson.  We choose the 2nd Sunday because that's when a former YW leader teaches and we've found they relate better with this connection.

* RS invites our laurels to all the Home Family & Personal Enrichment meetings and does a special one in May for their graduation where the tables are decorated with pictures/details of the graduating laurels and a special welcome dinner is held.  Our YW leaders make a special effort to be there and buddy up with the laurels at Enrichment night

* RS calls a sister to be a "mentor" to the new girls coming in - usually this is a former YW leader when possible.  This sister is sometimes called to be her VT companion, and usually makes an extra effort to be friendly on Sunday and sit by them during RS.

* We do special things for the senior sisters in our ward like Widow Valentines, Secret Grandma's etc. for activities to get the girls interacting with some of the older RS sisters.

Those are a few of the things we've been doing and they seem to be helping a ton!

Hugs,
Holly

Our YW have an end of the summer swim party and invite the RS Presidency and a cross section of RS sisters to mingle with the girls.  The RS presidency present the YW coming into RS that year with the little bags and goodies to welcome them in.