“No one has described the teenage years as being easy,” explained Thomas S. Monson president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), during the annual General Young Women meeting, Saturday, 24 March 2012.
Speaking to thousands of young women and their leaders in the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in hundreds of other locations around the world, President Monson said the teenage years often include insecurities, a feeling of not measuring up, finding your place among peers and trying to fit in.
- President Monson
- Young women
- Elaine S. Dalton
- Young Women Choir
- Mary N. Cook
- Ann M. Dibb
- young woman playing cello
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The world Church leader talked about how a lighthouse guides mariners to safety. In the same way, he offered three principles that will guide young women through the dense fog of life: believe, obey and endure.
“Believe that you are a daughter of Heavenly Father, and that He loves you.”
“Obey your parents. Obey the laws of God.”
“What does it mean to endure"” asked President Monson. “To withstand with courage. Courage may be necessary for you to believe; it will at times be necessary to obey. It will most certainly be required as you endure until that day when you will leave this mortal existence.”
Elaine S. Dalton, general Young Women president, said she wished every young woman, would know and understand that beauty does not lie in makeup, the latest clothing or hairstyles but in personal purity.
Education will open the doors of opportunity, proclaimed Mary N. Cook, first counselor in the general Young Women presidency. She said the young women will gain knowledge from study and by faith by following the Lord’s admonition to seek learning.
Sister Ann M. Dibb, second counselor in the general Young Women presidency, presented the 2012 theme which is “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.” Each year, the young women (ages 12-18) of the Church learn a theme, which they try to incorporate in their life.