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| Saturday, May 25, 2013 |
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Great post! Interestingly enough, I earned all of my YW medallions (I even served as President of my Mia Maid class) but did not keep my “virtue” in tact while still in the YW’s program. So maybe there’s a point to it. I suppose a young woman who fully understands Divine Nature and Individual Worth may not need the additional value of Virtue but I thought I understood each of the YW values and still messed up in this area. …I love the idea of teaching Young Women about the temple OUTSIDE the context of their marriage. AMEN to that! I have a good friend who wasn’t raied LDS but converted in her late teens and only learned about the temple in regards to marriage. Needless to say, when her marriage fell apart so did her understanding of the temple. Sad. I think if more young weomen were encouraged to receive their endowments only when they felt ready and not just to get married (yes, I know I’m opening a can of worms here) there might be more regular temple attendance among members. Not to mention your personal worthiness has nothing to do with whether or not you’re married or what kind of person your spouse is. |
As a son whose mother served in YW constantly, who was always jealous of their program (which seemed so much more gospel-oriented and useful than scouting), and who memorized the theme for personal application, I agree that adding “Virtue” seems unnecessary. Personally, though, I’ve never really understood why both “Choice and Accountability” and “Good Works” were necessary. Doesn’t the former easily include the latter? Especially alongside such transcendent concepts as Faith, Divine Nature, and Individual Worth, those two always seemed a bit like someone was just making sure they covered all the bases. Apparently they’ve decided they missed a one. |
It really gets my goat when our Church equates virtue and/or morality with sex, to the exclusion of other virtues and morals. Now my battle to un-mis-define virtue and morality at church is going to be even harder. |
“why are they the only auxiliary that chants its’ theme?” A scout is Trustworthy |
I was not fond of Young Women’s, and I think adding this to the list would have made it worse. However, considering my rotten experience in YW compared to my lovely experience in everything else churchwise, I would be difficult to please with anything. |
Left Field: Yes, the Scouts sometimes chant their theme, but when was the last time they recited the Aaronic Priesthood Theme? As a YM I didn’t even know the theme existed until I heard it in another ward on my mission. On the other hand, I do know of wards where the Relief Society chanted the new Declaration for a year or so after it was introduced. |
My ward has chanted the YM theme in the 8 years I have lived here. |
There is a YM theme? |
That title implies that we didn’t value virtue before now. :) Virtue is gold. Great! I think we should all chant. |
Paroled–I have heard of many such cases. I would love for all women to receive their endowments completely separately from an impending marriage. Jason–sounds like you were a very earnest young man adam–let’s wait and see how it goes. I think there is a lot of room to teach about Virtue without inflicting harm Left Field–that is a very interesting list. It feels quite different from the YW list–I wonder why? Jason–I was in one such ward and hated it bbell–I have never seen that. When do you do it? You may be aware that there is a move in the Church toward doing joint opening exercises for RS and YW (like the Priesthood does) but people keep on worrying about the YW being able to chant nee recite their theme. When do you guys do it? jjohnson–exactly. Does every auxiliary have them? I don’t know. Use it or lose it. Michelle–that was the funny part. |
How much the scout law and scout oath get recited probably depends on the ward. I know that the cub scouts in my ward chant the pledge of allegiance every week. Back when I was in MIA in the early ’70s, we had an annual theme (a scriptural verse) that the YM and YW recited together every week during the year. Aside from those verses and the usual Scout stuff, I haven’t heard of a Young Men theme, and I served in the YM quite a bit in the late ’80s. |
The Boy Scouts of America advises that a scout leader (usually a patrol leader or senior patrol leader) lead the scouts in reciting the pledge of allegiance, scout law, scout motto, scout oath, scout slogan, and scout outdoor code at the start of every scout meeting, and scout meetings should occur twice per month. One major problem with the way that scouting is handled in our church is that people get called who do a shitty job as scoutmaster, and they treat scout meetings nights like a Sunday school class plus basketball. Saying that boys don’t recite the YM theme is actually a pretty idiotic point. Scouting is the church’s YM program in North America. The YM theme is a recent invention that came about as a byproduct of the bolstering of the Duty to God program, which has yet to really catch on in most places. A lot of YM leaders neglect the Duty to God program because running a decent scouting program takes a hell of a lot of time. I’ve served in just about every position of the ward-based YM organization, and I’ve always pushed Faith in God pretty hard. I live in a fairly transient ward with a lot of transplants from Utah and other areas of the country, and I can tell you that it’s a real struggle to get Duty to God onto parents’ radar screens, because most of them haven’t heard of it and those who have heard of it are likely to have heard of it through YM leaders who have downplayed the importance of the program. On the other hand, nearly every parent knows about scouting and is at least willing to give lip service to it. |
Yes, I do think of the Chinese chanting “Long Live Mao” when we get up and recite the yw values. Virtue is underestimated, however. |
We (both the Melchesedek and Aaronic priesthood) have started reciting the Young Men’s Theme every week together in Priesthood meeting. This started several months ago. |
Because I wasn’t sure what is called, Young Men’s Theme or Aaronic Priesthood Theme, I had to look up what we recite on the Church webpage. What we are reciting does not seem to have a name but it is found on a poster. We recite: THE PURPOSES OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD: It is part of the Fulfilling Our Duty to God program. |
What I’ve understood from parents with children who attend our local YSA branch, the church has been encouraging Young Single Adults to get their endowments apart from marriage/mission for quite a few years now, since perhaps 15 or more years ago. The idea that you either had to be getting married or going on a mission in order to get your endowments is very outdated, officially at least. Although, I understand that such things stay in members’ collective consciousness for quite a while after official church policy has changed. And it’s not supposed to be an automatic thing at 18, 19, or 21, or exactly one year after baptism, either. The bishop/branch president and stake president are supposed to take individual circumstances, maturity, testimony, etc, into account. As to adding “virtue”, well, these days everything needs to be spelled out and defined. And there is so much pressure on teens to be sexually active, giving them additional support and fortification on the issue is sure to help. The enemy of virtue has been constantly increasing up his attacks, so it makes sense to increase the counter-measures. |
Can teachers or parents fill me in on what is currently being taught in the church’s Young Women’s program as to the ideas of “marry in the temple or don’t get married” or “marry another church member or don’t get married ” ? I’ve read past statements by GA’s that seem to imply it if not outright state it, but I haven’t read anything written more recent containing that, than say the early to mid 70′s. Does anything in the current YW curriculum come close to saying or implying that? And given that teachers often expound or put their own beliefs into classroom discussions, did anyone here have their YW leaders imply it or outright say it? |
I have no idea what is being taught in the YM/YW programs now regarding temple endowments and marriage but I too would be very interested to learn, Bookslinger. The For the Strength of Youth (FSY) pamphlet merely says, “Date only those who have high standards and in whose company you can maintain your standards.” But this has been the official church policy since I was a teen and many parents and leaders (not mine, thank goodness) took this to mean only other LDS teens. There’s nothing in the youth programs (that I’ve found) related to marriage or endowments other than to say they’re important and that the youth should keep themselves worthy to receive them. Perhaps the leadership of the church has decided formal preparation for such a thing isn’t appropriate in the YM/YW programs. After all, choosing to make the commitment to receive your endownment is very personal and very important. And while all worthy members are encouraged to receive their endowment and particpate in temple work, it isn’t a requirement for membership. |
Bookslinger– I am aware of a YW lesson in my stake that occurred in the last month wherein the YW were explicitly told never to date a non-member. There was a printed sign to that affect on the chalkboard. Of course, many believe this will save people from the pain of marrying a non-member. I would guess there is ample evidence that this teaching saves not so YW from marriage. (FWIW–my personal feeling is that much can be learned from teenage dating and if the only options within the Church are your cousins, it is better to date non-members than to not date). I personally have been threatened with dead babies by a mission president when I married a non-member, as in “if your babies die they will never be yours again.” So, I think he thought he was teaching the principle, just not in so many words. However, I am perfectly willing to dismiss the words of a mission president as his personal opinion. |
I have the sort of visiting teacher who reads the whole lesson in a sweet sing song voice and loves chants and I seriously looked at her today as she was reading me the lesson and I swear, I think I saw a “host” gleam in her eye. Or maybe a Stepford stare. But she does bring me really great cookies. |
I think the policy of not performing non-temple marriages in chapels tells one all he or she needs to know about the Church’s attitude about the usefulness of non-temple marriages. Much like Paul here: “But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” (1 Cor 7:9) |
‘Bout time we dusted off the old idea of virtue and brought it back into circulation. |
Jack– |
ESO- I believe that adding Virtue to the YW theme will just help the leaders with more guidance in how to teach this sensitive subject in a time when it is so important. I also believe that as parents, we should be resposible for teaching our children in the home. I am a young wome leader, and I know that I will be able to use these materials as my sons get older. Hooray for having good materials and leaders to help teach our children responsibility for their actions! |
Well, I am a YW. Today we learned the new value was added to our theme and I don’t think it’s as huge of a deal as ya’ll are making it out to be. We’ve always thought of Virtue as just part of being a young woman in the church. Adding it to our theme will help us remember it even more. And I’ve read over this discussion and I also believe that YW and YM are equally taught about virtue. (Trust me, I’ve sat through many awkward combined classes in which we were taught everything there is to know about virtue. I am not complaining, its good to know, but still.) And as a reply to this articles comment when he says “Yes, this means that getting the (highly coveted) Personal Progress medallion just got a little bit harder.” What?! That just makes me laugh. How is one six letter word making anything harder for us? 0_o |
One six letter word equates to one more ten hour project (for the award). |
[...] annegb: I have the sort of visiting teacher who reads the whole lesson in a sweet sing song voice and loves chants and I seriously looked at her today as she was reading me the lesson and I swear, I think I saw a “host” gleam in her eye. Or maybe a Stepford stare. But she does bring me really great cookies. [...] |
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