Young Women in Excellence--A Wonderful Night

Last week, as you know, was our Young Women in Excellence program. And, thanks to many people, it was a wonderful night. Sister Alta Taylor gave an incredible talk (an hour long!) about what life was like when she was in the MIA program. Everyone in attendance was edified by her sweet testimony, and I'm sure, like me, left with a gratitude for our many blessings and a desire to be the best we can be. Christa and Katelyn had a great musical number, and much was said about Bro. Hawker's chocolate chip cookies (thank you a million times over for making those)!

Because of time, I had to forgo giving my talk, but I will just share a few brief thoughts now. Every girl's treasure chest was just amazing. I am so proud of you girls for all the work you put into both your projects and your box. I hope that you will continue to gather the treasures that are of eternal value both into your hearts and throughout your lives.

President Monson wrote an article called "Treasures of Eternal Value". In it, he offers three pieces to a "treasure map" that will bring us joy in this life, and eternal joy in the hereafter. The first thing he says is to learn from the past. Sis. Taylor shared with us her life experience. I hope that you can learn from her example. Do not put of being a friend with some today. Reach out to those who are not coming to church and bring them in. Do now what you can do and do not put it off until tomorrow. Give love to those around you. Be a friend to everyone.

The second piece of the treausre map Pres. Monson offers is to live in the present. That may sound easy. Afterall, you're not Marty McFly in Back to the Future. But to live in the present means more than just breathing and being awake. To live in the present means we take advantages of opportunities we have now, such as opportunities to learn knowlegde and skills, develop relationships and make memories. It means having your body and your attention in the same place. It means not procrastinating things until tomorrow. It means enjoying life while you are living it. Do not rush your life, age yourself, or skip ahead of your youth. Time goes fast enough and you will miss the days you have now soon enough. Do not hasten the time when you look back and wish that you were young again. Live now so that you will not have regrets later.

The lastt piece to the map is to prepare for the future. To prepare for the future, we must know our potential and what we are striving for. Julie B. Beck, the General Relief Society President has said, “Oh, that every girl and woman would have a testimony of her potential for eternal motherhood. … Female roles did not begin on earth, and they do not end here. A woman who treasures motherhood on earth will treasure motherhood in the world to come, and ‘where [her] treasure is, there will [her] heart be also’ (Matthew 6:21). By developing a mother heart, each girl and woman prepares for her divine, eternal mission of motherhood” (“A ‘Mother Heart,’ ” Liahona and Ensign, May 2004, 76). And Elder Russell M. Nelson has said, “A woman’s richest rewards will come as she rises to fulfill her destiny as a devoted daughter of God. To all faithful Saints He has promised thrones, kingdoms, principalities, glory, immortality, and eternal lives. (See Rom. 2:7; D&C 75:5; 128:12, 23; 132:19.) That is the potential for women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is exalting, everlasting, and divine” (“Woman—Of Infinite Worth,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 22).

I testify that the Personal Progess Program will help you reach your potential and prepare for your future, as mothers, wives, teachers, leaders, professionals, and whatever other righteous roles in which you may find yourselves. I testify that the leaders of the church know what we need to do to fulfill our divine potential and they have given us all that we need start out on the path that will lead us there through the fulfilment of Personal Progress Program. We can activly prepare for the future by doing Personal Progress now.



These three elements, these pieces of a treasure map, given to us by a Prophet of God will fill our hearts and lives with treasures of Eternal Value. May we each reach our potential and become Women of Excellence with the truths of the gospel treasured in our hearts by learning from the past, living in the present and preparing for the future.