New Beginnings

Hi.  I'm the SaraLyn Baxter from the Belle Isle branch in Detroit, Michigan.  I submitted the Treasures in Heaven New Beginnings idea about 3 years ago.  I get about many requests for the talks each year. Click here if you would like a copy.
Thanks!
   SaraLyn Baxter (now from the White Oak Ward in Silver Spring, Maryland)

  We just had our New Beginnings last night.  Our theme for the year is "I Love To See The Temple, I'm Going There Someday."  We had the room decorated with white tablecloths, a centerpiece with white roses on a mirror showing the reflection, and then pictures and pictures of temples.  We also had small statues of temples a big picture of Christ.  Just whatever the Presidency had in their homes.  We put greenery around the picture of Christ and a big picture of the Oakland Temple.  It was really beautiful.  We presented each girl with a clock (3 1/2 x 5) size.  The clock had a picture frame beside it and we put a picture of each girls' favorite temple in it.  They turned out beautiful, and the best part...We got the clocks at the dollar store for $1.  We invited the Temple President and Matron to come talk, and their talks were so wonderful.  Everyone there felt the spirit.  Refreshments were Danish Wedding Cookings and Sprite with pineapple sherbert in them.

G. Oliver- Cortez, CO

We had a fun New Beginnings evening with a 50's theme.  Decorations included old LP's with labels on them going with the different values.  We had helium balloons of the different value colors also attached to glass ice cream sundae dishes as centerpieces at the tables.  We also had Skittles in the centerpieces.  We called it the "Heavenly Sweets Ice Cream Parlor" and for refreshments we had drinks of the different value colors.  The white ice cream was for Faith and the girls and parents got a float with ice cream and the drink color they chose.  The drink bottles had cute bright labels with the different value colors and the value on them.  We did an original skit called "Patty and the Personal Progress Operator" which turned out really cute.  Cick here for a copy of the script.  We also used 50's slang in introducing the upcoming Beehives.

   Penny Belt - Ridgecrest, California


This is an idea for New Beginnings. I hope someone can use it! Click Here

We had a New Beginnings with a theme based on Sunflowers.  We played off the word Sun (Son) and the program was about Christ and His importance in the lives of the young women.  The Young Women's President gave a short talk with thoughts taken from a talk given by (I think it was sister Holland) it was entitled "The Son"  The girls shared talents for the rest of the program.  We made sunflower cookies, made a sunflower for them to take home, and a package of sunflower seeds.  To make the sunflower we glued a cinnamon stick into the top of an empty large wooden craft spool of thread, we covered where the thread would go with fabric, and made fabric petals, glued them together to make the flower and put a button for the center.  We also made the seed packages out of brown paper and stenciled the sunflower on the front.  It was a neat evening.

This is the New Beginnings Program which I wrote and was presented in two different wards in Spring Creek, NV, during February 2001.  Hope it will be of help to someone.  Enjoy. Click here.

We wanted to emphasize Personal Progress Goals at our New Beginnings this year.  Our theme was "Personal Progress: Put Your Heart Into It." The invitations and decorations with hearts worked perfect for the month of February (we hit the sales the day after Valentine's day).  We had three women in their mid 20's who received their medallions come speak to the girls about how personal progress and goal setting has affected their lives.  It was wonderful to show the girls how the goals can apply to their lives and affect the lives of others when you "Put Your Heart Into It."  The bishop also impressed the girls by having the theme memorized and he showed us his  personal progress book that he keeps in his desk and also passes off goals.  It was a wonderful night.
    Victoria - SLC Grant Stake

We did a Let the Holy Spirit Guide theme, Teddy Bears were used as the theme in the invitations and in the decorations because they represent the comfort of the Holy Ghost.  Each new Beehive was given a small teddy bear ($1.40 CDN).  We had each of the mothers of the new Beehives come and introduce their daughters.
   D. Grant -  Ajax Ontario

We had a "Treasures in Heaven" theme.  We chose a small treasure to represent each value, based the talks around it, and presented each girl with a treasure box.  As she finishes her goals under each value throughout the year, she will earn the corresponding treasure.  If anyone is interested in the talks, etc,  e-mail me for them.
         e mail here

   S.  Baxter - Belle Isle Branch, Detroit, MI


 For New beginnings we have chosen to implement the theme "The Lord is my Light" with "turning the hearts" and were lucky enough to find night lights with frosted heart over the light at all-a-dollar, and we will give the girls a different colored bulb each month to hi-light each value.  This is a good time of the year to find all colors of bulbs, before Christmas.
    J. Ross - Pleasant Grove, UT

Our ward and the girls' parents presented the girls with special rings to remind them of the theme, "Turning Hearts to the Family." The delicate silver rings have 7 value-colored hearts in the band. It's something they will cherish for years. 
We invited all the Young Women's Families. We used the Salem Utah Stake's idea of Kick-off and tailgate party. We had our Opening and then did a skit with the Young Women on teamwork. Using their playbook (personal progress manual) and values for the presentation on teamwork. The rookies (new Beehives) and Team Captains (class presidencies) were then introduced. We had a talk on the year's theme and teamwork as families. The speaker built a banana split as she talked about teamwork. The girls then sang "Families Can Be Together Forever." Our Bishop is a high school basketball coach He gave the families a pep talk. At the conclusion of his talk he had the girls form a tight cirle with one arm extended up and towards the middle and they had to chant three times."Families are Important!" The families then created their own Family Fight Song (using the Hymn Book and Primary Songbook as melodies) and made their Family Team Flags. We ended the evening with the Hymn "Love At Home" and ate Banana Splits.
    Becky Sorensen - Downey, Idaho 
For our New Beginnings we used the church theme, "Turning Hearts to the Family." We had a slide presentation of all the different aspects of a young woman's life that have to do with her family, like dad blessing and baptizing, mom helping with first date, temple marriage, and sister helping little brother. We then had a talk about families. We gave the girls banners with the theme and picture of the temple. We made personal progress books for the families. I changed some of the goals in the personal progress book so that the families had to accomplish the goals together. For instance, setting a goal to have family prayer. When the families accomplish their two goals for each value they will earn a painted heart to go on their banner.
    DeeAnn Hansen - Wrightwood, California 
The young women of the Macon Second Ward, Macon Ga. Stake were crowned as princesses at their New Beginnings program this year. We used the talents of a Mia Maid who, with the help of one of our Laurel girls, brought a castle to life, lighted by the Young Women torch at both ends of the golden castle. This painting was the focal point of the evening- tables were decorated with golden wrapped chocolate coins, Burger King crowns that were painted with gold spray paint, and stand-up mirrors that held a picture of Christ on the other side. The talks were very spiritual- the first one was entitled, "We are daughters of a Heavenly Father, and that makes us princesses." The next was entitled, "How living the Young Women values keeps us close to our Heavenly Father." Awards and welcomes were next on the agenda. The last talk was given by our bishop, and it was entitled, "We should always live worthy of our royal heritage." Then we had a royal procession and presented each girl with a head wreath made from wired craft garland and it had ribbons that represented each of the value colors, and a poem that pertained to royal birthrights that was printed on antique, parchment-like paper, tied up with gold ribbon. The girls in my ward have adopted a song that is very special to them and this is when they chose to sing it. The song is entitled, "We're heading for Heaven", and after the song they took a little royal stroll around the cultural hall. Refreshments were light, but included a cake that was topped with more of the gold wrapped coins, a vegetable tray and nuts. It was a royal evening befitting the special daughters of A Heavenly King, and a wonderful way to celebrate the Young Women value of divine nature.
    Angela Boyd - Macon, Georgia 
For our upcoming New Beginnings, we are having the parents of each girl give their daughter a present, which either has to be a family heirloom or something hand-made. Then they are going to wrap their gift in a color of the value they choose for their daughter. Since we have over 30 girls in our ward, we are going to just have the parents of the new beehives and the graduating seniors stand up and explain what their gift is and the value they chose, and present it to their daughter. Then all the other girls will open their gifts from their parents all at the same time.(If you have only a few girls in your ward or branch you can have every parent stand up and explain thier gift).
    Michelle Pace - Thatcher, Arizona 
One of our Laurels decided this year to be in charge of our New Beginnings program next February. She has decided that we will have a Young Women's Bowl (scripture chase).  She has taken every scripture in the YW Personal Progress book and given it a key word.  She also made up a schedule for each girl to present a scripture during opening exercises.  Each time we meet, during opening exercises one of the scriptures is presented with its key word or words and reference.  The girls repeat the scripture and then are reminded to keep it in mind and refer back to the manual.  As February comes closer they will have a few practice chases to get them up to speed. The big night will arrive and parents and friends will be invited to come to the bowl.  The girls will get points by being able to identify the scripture, its progress level and if there is a value attached to it.  We felt this would be a great way to get them reading and discussing the scriptures in their manuals and pass off some of the progress goals.
   Robyn Goodwin - Hemet, California 
Our Theme was "It's A Jungle Out There"  We decorated the front of the room to look like a jungle and the sides of the room had the theme written on it.  We had the calendars and YW guidelines printed in bright colors and ready to give to the parents.  We had the YW Stake President come speak on the YW's theme and its message and spoke on how life is a jungle out there.  The girls recieved wooden jungle dolls we had made and as they complete each value through out the year, they will get something to put on the doll that represents the seven values.  For example, an orange match to represent choice and accountability:  It can give you light or it can burn you if used the wrong way.  There are seven articles to use.  We also had banana splits for desert and the leaders did a song written for the evening to the tune of "In the Jungle"  It was a big sucess.
    Donna McMurry - Allen, Texas 
For finger food ideas at a New Beginnings: make each dish representative of one of the YW colors. For eg: orange= carrots, purple= grapes etc...
  Kylie Meyers - Laie, Hawaii 
Show up wearing modest pajamas and decorate with pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and bedroom lamps. Sprinkle reminders of dreams (graduation from school, going to college, getting married in the temple, having a family, going on a mission, developing talents, and eventually returning to Heavenly Father) on the tables and hanging from the ceiling.

 Have the girls explain how each value will help them become the girl of their dreams. Have the speaker give a bedtime story — a fairy tale about princesses, princes and happily ever after, but tie it to how they are princesses, daughters of a Heavenly King. They must prepare to be Queens and prepare for their "happily ever after." The books that give practical advice about becoming a queen are the scriptures and their personal progress book. A toll free 24-hour tutor line for up-and-coming princesses is available--Prayer. When I told the tale, the princes were coming home from a two year quest.

 Give prayer rocks to the girls to remind them to pray and stay in contact with their Heavenly Father (someone who knows more about becoming a king or queen than anyone else). Make castles for each girl out of graham crackers and ice cream cones and decorate them with candy.

Suggested songs: O My Father (#292) Called to Serve (#249--it talks about sons and daughters of a King) I Am a Child of God (#301) I Know My Father Lives (#302)
  Courtesy of The Young Women's Corner - Thankyou! 

Decorate with watches, big clocks, and a big red apple like the one at Times Square. Also decorate with lists of things the girls would like to or could do or be. Decorate with pictures that suggest the wonderful possibilities that each girl has in her life.

 Have each speaker introduce a value by saying, "It's a wonderful time to develop (or learn about one of the values)." Then the speaker describes ways to develop that value in the Personal Progress Program and during activities.

Have pies or cakes decorated like clocks.

 Suggested songs: "It's A Wonderful Time to Learn"--Janice Kapp Perry, "Come, Let Us Anew" (#217), "Improve the Shining Moments" (#226), "You Can Make the Pathway Bright" (#229), "Today While the Sun Shines" (#229), "Do What is Right" (#237), "Carry On!" (#255), "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days" (#256), "The Light Divine" (#305)
  Courtesy of The Young Women's Corner - Thankyou! 

Have everyone dress up as movie stars (modestly, of course). Decorate with value-colored stars and pictures of people we should look up to.

 Have everyone introducing a value start like she just received an Academy Award. E.g.--"I'd like to thank the Academy for helping me to where I am today. I want to thank my leaders, my Bishop, my parents, my siblings, etc. And I'd especially like to thank Divine Nature. I could have never done it if I didn't know that I had God-like characteristics that I could develop. For example, I could have never completed my life so well if I hadn't been patient. And loving others unconditionally, that has really made my life happy. . . "

 Have someone give a talk about how Jesus was the best example to us. He made it possible for us to become our best selves. Without Him, our "Academy," the Church, the Young Women's group, our families, could never have reached the heights they have and will. Since he set the example, it is now our job to become our best selves. A program specially designed for us is the Personal Progress program.

 Talk about Abraham's descendents being numbered as many as the stars in the heavens. What does it mean to be that kind of star. How should we be acting as someone so blessed and who is supposed to bless others?

 Give a decorated picture frame with a picture of Jesus. Serve star-shaped mints, cake with stars on it, star cookies, etc. .

Sing "I Am Like a Star" (Primary SB 163) "Every Star is Different" (Primary SB 142) "Shine On" (Primary SB 144) "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" (Primary SB 177)
  Courtesy of The Young Women's Corner - Thankyou! 

We had a New Beginnings with the theme of "I Think I Can" in which we used tape and made a train track in the cultural hall and then we had different values as "stops" along the way. The chairs were set up back to back like a real train seating and the girls (two from each class) talked (3 min) on what they liked about being in YW and what values they had completed. The parents and girls were then sent to different rooms to worke on a project that could be signed off on their Personal Progress book. We then broke from class and had refreshments.
    CK Cory - Patterson, California