During the women’s session of general conference Saturday night, Young Women General President Sister Bonnie H. Cordon shared an updated version of the Young Women theme. It now reads:
I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I strive to become like Him. I seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name. I will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places. As I strive to qualify for exaltation, I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day. With faith, I will strengthen my home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, and receive the ordinances and blessings of the holy temple.
The theme reminds young women who they are, what their life’s purpose is, and how they should live. Each Sunday, young women around the world will repeat this new theme, reiterating to themselves and to each other that each of them is a special daughter of Heavenly Parents.
The new theme provides a wonderful focus for the young women, and, if understood, it can be a wonderful focus for the young men as well.
Too often, we hear about the updates happening in organizations we aren’t a part of and assume they do not apply to us. This idea is far from the truth. The gospel of Jesus Christ applies to all people. This new theme can provide just as much direction for young men, women, and men as it can for young women.
When I was in Young Men’s, I knew that the Young Women had a theme that they repeated each week. However, I never studied their theme or knew the exact language of what they said. Now, years later, I wish I had.
Young men and their leaders have the opportunity to read, study, and teach the new theme in class and on their own. The doctrines taught in this theme are timeless and powerful.
Applying the theme to young men is easy. Just as women in the Church are often taught that “man,” “men” or “mankind” in the scriptures can be applied to themselves, men can read the word “daughter” to also mean “son."
With this personal edit, the theme says:
I am a beloved [son] of Heavenly Parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I strive to become like Him. I seek and act upon personal revelation and minister to others in His holy name. I will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places. As I strive to qualify for exaltation, I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day. With faith, I will strengthen my home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, and receive the ordinances and blessings of the holy temple.
No, the new theme isn’t expected to be modified and repeated by every priesthood quorum each Sunday—but it could be. The truths taught are universal. A young man should remind himself often that he is a son of Heavenly Parents and that there’s a plan for his salvation. He ought to also repeat his commitment to be a witness of God and to live the gospel. I love the new Young Women theme and hope young men will read and study it as much as their gospel sisters do. If they do, they’ll qualify for the experience Sister Cordon promised shortly after sharing the new theme. She said:
“These truths apply to you individually. . . . You are a covenant disciple of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I invite you to study and ponder these words. I know as you do, you will gain a testimony of their truthfulness. Understanding these truths will change the way you face challenges. Knowing your identity and purpose will help you align your will with the Savior’s.”
Lead image from ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
