Notable quotes:
“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.” “Be sensitive to and act on the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As you do so, you can serve with confidence, for you do not serve alone!” “As we diligently implement these adjustments, may we never lose sight of our purpose: to strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus Christ and help others come unto Him.” New Young Women theme, class name and structure changes announced
Summary points:
- A revision to the Young Women theme was announced.
- Instead of three classes, young women will be organized according to a ward’s specific needs. The class names of Beehive, Mia Maid and Laurel have been retired.
- Class presidencies should be called for each class. Adult leaders should serve side-by-side with them.
Talk summary:
Four adjustments were announced to help young women strengthen faith in Jesus Christ and develop their potential. First, a revised Young Women theme will be implemented. The language of the theme uses “I” instead of “we,” which allows the young women to individually apply truths of their divine identity and purpose. Young women will gain a testimony of the truthfulness of these words as they study and ponder them.
To foster unity, friendship and belonging, young women will be organized according to a ward’s specific needs, rather than three classes. A ward with a small number of Young Women may have only one class, while wards with larger groups may have four or five classes. Additionally, class names such as Beehive, Mia Maid and Laurel have been retired and all young women will be referred to as Young Women.
Regardless of how many Young Women classes a ward has, each should have a class presidency. Class presidencies are vital to the work of salvation, “particularly in the areas of ministering, missionary work, activation, and temple and family history work.” This is how young women participate in the gathering of Israel “as members of the Lord’s youth battalion.”
Adult leaders should guide and mentor class presidencies, leading alongside them and never taking over, to allow young women to develop confidence and leadership skills. This principle was illustrated in a story about a young woman named Chloe who prayed for revelation and was guided by the Spirit as she selected counselors and a secretary.
These adjustments should be implemented by January 1, 2020, or earlier if stakes and wards are ready. With a revised theme, organization changes and strengthened class presidencies, young women will be better equipped to press forward along the covenant path and help others come unto the Savior.
In the news:
- Sister Cordon traveled to Portugal in July 2019 to visit the new Lisbon Portugal Temple. As have several family members, she served as a missionary in Portugal, which created a special connection to the temple and the area.
- Sister Cordon visited the Africa Southeast Area for 12 days in May 2019 alongside Sister Lisa L. Harkness, first counselor in the Primary general presidency.
- Sister Cordon participated in the Sister to Sister event — part of the BYU Women’s Conference in May 2019 in Provo, Utah — along with Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society general president, and Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary general president.
- Sister Cordon was featured in a worldwide video presentation about the new Children and Youth program shown to congregations on Sept. 29.
About the speaker:
- Sister Cordon was named the Young Women general president on March 31, 2018.
- Sister Cordon served a full-time mission in the Portugal Lisbon Mission and later served with her husband from 2010 to 2013 as he presided over the Brazil Curitiba Mission.
- She met her husband, Derek Cordon, at BYU, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1986. They have four children and four grandchildren.
- She received a bachelor’s degree in education, going on to work in management, own a business and volunteer at schools.
Recently on social:
- Sister Cordon posted photos with the counselors in the Young Women general presidency in a presidency meeting at a car dealership as the oil in her car was being changed.
- Sister Cordon received a matryoshka doll — a Russian nesting doll — of the latter-day prophets for her birthday this year. She posted a photo showing the dolls and bore her testimony of the growth of the Church and of latter-day prophets.