Arise and Shine Forth Lesson

Young Women Lesson

"Arise and Shine Forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations"-Doctrine and Covenants 115:5

Before the lesson make a yellow banner and tie it to walking stick-

after the lesson have your young women sign their names to it.

Lesson:
Two days after the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and his associates hiked Ensign Peak. At the tip of that peak they unfurled a banner-a yellow bandanna tied to a walking stick.

Q: What do you think this banner symbolized to them?

The banner symbolized an Ensign or standard to the nations of who they were, what they believed, and what they stood for. The pioneer saints were to be the light and standard to the world.

The Young Women logo is a torch surrounded by the YW motto "Stand for truth and Righteousness"

Q: What does the torch symbolize?

It represents the Light of Christ, inviting all to come unto Him.

Q: Can you think of another time when we have heard of a banner being waved in the scriptures?

Alma 46: 12-15, 19-21
12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—^aIn memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his ^abreastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the ^btitle of liberty) and he ^cbowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of ^dChristians remain to possess the land—

14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.

15 And those who did belong to the church were ^afaithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ ^btook upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or ^cChristians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.

19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the ^arent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:

20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and ^aenter into a covenant that they will ^bmaintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running ^atogether with their armor girded about their loins, ^brending their garments in token, or as a ^ccovenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ^dashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.

{Make sure you make a comparison to The Family a Proclamation to the World}

Q: What did this do for Moroni and his people?

It strengthened them!!! It told people who they were and what they stood for! There was strength in numbers.

Our General YW Presidency when they were first called, also climbed Ensign Peak. They also had a yellow bandanna tied to a walking stick. It was their banner calling for a

RETURN to VIRTUE

 

Q: How did you feel while you watched this video clip on virtue? So why virtue?

 

Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the temple and having the blessings of being guided by the Spirit. Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It encompasses chastity and moral purity.Virtue begins in the heart and mind. It is the accumulation of the small and simple things we do everyday.

 

Story of Daniel

Since the beginning of time men, women (and I would add young women and young men) have showed tremendous courage in choosing not to falter, but to live righteously amid pressures from the unrighteous world around them. A classic example from the scriptures is the story of Daniel from the Old Testament. Turn to Daniel 1.

Background: Like many other prophets, Daniel was chosen, prepared, and raised up from the time of his youth. In the times of Daniel (about 600 BC) There were wars going on between Israel and Babylon. In the conquest of one of these wars, Daniel and his friends were carried away captive into Babylon.

Think of it as if Canada(or whatever country is your bordering country-as an example for the youth to easier visualize) and Utah (or whatever state you are from) were at war and you were carried captive into Canada where they had a different religion, different customs, different food, different everything. The King wanted to raise you up to become Canadians which meant going against everything you were raised to believe was true.

Daniel and his friends were raised by their parents to worship God and to keep covenants. Daniel and his friends were faced with a choice: they could remain true to who they were and true to God, or they could choose to lower their standards to fit in with those around them in their new country. Nobody knew them and the pressure to become like the Babylonians was intense.

The food
Their first test came when the king ordered that Daniel and his friends drink of his wine and eat of his rich food. {point out that their rich food wasn't sugary fattening desserts. It was meat that had not been properly drained of its blood, it was food that they offered up to false gods. It was prepared in an unclean manner.

This type of food was against what their parents had taught him, it was against the word of wisdom, and it was against what they knew the Lord had commanded. Daniel and his friends made a choice to be strictly obedient to the Lord and refused to be involved in anything unclean.

Turn to Daniel 1:15, 17 to discuss the results of this test

Daniel knew he couldn't feel good about himself if defied God. To him that would be worse than death itself. So in spite of worldly pressures and trying circumstances, he chose to live righteously.

The Lord blessed Daniel and his friends with protection and strength.

The Latin word for virtue means STRENGTH.

Q: What kind of strength do you think virtue is?

Think of someone in your life you as this kind of strength. {Discuss being "the one" who sometimes has to be the firs or the only one to stand when no one else is}

" You be the one to make a stand for the right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clean conscience, your own moral cleanliness-and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with confidence that you are worthy to do so."-(Thomas S. Monson, Dare To Stand Alone, October 2011)

Have the YW share experiences they have had in standing up for what is right, or share one of yours.

"I truly believe that one virtuous young woman or young man, led by the Spirit, can change the world, but in order to do so, we must return to virtue." (Elaine Dalton, Return to Virtue.October 2008)

From the scriptures:

“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly"(D & C 121:45) “Cleave unto [your] covenants."(D & C 125:13) “Stand … in holy places." (D & C 25:13) “Lay aside the things of [the] world." (D & C 25:10)“Believe that ye must repent." (Mosiah 4:10)“Always remember him and keep his commandments." (D & C 20:77) And “if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, … seek after these things.”

"A return to virtue is possible because of the Savior’s example and the “infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice.”²² I testify that we will be enabled and strengthened not only to do hard things but to do all things. Now is the time for each of us to arise and unfurl a banner to the world calling for a return to virtue. May we so live that we can be instruments in preparing the earth for His Second Coming, “that when he shall appear we shall be like him, … purified even as he is pure.” (Elaine Dalton, Return to Virtue.October 2008)

Application Activity: ( Show your stick with a yellow bandanna tied to it.) This is our standard of virtue. Invite the YW come up and sign their name to the flag.

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Here is a great handout idea from my friend Kristin at Inkablinka.com that would be a great Birthday handout for the year, a New Beginnings handout, or could be used with this lesson. Super cute!

{Arise and Shine Wands from Inkablinka}