We are losing our Young Women.  So many of them want nothing to do with the “old lady” club (Relief Society is well known to be full of gray haired, old ladies).  Well, my hair isn’t completely gray, thank you very much, and I still feel pretty young…on most days.  But Young Women should know that growing up isn’t so bad, in fact it’s pretty darn fantastic.

Someone made the perfect description of Young Women vs Relief Society.  Young Women are catered to for six years; their leaders do everything FOR THEM, they must be entertained, they must be coddled, lessons and activities must be brought down to their level of acceptance.  We bend over backwards to serve the Young Women.  Then suddenly in Relief Society everyone is expected to serve the world and forget themselves.  That’s serious gear-shifting!

I have some questions that have nagged at me for a while now:

• Why don’t we demand more from our Young Women?  So what if they hate to babysit, we all survived!  I’m a proponent of bribery because it works, but not at the cost of lowering standards, expectations and dumbing down our lessons.
• Why do we wait so long to really teach the Young Women how to serve unselfishly?  Painting each other’s fingernails is not service.  Having a secret sister is not learning how to think about others.  Making cute nothings for our girls is not raising their awareness.
• If we are serious about including our Young Women into Relief Society, why are they merely invited to Relief Society functions (like it’s a sweet little mother/daughter event).  Why aren’t all meetings inclusive, and mandatory, of all women, just like for the Priesthood men and boys?   For example, why is there a General Young Women meeting in the Spring and a General Relief Society Meeting in the Fall?  Why don’t we meet together as a sisterhood?  And for that matter, why don’t we have Stake Women’s meetings, like the men have Stake Priesthood meetings?  What’s wrong with being spiritually motivated and uplifted together on a regular basis?

Sorry, I just shook myself off my soapbox.  I’m all right now.  But I don’t wonder why there’s a problem, we have caused it for ourselves.
And just to end with a positive note.  I have met some wonderful young women and they are incorporating themselves beautifully and actively into the Relief Society.  It does happen and these beautiful young women are strong and capable.  Their testimonies sparkle and because of their eagerness to serve they are fulfilling a need in our organization and in our church.  What a blessing it is to work together:  steadfast and immoveable.