The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church, announced in Autumn 2013 a new semiannual meeting of all female members of the Church 8 years old and older. This meeting will replace an adult women’s and young women’s meeting each held annually. Here are four reasons why this change is great!
1) Prepares Young Women for missions
Until last year, women could not become full-time missionaries until they were 21 years old, after three years in Relief Society (the LDS women’s organization, which young women enter at age 18). Last year, the age for possible missionary service was lowered to nineteen. With so much less time to prepare for a mission as an adult, young women can now benefit from hearing messages that will prepare them for the rigors of missionary work.
2) Only regularly scheduled general meeting that invites primary aged children
Latter-day Saints value children highly. And members of the Church of all ages attend the General Conference sessions each April and October. This new meeting, however, is the first to specifically invite children under the age of twelve. Young women, as young as eight, are invited to attend the new meeting. This will give mothers the opportunity to develop lasting traditions with their daughters attending the General Women’s Meeting.
3) Will be conducted by auxiliary presidents
One important nugget within the letter announcing the new meeting is that these meetings “will be conducted by the general presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations” The opportunity for young women to see female leaders of their church stand and conduct sessions from the pulpit at the conference center will be a valuable and inspiring experience.
4) Gentleman’s night at Deseret Book
A semi-annual meeting for men and young men in the Church is already held, and Deseret Book, a church bookstore, has capitalized, having a two hour “ladies night” every six months. Now that women will all be gone twice a year too, men can look forward to their own 10% discounts.
In all seriousness, this meeting should be a wonderful opportunity for mothers and daughters to develop great memories as they draw closer to Jesus Christ.
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