“A Chat with Xiomara about Being New in Young Women,” Friend, November 2022, 38–39
A Chat with Xiomara about Being New in Young Women
Xiomara (pronounced she-o-MA-ra) is from Chiapas, a state in southern Mexico. She recently moved into Young Women.
First, we want to get to know you.
What do you do for fun?
Ride my bike, play soccer, and cook. My favorite thing to cook is quesadillas!
What’s your favorite color?
Yellow.
What did you look forward to most about moving from Primary to Young Women?
I was really excited to go to the temple and do baptisms.
How did you feel about going to Young Women for the first time?
At first it was hard. I was worried about what the older girls would think about me. I was a little nervous until we all went to the temple together. That’s when we became good friends.
What was it like going to the temple for the first time?
It was very special. Going inside the temple of the Lord was a spiritual experience. I’ve always wanted to go to the temple. In Primary we sang, “I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday.” Now I can say, “I love to go to the temple.”
That first time in the temple, I did baptisms for some of my aunts, some relatives of my grandmother (my mom’s mom), and other people I didn’t know. The temple and family history are part of my testimony.
What are some fun activities you have done with your Young Women group?
Making cookies! We made 150 cookies. Then we shared them with other people. Young Women activities are fun. They are full of good lessons, motivation, and guidance to help us be future missionaries.
Are there any other girls your age in your ward?
Just me. I am also the only member of the Church in my class at school.
Is it hard to be the only Church member at school?
No. My friends all know that I follow a different religion than them, but they don’t treat me any differently.
What do you like most about being in Young Women?
I like learning more about the Savior and the plan of salvation. It’s a great blessing to do family history work. I like to do temple baptisms to give hope to our relatives who have already left this earth.
I love being in the Young Women program!
Illustrations by Alyssa Tallent