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No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.

—Thomas à Kempis

YW Celebration

Nearly 100 percent of the Young Women of the Duchesne Utah Stake attended a special banquet to honor the organization of the Young Women program.

Surrounded by banners and tables holding heritage baskets, the girls were treated to a full-course meal served by the bishoprics. They were entertained by a live theater presentation and vocalists.

Sitting together as daughters of God, the Young Women of the Duchesne Stake know that they share much in common, and they can turn to each other for help as their testimonies grow.

Learning to Serve

Terri Lee Sanders of the Peachtree City Ward, Atlanta Georgia Stake, has learned to give service in many different areas. She has worked with local and state Special Olympics for handicapped children and does volunteer work at a school and at a camp for the mentally handicapped. She opened the Special Olympics by singing the national anthem.

A serious student of drama and voice, she has participated in many plays in her community as well as singing at various churches and clubs. She is an active member of the Community Theater Group.

Terri was also honored by the United States Achievement Academy for the second year in a row. She received her award for leadership services. She holds the position of sophomore class secretary.

In her ward, Terri serves as first counselor in her Mia Maid class and sings with the ward choir. She also participates in the home-study seminary program.

Pioneer Project

The youth of the Kitchener Ward, Brampton Ontario Stake, performed a special service project at the Doon Pioneer Village, a community museum. They helped prepare the facility for the spring opening by scrubbing buggies, sweeping out the various buildings, and dusting all the nooks and crannies in the general store.

Besides getting dusty, the youth enjoyed trying on old-time costumes. Their project saved the community the cost of hiring others to do the work. The local newspaper covered the event, and the curator and foreman of the village were impressed with and appreciative of the amount of work the youth accomplished. The morning was concluded with a picnic in the old town hall.

Citizen of the Year

John (Jay) Erwin of Elko, Nevada, was selected as the Young Citizen of the Year in honor of his service to his community.

In addition to numerous school honors, including serving as class president, chorus president, and Boys’ State governor nominee, Jay was on the varsity track and football teams. He also earned his Eagle and his Duty to God and On My Honor awards.

Jay was the first assistant to the priests quorum in his ward.

Academic Winner

Christy Howell of Blanding, Utah, attended the state Academic Decathlon held in St. George, Utah. She came away with a gold medal in literature and a silver medal in social studies.

Besides her academic achievements, Christy is active in volleyball, tennis, and high school band, and she takes flying lessons. She owns three registered quarter horses and plans to earn a degree in veterinary medicine.

Christy was president of her seminary class and has held various positions in the Blanding Eighth Ward Young Women program.

Top Athlete

Johnnie Walker of Kissimmee, Florida, can really throw his weight around when it comes to high school wrestling. He placed first in his conference, first in district, and third in regionals, where 86 high schools participated. He also won an impressive victory at the Orange Belt Conference Tournament.

Johnnie has also lettered in track and football. He is a priest in the Kissimmee Ward, Orlando Florida Stake.

Most Courteous

Cameron Watts of the Grapevine Ward, Lewisville Texas Stake, finished her high school career with several special awards. She received the Outstanding Citizenship award and was voted Most Courteous student by her peers.

Cami was also captain of the drill team and was illustrator and feature writer for the school newspaper. She was an honor student.

In church, Cami was president of her early-morning seminary class, where she had perfect attendance. She was also the representative to the stake youth committee from her ward.

Hard Worker

David Stone of the East Millcreek 12th Ward in Salt Lake City, Utah, knows how to accomplish the goals he sets for himself. He has not only earned his Eagle badge but has gone on to earn a total of 88 merit badges and 13 Eagle Palms.

David lettered in football in school and played on the basketball team as well. He enjoys participating in sports with his teachers quorum, where he serves as president.

Musical Girl

Barbara Ann Tobin enjoys using her musical talents. She is a member of her high school concert choir and of madrigals. She has played piano for seven years and is interested in composing. She is an honor student.

Barbara has served in the presidencies of her Beehive and Mia Maid classes in the Lompoc First Ward, Santa Maria California Stake.

Be a Light

Three stakes in New Zealand—the Harbour, Manurewa, and Manukau—joined together for a youth conference involving 175 youth.

The group, bound for Motutapu, meaning sacred island, departed in the Blue Boats from Princes Wharf. Casting off in early evening and facing overcast weather, they had a calm trip until they reached the island. Rain began to drizzle, and they trekked from the landing to camp between the sloping hills. Spirits were boosted as young enthusiasts who had attended camp the year before kept pace and sang songs as the group trudged on.

Reaching camp triumphant though footsore and drenched, the group was assigned accommodations in barracks that were once used as a military base.

The next days were spent enjoying the beauty of the setting and learning to sail or paddle the dinghy, Windsurfer, and canoes. Snorkeling in the bay and absailing (rappeling) down a cliff under the careful supervision of a trained instructor challenged individuals to face some of their fears.

The greatest physical challenge was the confidence course, with movable logs, rope bridges, and gigantic swings. The cheering on by friends and the chance to pitch in and help one another gave the young people the confidence to complete the course and go around again for another try.

Gospel workshops, dorm family home evenings including testimony meeting, and a sing-along added to the spiritual aspect of the conference.

On the last evening of the conference, a special “Aloha Night” was held. Each stake prepared a floor show for the evening featuring dances and songs from the cultures throughout the Pacific.

After cleaning up and packing, everyone gathered on the side of the hill, where certificates, both amusing and serious, were given out; witty skits were performed; and a special song saying, “Be a light, a shining light, for all the world to see. … I’ve found a friend, I’ve found a friend in you” was taught.

With those words lingering, they journeyed down to board the boat for home.

Budding Artist

Lisa Martin took second place in an art contest sponsored by a local civic club in Shermansdale, Pennsylvania. Her entry was a mixed media painting of a pair of mallard ducks.

Lisa also enjoys participating on the track team and playing field hockey.

Lisa serves as pianist for the New Bloomfield Branch, Harrisburg Pennsylvania Stake.

A Night for Culture

Spotlights crossed the sky over the Pleasant Grove Utah Manila Stake center. It was opening night for a special evening with entertainment provided by the youth of the eight wards in the stake.

The theme, “If It Is to Be, It Is Up to Me,” was announced to each ward. Then independently they went to work producing skits and music to illustrate how they interpreted the theme. The topics covered by the skits were the premortal existence, baptism, making personal decisions, missionary work, the strength of pioneers, testimony, and eternal marriage.

What made the night unique was the fact that the wards each went to a recording studio available to a member of their stake and recorded their performances on videotape. The individual performances were combined into a complete program, and the entire stake was invited to come and view the result.

Dick Dickerson, a bishop in the stake, summed up the effect of the program by saying, “It was a great performance for us to watch. But even more important, it taught gospel principles to the youth involved. We will remember this night for a long time.”

Creating a Song

Five young women from the Graham Second Ward, Puyallup Washington South Stake, accepted the challenge of writing a song to fit in with the Young Women theme for the year. For nearly a month Sheree Judkins, Shannon Sampson, Judy Moss, Kendra Booker, and Angie Shutt, met together under the direction of Diane Andersen Beck, and composed both the lyrics and the musical accompaniment.

The song was presented at the Young Women stake leadership meeting. Touched by the beauty and message of the song, the leaders asked that it be performed at stake conference.

Multi-talented

Julie Whitaker is a girl with many talents. She has played the lead in her high school musical productions and sings with several school specialty choirs as well as playing the cello.

Julie also gives service by working as a volunteer peer tutor, assisting fellow students. She is involved in the California Scholarship Federation and is an American Red Cross volunteer as well.

Julie is a Laurel in the Nevada City Ward, Auburn California Stake.

Student President

Joel Weston Pate, 14, of Kissimmee, Florida, has been elected student council president of the St. Cloud Middle School. He is in the National Junior Honor Society and the Osceola County Gifted Student program. He will represent 900 students in his new position.

Joel is also the president of his deacons quorum in the Kissimmee Ward, Orlando Florida Stake.