LDS Young Women New Beginnings Programs

I'm compiling some New Beginnings programs here. Do you have LDS Young Women's New Beginnings Program or skit I can post here? Send them to me!

Help other leaders by submitting your New Beginnings or YW in Excellence programs here!

Click for more resources on the 2008 Mutual Theme, Be Steadfast and Immovable.

LDS YW New Beginnings Program Ideas

New Beginnings Court

Jen Franklin shared this cute script for a mock trial where the young women share experiences and are found "guilty" of living the gospel and new YW theme. Very cute way to spotlight the girls for doing good things.

• Download the New Beginnings Court Script

Jenny Phillips' Be Steadfast & Immovable - New for 2008!

You loved it last year, and Jenny has done it again for the new mutual theme! Follow the instructions below for a super easy New Beginnings or theme introduction skit.

The PDF document includes a script and sheet music. You can buy also Jenny Phillip's CD to provide accompaniment, or if you prefer piano, there's a songbook you can buy as well. She even has free posters you can print to go with the theme!

There are 5 youth narrator parts, and one adult narrator part. A small class might perform it with as few as 2 people. Steadfast and Immovable requires no special scenery or costumes, and no memorization.

Here's the stuff you need:

• Download and print the Rehearsal Songbook and Script - (JennyPhillips.com)
• Here's the Rehearsal Book in Spanish or Portuguese.
• Download and print Jenny Phillip's ready-made poster - just write in your peformance information at the bottom. (JennyPhillips.com)
• Be Steadfast and Immovable: Music for the 2008 Mutual Theme CD - Use the music on the CD for a super easy theme introduction. Also includes a Young Men track for youth conferences. $12.98 (LDSGrand.com)
• Be Steadfast and Immovable: Music for the 2008 Mutual Theme SONGBOOK AND DVD - This songbook with the accompaniment music includes 2 bonuses -- the script and rehearsal book AND a DVD of the short movie clips suggested in the script. $12.98 (LDSGrand.com)

Related Steadfast and Immovable Products

• Be Steadfast and Immovable - Bookmarks - An inexpensive handout for introducing the theme. 65 cents each


• Be Steadfast and Immovable - Flower Bookmarks Set - Set of 25. $8.13


• Be Steadfast and Immovable - Poster - 12 x 18 inch classroom size $4.95


• Be Steadfast and Immovable Wristbands - Great for Camp or Youth Conference $1.50


• Be Steadfast and Immovable Magnet - They stick to LDS chalkboards!!! Great for lockers,too $4.99


• Be Steadfast and Immovable Stickers - 72 Acid Free stickers $2.49


• Be Steadfast and Immovable Pencils - Set of 7. $2.99

Value Fruit Salad Skit

Natasha O. created a Value Fruit Salad activity for New Beginnings. It's easy to perform and uses fruits the color of the values to teach about personal progress. This would make a nice Personal Progress mutual activity, too.

• See the Value Fruit Salad Activity

Theme Intro Skit

Gina D. wrote this skit to introduce the 2007 Mutual theme, but this skit could easily be altered to suit any year's theme. The main characters are discussing the new theme and how to apply it. Also addresses feelings of being overwhelmed with Personal Progress and "how does this apply to me?" Gina also included her Daughter of a King themed handouts and invitations:

• Download the skit
• Download the program
• Download the invitations

F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely on God

Kim A. compiled this information with a frog theme as a leadership training, but she suggested that leaders could use it for a New Beginnings as it emphasizes what "standing as a witness" means.

Has lots and lots of Frog-related handouts, food, etc.

• Download the F.R.O.G. compilation here

Snow White and the Seven Values

Kathy P. wrote this fun script for her unit's New Beginnings program. It uses alternate lyrics for the songs in the Di&ney version of Snow White (included) as music. As Snow White tries to reach the temple, she receives help from the Seven Values.

As decorations, Kathy's group used apples placed on mirrors as centerpieces.

• Download the Snow White and the Seven Values script here

Young Women Sisters at the Value Deli

Fran Stucki wrote this "New Beginnings Program specifically for 2007. It is a take on the theme (Let virtue garnish thy thoughts...) It is a Cooking Demonstration Show set at the Virtue Deli. It is presented by the YW Sisters. It spotlights the YW theme, the For Strength of Youth Booklet, the Young Women Personal Progress Program, as well as the Ten Virtues by President Hinckley. As each of the garnishes are added .. the ten virtues [are described]."

• Download the Young Women Sisters at the Value Deli script here

The Plain Princess

The author of this play, Marilynn M., submitted her script in January 2007 that is based on the book The Plain Princess by Phyllis McGinley.

It's a Readers' Theater, so it's not necessary to memorize the parts (some of them are very long). There are 13 speaking parts.

Marilynn says, "[W]e had a computer wizard in our ward do a power point that went in the play. He projected on the wall of the cottage a window that disappeared and then the value words and the scriptures appeared with sound effects. It was really awesome. The key to the success was the spotlight. When the narrator is speaking then the spot is on her and the stage is dark which allows the girls to get in position. We had a huge, probably 5 ft. by 6 ft. poster of the temple in the right back corner of the stage at the top of the stage stairs. The scenes with the king, woman and queen were on those stairs. (The castle) Then opposite that we made rough plywood walls that were the interior of the cottage. We had a bed against that side, and a regular church table with six chairs in the center of the stage. That was where the majority of the play takes place. We just had three copies of the script on the table "

• Download The Plain Princess script here.
• Download Jenny SMITH's Daughter of a King handouts here.
• LDSGrand: Daughter of God Items - products relating to the Daughter of God theme.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road (Temple Virtues Skit)

The author of this play, Brenda H., submitted her script in January 2007 that uses the format of the movie The Wizard of Oz, to teach the virtues that one must have in order to go to the temple.

The entire script is written in rhyme, which would make it very easy to memorize. In addition to Wizard of Oz costumes (Dorothy, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, etc.), you'll need the following props:

• Bean Bag with signs for obstacle
• Temple Backdrop
• Sign that says (Path of Virtue with Young Women Torch)
• Balloons to represent the values
• Brain, Medal, Heart Necklace (big plastic heart on string)

Following are some images submitted by Brenda H. to let you know how their unit set up the gym for this production (click each to see it larger):

Download the Follow the Yellow Brick Road script here.

Jenny Phillips' Daughter of a King - NEW for 2007 Theme!

Jenny Phillips has given me a copy of her new Rehearsal Songbook for the 2007 Mutual Theme!

The PDF document includes a script and sheet music. You can buy also Jenny Phillip's CD to provide accompaniment. She even has free posters and invitations you can print to go with the theme!

There are 6 young women's speaking parts, and one adult speaking part. A small class of young women could perform it with as few as 3 people. Daughter of a King requires no special scenery or costumes, and no memorization.

Here's the stuff you need:

• Download and print the Script and Songbook - (JennySmith.net)
• Download and print Jenny Phillip's ready-made invitations - 2 per page, color. Print the invites, then flip the paper over and run it through your printer again and put your invitation information on the inside. (JennyPhillips.com)
• Download and print Jenny Phillip's ready-made poster - has white space at the bottom for you to write in your peformance information. (JennyPhillips.com)
• Download and print Jenny Phillip's prgram flyers - 2 per page, has (a little) space at the bottom for your talk, prayer, performers names, and song information. (JennyPhillips.com)
• Buy the CD - includes words and accompaniment tracks. (LDSGrand.com)
• Buy the Songbook - includes the piano accompaniment plus the script and instructions. (LDSGrand.com)
• Download Jenny SMITH's Daughter of a King handouts here. (Remember Who You Are)
• LDSGrand: Daughter of God Items

Jenny Phillips' Arise and Shine Forth

Jenny Phillips has posted her new 2006 program and music on her website. You can download it by going to her Free Downloads page and entering your email address and zip code. (I haven't asked if I could publish it here, so this one is not on my website.)

The PDF program includes a script and sheet music. You can buy also Jenny Phillip's CD to provide accompaniment. She even has posters and invitations you can print to go with the theme.

This program can be performed by young women or a combination of young men and young women. It requires no special scenery or costumes.

You can find items relating to this theme here: LDSGrand: Arise and Shine Forth Items

Click for more resources on the 2006 Mutual Theme, Arise and Shine Forth, including clipart, articles, and more downloadable music.

Including Parents in Personal Progress Goal-Setting for New Beginnings - New!

This idea was submitted by Annette M. She says:

Here is an idea we are using with New Beginnings this year. We are handing each YW a bookmark (see below) and a parent card (also below). We are having YW meet with their parents during New Beginnings to set one goal in each area of Personal Progress. They will write their goals on the two cards. We will laminate the bookmarks and give them back to the YW to keep in their scriptures all year. The parents can hang their copy on the fridge so they are reminded all year to encourage their daughter to work on Personal Progress. (We will most likely put a magnet on the back of the parent card).

• YW Goal Bookmarks
• Parent Reminder Cards

These have been updated for 2007 by Marybeth F:

• 2007 Bookmarks
• 2007 Parent Reminders

Jenny Phillips' A Great and Marvelous Work

LDS singer/songwriter Jenny Phillips has written beautiful songs and music going along with the 2005-2006 mutual emphasis on the Restoration. Jenny Phillips has kindly allowed me to publish her musical program A Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

Appropriate for either ward or stake productions, the 35-minute program celebrates the Restoration of the Church. It has 5 songs, 2 sections of narration with up to 4 readers, and 3 recorded narrations. All of the music is available on Jenny Phillips's CD A Great and Marvelous Work, or the sheet music can be played by the performers. The program doesn't require any costumes, props, or scenery.

This program is appropriate for many types of activities on the ward or stake level, including YW in Excellence, New Beginnings, firesides, camp, and will work for the 2006 mutual theme continuing on the Restoration.

Please visit JennyPhillips.com to hear samples of Jenny Phillips's inspirational music!

Jenny is available for live fireside performances as well! Visit her website, JennyPhillips.com,to find out more.

Download A Great & Marvelous Work

You can find items relating to this theme here: LDSGrand: Marvelous Work Items

A Great and Marvelous Work

My friend who is YW President in her ward gave me a copy of the talks that her Young Women are using for New Beginnings this year.

This New Beginnings program has six short talks that describe espisodes in the lives of several women from Church History. Each talk is assigned a Personal Progress value (Divine Nature and Knowledge are combined) and each speaker ends the talk by saying something like this: "Like Lucy Mack Smith, I can develop the value of Faith by ..." and shares their own thoughts and testimony.

Hooray! I've now converted these files to text and have added pictures of the women spoken of and references where I could find them. Download the talks in PDF (9 page printable with pictures of the women and references).

Women featured in the talks are as follows:

• Lucy Mack Smith - Faith
• Eliza R Snow - Knowledge/Divine Nature
• Aurelia Spencer Rogers - Individual Worth
• Mary Ann Weston Maughan - Choice and Accountablility
• The Women of Nauvoo - Good Works
• Mary Fielding Smith - Integrity

I think these talks could be used for a Standards Night or Personal Progress activity, too.

This YW organization sang Hymn 309 As Sisters in Zion as an opening song, and Hymn 96 Dearest Children, God is Near You to close. They also invited Young Women to perform a musical interlude called The Woman You'll Be Someday by Janice Kapp Perry.

****For Help with printing read the post in my forum.*****

You can find items relating to this theme here: LDSGrand: Marvelous Work Items

Operation Personal Progress - Mission: Possible

This is a skit submitted by K. Adams. This skit was organized (from an inherited script) and directed by her daughter for a Personal Progress 10-hour project. There is music and a very fun skit with special effects and fun dramatic parts for the actors.

What's interesting to me about this skit is it involves the girls' fathers -- using them to encourage the girls to avoid bad habits that can hinder achieving personal progress goals. This part of the skit is pre-recorded, so it could include fathers who work evenings or who don't live in the area.

You can do this skit with nine people. It looks to me like it would take about 20 minutes to perform.

Here is the Operation Personal Progress - Mission: Possible program in PDF or in text.

Lisa C has shared her Operation Personal Progress Invitations. They even include a secret code! Cool!

New Beginnings Values Pageant Skit

History of the Values Pageant Skit:

Every copy of the skit I have seen says this skit was originally performed in the Meridian Idaho East Stake as part of a Readers' Theater for Ward Conferences. According to the copy I have, the skit was originally used to introduce the 7 Young Women's values to young women and leaders. If you have more information about its origin (pre 1986), please tell me about it!

The picture at right is our Branch's 1989 performance -- can you guess which one is me??? :-)

About the Values Skit:

A pageant with 7 young women is staged. Each girl is given a banner with the name of the person they're playing on it. As if part of the interview session of a real pageant, an announcer introduces the contestants and asks them the question, "What do you value?" The answers from each of the young women are shallow and humorous. After some reflection (not addressed in the skit) the girls are invited to re-answer the question. This time, each young woman responds with an answer related to each of the values, along with a quotation from the Personal Progress book. Each is given a banner with the value on it.

This skit takes about 25 minutes to perform (and that was with our 3 "commercials" and a solo). It makes a great New Beginnings activity. I've participated in or performed in this skit as long ago as 1986, but despite its age, the skit is a gem and really makes the girls think about the value they are assigned.

You'll need at least 8 people to perform this skit. The Commentator (in our skit Miss Values, our Laurel President) could be male if necessary.

When I performed this skit in our small branch many years ago, I was recruited from the Primary to perform, along with the adult Young Women's leaders and Young Women. We were assigned parts based on the color dresses we had that matched the values colors.

When I helped with the performance in a larger ward, 7 girls were assigned speaking parts, and the other young women without a speaking part chose a silly pageant name (Miss T-Mobile, Miss Understood, Miss Snowbunny, etc.) and also walked down the runway. These girls also had banners with their names on them. Girls without speaking parts were invited to come up with commercials they performed while our contestants changed clothing. A young woman performed a vocal solo for the other break. Because the ward had a stage, the 7 girls began the skit in modest casual attire (see photo at right), changed to modest formals, and then changed to white wedding and temple dresses for the finale (I have since learned that wearing all white is a no-no. The stake center where the skit was performed had a runway that could be attached to the stage (see photo right). We decorated with white christmas lights, ficus trees, and balloons.

I am publishing the skit here with some updates and a few minor changes (one is doctrinal, and I've made changes to the reformed speeches to include the scriptures and text from the new Personal Progress manuals, I also changed the names of Miss I Do'n Know to I Dunno - this one confused us in our Branch, and of Miss "10" (Body and IQ) to Miss "10" - who wants an IQ of 10???).

UPDATE - I've received several versions of this script now and have posted them with mine below:

• Jenny's Revised Values Pageant Skit in PDF
• Jenny's Revised Values Pageant Skit in text format.
• Shawna's Updated Values Pageant Skit in PDF/DOC
• Cindy C's Princess Themed Value Pageant, Princess of Value

Airplane Crash Activity

Why it's not here.

User-submitted ideas

Be sure to visit my activities database for LOTS more New Beginnings ideas posted by leaders.

New Beginnings Handouts

New Beginnings Products