- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced new young women class names on Monday.
- New temple location announced in Marysville, Washington state.
- Church aims for spiritual growth with new curriculum and youth group structure changes.
SALT LAKE CITY — Young Women's groups of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will again have names and standard ages, the church's First Presidency announced Monday.
The church also announced the location of a new temple it plans to build.
The new group names are designed to "help young women understand their divine place in God's work, to represent their spiritual dignity as his beloved daughters, and to highlight their progression."
Young women turning 12 or 13 during the year will be called Builders of Faith, young women turning 14 or 15 will be Messengers of Hope, and young women who are turning 16 or older will be Gatherers of Light.
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman said she felt spiritual power behind these names during a For the Strength of Youth conference in Tahiti a few months ago while the youth were singing "As Sisters in Zion." She said each group name is reflected in a verse of the song.
"As the girls sang, I was inspired to think of these covenant-keeping young women whose purpose and mission would be to build faith, share hope, and gather and reflect light around the world," President Freeman said. "My eyes teared up as I realized the Spirit had been leading this process all along, inspiring names of faith, hope and light that would help God's daughters live as disciples of Christ and prepare them to enter a lifelong sisterhood of charity — the Relief Society."
In 2019, the beehive, mia maid and laurel class names were retired as the Young Women's theme was changed. At that point, local organizations were instructed to organize classes according to their own circumstances and size.
Church members are encouraged to begin using these new names and groups immediately, but the organization will change from a class structure to an age group structure on June 1. Each of the groups will have its own president, where there is at least one young woman in a congregation, but groups can still meet together for instruction and activities.
The First Presidency encouraged local leaders in a letter to prayerfully seek inspiration as they organize the Young Women's groups in their wards and branches.
"It is our hope that these age-group names and the principles they teach will help young women become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ, prepared to participate in the great work of the Relief Society," the letter said.
Young women will progress to a new age group at the beginning of the year.
New curriculum
Last week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released information about its new curriculum for youth, a 12-chapter book titled "For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices."
It said the new curriculum follows recent adjustments to the meeting schedule so the Young Women's groups and Young Men's groups will meet each Sunday.
Each chapter of the book will be focused on one month of each year, beginning on Sept. 6, but youth in the church are invited to read the guide entirely before that date — one chapter each week.
For the Strength of Youth social media channels will provide weekly posts about each chapter to help members prepare for the new curriculum. The magazine will also provide curriculum materials.
New temple
Elder Hugo E. Martinez of the church's U.S.. West Area Presidency announced a new temple during a devotional on Sunday in the Marysville Washington Stake, reading an announcement from the First Presidency.
He told members there a new temple will be built in their city, making the seventh temple in Washington state.
"The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later. This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and express gratitude for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord," the letter said.
There are now 172 Latter-day Saint temples either announced or under construction and seven in renovation. There are 204 currently operating, making a total of 384 temples around the world.
