Let the Holy Spirit Guide New Beginnings

This is the New Beginnings Program which I wrote and was presented in two different wards in Spring Creek, NV, during February 2001. Hope it will be of help to someone. Enjoy.

“Let the Holy Spirit Guide”

by Ann Louise Alger

Each angel is dress in color of her value wearing a satin sash with her value written on the sash.

3 Young Women – each with a friend

1 at desk with college brochures (Laurel)

1 with soccer (basketball) uniform & ball or other props of your choice (Beehive)

1 with picture of a boy (Mia Maid)

(Note: you may have a choir of Young Women sing the songs or have the congregation sing each song, if preferred.)

Background Music softly plays: “Let the Holy Spirit Guide)

Head Angel: (standing on platform above and behind the young women. Has clipboard and pen, taking notes of 3 Young Women.

Laurel: (Talking to friend) Hi, McKenna. Did you get your ACT test results in the mail? I just did. Now I’ve got to decide which
college to apply for. This is such an exciting and scary time. I can hardly wait to leave home and get out on my own. June seems so
far away.

Laurel’s Friend: I’m facing so many decisions I can’t stand it. I wish someone would make them for us.

(Spotlight moves to Mia Maid)

Mia Maid: Hi, Ellie. I have the most exciting news! I just got a call from Jared inviting me to the Prom. I never thought I’d get asked.

Mia Maid’s Friend: I can’t believe that a Senior would ask you, a lowly Sophomore. He is such a hunk. But you’re not 16 yet.
What will your parents say?

Mia Maid: Yeah, I know I’m not 16 yet, but I’m close. What’s a few months? I’ll bet I can talk my parents into letting me go.

Spotlight turns to Beehive.

Beehive: Hi, Cassie. Isn’t it exciting that there is a school dance next Friday night? Beehive’s Friend: I can hardly wait. Even
though we can’t go to church dances, we can still go to school ones, right? Besides, they let out at 6:30 and it is part of school…

Beehive: I don’t care what my Beehive leader says, I want to go.

Spotlight fades from girls and to Head Angel

Head Angel (looking over notes on clipboard and looking up with concerned expression) I can see that I’ve got my work cut out for
me in 2001, and just when I thought I could take an early retirement.

These lovely Young Women face some serious decisions and challenges. Luckily they are fortunate and blessed to be able to start
fresh each new year. The New Beginnings program is just the ticket for helping these Young Women get back on track. Let’s see.
What shall my game plan be? I know that I can’t handle all these Young Women and their challenges for 2001 by myself. I’d better
call on my Values Angels for back up.

(Rings xylophone or chime. All the angels come in).

Head Angel: Ladies, our work is cut out for us. Are you ready?

All Angels: We’re ready when you are.

Head Angel: I really appreciate your support and reliability. Now here is what we’ve got to deal with. I’ve been observing some of the
challenges being faced by the Young Women this year. This is how I see it.

We have Laurels who are preparing for high school graduation. The whole world is opening to them, so they have many decisions to
make.

(Knowledge steps forward as the hymn “As I Search the Holy Scriptures” softly plays.

Knowledge: This sounds like a job I can handle. This lovely young woman can “seek …out of the best books words of wisdom;
seek learning, even by study and also by faith..and establish a house of learning”.

Knowledge and intelligence are so important to the Lord. He has said that “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this
life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and
obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.”

That pretty well sums up how important it is for our Laurels to continue their schooling after high school. I’ve got to encourage them
in any way I can to go to college and prepare for a career.

Most importantly, she must search the scriptures. I’ll impress upon her the importance of enrolling in the Institute program where
ever she goes to school. Her study of the scriptures will give her guidance and direction will sustain her through any challenges she
may face and help her to teach her own children someday.

Song (optional): As I Search the Holy Scriptures.

Head Angel: Thank you, Knowledge. I’m happy to have you on board for 2001. Good Works, I have a feeling that you could lend a
hand to our Laurel, also.

Background Music: “Have I Done Any Good? P. 223

Good Works: Thank you for allowing me to help. I’ll help our Laurels understand the far-reaching effects of their good works and
service. I remember one of my favorite scriptures from King Benjamin. He said, “…that when ye are in the service of your fellow
beings ye are only in the service of your God.” What better work can our Young Woman do than serving others?

Another insight into Good Works is the words of Alma when he said, “…the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their
works, according to that which they have been–if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to
the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ;” I’ll do my best to influence our Laurels to do Good Works at home, church, school, and
among all with whom they come in contact. They will surely find themselves and their life’s work if they will lose themselves in the
service of others.

SONG (optional): “Have I Done Any Good?”

Head Angel: I greatly appreciate your help, Knowledge and Good Works. Thank you.

(Knowledge and Good Works go off and stand behind Laurels)

My next concern is our Mia Maids. This seems to be a very challenging age for Young Women. They seem to be influenced by their
friends whether for positive or negative. Oh, how I worry about this fragile age. Which Values Angels will best help these precious 14
and 15 year olds?

Background Music: “Choose the Right” p. 239

Choice and Accountability: Could I be of help to you? It seems like our Mia Maids are faced with continuous choices. I’ll strive to
help them understand the principle that every choice has a consequence whether it be a positive consequence or a negative one.
Just like the consequences of being burned by a hot stove, our beautiful Mia Maid will suffer consequences that will hurt her if she
chooses to follow the adversary now.

However, she can choose to let the Holy Spirit guide her and enjoy peace and blessings beyond her wildest dreams. She is
accountable for all her choices.

I treasure the blessing which Lehi gave to his son Jacob when he said, “…men are free according to the flesh;…they are free to
choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and
power of the devil;…look to the great Mediator…and choose eternal life…”

I’ll do all I can to help them make positive and rewarding choices and choose the right.

SONG (optional): “Choose the Right” p. 239

Head Angel: This sounds like a wonderful strategy for our Mia Maid. I think that another value which she needs right now is
Integrity.

Background Music: “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” p. 304

Integrity: I was hoping that you would assign me to work with our Mia Maids. My value is directly related to being true to oneself.
Honest is the best policy is a well-known phrase, but it means so much in the life of our Mia Maids. They must be honest with
themselves, their parents, their church leaders, school associates and teachers, and with the Lord.

Many choices are placed before Young Women during their Mia Maid years. Friends and peers become very influential. Social life
revolves around school and friends and BOYS. This is a time full of new choices and influences. Choice and Accountability and I will
have to work hand-in-hand to protect the Integrity and extremely delicate character of our Mia Maids. I am so thankful that I will have
help from the Young Women leaders and parents during this critical time period.

As the Prophet Joseph Smith said so aptly wrote in the 13th Article of Faith: We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent,
virtuous, and in doing good to all men…” To me, that summarizes my value and my work.

Song (optional): “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” p.304

(Choice and Accountability & Integrity go over to Mia Maids and stand behind them.)

Head Angel: Thank you for volunteering your insights and influence upon our Mia Maid. Now to the special needs of our young
Beehives. They are now entering the Young Women program so the New Beginning program is really an introduction to the Young
Women and Personal Progress program. Who can help me with this great work?

Background Music: “I Am a Child of God” p. 301

Individual Worth: I think that it’s my turn to come to the rescue. Each Young Woman is a Child of God and I will do my best to
help her realize this. I love the scripture found in Luke 15 when Jesus told the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

He said, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,
and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my
sheep which was lost.”

I love that parable because it shows us how much Heavenly Father and Jesus value every soul. Each person is valued greatly by our
Heavenly Father. Once our Beehives realize that they have Individual Worth, they will be able to walk the straight and narrow path
back to our Heavenly Father.

Divine Nature: My value, Divine Nature, is the basis of our lives. Recorded in 2 Peter 1:4, we find “…be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world…”

Another scripture which tells us of our Divine Nature is found in D&C 93:28-29 which tells us that “Man was also in the beginning
with God.”

When our precious young Beehives realize that they were once in the presence of our Heavenly Father, they will be on the course
which they must follow all their lives. They chose to follow their elder brother, Jesus Christ, in the councils of heaven. With that
understanding, they will be better prepared to keep all the Young Women values and prepare to do right all their lives.

SONG (optional): “I Am a Child of God” p. 301

Head Angel: Thank you for accepting your challenges for 2001. It looks like our Laurel, Mia Maid, and Beehive are off to a great
New Beginning. Look out 2001 – here we come!

(Rings chime.)

Off we go, Values Angels! (She turns to leave)

FAITH (steps forward shyly & hesitantly and taps Head Angel on the shoulder): Excuse me, Head Angel, but haven’t you forgotten
one of the values?

Background Music: “Faith”, Children’s Songbook p. 96

Head Angel: Oh, Faith, how could I overlook you? I’m so sorry. You have the biggest job of all. Thank you for reminding me. No
Young Women could strengthen her testimony without you. What is your plan?

FAITH: First, I’ll teach them that Faith is like a seed which must be planted and nurtured so it will grow. I love to hear them sing
about Faith which they learned in Primary.

SONG: (optional) “Faith” p. 96

Also, I promise to help them remember their baptismal covenants. I’ll help them each day to always remember their Savior, Jesus
Christ, so they can have his spirit with them. If they will do that, they will have a great New Beginning to a special new year.

Walks over behind Beehive)

Background Music: “Let the Holy Spirit Guide” p. 143

Head Angel: Thank you, Faith, for taking upon you this tremendously important responsibility.

I’ll check my list once more to make sure I haven’t overlooked anything.

Let’s see…(looks at clipboard & checks off each value as she walks past each angel)

Knowledge…check.

Good Works…check.

Choice & Accountability…check.

Integrity…check.

Divine Nature…check.

Individual Worth…check

Faith…check.

All are present and accounted for.

Now we’re really ready to help our precious Young Women grow in the gospel and let the Holy Spirit Guide them in all their
decisions and choices.

SONG: “Let the Holy Spirit Guide” p. 143

(Source http://youngwomen.faithweb.com/yw_newbegin_spirit.html)