Family Home Evening Lesson #27: YOUNG WOMEN VALUES--INDIVIDUAL WORTH

1. Opening Prayer

2. Sing "Every Star is Different" Children's Songbook pg. 142

3. Read D&C 18:10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

4. Read and discuss the following from "Young Women Personal Progress"

I am of infinite worth with my own divine mission, which I will strive to fulfill.

Then read and discuss the following from the September 1989 Liahona:

No matter what our circumstances, or appearance, or social status, our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to recognize our self-worth. Furthermore, the Lord values his children for reasons far different from the world’s, for he “seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7.)

The world would like us to believe that the requirements for self-worth are beauty, youth, wealth, and success. But as Patricia Holland, former counselor in the Young Women general presidency, counseled women college students “[we are] becoming so concerned about having perfect figures, or straight A’s, or professional status, or even absolute motherly success that we are being torn from our true selves. We often worry so much about pleasing and performing for others that we lose our own uniqueness, that full and relaxed acceptance of ourselves as a person of worth and individuality.”

When we struggle with self-worth, we need to remember the story of the widow who offered her mite in the temple. Jesus did not call attention to the wealthy, who made a great display of presenting their offerings; instead, he used her as an example of a beautiful woman of great worth who was willing to share what she had with others. The widow probably was a woman few people knew or noticed. She probably did not wear the latest fashions or associate with the rich and powerful members of her community. We know her worldly possessions were few. But the Savior was not concerned about these things. He did not look on her outward appearance. He looked on her heart.

Like this widow, each of us has a contribution to make to the Lord’s work and to mankind. We all need to learn to recognize our worth to the Lord. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “We are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Rom. 8:16–17.) That is the foundation upon which we should base our individual “worth”—not on what the world might think of us.

5. Closing Prayer

Additional Resources: The Sanctity of Womanhood (New Era, Nov. 2008)