Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will address young women, their mothers and leaders in the General Young Women Meeting on Saturday [March 29, 2008] at 6 p.m.

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, will speak, as well as Young Women general president Susan W. Tanner and her counselors Elaine S. Dalton and Mary N. Cook.

This year's theme is "Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works," which comes from Mosiah 5:15 in the Book of Mormon.

Organization of the young women began in the early days of the church, said William Hartley in a 1979 issue of the Ensign. Elder Heber C. Kimball began having small discussions with youth and the meetings grew and grew. The youth made the group more official by writing a constitution, electing officers, and meeting every month. Anyone less than 30 years old in Nauvoo was welcome. The organization was the "Young Gentlemen's and Young Ladies Relief Society of Nauvoo."

Later, Brigham Young started the Young Ladies Retrenchment Society as part of the church, according to a conference address given by Delbert Stapley in 1969. President Young was concerned that the young women of the church were falling prey to the materialism of the world. President Young witnessed this trend abroad in the church but especially among his many daughters.

Copyright Brigham Young University 27 Mar 2008