Young Women's Virtue Hike

This year the General Young Women's Presidency added VIRTUE as value to the Young Women's program. The Presidency climbed Ensign Peak in UT and unfurled a gold banner calling for “a return to virtue.” They called for young women across the world to "arise and shine forth as a standard to the nations"

In the last Young Women's General Conference Sister Dalton recounted "Recently I heard of a group of young women in Peru who climbed a mountain and unfurled their banner to the world. Another group of Young Women and their leaders in Virginia wrote their testimonies and, like those in Peru, unfurled their banners to the world. I have received pictures of so many of you from California to Costa Rica who have made a commitment to remain virtuous and who are leading the world in a return to virtue."

She also shared how when she was a Young Women her leaders had her choose a symbol that would represent the life that she would live and what she would strive to become as a daughter of God. "I chose the symbol of a white rose because roses become more and more beautiful as they grow and blossom, and I chose the color white for purity." explained Sister Dalton.

Inspired by this great message our Young Women each chose a personal symbol and we created our own "Virtue Banner". On Wednesday we hiked to the summit of Mount Wachusett and unfurled our banner declaring the Gardner Ward Young Women's "Return to Virtue"

Ready... Set... Hike!!!

View from the Summit

Laura (carnation) was a real trooper.

She twisted her ankle half way up the trail and kept going all the way to the top!!

Enjoying a rest and lunch

Laura (gold star)

After lunch we gathered at the summit and unfurled our Virtue Banner. Each of our Young Women signed the banner with their name and their own personal symbol of purity. Amelia chose a water drop because "it is clean and pure". "The gold heart is for virtue and the pearl is for purity" explained Megan about her symbol of a bracelet. A white wedding dress was Bentley's choice, "You wear a white dress when you are blessed as a baby, white when you are baptized and a white dress when you go to the Temple." I chose a diamond ring for my symbol. Every time I look at my ring I remember the choice I made to remain virtuous before marriage and the covenant I made in the Temple to remain faithful to my husband.

Jana (wreath) Sarah(point shoe) and Megan(bracelet)

Jane(soccer ball), Laura(gold key), Dianara, Amy(white cat)

Bentley(white dress), Amelia(water drop)& her friends Bethany & Abby

I pray that each of my Young Women will remember this day and the commitment they made to be a Virtuous Daughter of God.
Carrying the Banner Home

Lake View

Well Deserved Popsicles