The Ultimate Guide for Young Women Leaders

Being called as a young women leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is both an honor and a responsibility. You’ve been entrusted to guide, love, and inspire the rising generation of covenant-keeping young women. Whether you’re brand new to the calling or have years of experience, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. This guide will walk you through practical teaching tips, activity ideas, ways to connect with your girls, and how to work well with your fellow leaders.

Teaching Tips for Young Women Leaders

One of the most meaningful parts of serving as a young women leader is teaching gospel truths that reach the hearts of the girls. Here are a few ways to make your lessons impactful:

• Start with prayer and scripture – Invite the Spirit from the beginning. Even a simple scripture verse sets a tone of reverence and learning.

• Use real-life application – The youth want to know how gospel principles connect to their daily lives. Share personal stories or ask them to share their own.

• Ask inspired questions – Rather than lecturing, invite discussion. Open-ended questions help the girls think deeply and feel ownership of their learning.

• Visuals and object lessons – Don’t be afraid to bring in props, pictures, or short videos. These make the doctrine memorable.

• End with testimony – No matter the lesson, always bear simple, sincere testimony. This leaves the strongest impression.

👉 For a done-for-you lesson outline including tips and prompts to help you (or the girls) make the most out of each lesson, check out this CFM Lesson Outline & Conducting Sheet.

Activity Ideas

Weekly activities are where strong bonds are built, and where girls can experience joy in living the gospel. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but you do want to make activities meaningful and fun. Some types of activities include:

• Service-based (visiting nursing homes, writing missionary letters, or cleaning up a park)

• Skill-building (learning cooking, budgeting, or self-defense)

• Spiritual growth (temple prep nights, family history workshops, or scripture challenges)

• Fun and bonding (game nights, hiking, or craft projects)

👉 For a full list of creative activity ideas, check out my 51 Youth Activities.

How to Connect with the Young Women

The greatest influence you’ll have as a young women leader won’t come from your lessons or activities, it will come from your relationships. Here’s how to build genuine connections:

• Be present – Attend activities and Sunday meetings consistently. Reliability builds trust.

• Listen more than you talk – Sometimes what the girls need most is simply to feel heard.

• Learn about their lives – Ask about school, friends, and interests. Show that you care about them as individuals.

• Use technology wisely – Sending a quick text, sharing a scripture, or commenting on their accomplishments goes a long way.

• Celebrate milestones – Birthdays, graduations, and personal progress achievements are perfect opportunities to cheer them on.

Working Well with Other Leaders

No young women leader serves alone. You are part of a presidency, and often coordinating with ward leaders, parents, and the bishopric. Healthy collaboration makes your service more joyful and effective.

• Communicate openly – Keep your presidency meetings organized and make sure everyone feels heard.

• Delegate – Don’t try to do everything yourself. Share assignments and trust your counselors and advisors.

• Support one another – Show appreciation and recognize the unique strengths of each leader.

• Stay aligned with the bishopric – Regularly counsel with priesthood leaders to ensure your efforts meet the needs of the ward.

• Pray together – Nothing unifies a presidency more than kneeling together in prayer for your young women.

Serving as a young women leader is one of the most rewarding callings in the Church. You get to watch young women grow in testimony, discover their divine identity, and prepare to make and keep sacred covenants. By teaching with the Spirit, planning purposeful activities, building relationships, and working hand in hand with other leaders, you can truly make a lasting impact.

Remember- your role isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present, being loving, and pointing these young women to Jesus Christ.