Ideas for Young Women's Mutual Activities

Each week, the young women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meet together to participate in Mutual. They participate in an activity that fosters fun, friendship and a firmer foundation in the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Planning an entire year of Mutual activities for LDS young women is no simple calling.

The Young Women and Young Men Presidency, with its advisors is one of the most important, yet difficult callings within a ward or stake. It can be challenging to come up with unique, fun ideas that motivate young women to show up regularly while also fulfilling a higher purpose.

Get the Young Women Involved in the Planning
Having the first mutual activity of the year be a "PJs and planning party" is a great idea. Young women can come in their PJs and slippers, share popcorn, fruit and smoothies, and contribute ideas for the coming year's activity schedule, based on their personal needs and interests.

LDS young women's leaders often simply don't know what interests their youth, and giving the girls an opportunity to voice their thoughts gives leaders real insight into what may motivate them.

Involve Others in Mutual Nights
Between Sunday classes and weekly activities, LDS young women often hear from their leaders frequently. It is refreshing to see a new face, hear from a new speaker, learn about a career or hear a gospel message from someone new. Call upon the help of young women's parents, ward missionaries, other ward members, and even non-members from the community to teach a skill.

Young Women's Mutual Activity Ideas & Suggestions
Overall, there are 3 basic purposes to the LDS Mutual program:

Helping young women participate in wholesome and fun experiences, while developing friendships with their peers
Allowing young women to experience spiritual growth and to work on their personal progress, and
Giving young women opportunities to serve others

Fun Young Women Activities
Activities that get young women excited enough to attend regularly and invite their friends is not an easy task, especially when it needs meet a ward or stake budget.

The following ideas may satisfy both:
~"P" night: girls adorn themselves in as many "P" items for the evening. (PJs, polka dot shirts, platform boots, ponytails, etc.) The girl with the most "P" items wins.
~Video game tournament: Wii, Rock Band, or Dance Dance Revolution
~Jewelry making with the help of an experienced adult
~Spotlighting Talents night: where each girl displays her talents on a personally decorated table in the cultural hall. Parents and stake members are invited to attend and admire each girl's accomplishments.
~Hair Updos
~Makeup Classes
~Photo scavenger hunt
~Fitness Challenge
~Chocolate Confections Class: learn to make chocolates in molds, along with other confections
Daddy Daughter "How Well Do You Know Me" Game: See which daddy/daughter combination knows the most about each other in a question/answer competition. The one with the most correct answer wins.
~Learn how to roll sushi, handrolls and spring rolls
~Visit or work a haunted house near Halloween
~Manicures and pedicures with the Achievement Day girls
~Cake decorating
~Internet safety presentation for Facebook, Twitter and MySpace
~Spa Night with facials, scrubs, and mani/pedis
~Ice skating or roller skating
~Competing in a local 5k
~Visiting a senior citizen center and singing Christmas carols or several piano/musical numbers
~Gold leafing a local temple on plastic, clear overhead paper

Every group of young women has a unique set of interests, so the best thing for leaders to do is ask for girls's input when planning these unique and fun activities.

Spiritually-Centered Young Women Activities
Mutual should also offer LDS girls with faith-building experiences whenever possible. This can be easily accomplished through activities that focus on the gospel and topics in the personal progress pamphlet.

Some ideas include:
~Scripture challenges
~Reading and conducting music
~Performing a song during Sacrament
~Q&A panel with the stake president on gospel topics
~Create a Family Home Evening lesson to present at home and also for the Primary group
~Visiting the local family history center to do genealogy work
~Sign language class: learn a hymn in sign language
~Patriarchal blessings preparation
~Create a fashion show highlighting modesty and learn how to purchase clothing with modesty in mind
~Learn how to change a flat tire, jump a car, check oil, etc.
~Participate in a self-defense lesson
~Learn how to mend, and sew on a button
~Learn how to separate, wash and fold laundry, as well as proper ironing techniques

Service-Centered Young Women Activities
Helping others is a critical part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you are in the service of others, you are in the service of Christ.

Some ideas for serving others include:
Creating food baskets for the less fortunate during the holidays
Assembling care packages for missionaries serving their mission from the ward
Cleaning up the church building
Service at women's shelter, public library, or animal shelter
Clean the ward nursery's toys "
"Yard Attack" houses of less-active members near Valentine's Day
Make and deliver dinners for ward members needed special help as defined by the Bishop
Crochet simple beanies for preemie babies at a local hospital
Organize a clothing drive and donate accumulated clothes to a homeless shelter
Create Valentine's for Vets and send them to a local VA hospital
Weed an elderly ward member's yard
Help clean the home of a member recovering from surgery or illness

Girls in the Young Women program are at a critial age. They are seriously searching to build their personal testimony and trying to fit in with their peers at school, church and other social venues. Mutual activities can provide the forum for personal growth, self esteem improvement, the building of homemaking skills, and and understanding of the importance of a quality education as well as gospel development.

The Young Women Personal Progress Pamphlets can be found online at:
http://www.lds.org/youthresources/pdf/YWProgress36035.pdf