The Tema Stake Young Single Adults decided to have a Family Home Evening for their monthly activity at the stake center. Together they watched a video of a talk by Elder Holland regarding Valentine’s Day and love. Elder Holland talked about the attributes we look for in a spouse, including genuine love, charity, and trust. He also emphasized the importance of each person in a relationship bringing out the best in each other. When these types of feelings and attributes do not surface, then we should continue our dating experiences until we feel comfortable in these areas and enjoy a healthy relationship.
Elder and Sister Pierce, the Area YSA Senior Missionaries also presented the Area YSA Plan and discussed that the purpose of activities in the Church is to help each of us receive the essential ordinances, keep the associated covenants and qualify for Eternal Life—and for each of us to help one other person to do that as well. To assist the YSA’s in this effort, weekly Sunday School classes for YSA’s are being implemented as well as weekly family home evenings in each ward. These two Church approved programs which are discussed in handbook 2 will provide a place for YSA’s to meet and a place to call home. They will be able to enjoy the Gospel Doctrine curriculum and enjoy weekly activities planned with a gospel purpose which will strengthen testimonies and have fun socializing together.
Extending a hand of fellowship to one another as well as “one bringing one” back to activity was also discussed. Role playing was done to see how we should help each other feel welcome and needed. One role play was for the YSA leaders to ignore the others and not acknowledge them. A second role play showed the leaders shaking hands, introducing each other and expressing thanks for attending. After the role playing several were asked to share how they felt about the two situations. They all said they felt lonely, dejected and would not attend again from the first role play. They all said they felt welcome, valued and accepted on the second role play and they would want to attend again. They enjoyed a fun introduction game so that everyone could officially meet each other. The YSA’s lined up across from each other, introductions were made along with sharing one thing they’d like the others to know about them. Everyone then shifted to the next person until everyone was introduced. The group became closer together from these activities and expressed the desire to continue to build the YSA program in their wards. One person said that before this activity started he didn’t really know the names of others attending. He said that after these activities he felt much more a part of the group and felt like he knew them better.
The evening concluded with a closing song and prayer.