Ideas for Girl s Camp

Ideas for Girl’s Camp Themes: Happily Ever After Once Upon a Time Daughter of a King Theme Objective: Using Elder Uchtdorf’s conference talk “Your Ha...
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Ideas for Girl’s Camp Themes:

Happily Ever After Once Upon a Time Daughter of a King Theme Objective: Using Elder Uchtdorf’s conference talk “Your Happily Ever After” (from the April 2010 general conference) to help remind the young women of their divine worth and mission and to encourage them to “write the story” of their life so that they can reach eternal life--their happily ever after.

Theme Songs “Happily Ever After” (On the CD “Daughter of a King: The Best of Jenny Phillips for Young Women”) “Daughter of a King” (On the CD “Daughter of a King: The Best of Jenny Phillips for Young Women”)

Choose a Fairy tale or Fable Have each ward or tent/cabin choose a fairy tale. (Steer clear of Disney princesses, or at least those that are dressed immodestly such as Jasmine and Arial, Princesses and the Frog, etc. We don’t want to be sending the youth the message that immodesty makes us beautiful like a princesses.) Here are some ideas for fairy tales: Cinderella Little Red Riding Hood Beauty and the Beast Jack and the Beanstalk The Hare and the Tortoise

Rapunzel The Gingerbread Man The Ugly Duckling Sleeping Beauty The Three Little Pigs

Have them decorate their tents/cabins according to their fairy tale, have their role call have to do with their fairy tale, have them put on a skit having to do with their fairy tale, etc.

Use the Book “The Parable of the Princesses” or “The Parable of the Golden Pathway” Jenny Phillips book “The Parable of the Golden Pathway” has all the elements of a fairy tale, along with a great message about reaching your “happily ever after” which is eternal life. You could use GOLD as your camp color. You can read this book, play the recorded narration of the book, or put on the fireside that goes along with this book (see the Free Downloads page on www.jennyphillips.com for a script). Or use “The Parable of the Princesses” book by Jenny.

Camp Theme Journals Create a camp journal with the theme “Happily Ever After.” Encourage the girls to write in the journal each day about the spiritual experiences they have and feel.

Play the Video “Happily Ever After” Where feasible, play the video “Happily Ever After” and/or “Daughter of aKing” on a big screen at one of your night firesides or devotional. This DVD can be purchased on www.jennyphillips.com (it’s on the DVD called “Jenny Phillips DVD Presenations: Collection I”)

Decorations You can decorate camp with a princess or a fairy tale theme, but also consider decorating/theming things with blank pieces of paper and pens or pencils (symbolic of them writing their own stories) and books. You could make your own “feathered pen” decorations.

Other Ideas 1) Names: Use medieval names such as Jesters, Squires, Minstrels, Jousters, Lords and Ladies, etc. to label leaders and staff. The girls, of course, are the princesses. 2) Flags: Have each “castle” (tent or cabin) come up with a name and a motto. On the first day, have them decorate a flag representing their theme. 3) Games: Hold a “towne fair” featuring different medieval themed activities such as tug of wars, jousting events, a dragon lair ropes course, etc. 4) Food: Label food items with medieval names such as, “dragon eggs” and "princess pancakes." 5) Royal Feast: For closing ceremonies, hold a royal banquet. Have a medieval dinner of chicken, corn on the cob, a fruit with no silverware-reigned over by a queen. Give each girl a special award ("most likely to lose her brush," "best snore," etc.). As they receive their award, crown each girl with a tiara (check the Dollar Store or Oriental Trading).

Activities Idea: “Write Your Own Story” Activity Have a devotional with the girls and talk to them about the fact that we choose what our story will be here on this earth. While we may not be able to choose all of the things that happen to us, it is up to us to choose what we become. Create a page or a small book for them to “write their own story” in. Prepare them spiritually, and then have them each find a quiet place where they can pray and write. You may choose to have them use the following headings in their story: My Story by _________________________ What I think my pre-mortal self wanted to do in this life when I came to earth How well am I accomplishing those things? How can I do better? How does having a knowledge of the gospel change the way I view this life? How I Want My Story to End

Idea: The “Happily Ever After” Hike Before the hike, talk about how we should continually walk towards and seek after those things which are lovely, virtuous, of good report, and praiseworthy. Our little steps will be bundled together and determine our character and who we become and how our story on this earth ends. If we set our sights higher and always look up to the Lord and work hard, we can eventually become like Him. Have signs posted along the way with these items from the 13th article of faith: Honest True Chaste Benevolent Virtuous Doing Good

Option #1: Bookmark Give each of the girls a bookmark before they leave for the hike that says “Happily Ever After” at the top of it. At each sign, have a stamp with the characteristic on it in a treasure box by the sign. When they get to the sign, they can stamp their bookmark. By the time they get to the top, they will have all the characteristics stamped on their bookmark. Option #2: Necklace Give each girl a string tied in a knot that will fit easily over their heads. At each sign, have a ribbon with one of the traits of Christ written on it. They can tie the ribbon to their necklace. By the time they get to the top, they will have all the traits tied onto their necklace.

Idea: “Happily Ever After” Workshops These workshops are designed to help teach the young women how to become “the fairest in the land” through examples and messages of well known fairy tales. Break the girls into groups and hold 3-4 of following rotating workshops (about 10 minutes each). And then combine everyone together for the “Fairest of Them All” workshop. “The Fairest of Them All” *Assign a leader to teach this class. They can use the info below to create their class along with their own ideas. 1. Read this story of Sleeping Beauty: Translated by L.L. Weedon. Long, long ago, in the winter-time, when the snowflakes were falling like little white feathers from the sky, a beautiful Queen sat beside her window, which was framed in black ebony, and stitched. As she worked, she looked sometimes at the falling snow, and so it happened that she pricked her finger with her needle, so that three drops of blood fell upon the snow. How pretty the red blood looked upon the dazzling white! The Queen said to herself as she saw it, "Ah me! If only I had a dear little child as white as the snow, as rosy as the blood, and with hair as black as the ebony window-frame." Soon afterwards a little daughter came to her, who was white as snow, rosy as the blood, and whose hair was as black as ebony--so she was called "Little Snow-White." But alas! When the little one came, the good Queen dies. A year passed away, and the King took another wife. She was very beautiful, but so proud and haughty that she could not bear to be surpassed in beauty by anyone. She possessed a wonderful mirror which could answer her when she stood before it and said: "Mirror, mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest of all?" The mirror answered. "Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all, and the Queen was contented, because she knew the mirror could speak nothing but the truth. But as time passed on, Little Snow-White grew more and more beautiful, until when she was seven years old, she was as lovely as the bright day, and still more lovely than the Queen herself, so that when the lady one day asked her mirror"Mirror, mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?" it answered- "O Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see." The Queen was horrified, and from that moment envy and pride grew in her heart like rank weeds, until one day she called a huntsman and said "Take the child away into the woods and kill her, for I can no longer bear the sight of her. 2. Tell the girls that they all know the end of the story of Snow White (or paraphrase it). Talk about how in Sleeping Beauty, the evil queen wanted nothing more than to be physically beautiful. When we focus so much of our thoughts and desires on becoming physically beautiful rather than on gaining Christ-like attributes, we can acquire the same traits the evil queen acquired: vanity, envy, self centerdness, and pride. Talk about what truly makes a person beautiful is not what we see in the mirror. That is a temporary and surface beauty. 3. Read the following: “ . . . A girl is beautiful when her virtue cannot be questioned; when her stability and faith in the Church are steadfast. A girl is beautiful when she is sincere and humble; when she looks upon a child with affection and upon a sufferer with compassion. She is beautiful because she has a smile and a cheerful word for her associates. Beauty does not lie in the face alone, but rather, it is measured by character and the sweetness of her disposition.” (Teachings of Harold B. Lee) 4. Talk about how modesty and virtue help a girl have real beauty. Play or sing the song “Return to Virtue” (from “We Believe: Songs for Youth 2011.”)

Pinocchio’s Nose (Integrity) 1. Tell the story of Pinocchio (or read it from a short children’s book). Talk about the part where Pinocchio’s nose grows longer with every lie he tells. At one point, he lies to a good fairy, and his nose grows so long that he can’t get out of his house. Talk about what happens to us when we lie. Our nose doesn’t grow longer, but we loose the spirit, we loose self respect, and we loose trust and respect. Being someone full of integrity, someone people can trust and count on, will attract people to you. 2. Look up conference reports on honest and consider using these quotes: Teachings of Howard W. Hunter (Honesty & Integrity) “When we are honest we experience joy. We often speak of that scriptural reference, "Man is that he might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). There is a joy which comes to one from being honest. Let me tell you how. By this means you can have the companionship of the Master and you can have the spirit of the Holy Ghost. Violations of the code of honesty will deprive you of these two great blessings.” “This great quality of integrity is fully available to us. If effectively used, it will solve all of our problems in government, religion, industry, and our individual lives. It would wipe out the awful scourge of crime, divorce, poverty, and misery. It would make us successful here and save our souls hereafter. (88-01)” “We should think about the results of dishonesty. Think of what an act of dishonesty will do to you. It does not make any difference whether it is great or small. First, it will affect your whole life. We never live it down. We never forget about it because it is engraved upon our conscience, never to be forgotten. Secondly, it will affect others in many ways. The injury is far-reaching. Its malignancy extends to our friends, our relatives, our loved ones, and persons we may never see. Thirdly, it affects our relationship to the Savior. It closes the channel of communication and shuts out light from our life.” “Integrity is the golden key to the door of success. One of the greatest accomplishments of our lives is to promote an honest, earnest integrity within ourselves. This means that we become spiritually sound, intellectually sincere, morally honest, and always personally responsible to God. Integrity is that golden key which will unlock the door to almost any success.” 3. Play or sing the song “Honest” (from “We Believe: Songs for Youth 2011”) Cinderella (Humility) Create a workshop on Cinderella that talks about how Cinderella’s humility attracted the prince to her and made her beautiful. Talk about how the “glass slipper” belongs to the humblest girl in the kingdom. The Three Little Pigs (Work) Tell the story of the 3 little pigs or have a skit of it performed. Talk about how hard work creates strong character that can’t be “blown” down by the big bad wolf. Have a stick, a piece of straw, and a brick. As a volunteer to try to break the straw, then the stick, and then the brick. Explain that the harder we study and work in the gospel the stronger our testimonies will become. Testimonies that aren’t worked on are like straw or twigs. Through scriptures study, attending our meetings, pray & fasting, seminary, etc. our testimonies grow more like bricks than straw. You could create a handout that is a tag on a little twig that says “Is your testimony like a piece of straw, a twig, or a brick?” Other Workshops Other workshops could be created based on other fairy tales. Idea: Fairy tale Skits Divide the girls into groups. Give each group the synopsis of a well-known fairy tale and a box of props and dress ups. (They don’t all have to go along with the fairy tale. Tell them to be creative.) Give them 15 minutes to come up with a skit to put on about their fairy tale for all of the girls. Or have them to come up with a fun twist on the well known fairy tale. Idea: Letter Writing Have a fun workshop on the art of “letter writing.” Encourage the girls to write letters and notes throughout their lives to family members and missionaries. Talk about the importance of thank you notes. Supply the girls with nice stationary and envelopes. Have them write a thank you letter to someone (either at camp or to bring home with them).

Idea: Wax Seals Teach the girls how to create wax seals to seal their envelopes as used in medieval times. You can get custom made wax stampers on the internet. It may be fun to create a wax seal with your camp theme. Idea: Calligraphy Class Have one of the leaders teach the girls a short calligraphy lesson. You can provide the girls with parchment paper, quills (or pens), and ink as well as calligraphy charts they can copy letters from.

Idea: The Kingdom Mail Service Have each cabin or tent create a “mailbox” decorated in fairy tale fashion and put the mailbox somewhere by the tent or cabin, or have all the mailboxes in one central location like in the eating area. Give the girls stationary, envelopes, parchment cards & seals, etc. You could create a cute little packet for each of the girls to give out when they arrive at camp. Encourage the girls to write anonymous notes and letters to other girls in the camp and secretly deliver them to the mailbox of their camp or tent. Once a day the leaders can hand out the “mail.” Leaders should note which girls are not getting letters and create some anonymous notes for them to put in the mailbox as well.

Idea: Fairest One Scrolls Before camp, give the mother and/or father of each girl a piece of parchment paper (or stationary) and ask them to write a letter to their daughter expressing their love and appreciation for them. At the top of the paper have the heading “To the Fairest of Them All.” Roll up the parchment and attach it with a bow. Give the scrolls to the girls at a special time at camp.

Idea: Medieval Letter Blocks Find a fun, decorative, medieval or renaissance font (with flowers and designs, etc.) and print out a chart of all the letters. Provide the girls with permanent colored pens and small white squares of cardstock. Have them do each letter of their name on a different square. You could also modge podge the letters to small wooden blocks.

Idea: My Once Upon a Time Purse Journal Supplies/Tools needed: -4 pieces double-sided patterned paper -2 pieces pre-cut paper for purse flap -Xacto knife or craft blade -Multipurpose spray adhesive -Hole punch -Composition notebook (optional: sides of book cut on angles. Office supply stores will cut them.) -18-inches of twisted paper ribbon (or regular ribbon) -Tape and glue -Desired embellishments, flower, etc. Instructions: 1.Cut four pieces of patterned paper to 10”x11”. These pieces will be for the front and back outside and inside covers of the book/purse. 2.Glue or tape the first four pieces to the outside front cover of the book. Consider the direction of the patternplace it so it faces in the desired direction. Match an edge up to the black binding of the book, but do not wrap the paper around the binding. Glue down. Open the cover and lay it flat. Use a craft knife to trim the excess paper to match the edges of the book. 3.Do the same, one at a time, for the other outside cover and both inside covers 4.Make the purse flap by gluing the smaller of the two triangular pieces onto the larger triangle. 5.Determine which cover is the front of the book/purse. Take the triangular flap piece and place it on the front cover so it is centered and so that there is enough of it to wrap over the bound edge of the book. Get it placed where you like it and then gently bend it over the binding and onto the back. Now that you have a bend in the triangular piece, pick it up and punch a hole about ½” in from the edge of the bend-these holes will be for the ribbon handle. 6.Once the holes are punched in the triangular flap piece, glue it securely in place on the book/purse 7.Thread one end of the ribbon under and up through on of the holes. Knot is so the knot is over the hole. Bring the other end of the ribbon around, under, and up through the other hole. Knot it. If you are using fabric ribbon, brush some clear nail polish over the ribbon ends to prevent fraying. 8.Decorate the front of the purse. See photo for example. Add a buckle, buttons, flowers, stickers, or other embellishments. Add My Once Upon A Time decal (on the next page).

My Once Upon a Time My Once Upon a Time My Once Upon a Time My Once Upon a Time My Once Upon a Time My Once Upon a Time

Craft Idea: Integrity/Virtue Bracelets Using the colors purple (value color for integrity) and gold (value color for virtue), make friendship bracelets. In the personal progress booklet it says: “Integrity is the willingness and desire to live by our beliefs and standards.” This bracelet is a reminder that to live with integrity means you must also live with virtue. This is a great physical reminder to the youth every time they see it that to be a person of integrity and to be honest and true to the covenants they have made at baptism to keep the commandments and be virtuous. Have a devotional on how integrity and virtue go side by side, and then make the bracelets.

Idea: The “Map” to Happily Ever After In Elder Uchtdorf’s talk “Your Happily Ever After” (April 2010 General Conference), he talks about the “map” that our Heavenly Father has given us: “We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan. Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. Sisters, they suppose wrong.” Create an activity where you leave a treat or special gift at a certain spot in camp. Then give each girl a map of the camp (you can draw it yourself--it can be a rough map!). In one specific and known area of the map (such as the amphitheater, or the flag pole), put an X close to it. In the “Instructions” explain how to get to the treat (put the treat behind a bush or a tree, etc. not right out in the open). For example: Instructions: Go to the flag pole by the amphitheater. Look in the bushes right by the flagpole for a box covered with a brown blanket. Have the girl’s bring the treat or gift back to your gathering place where you can talk to them. Ask them how easy it was to find the treats (it should’ve been very easy, even though the treat/gift wasn’t right out in the open.) Explain to them that the map was very clear, and it was easy to arrive at the treat/gift if they simply followed the map and instructions. Explain that the Lord has also given us a clear map. Read this from Elder Uchtdorf’s talk: “We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan. Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. Sisters, they suppose wrong.” -Have a discussion about how easy it is to not look at and follow the map Heavenly Father has given us, but just like it was easy to find the treat/gift with the map, we can find eternal life, our happily ever after, if we will but follow the map.

Follow the Map to Happily Ever After

Follow the Map to Happily Ever After

Follow the Map to Happily Ever After

“All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.

“All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.

“All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.

Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. Sisters, they suppose wrong . . .

Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. Sisters, they suppose wrong . . .

Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. Sisters, they suppose wrong . . .

“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.”

“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.”

“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.”

~Elder Uchtdorf

~Elder Uchtdorf

~Elder Uchtdorf

(April 2010 General Confernce)

(April 2010 General Confernce)

(April 2010 General Confernce)

Follow the Map to

Happily Ever After

“All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.

Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. Sisters, they suppose wrong . . .

“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.”

~Elder Uchtdorf

(April 2010 General Confernce)

princess Finishing School Girl’s Camp Workshops Each girl was sent here to earth by a loving Father in heaven who wants her to return. As the daughter of a Heavenly King, she is a princess. Heavenly Father has bestowed her with special gifts and lots of help to overcome the tests of “finishing school” and return home with honor. Each day hold a class period for “Princess Finishing School” taught by a leader or special guest.

“What a Princess Wears” Theme: A princess is always modest Song Idea: Play or perform the song “Beauty Is” at the beginning of ending of this workshop. Activity Ideas: -Start out by asking the girls what they think a princess would wear (long gowns, tiaras, jewels, slippers. -Have a big basket full of royal looking cloth--some in long thin strips that can be used as sashes and to tie things togehter, some large enough to drape around as a skirt, etc. You could also have a couple different tiaras, fake jewels, etc. Have the young women use the supplies to fashion a princess dress on one of the other young women. -Explain that when we think of princesses, we think of a girl wearing a gown, a tiara, etc. But when our Heavenly Father thinks of a princess, he thinks of a young women dressed modestly who is wearing the armor of God. -Explain that when we think of what we should wear, sometimes we only think of what we SHOULDN’T wear. But it’s also important that we are wearing the armor of God. -Tape 5 dollar bills all over a young woman. Then ask the young women what would happen if that young woman walked like that in the L.A. ghetto late at night. She would just be asking for trouble to be attracted to her. Wearing immodest clothes also attracts trouble to us. If possible, play the video “Virtue” which talks about this concept  (available on the DVD “Jenny Phillips DVD Presentations: Collection I”) Other Resources: Silvia H. Allred, "Modesty: A Timeless Principle for All ," Ensign, July 2009 Robert D Halles, “Modesty: Reverence for the Lord,” Liahona, August 2008 Modesty Checklist, Friend May 2010: When you get dressed to go to school, church, or just be with your friends, look over this checklist to make sure your appearance reflects what you believe. Ask yourself, “If I were with Jesus Christ, would I feel comfortable with my appearance?” My shoulders are covered. My shirt covers my stomach. My shorts or skirt go to my knees. My shirt is not low-cut. My clothes are not tight. I don’t look sloppy. My hair is combed. My clothes are not saggy, torn, or holey to fit in with a style. Labels or words on my clothes are respectful, not rude or offensive. Tip: Sometimes you might think your clothes are modest—until you start moving around. To make sure you will still be modest if you bend over or run around, sing the Primary song, “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” and do the actions while you sing. If you can still be modest with all that movement, you’re ready to go!

“How to Prepare for a Royal Wedding” Theme: Temple Marriage Read the following story written by Jenny Phillips: “In 2011 prince William and Catherine Middleton were married at a huge royal wedding at Westminster Abbey. I’ve been to Westminster Abbey. It is an incredibly beautiful place. As I, with millions of others, watched the coverage of this royal wedding, I was amazed at the splendor, and grandeor, and beauty of the wedding. But suddenly, with sadness, I realized that as grand as this wedding looked, it was only a union until death, and that their wedding lacked all the covenants and blessings pertaining to a marriage in the House of God. It was fun to watch, and it was a very nice wedding, but it made me grateful for my own wedding. When I was married, I was also married in an incredibly beautiful place--the Provo temple. It was beautiful, quiet, splendid, and sacred. It was not viewed by millions of people, but it was in every sense a true “royal weddig.” My marriage included sacred and eternal covenants with God and blessings that are beyond description if we but remain faithful. When we are married in the temple, we have the one true opportunity of becoming a queen one day. Being sealed in the temple to our spouse is the only way we can continue to be married and have children in the eternities. How incredible it is that every worthy young women can have the chance to have a “royal wedding” that far outweighs the worldy weddings of the world’s royalty.” Activity Ideas: -Talk about preparing for a royal wedding: what you have to do to be worthy to enter the temple. -Do the “Worth Waiting For” craft Kit and corresponding activity available on www.jennyphillips.com for only $3 each.http://www.jennyphillips.com/products/craft-kits/

-Play the video “Worth Waiting For” (7 minutes long) available on the DVD “Arise and Shine Forth” on www.jennyphillips.com. Preview the video here: http://www.youtube.com/jennyphillipsmusic. -It would be fun after showing the video “Worth Waiting For” (which includes cupcakes in the video) to close with someone performing the song “Worth Waiting For” and then serving cupcakes.

“A Letter From the King” Theme: Patriarchal Blessings: Guidance from a Loving Heavenly King Main Idea: One way that Heavenly Father shows His personal love for each of us is through Patriarchal Blessings. Each young woman is entitled to receive her very own. Patriarchal blessings help us know that Heavenly Father knows each of us personally and has a plan for our lives. Each Blessing is a personal "map" for our quest to return home. Activity Idea: Have a lesson on how our patriarchal blessings are a testimony of our Heavenly Father’s individual lover and concern for us, and how our patriarchal blessings can give us personal guidance in our lives. You could cover: 1) What does a patriarchal blessing contain? 2) When should I receive my patriarchal blessing? Julie B. Beck: “Your bishop and parents can help you decide when the right time is for you, because the age and readiness are different for each person. 6 When you understand the meaning and purpose of a patriarchal blessing and have a sincere desire to do the work of the Lord, you should be mature enough to receive your blessing. 7 Sometimes people wait longer than is needed to receive their blessing, thinking that they need to qualify for it in some special way. If you can qualify to receive a recommend to do baptisms at the temple, then you should be able to qualify for a patriarchal blessing. It is important to prepare for your blessing with fasting and prayer so that your spirit is humble and teachable. Your personal preparation is very important. (General Conference, April 2006)

Other Resources: James E. Faust (“Priesthood Blessings”Ensign, Nov. 1995) “As moved upon by the Holy Spirit, the patriarch declares by inspiration the lineage in the house of Israel of the recipient, together with such blessings, spiritual gifts, promises, advice, admonition, and warnings the patriarch feels inspired to give. The patriarchal blessing is, in essence, a prophetic blessing and utterance. A patriarchal blessing from an ordained patriarch can give us a star to follow, which is a personal revelation from God to each individual. If we follow this star, we are less likely to stumble and be misled. Our patriarchal blessing will be an anchor to our souls, and if we are worthy, neither death nor the devil can deprive us of the blessings pronounced. They are blessings we can enjoy now and forever. As with many other blessings, patriarchal blessings should ordinarily be requested by the one desiring the blessing. Responsibility for receiving a patriarchal blessing rests primarily on the individual when he or she has sufficient understanding of the significance of a patriarchal blessing. I encourage all members of the Church having this maturity to become worthy and obtain their blessings. By their very nature, all blessings are conditional on worthiness, regardless of whether the blessing specifically spells out the qualifications. The patriarchal blessing is primarily a guide to the future, not an index to the past. Therefore, it is important that the recipient be young enough that many of the significant events of life are in the future . . . Patriarchal blessings should be read humbly, prayerfully, and frequently. A patriarchal blessing is very sacred and personal, but it may be shared with close family members. It is a sacred guideline of counsel, promises, and information from the Lord; however, a person should not expect the blessing to detail all that will happen to him or her or to answer all questions. The fact that one’s patriarchal blessing may not mention an important event in life, such as a mission or marriage, does not mean that it will not happen. In order to receive the fulfillment of our patriarchal blessings, we should treasure in our hearts the precious words they contain, ponder them, and so live that we will obtain the blessings in mortality and a crown of righteousness in the hereafter . . . Our blessings can encourage us when we are discouraged, strengthen us when we are fearful, comfort us when we sorrow, give us courage when we are filled with anxiety, and lift us up when we are weak in spirit. Our testimonies can be strengthened every time we read our patriarchal blessings.”

“Recording Your Happily Ever After” Theme: Journal writing Main Theme: We each have the chance to “write” our own happy endings. We decide what our destiny will be! An important part of this process is keeping a journal. Discuss the importance of journal writing and encourage each girl to set some goals. Activity: Take the campers into the woods. Instruct them to bring only their scriptures, journals, and a pen. Have them find a secluded spot where they can silently read and record feelings in their journals. Other Resources : Gayle M. Clegg, "The Finished Story," Ensign, May 2004, 14 Hartman Rector Jr., "Turning the Hearts," Ensign, May 1981, 73

“Princesses of Potential: How to Become a QUEEN!” Theme: “What Makes a Princess: Perfecting the Traits of Royalty” Main Theme: How should a future queen live and behave? Discuss what it means to be a modern day “princess.” What happens if we choose not to live like the daughter of a king should? What do we forfeit when we make wrong choices? As daughters of a King we have a royal inheritance in store-if we live worthy to receive it. We are promised treasures such as eternal life, continuing relationships with our families, lasting peace and happiness, the kingdom of God, eternal increase, a crown of righteousness, etc tors, etc. Perform your commercials for each other! Activity Idea: Treasure Hunt Craft: Jewelry Boxes! Simple, unfinished jewelry boxes can be bought at craft stores. The girls could sand them, paint, decorate and/or stain them. Other Resources: "Be Loyal to the Royal Within" by Harold B. Lee "In Search of Treasure," by Thomas S. Monson "A Fortune to Share," by Elder Sterling W. Sill Matthew 6:19-21

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