Whether it be helping the homeless, the elderly or cleaning up community parks and roads, young women throughout the Church will join in a day of service on Nov. 21 for the Young Women Worldwide Celebration: "Walk in the Light."

"Our teenagers can be a powerful source for good in our communities," said Janette C. Hales, Young Women general president. "We hope that this day of caring for others will bring encouragement and hope where it's so badly needed."The event is the third in a series of worldwide Young Women celebrations. In November 1986, teenage girls around the world attached personal messages of hope and faith to helium-filled balloons and released them into the air.

Then in November 1989, young women in more than 100 countries rang bells to signal their willingness to help others and pattern their lives after the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"We're hoping that this day will help each young woman better understand the needs of her community, and that she can make a positive difference," Pres. Hales remarked. "We want this kind of service to become a part of her life, not just a one-time occasion.

"I can't think of a better way to help young women discern the good feeling that comes into life when they're doing something for others. It takes them out of themselves. It helps them feel connected to a bigger group - a group with values they share."

This year's celebration will begin a year-long emphasis on service for the young women, Pres. Hales noted.

Service projects for Nov. 21 are to be decided locally, based upon the needs of individual communities, according to guidelines sent to Church leaders. It is expected that more than 2 million hours of service will be given that day.

The Young Women logo, the torch, is the symbol for the celebration. The theme for the celebration, "Walk in the Light" comes from Isaiah 2:5.

Lights, flashlights, mirrors or stars can be used as part of the celebration to symbolize light, and the importance of a young woman's contribution as she joins her light with the light of others, the guidelines state.

It is anticipated that the afternoon or evening following the activity, young women, their parents, Young Women leaders and priesthood leaders will meet in their wards or stakes for a celebration program that will focus on the joy of service and encourage young women to share their light with others throughout the coming year.

The program will include talks and songs by young women and Young Women leaders and with feature audiocassette addresses by Pres. Hales and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Council of the Twelve.

Also, to commemorate the celebration, each young woman will receive a picture of the Savior to remind her that Christ is the light she holds up as she shows Christlike love and gives service. - Sheridan R. Sheffield