Lines separating the past, present and future seem to have blurred this year for young women throughout the Church.

Since January, as part of the yearlong 1998 Young Women Worldwide Celebration, they have discovered their roots in family history research, sought to bless their families with whom they now live, and prepared for families yet to come.And, as Young Women Gen. Pres. Margaret D. Nadauld noted, "It's a thrill to see this happen."

Throughout November, as the worldwide celebration winds down, young women and their leaders have been holding local celebrations to solidify and share with others the importance of families. They've had musical programs, plays and exhibits; they've made picture pedigree charts; and put their arms around grandparents and strengthened relationships with parents, brothers and sisters.

They have been, according to the theme of the celebration, "Turning Hearts to the Family."

Sister Nadauld and her counselors in the Young Women general presidency, Carol B. Thomas and Sharon G. Larsen, met with the Church News recently to discuss the 1998 worldwide celebration and its impact on the lives of young women and their families.

"This has been a wonderful theme," Sister Nadauld explained. "Turning hearts to the family has really helped the girls focus on how they can bless their families and how they can think about members of their families who have gone on before. This has served to strengthen family ties."

And, she emphasized, the theme has helped young women understand the importance of preparing now for motherhood.

"What a great time to talk to young women about their families and the responsibilities they will have as the heart of a home," the Young Women general president added.

Sisters Nadauld, Thomas and Larsen reflected on their travels in various areas of the Church this year and what they observed relating to the worldwide celebration. Sister Thomas noted that through the celebration, young women have been learning "they have the ability to make a difference in their families."

"And hopefully, when our young women have the desire to strengthen their families, it naturally rubs off on their parents," she continued.

Sister Larsen added: "More than ever before, the leaders and the girls have been involving families in Personal Progress. We have 173 value experiences that young women can be involved in that relate to the family."

Speaking of family involvement, Sister Nadauld said: "Fathers have started to realize that they are an important part of the Personal Progress experience with their daughters. We are hearing about fathers sitting down with their daughters on Sunday afternoon, going through the Personal Progress book and setting goals and working together reaching those goals.

"Fathers and mothers love the opportunity to sign off when a girl has reached a goal. It gives parents the opportunity to cheer for their daughters, to give them a pat on the back and a hug and say, `Way to go!' "

Another benefit of the celebration, agreed the general presidency, is the reminder of the importance of the Church family - about offering a safe, loving environment for young women who don't have strong families and about helping young and old alike realize they can make a difference in one another's life.

"I love the stories we've heard about young women who have turned to some of the older Relief Society sisters in their wards and tried to draw them into their circles of friendships. Not only have the older people helped the younger ones, but also the younger ones have helped the older ones," Sister Nadauld explained.

In addition, as a result of the celebration, more families are doing temple work together, Sister Larsen noted. "My neighbors, since this celebration began, go once a month to the temple as a family and do baptisms for the dead."

Continuing, Sisters Nadauld, Thomas and Larsen spoke about local celebrations that have been reported to them and to members of the Young Women General Board through correspondence or through area visits. They also spoke of the results in the lives of young women throughout the world. The following is representative:

- Windhoek, Namibia: Young women in the Windhoek Branch, South Africa Cape Town Mission, gathered for their celebration to share the Young Women Values and then, one at a time, shared "what it means to be a family," related Kaye T. Hanson, general board member, referring to correspondence she recently received. One young woman, Kate, related how "her father, a science teacher, had taught them to establish `equivalent bonds' in the home, like the way atoms become stable by sharing electrons."

- Sandy, Utah: Young women of the Willow Canyon 8th Ward featured "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." As the proclamation was read, a slide show portrayed the young women of the ward involved in family activities, such as receiving loving counsel from parents.

- Paranaque, Philippines: Elder Sheldon F. Child of the Seventy and president of the Philippines Area and Sister Nadauld spoke at the Paranaque stake's celebration. The evening included a talent presentation, including piano selections, singing and dancing. Included as speakers were several young women. At the end of the evening, the girls released bright-colored balloons with the date of the worldwide celebration written on them and their testimonies attached.

- Twin Falls, Idaho: One young woman in the Twin Falls Idaho West Stake set a Personal Progress goal to be married in the temple. General board member Elaine S. Dalton reported: "She went home and told her mother, who was not active. Her mother, in turn, told her father, who was not a member. Some time later, the mother said to her husband, `Because of our daughter's choice, I'm going to become active in the Church.' " The father was, as a result, baptized and the family is planning to be sealed in a temple in April.

- Idaho Falls, Idaho: In correspondence received by the general presidency, Rhiannon Decker, a 17-year-old in the Sunnyside 1st Ward, Idaho Falls Idaho South Stake, related how at the last minute she decided to go with some other young women to the stake's family history center. When her father, who was dropping her off, realized she was going to do family history research, he used his cellular phone to call the girl's grandmother. During her search, Rhiannon discovered names her grandmother did not have and some unfinished temple work for other ancestors.

Reflecting on these positive experiences, Sister Thomas said these young women are developing a spiritual maturity. "They seem to care more about having a spiritual connection. They yearn more for the spiritual things in life."