The summer that my father died, my family all came down to visit. Before that time, we were never really that close. Now, if there is anything that anyone needs help with, someone in my family always helps. We have grown much closer in the past two years, and we are all helping to strengthen our family value. Even the little things count, such as, no matter what we have planned , . . . we all put it off and meet together to eat dinner once a week. In the long run, it's always the little things that matter most.

The above letter from a young woman in Memphis, Tenn., - one of many recently sent to the Young Women general presidency - aptly reflects the theme of the 1998 Young Women Worldwide Celebration - "Turning Hearts to the Family."To be observed throughout the year and culminating in November with ward and stake activities, the worldwide celebration will "help each young woman turn her heart to and strengthen her association with her family," wrote President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, in a July 28, 1997, letter to general and local priesthood leaders.

"Each young woman will be encouraged to participate in activities that focus on the family or that focus on strengthening the family," President Packer continued. "Each local celebration is under the direction of and with the approval of the bishop or stake president. The scripture reference for this yearlong celebration is Malachi 4:6: `And he shall turn . . . the heart of the children to their fathers.' "

The worldwide theme will also be the focus of the General Young Women Meeting, to be telecast March 28 from the Tabernacle on Temple Square. The general meeting will include many feelings and experiences of young women gleaned from correspondence sent to the Young Women general presidency. (Please see related article on this page.)

The Church News recently met with Young Women Gen. Pres. Margaret D. Nadauld and her counselors, Carol B. Thomas and Sharon G. Larsen, to discuss the worldwide celebration and its potential influence in the lives of young women and their families. In speaking of the theme, Sister Nadauld said, "The family can be such a strong support system," while Sister Thomas called a good family life "an umbrella against the storms of life."

The general presidency agrees that the theme can not only help a girl in her relationships with her family now but also prepare her for her future family.

"The divinely ordained role of a woman is to be the nurturer of the family, and the period of time in a girl's life when she trains for her most important role is the teenage years," Sister Nadauld explained. "The best way to prepare for the future is in the laboratory of the home she is growing up in right now."

Sister Nadauld urged local leaders to observe the guidelines for the worldwide celebration, which invites each young woman to do the following in 1998:

- Read and study "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." A young woman is also encouraged to prepare "a record of her family's history, and prepare at least one family name for temple ordinances."

- "Participate in activities that focus on the family or on strengthening the family.

- "Participate in a culminating activity that will be held in each unit during November. Celebration activities should help young women develop increased love for and understanding of the eternal nature of families."

Parents, Young Women leaders and priesthood leaders are urged to participate in the culminating activity. The culminating activity program, the guidelines added, may "include plays, art exhibits, musical presentations, and other talent displays, as well as personal stories and testimonies that exemplify the theme."

The guidelines direct Young Women leaders to help young women choose Personal Progress Value Experiences and Laurel Value Projects that focus on four categories: turning to the family, turning to ancestors, turning to the future and turning to service. The guidelines also suggest several such value experiences under each category, such as the following:

- Turning to the Family. One suggested value experience is to "regularly perform acts of kindness for a family member. . . ."

"I think that parents have felt it was their responsibility for the climate of the home. What we're trying to do is help these young women recognize that it's everyone's responsibility to serve and bless the family," Sister Larsen noted.

- Turning to Ancestors. Suggested experiences include interviewing a grandparent on his/her life and doing family history research. Sister Thomas spoke of a recent visit to Asia. "It was really exciting to talk about this celebration with young women over there because they already have such an understanding and insight about turning their hearts to their ancestors."

She continued: "I don't think some youth today recognize that their ancestors or their grandparents can give them the nourishment they need. I'm not sure that we as grandparents recognize that we have the power, the responsibility to give our grandchildren nourishment."

- Turning to the Future. Young women are encouraged to set such goals as making a list of traditions they want to establish in their future homes and families.

"I think traditions help youth gain a sense of identity," Sister Larsen said. And those traditions can be simple, the general presidency noted, such as eating breakfast and dinner together and holding family home evening.

- Turning to Service. Value experiences include service in the home and in the community. Sister Larsen explained that an important "safeguard" to the spiritual well-being of a young woman is that she feels needed.

One of the hymns to be sung at the general meeting will be "Scatter Sunshine," (Hymns, #230), an apt choice, for as Sister Larsen said, "That's what these young women are doing" - they "cheer and bless and brighten ev'ry passing day."