RuthAnne Strong: Watch Your Words!

Young Women September-Commandments

How do the things I say affect me and those around me?

I have a new calling and I am so excited about it! I'm a Mia Maids Advisor! This has been one of my dream callings ever since I looked up to my own leaders when I was a teen and in Young Women's.

The first lesson I gave was all about words! Words we read. Words we hear. Words we write. Words we speak, and words we think. I hung papers on the board of each of these statements. I asked the girls what each one means and what are some things we do of each. For example words we read could include books, emails, magazines, and words we hear are music, tv, movies and so on. I wanted to focus on words we speak and think because I think they really effect all of the others!

We read Ephesians 4:29-32 and discussed how that related to the 5 phrases on the board. I told the girls to keep these phrases in mind throughout the lesson and think about their own words and what they could change.

Our language can either uplift and encourage or hurt and offend. Our words have a powerful effect on others. The things we say can be offensive to God and others if we use profanity, gossip, crude language, or insults. How we speak can also affect our ability to receive guidance from the Holy Ghost.

We watched the video Bullying-Stop It. It honestly almost had me in tears. How often are we to say or do something without thinking, that could hurt someone else.

I then shared a story that was shared in General Conference a couple of sessions ago. It went as follows-Recently, as three-year-old Alyssa watched a movie with her siblings, she remarked with a puzzled expression, “Mom, that chicken is weird!” Her mother looked at the screen and responded with a smile, “Honey, that is a peacock.” Like that unknowing three-year-old, we sometimes look at others with an incomplete or inaccurate understanding. We may focus on the differences and perceived flaws in those around us whereas our Heavenly Father sees His children, created in His eternal image, with magnificent and glorious potential.

I shared an example of a youth in our ward bullying another youth and another youth stepped in and told them to stop it and that they were bullying. I was so proud of that youth that stood up for the person that was being bullied and how they put the bully in their place. I shared this experience because I wanted to bring to their attention that this is happening, it could even be happening to their friends or by their friends.

Elder Holland said, “It goes without saying that negative speaking so often flows from negative thinking, including negative thinking about ourselves. We see our own faults, we speak-or at least think-critically of ourselves, and before long that is how we see everyone and everything. No sunshine, no roses, no promise of hope or happiness. Before long we and everybody around us are miserable… Our words like our deeds should be filled with faith, hope and charity.”

This is a topic that everyone needs to hear. No matter their age, position in life, trials, or circumstances. Words have so much power! They can either build up or tear down. We can all remember a time when someones words have brought us sadness, we can also probably remember a time when someones words have made us feel hope or happiness. We must choose to have words full of positivity and love.

One of my favorite quotes is from Plato, "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." It's true! We each have our own problems and trials. Its so easy to be nice and kind, let's do that instead!

President Thomas S. Monson said, “In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. …Rather than being judgement or critical of one another, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow traveler in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her or his best to deal with the challenges which come her or his way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.”

I challenged the girls to find some ways that they can fill their words with faith, hope and charity in all the words they use in their life-whether they are words they think, hear write, read or speak!

For the handout I adapted this adorable handout idea from Little LDS Ideas, to include the last sentence that reads 'I'll be sure every word is full of faith, hope and charity each day.' To better go along with our lesson. It's a lovely poem to remind the girls that as they put on their chapstick they can remember to watch their words and the things they say. I included the very best Lip Smackers to each poem and for good measure I also gave a little treat-Watermelon Sour Patch candies, you could use Sour Patch Kids but I loved how the watermelon went with my color scheme for this lesson. Attached with another little warning 'Words can be sour or they can be sweet. Make sure your words are soft and sweet, in case you have to eat them!'