Global Youth Organization Turns 150; Local Youth Celebrate by Serving Others

Featured Photo: Keller First Ward Young Women after collecting donated items from their congregation and friends. Photo courtesy of Laurie Murry.

Dozens of teenagers in Southlake, Keller, and Colleyville participated in a global celebration to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ organization for Young Women. The program includes young women between the ages of 11 and 18 and meets weekly both on Sundays and for a midweek activity. These activities are often focused on community service. Earlier this year, global Church leaders encouraged young women to think of an activity they could do related to the number 150.

“The challenge is called ‘My 150,’” says Colleyville Stake Young Women President, Chris Hickson, of Keller. “It has been so fun to see how our local youth have creatively partnered with their leaders (also women) to come up with ideas to commemorate this important anniversary! I think it’s so neat that they are doing the same type of activities that their peers around the world are doing.”

“Some girls are reading 150 pages of scripture, some are sharing 150 smiles or sending 150 encouraging texts!” says Betty Martin, 13, of Keller. “We had so much fun at our activity; we painted 150 colorful rocks for our city’s new Rock Art Trail!”

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Reese Ramsey, a young woman from Colleyville, gave 150 hugs to her mom, dad and brother! Cheryl Page, Reese’s leader said, “It’s so important for our young people to find ways to think of others. I love that they have such big hearts and want to bring joy to the people around them. This is a perfect motivation!”

Cheryl and Reese’s group took on a larger project, too. “As a group, we put together a care package with 150 items (letters, pictures, and other uplifting things) to send to a congregation in Medford Oregon to let the people there know that we care and want to share our love with them. They had over fifty families in their congregation lose their homes in the wildfires,” Page explained.

Young women from three congregations in Keller joined together to paint rocks in October. “The girls were so happy to get together outside, make new friendships and create pieces of art just as unique as they are!” Christine Rousseau said. Rousseau serves as an advisor for one of the groups. “The decorated rocks they left behind are sure to bring a smile!”

Hannah Smith, a Southlake mother of two teens who participated in the celebrations said, “It’s wonderful to see the Young Women of our Church united in service as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Young Women Organization. You can be sure that the sisters who organized the Young Women 150 years ago are smiling down on our Young Women today as they lift others through their acts of service.”

Originally known as the First Young Ladies’ Department of the Ladies’ Cooperative Retrenchment Association, the Young Women organization was organized on May 27, 1870. Hannah’s twelve-year-old daughter, Lucy, donated chocolate chip cookies and face masks to the SoupMobile, a non-profit in downtown Dallas that helps feed the homeless.

Lucy has studied the life of one of her ancestors, who also belonged to the Young Women organization. “My 3rd-great grandmother was one of the leading sisters in the first organization of the Young Women. She wrote, ‘We are certainly engaged in a great and glorious work!’ That’s how I feel about the ‘My 150’ challenge. I am continuing the ‘great and glorious work’ that our pioneer mothers began 150 years ago.”

Lucy’s sister, Gladys, 15, donated hand-tied fleece baby blankets to Christ’s Haven, a non-profit in Keller that has a program to help teen mothers in need. Speaking of her project, Gladys said, “I felt the warm feeling of the Holy Spirit when I delivered the baby blankets to Christ’s Haven. I felt happy knowing that I was helping teen moms who need these blankets for their babies.”

Dozens of other young women in Keller collecting donated food from their congregation and friends. They spent one evening in September split up into cars and on bikes picking up the goods, then they donated them to Community Table, a nonprofit food pantry in North Richland Hills. “We collected way more than 150, which was our goal. I’m so glad we did this project; it makes me sad to think that people in my community are hungry, so I’m glad I was able to help!” says Rachel Roessner, 14. 

Laurie Murry, one of the leaders of the Keller group, said, “I love that we can support all these different organizations in our community. In times like these, it’s important that we look beyond our own church and social circle and include everyone in our outreach!”

Efforts will continue through the end of the year. Check out Northeast Tarrant Church of Jesus Christ on Facebook to see more projects featured!