Young Women · 25 minutes
Chapter 9: You are blessed by priesthood keys and authority · Matthew 16:18–19
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Open Gospel Library as you teach. Mix and match below to build one 25-minute class.
This class in one line
Emma Smith was called an elect lady with authority to teach and lead, and so are you. This class helps Young Women understand who God has called them to be and how priesthood authority blesses their service.
Skip the full history of how priesthood keys were restored (the chapter covers it well for personal study). One principle taught deeply is better than three covered quickly.
If a youth is teaching
Open this Sunday's lesson on Gospel Library before class starts, that's your home base. Start with the object intro (the letter from God) and have someone read Doctrine and Covenants 25:3 and 25:7 out loud; then let the class talk through the discussion questions in the lesson about Emma. If conversation slows, open chapter 9 of the FSY guide and read one Invitation together. Skip the full history of how priesthood keys were restored, that's great personal reading but there's no time for it here. Close by having everyone pick one Invitation from chapter 9 and share it.
Before Sunday
Sunday: Who has God called YOU to be?
Before Sunday, open this month's FSY lesson (Last Sunday: Young Women) and read Doctrine and Covenants 25:3 and 25:7. Then open chapter 9 of the FSY guide and read through the Eternal Truths and Invitations sections. Ponder this: The Lord called Emma Smith an 'elect lady' and gave her specific things to do. What do you think He has called you to do?
Pick one opening
Before we open anything, just think for a second, if someone asked you 'Who are you?' and you couldn't use your name, your family, your school, or your job, what would you say? Give them 20–30 seconds to think, then take 2–3 responses. Then say: That question is exactly what today's lesson is about. Open this Sunday's lesson on Gospel Library and let's look at the Young Women theme together at the top of the page.
Before we open anything, just think for a second, if someone asked you 'Who are you?' and you couldn't use your name, your family, your school, or your job, what would you say? Give them 20–30 seconds to think, then take 2–3 responses. Then say: That question is exactly what today's lesson is about. Open this Sunday's lesson on Gospel Library and let's look at the Young Women theme together at the top of the page.
Hold up a blank piece of paper. Say: Imagine you received a letter, addressed to you personally, from God. Not general advice, but specific words about who you are and what He's called you to do. That's exactly what Doctrine and Covenants 25 is. Open this Sunday's lesson on Gospel Library. Have someone read the two verses quoted at the top, Doctrine and Covenants 25:3 and 25:7, out loud. Those words were written to Emma Smith. We're going to ask today what they mean for us.
Teach this first
Keep this Sunday's lesson open on Gospel Library. Have someone read the Young Women theme printed at the top, especially the line about leading, teaching, and mentoring by 'drawing on the power and authority of God.' Then go to Doctrine and Covenants 25 together. Have someone read verses 3 and 7 out loud. Point the class to the study questions in the lesson: What did God call Emma to do? What has He called each of us to do? Let the class wrestle with that together. The chapter 9 FSY guide clarifies that when a young woman is set apart to serve in a calling, she receives delegated priesthood authority from God, she is not just helping out, she is authorized.
Both women and men who are set apart to serve in a calling receive delegated priesthood authority from God to fulfill that calling., For the Strength of Youth, chapter 9
Ask the class
If time remains
If time allows, open chapter 9 of the FSY guide and have someone read the Invitation about sustaining. The guide says sustaining means more than raising your hand, it means looking for ways to actively support those Christ has called.
Ask the class
Last 3–5 minutes
Open chapter 9 of the FSY guide to the Invitations section. Read them together and let each person quietly choose one to act on this week, accepting a calling with full heart, fulfilling an assignment as a disciple, or finding a concrete way to sustain a leader. Ask one or two to share which one they chose and why.
The FSY guide promises that as you serve the Lord with His authority and under the direction of His servants, Jesus Christ will help you know how to serve others, and that service will draw you closer to Him and bring you joy.
Your witness: Share briefly what it means to you personally that God calls women by name, gives them authority, and trusts them with His work, and how knowing that has shaped who you are becoming.