YW Sing Sacred Songs

Posted by YW 2nd Counselor/RS Liaison to YW 

Sis. Maija-Liisa Adams

The Young Women's value for August is Integrity and tonight the Young Women culminated the month with a Joint (Laurels, Mia Maids and Beehives) Activity at the BYU Idaho botanical gardens. As organizer Mia Maid President Marlowe Hayes summarized tonight, "We sang hymns and felt the spirit and then we had cheese and crackers and grapes and also ate this ice cream cake (see recipe below). Then we had a spiritual thought and walked around for a minute."  She also shared her testimony of the power of music to bring the spirit into our lives. 

Some of the hymns we sang included, "As Sisters In Zion", "I Am a Child of  God", "If I Could Hie to Kolob" and "Come, Come Ye Saints".  Beehive Secretary Katriina Adams  commented, "I liked how it sounded when we were singing because it sounded really pretty and we were altogether and I liked looking at the pretty flowers."              

YW Secretary Sis. Sharon De Mourdaunt took pictures for us and we hope you enjoy seeing them.  Mia Maid Advisor Jann Johnson and her Laurel daughter Laura serenaded us on the guitar and violin respectively with such

numbers as "Angeline the Baker" and others while we ate.  We enjoyed Laurel Advisor Sis. Mary Brown's  refreshing "Ice Cream Sandwich Cake" so much we thought we'd share the recipe with you too.

Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

10 ice cream sandwiches

1 jar chocolate fudge sauce

caramel syrup

1 (20 0z.) Cool Whip (real whipping cream separates)

1 Heath or Skor bar, crushed

Layer ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of a 9X13 inch pan (you might have to cut one to make it fit.) Pour entire jar of fudge sauce over sandwiches and spread evenly. Drizzle thin layer of caramel syrup over the chocolate. Spread Cool Whip. Sprinkle candy bar over top (the candy bar is easier to crush if frozen first). Freeze.

Women's Pull on the Handcart Trek by Maija-Liisa Adams

Tuesday, those on the youth trek at "Six Crossings" met an unexpected visitor along the trail.  An officer from the US Government stopped by camp and told the priesthood brethren they were being called up to fight in the Mexican War.  This isn't exactly what happened in real life as in it's not the time of the Mormon Battalion, but it's used on the Trek to underscore the fact that many women were left alone to finish the trek as their fathers, husbands, and brothers died along the way. 

He told them, "You have exactly one minute to say goodbye to your loved ones!" Sister Stephanie all decked out in her sunbonnet and self made pioneer dress, kisses her husband goodbye as others also said goodbye to their loved ones. 

The men we hear, had a talk about womanhood and sang "Ye Elders of Israel (Men) - Hymns #319". 

As sisters, we also discussed sisterhood and then sang, "As Sisters in Zion (Women) - #309", which was written by Emily H. Woodmansee, a member of the handcart company who came to Zion with her sister. Sis. Hayes did such a fantastic job arranging all of these stories that were told along the way.   If you want to hear the music or read the words, go to www.lds.org.

Now it was up to us to push and pull our 9 handcarts up the hill. It's the first major hill we'd encountered along our 16 mile trek.  The carts each held approximately 9-10 buckets at near 17 lbs. each and then 2 water coolers and 1 food cooler.  There we 4-5  of us with each handcart. 

At the top of the hill we suddenly came upon the brethren waiting for us.  And although this picture doesn't depict it, they had their hats off and were waiting on either side as we pushed on through them.  The men and boys said it was the hardest thing they'd ever done to just watch us.  They were told to ALWAYS help a woman in need.  There were many tears in both men and women's eyes.  The Women's Pull was one of the highlights of the trek.  Feel free to post comments or ask questions about the trek.