MESA, Ariz. — It was "Time to Blossom" for 250 young LDS girls between the ages of 11 and 16, who attended a five-day conference in Mesa the second week in June.
Some were looking to "gain confidence," "bond with other girls" and "just have fun."
Many like 17-year-old Maghan Allred, of the Val Vista Ward, Queen Creek Arizona South Stake, said they attended "Time to Blossom" mostly, "because I wanted to build my testimony."
For Alyson Richardson, of the 61st Ward in the Mesa Arizona East Stake, it came down to personal growth and wanting the experience of a lifetime.
"I really liked the theme — Time to Blossom — my dad told me about this conference and I just decided it really was my time to blossom," Alyson said.
Fulfilling those lofty expectations is what the conference organizers planned to have happen during a week packed full of fun activities; lessons on poise, posture and grooming; opportunities for kind acts and service; testimony-building experiences and workshops presented by some of the top youth speakers in the LDS Church.
Two women from Mesa, Debbie Forrest, who co-founded and directed the original BYU Women's Conference in 1976, and Carla Jorgensen, a certified life coach, came up with the idea for "Time to Blossom" nearly a year ago.
Knowing the challenges young women face in today's turbulent world — particularly in those junior high years — Forrest and Jorgensen recognized the need for a conference like "Time to Blossom."
"There is such a need to strengthen these young women before they get to high school," Forrest said.
The organizers said, "The main goal of the conference was that when these girls left, that they would truly know their worth and truly know that each of them is a special daughter of our Father in Heaven and that they would see themselves the way our Father in Heaven and the Savior see them—and that they would see others in that same way."
From the outset, girls were encouraged to look for the good in the others around them. They were given a list of character strengths and a stack of cutout paper flowers. As they watched for the traits in other girls, they would write, "courageous" or "spiritual" or "friendly" or whatever it was they noticed, on the flower and hand that to the other girl. At the end of the week, each girl was able to take the flowers she'd been given and add them to the "tree" on the back of her notebook.
The girls also participated in a service project, making small, soft dolls that would be sent back to the LDS Church Humanitarian Services and then go to orphans in Africa who had lost both parents to AIDS.
Other events included a dress-up party and a fashion show.
Presenters at the conference included Vivian Cline, who spoke about balance in life, wardrobing and presented a dating etiquette workshop to the older girls, while the younger girls had a session with Anika Huish on friendship.
Well-known author and motivational speaker John Bytheway was a favorite of the conference attendees as he shared messages about modesty and morality.
The girls also enjoyed presentations by sisters April Price and Rachel Stewart, who presented a workshop on body image; Lindsey Brinton, America's 2008 Junior Miss; Alexis Flake, Arizona's 2009 Junior Miss; singer and songwriter Michele Baer; radio talk-show host Sherrie Nattrass and former TV anchor Heather Sandstrom — all who taught lessons in becoming better inside and out.
"I've noticed, especially in young girls, that many struggle with finding strength within themselves … believing they have to look or act a certain way," said presenter Lacey Nymeyer, who was recently named the 2009 NCAA Women's Athlete of the Year.
She saw that the conference gave girls "a great opportunity to come and to feel empowered and to learn that they don't need to measure themselves by the world's standards. If they feel self-worth within, they won't have to look for outside approval."
The "Time to Blossom" organizers said they were very happy with the outcome of the conference.
"We really did plan to see the girls blossom during the week, and they did, in so many ways," Forrest said.
For information, visit www.timetoblossom.com.