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Dear Sister,

We set our Women's Conference after BYU Education Week.

We feel that the sisters typically are giving 5,000% trying to be "superwoman" and feeling badly if not fantastic in every facet of her life.  We've found most of us very hard on ourselves.  We find the biggest, and fastest growing group in the Church (as mentioned in conference) who especially have a hard time to be the single moms.

After much prayer and fasting, we decided that we'd offer a big variety of classes to help sisters feel better about themselves while pampering besides.  We had it be "Finding the Light Within".  We used all the little funky puns like "filling your lamps", "waxing strong" etc. to go with the theme.

We had a "light" lunch catered by the college because they are the best, cheapest around.  Potato and salad bar with sundae bar for dessert.

These are some of the classes they got to register for. (They were repeated in the afternoon so if you missed one, you could attend another.)  This was an all day Saturday affair at the college for women only.  They had to choose a class for the times offered so they could come when and leave when needed; but we wanted the classes great enough that they'd want to go to all! All were lecture or demonstrations  I did this five years ago and can't remember everything, but this is what I can remember.

Finding the Light Within: (Requirement: Bring Scriptures)

1. We asked the Regional Rep. to address this.

2. Elaine Cannon spoke on "Don't Hide Your Light" (talents)

3. Psychologist talked about "Finding the Silver Lining" (Being Positive even in adversity)

4. Dr. talked about "Lighting Your Ignition" (energy & health)

5. Local husband & wife family counselors talked about "Bringing Sunlight into your Family"

6. Psychiatrist talked about "Lightening Up!" (dealing with depression)

7. "Leaning on the Light"  Patriarch talked about listening to the spirit

On the Lighter Side:

1. A girl who had lost 150 pounds talked about "Finding the You You Want" (hilarious)

2. "Cooking Lighter" local super cook who caters

3. Making Candles Demonstration that a local artist did with carving and three different colors   of wax.

4. Local aerobics instructor taught "Light without Lightheadedness"

5. Family Home Evening Packets were already prepared, just needed coloring, tongue depressors put on, etc.  "Fill your Lamp"

6. A local beauty school (Student Ward Stake President) had 30 students there to do hair & nails (no charge, just needed to register in advance- so many wanted them that we had a fill out a card on why someone thought a sister needed a makeover & those sisters were called and told they were selected)

 (He's English, so to fit the theme we had "Lighties Day Out"

7. "Lighter Later" - for chocoholics - chocolate heaven - local candy store owner

8. "Lighter on the Pocketbook" CPA on budgeting, taxes, & the stock market

9. "Light Your Fire" Family Counselor on husband-wife relationships

10. Interior Decorator showed how to "Brighten a Room", Next Session "Window Treatments"

11. "Lighten Your Load" organizing life & home

12. "Sunshine in your Soul Today" had a sister who is like a cleaned up version of Roseanne Barr

13. Flower arranging ( I can't remember what we called it to do with light

14. "Let your Light so Shine"  local author told how to become a writer  powder puff mechanics

15. "The Light Goes On!"  computer training

We all reconvened for music

 Had many of our super talented sisters play musical instruments and sing to just lift the spirits (Did it barbershop style)  We all joined in and sang songs like "Sunshine in my Soul" etc.

Hope this helped a little with a different idea.  It was much easier as we weren't trying to have everyone make everything.  We just needed to organize space and time.  It was a huge success as we opened it region wide.  Good luck!  Marsha