'Time to Blossom' conference for young women focuses on service and spiritual growth

“Each night they filled their books out, reflecting on what was powerful or meaningful from each speaker,” Forrest said. “They used their books to evaluate the day, what they learned and how they were going to apply that to their future self.”

The organizers say the Time to Blossom conferences have exceeded expectations in the way they have touched and changed girls’ lives.

Perhaps it was best said by John Bytheway’s wife, Kimberly, when she was speaking to the girls on one of the last days of the second session and referred to the progress she had seen during the week: “You even look different than you did a few days ago,” she said.

Additional Time to Blossom sessions are planned for next summer in Mesa and Time to Blossom will be introduced into neighboring states as well.

For details and updates, visit www.timetoblossom.com.

Cecily Markland is a freelance writer, book editor, publicist and author of "Hope: One Mile Ahead" and the children’s book, "If I Made a Bug." She owns Inglestone Publishing and produces a calendar of LDS events in Arizona at www.cecilymarkland.com.