Can the young women occasionally stay after the joint Young Women and Relief Society opening exercises for the entire Relief Society meeting or lesson?
Page 206 of the Relief Society section of the Church Handbook of Instructions and page 214 of the Young Women section of the Church Handbook of Instructions outline First Presidency-approved policy regarding young women transitioning into Relief Society. There is no specific directive in the Church Handbook of Instructions or from the First Presidency regarding whether or not young women can stay after opening exercises for the duration of the Relief Society lesson. Such a decision is left to local Relief Society and Young Women leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders.
