Personal Progress
Young Women Personal Progress is a goal-setting and achievement program within the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). This program is roughly analogous to the Duty to God program in which LDS young men are encouraged to participate.
Content
Purpose
The stated purpose of Personal Progress is to help young women:[1]
- Strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ;
- Strengthen both their present and future families;
- Prepare to be worthy to make and keep sacred temple covenants; and
- Prepare for their future roles and responsibilities.
Church leaders have stated that the purpose of the program is to lead young women to the Lord and to temple attendance.[2]
Values
Personal Progress is focused around the eight topics or values of the LDS young women program. These topics are faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity and virtue. These values represent LDS Church morals and each have an associated color in the program.
The original seven values were expanded to include virtue in February 2009.[3]
Achievement Program
Each of these topics has a series of value experiences and one value project which requires ten or more hours of preparation and delivery, that helps the young woman learn about the topic. These items are signed off in the young woman's book by the young women leaders or the young woman's parents.
To complete the program, the young woman must have seven completed value experiences and a project in each topic, verified by the leaders or parents; 3 are required, and the other 3 are chosen from a set of 4. As of late 2010, much of the progress can be recorded and tracked online[4]
Book
The Personal Progress book contains the following major sections: a copy of the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"; standards from For The Strength of Youth; the Young Women Theme, motto, and logo; an overview of the program; the eight topical sections based on the values listed above; a section to write down one's testimony of Jesus Christ and his church; information about the Young Womanhood Recognition award; information about transitioning from the young women program into the female adult program, Relief Society; sections for keeping track of progress in the program; and an index of the book contents.
Young Womanhood Recognition Award
At the conclusion of the program, the young woman has an interview with her bishop to verify her completion of the program and willingness to meet the standards of the program. After which, the young woman earns the Young Womanhood Recognition award. This award is symbolized by a simple gold- or silver-colored medallion.
Young Women in Excellence Meetings
Young Women in Excellence meetings are held yearly within wards, or occasionally within a stake, to allow young women to share a value experience or value project they have completed during the year.[5] Young women who have earned the Young Womanhood Recognition award are recognized in a special ceremony during this meeting.
Attendees usually include the young women and their families, the young women leaders, and ward or stake leaders. Young men are sometimes invited to attend, just as young women are sometimes invited to attend an Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
References
- ^ "Purpose of Personal Progress". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ Moore, Carrie A. (2008-10-03). "Young Women leader focusing on temple ideals". Deseret News. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
- ^ "Church Releases Changes to Personal Progress Program". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2009-02-19.
- ^ Young Women Personal Progress official website.
- ^ "Young Women in Excellence". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2008-08-08.