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 the Young Men organization.
Content
Purpose
LDS Church leaders have stated the purpose of the program is to lead young women to the Lord and to temple attendance.[1] The stated purpose of Personal Progress is to help young women:[2]
- Strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ
- Strengthen their present and future families
- Prepare to be worthy to make and keep sacred temple covenants
- Prepare for their future roles and responsibilities
Values
Personal Progress is focused around the eight topics or values of the LDS young women program, namely 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.
In February 2009, the value virtue was added to the original seven values.[3]
Achievement Program
Each value has a series of value experiences and one value project which requires ten or more hours of preparation and delivery. Progress is recorded in a handbook by program 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. As of late 2010, much of the progress can be recorded and tracked online[4] Completion of the program requires an interview with the local bishop, and is ultimately recognized by the Young Womanhood Recognition Award, a simple gold- or silver-colored medallion.
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 values sections (listed above); a section to write down a testimony of Jesus Christ and the LDS Church; information about the Young Womanhood Recognition award; information about transitioning from the young women program into the adult program (Relief Society); sections for recording program progress; and an index.
Young Women in Excellence Meetings
Annual Young Women in Excellence meetings at a wards, or occasionally at a stake, allow young women to share their experiences or projects they have completed through the year.[5] Young women who have earned the Young Womanhood Recognition Award are formally recognized in a special ceremony during this meeting.
Attendees usually include the young women, their families, the young women program 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
- ↑ Moore, Carrie A. (2008-10-03). "Young Women leader focusing on temple ideals". Deseret News. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
- ↑ "Purpose of Personal Progress". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ↑ "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.