“Young Women Personal Progress Program,” Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of Youth, 15
Overview
The Young Women Personal Progress program helps each young woman understand God’s will for her, encourages her to keep His commandments, and prepares her to make and keep sacred temple covenants. It provides ways for her to contribute to her home now and prepare for future responsibilities as a faithful woman, wife, mother, and Church leader. It prepares her to receive her Young Womanhood Recognition.
The goals and requirements of the program are outlined in the Young Women Personal Progress book. Young women work with their parents and Young Women leaders to set and accomplish goals based on the seven Young Women values. A young woman will complete six Value Experiences for each of the seven values. These experiences are designed to help her understand each value and the associated gospel principles. She will then complete a ten-hour Value Project to apply what she has learned. She will also strive to live the standards outlined in For the Strength of Youth.
The following chart summarizes the Young Women Personal Progress program. A copy is provided in each Young Women Personal Progress book for use in tracking a young woman’s progress.
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Value Experiences and Projects
Young women may work at their own pace in the Personal Progress program but should try to space their progress so the program will last throughout their time in Young Women. It is anticipated that a young woman will complete at least nine experiences or projects every year.
The following are guidelines for completing Value Experiences and Projects:
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• Young women may work on the values in any order. They should finish the six experiences in a value before doing the project for that value.
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• It is recommended that Value Projects not be combined. However, if a young woman chooses to do a large project that encompasses more than one value, she should spend a minimum of ten hours for each value. The same ten hours may not count for more than one Value Project.
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• Young women may work together on projects. However, a young woman must spend a minimum of ten hours of her own time if she is using that project for her own Personal Progress program.
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• The good things young women are doing at home, church, school, seminary, and in the community may fulfill the requirements of the Personal Progress program with the prior approval of parents or Young Women leaders.
If a young woman completes the Personal Progress program before she enters Relief Society, she can continue to be actively involved in Young Women. She can complete additional Value Experiences and Projects, compile her personal history, read the Book of Mormon, complete leadership assignments, and help other young women who are still working on the Personal Progress program.
If a young woman has not completed all of the Personal Progress requirements before leaving Young Women, she may continue to work toward receiving the Young Womanhood Recognition until her 19th birthday.
Personal Progress Activities at Mutual
Personal Progress activities may occasionally be held at Mutual. Such group activities should be planned prayerfully and selectively to ensure that the Personal Progress program remains personal for each young woman.
Emblems, Certificate, and Recognition
When a young woman completes the experiences and projects for each value, she receives an emblem (36654), which she places on the Personal Progress Achievement Certificate in the back of her book. This recognition of her progress can be awarded in a Young Women meeting.
When a young woman completes her work in all seven values and has been interviewed by the bishop, she receives the Young Womanhood Recognition. This recognition consists of a certificate (36651) and the Young Womanhood medallion in either gold or silver (gold, 36652; silver, 36653). A member of the bishopric may present the Young Womanhood Recognition in a sacrament meeting.
Awards and certificates may be obtained through a Church distribution center using ward funds, at no cost to the young women or their parents.
Personal Progress Requirements for Leaders
Leaders who participate in the Personal Progress program themselves understand the program better and set a favorable example for the young women to follow. Leaders may earn the Young Womanhood Recognition after they:
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• Serve for a total of one year as a Young Women leader.
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• Complete the three required Value Experiences in each of the seven values.
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• Complete three Value Projects.
Adapting to Individual and Local Needs
Value Experiences and Value Projects may be modified according to personal or local circumstances, interests, and needs with the prior approval of parents and Young Women leaders. When making any changes or exceptions for one person, leaders should consider the effect those changes may have on the other young women. After careful consideration by parents and leaders, modifications may be appropriate to meet the needs of young women with disabilities or educational limitations, to meet cultural or individual needs, or to allow young women who are not members to participate.
If a young woman joins the Church or becomes active in Young Women after age 16, her requirements for completing the Personal Progress program are to (1) live the standards in For the Strength of Youth, which the bishop or branch president verifies in an interview; (2) complete the three required Value Experiences in each of the seven values; and (3) complete the Value Project in each of the seven values. These requirements may also apply to young women in other circumstances as determined by local Young Women leaders.
Responsibilities of Leaders
Young Women leaders should meet with each young woman who enters the Young Women program and her parents. A member of the girl’s class presidency could also attend. The leaders should present the young woman with a Young Women Personal Progress book and explain the program to her. They should encourage parents to work with their daughter in selecting and completing Personal Progress experiences and projects. They should also invite the parents to all programs in which their daughter participates.
When a young woman completes the entire Personal Progress program, the bishop interviews her, using the standards in For the Strength of Youth as a guide. This can be part of her annual or six-month interview. The bishop determines the worthiness of the young woman to receive the Young Womanhood Recognition.
Members of the bishopric are encouraged to use their regularly scheduled interviews with young women to review each young woman’s progress. Stake presidents should regularly ask bishops about the welfare and progress of the young women in their wards.
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