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As previously announced by the First Presidency, the value of Virtue has been added to the Young Women theme.
 An insert on Virtue is now available to be added to Personal Progress booklets. Several copies will be sent to each unit in the coming weeks, along with ordering instructions to obtain additional inserts for all young women. Leaders are asked to wait until this information arrives before contacting Distribution Services. Leaders may choose to print copies of the insert from the following link: Virtue insert. Leaders may also print a revised tracking sheet and achievement page for young women. (Printing tip: when printing the insert, it is recommended that you select “booklet printing” under the “page scaling” option.)
Following are suggestions for implementing the insert:
- Young women who have not yet completed Personal Progress should add the experiences and project on Virtue to the required other experiences and projects to earn the Young Womanhood Recognition.
- Young women who have already earned their Young Womanhood Recognition are invited to complete these additional requirements for the value of Virtue. Leaders are asked to appropriately recognize this additional accomplishment.
- All leaders and mothers are invited to complete the Value Experiences and Project for Virtue as they set an example for and work with young women.
Leaders may also wish to order additional Personal Progress Achievement Emblems (item no. 36654).
Frequently Asked Questions.
Q. If a young woman is close to earning her Young Womanhood Recognition, does she need to finish the new experiences and
project for Virtue before she can earn the recognition?
A. Through 2009, a young woman may choose to earn her recognition under the old requirements or with the new Virtue experiences and project. It is hoped that all will want to complete the new requirements, but leaders are encouraged to make the program work for each young woman.
Q. Can a young woman write her own experiences or project for Virtue, as she can with the other values?
A. No. There are only four experiences for Virtue. All are required. These experiences are an important foundation for a young woman’s understanding of the meaning of virtue and its application in her life. Likewise, the project of reading the Book of Mormon is required. We desire that all young women will make the reading of the Book of Mormon a daily habit. Her testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, will be strengthened as she reads. Developing this testimony is vital to a young woman’s ability to face the challenges of life and to prepare for her future. When special circumstances exist, any exceptions should be made after careful counseling with the young woman, parents, and priesthood leaders.
Q. If a young woman has recently finished reading the Book of Mormon, can she count that as her Virtue Value Project?
A. Yes, she can count her recent reading of the Book of Mormon. The goal is to recognize the good things the young women are already doing in their life and make them part of their success in Personal Progress. Encourage each young woman to consider the questions outlined in the Value Project and write in her journal her thoughts and learning based on those questions. If she accepts Sister Dalton’s invitation from “A Brand New Year” and also the January 2009 issue of the New Era to read the Book of Mormon five minutes a day, a young woman will easily complete the book in a year. Doing this will bless and strengthen all young women, their mothers, and their leaders.
Q. How should we recognize young women who have already earned their recognition and now want to complete the additional Virtue Value Experiences and Value Project?
A. We hope you will celebrate the success of each young woman. As with the other values, a place is provided in the insert to add the Personal Progress Achievement Emblem. You may also wish to acknowledge her accomplishment in other settings, such as Young Women Sunday classes, activities, or Young Women in Excellence. We invite you to counsel with your priesthood leaders and find ways to recognize young women for this and all the good things they are doing in their lives.
Q. The notice says mothers can work on Personal Progress. Can mothers complete all of Personal Progress and earn their own Young Womanhood Recognition?
A. The notice invites mothers to work on the experiences and project associated with the value of Virtue. They may also work on all of the experiences and projects associated with Personal Progress with their daughters. Mothers may earn the recognition along with their daughter but not before their daughter. Mothers and leaders can best support young women in their progress by working along with them. Mothers are encouraged to complete the same requirements as their daughters, although they may select different options.
Requirements for Young Women leaders are different (see Guidebook for Parents and Leaders of Youth).
Q. When will the new Virtue requirements be included in the Personal Progress book?
A. A new edition of the Personal Progress book will be made available in the near future. Notice of this book will be posted online and sent to priesthood leaders inviting leaders to order new copies for their young women. Those young women who have started Personal Progress in the old book will not have to start again and get new signatures for their completed work. The requirements will remain the same in the new books for the other seven values but will include the new value of Virtue.
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