Later Achievement Programs (1970–2020)

Personal Achievement Program

In 1970–1971, the Personal Achievement Program replaced all previous achievement programs in the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association (YWMIA), including the Girls Program and class achievement programs.1 The program was meant to meet the needs of the individual young women, and it paralleled a similar program for the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association. The program consisted of seven journals, one for each year between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Young women worked with their bishops to set their own goals in their journals and completed checklists and forms to assess themselves in various areas. The journals encouraged them to do work in areas of church participation, family, community development, education, and other personal goals.2 All these journals could be kept in a binder called Treasures of Truth, linking this program with the Treasures of Truth book originally implemented in 1930.3

TBD

(Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

Personal Achievement Award (1970–1974): A certificate and seals received each year for completion of goals. Their first year, young women received the certificate. In each successive year, they received a seal to place on the certificate.4

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Seven-Year Medallion (1970–1974): A gold or silver medallion, repurposed from the Girls Program, showing the symbols for the various classes in YWMIA. Available to young women who earned the Personal Achievement Award for each of the seven years.5

My Personal Progress

The My Personal Progress program replaced the Personal Achievement Program in 1977. It built on framework introduced as Behold Thy Handmaiden in 1974, which featured six areas of focus: spiritual awareness, homemaking arts, service and compassion, recreation and the world of nature, cultural arts and education, and personal and social refinement. Young women who achieved goals in each of these areas and maintained specified standards of worthiness earned the Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion.6

TBD

(Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

Certificate of Progress (1977–1989): A certificate indicating annual progress in achieving goals in the six areas of focus and living church standards, attending church and seminary, and keeping a journal. Young women filled out the certificate, which was signed by their Young Women leaders. Each year’s certificate could be kept on special pages at the back of the My Personal Progress booklet.7

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion (1977–1989): A gold medallion embossed with an image of a young woman with flowing dress and hair. Earned by completing the My Personal Progress program. Wearing the medallion was intended to signify a commitment to keeping the Lord’s commandments and serving Him.8

Personal Progress

The Personal Progress program replaced My Personal Progress in 1989. Elements of the program had been introduced in previous years: a new motto, theme, and values in 1985, and a Young Women logo, along with symbols and mission statements for each class, in 1987. The 1985 values included faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, and integrity. The program offered medallions for completion of requirements—one for each of the three age groups and the Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion for completing the entire program.9 The program was simplified and reconfigured in 2002, 2009, and 2010, with accompanying changes in medallions and other recognition emblems.10

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Woman of Truth Medallion (1989–2002): A gold medallion for the Beehive class, showing a young woman praying. Earned by completing the goals for the first two years of the Personal Progress program, which included completing two value experiences under each of the seven values each year.11

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Woman of Promise Medallion (1989–2002): A gold medallion for the Mia Maid class, showing an open book of scriptures. Earned by completing the goals in the second two years of the Personal Progress program, which included completing two value experiences under each of the seven values each year.12

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Woman of Faith Medallion (1989–2002): A gold medallion for the Laurel class, showing temple spires. Earned by completing two value projects each year. Represented a “commitment to temple preparation.”13

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion (1989–2002): A gold medallion showing an image of a young woman with flowing dress and hair. Earned by completing all six years of the Personal Progress program, which meant earning all the age group medallions. Symbolized a “willingness to stand as a witness of God.”14

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion (2002–2009): A gold or silver medallion with an image of temple spires. The culminating award for completing the Personal Progress program, symbolizing being “prepared to make and keep sacred temple covenants.”15

TBD

(Courtesy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion (2009–2019): A gold or silver medallion with an image of a temple and symbols to represent each class (beehive, rose, laurel wreath), as well as a ruby, representing completion of the program and the added value of virtue.16

TBD

(Courtesy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Beverley Vermeulen.)

Young Women Value Ribbons and Emblems (2009–2019): Eight ribbons in colors representing the Young Women values, intended to be used as bookmarks in the scriptures. Earned by completing the experiences and project for each value. An optional organizer was available to thread the ribbons through and keep them all together. The emblems were stickers to be placed on the appropriate page in the Personal Progress book.17 )

TBD

(Courtesy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Honor Bee Charm (2009–2019): A gold or silver charm in the shape of a honeybee. Signified the completion of extra work after earning the Young Womanhood Recognition Medallion, including reading the Book of Mormon and doing additional hours of service.18

TBD

(Courtesy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Children and Youth Emblem of Achievement Crystal (2020–): A crystal featuring an image of the Christus statue. Given to young women and young men, along with a certificate of recognition, the year they turn eighteen to signify progress in living the gospel and reaching goals.19

Cite This Page

Cite This Page

Later Achievement Programs (1970–2020), Carry On: The Latter-day Saint Young Women Organization, 1870–2024, accessed April 2, 2025 https://chpress-web.churchhistorianspress.org/young-women/appendixes/awards-laterachievementprograms

Footnotes

  1. [1]“Girls Program,” MIA Leader 21, no. 1 (Sept. 1969): 2; “For the Girls Program,” MIA Leader 21, no. 2 (Oct. 1969): 3; “3 New YW Programs Introduced,” Church News, 27 June 1970, 4; “For the Girls Program,” MIA Leader 21, no. 13 (Sept. 1970): 2–3.

  2. [2]“Girls’ Achievement Program to Be Started in January,” Church News, 26 Dec. 1970, 3; Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women’s Personal Achievement Program Leadership Guide (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970), 8–10; Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women’s Personal Achievement Program Leadership Guide (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1971), 4; The Young Women’s Program in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ([Salt Lake City]: [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], 1971), 20–22, 29–31; Beginning (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Growing (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Discovering (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Believing (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Aspiring (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Achieving (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Fulfilling (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970).

  3. [3]Treasures of Truth (Salt Lake City: Presiding Bishopric, 1970); Young Women’s Program, 21; Adam S. Bennion, Gleaning: A Course of Study for the Gleaner Department of the Y. L. M. I. A., 1930–31 (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, 1930), 123.

  4. [4]Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women’s Personal Achievement Program Leadership Guide (1970), 13; Mia Maid Supplement, 1970–71 (Salt Lake City: Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1970), 20–21; Laurel Manual, 1970–71 (Salt Lake City: Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1970), 23–24; Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women’s Personal Achievement Program Leadership Guide (1971), 6; Young Women’s Program, 32; Beehive Supplement, 1972–73 (Salt Lake City: Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1972), 7; Presiding Bishopric to Stake Presidents, District Presidents, Bishops, and Branch Presidents in English-Speaking Areas, 24 May 1974, Presiding Bishopric Circular Letters, 1875–2013, Church History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.

  5. [5]Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women’s Personal Achievement Program Leadership Guide (1970), 16; Young Women’s Program, 32; Beehive Supplement, 1972–73, 7; Presiding Bishopric to Stake Presidents, District Presidents, Bishops, and Branch Presidents in English-Speaking Areas, 24 May 1974, Presiding Bishopric Circular Letters, Church History Library.

  6. [6]Ruth H. Funk, “Exceedingly Young,” New Era, June 1977, 49; Ruth H. Funk, “Why Your Daughter Needs the Young Women Program,” Ensign, Aug. 1978, 26; My Personal Progress (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1977), 6–16; Behold Thy Handmaiden (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1974); Behold Thy Handmaiden: Guidelines for Adult Leaders (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1974).

  7. [7]My Personal Progress, 14–15; Kellene Ricks, “Young Women Years Focus on Spirituality, Preparing for Future,” Church News, 4 Mar. 1989, 8, 12.

  8. [8]My Personal Progress, 16; Ricks, “Young Women Years Focus on Spirituality,” 8, 12.

  9. [9]Ricks, “Young Women Years Focus on Spirituality,” 8, 12; Janet Thomas, “No Ordinary Time,” New Era, May 1989, 12–15; Personal Progress (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1989), 4–11; “Young Women Theme, Values Introduced,” and “Young Women Guided by Seven Values,” Church News, 17 Nov. 1985, 9–8, 11; Gerry Avant, “Young Women Are Challenged: ‘Stand for Truth, Righteousness,” Church News, 17 Nov. 1985, 10, 12; Gerry Avant, “Follow ‘Stars’ to Destination,” Church News, 24 Oct. 1987, 3.

  10. [10]“Making Progress,” New Era, Jan. 2002, 16–18; Young Women Personal Progress (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2009), 6–10; Elaine S. Dalton, “What’s New in Personal Progress,” New Era, Jan. 2010, 32–35.

  11. [11]Thomas, “No Ordinary Time,” 12; Personal Progress, 11, 14–39; “Making Progress,” 18.

  12. [12]Thomas, “No Ordinary Time,” 14; Personal Progress, 11, 42–67; “Making Progress,” 18.

  13. [13]Thomas, “No Ordinary Time,” 15; Personal Progress, 11, 70–80; “Making Progress,” 18.

  14. [14]Thomas, “No Ordinary Time,” 13; Personal Progress, 11, 85–86; “Making Progress,” 18.

  15. [15]“Making Progress,” 16–18; Young Women Personal Progress (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2001), 7–10; Dalton, “What’s New in Personal Progress,” 32–35.

  16. [16]Dalton, “What’s New in Personal Progress,” 32–33; Young Women Personal Progress (2009), 6–10, 76; “Frequently Asked Questions,” Children and Youth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed 28 Jan. 2025, churchofjesuschrist.org.

  17. [17]Dalton, “What’s New in Personal Progress,” 32–35; Young Women Personal Progress (2009), 90; “Frequently Asked Questions,” Children and Youth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed 28 Jan. 2025, churchofjesuschrist.org.

  18. [18]Dalton, “What’s New in Personal Progress,” 32–34; “Honor Bee Charm Created,” Ensign, June 2010, 78; Young Women Personal Progress (2009), 10, 83–84; “Frequently Asked Questions,” Children and Youth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed 28 Jan. 2025, churchofjesuschrist.org.

  19. [19]“Children and Youth,” Church News, 24 Nov. 2019, 23–24; “Children and Youth Emblems,” Children and Youth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed 28 Jan. 2025, churchofjesuschrist.org.