Membership Jewelry

From the 1920s to the 1970s, each class in the Young Women organization had its own piece of jewelry signifying membership. A pendant signifying membership in the Young Women organization as a whole was first introduced in 1988.

TBD

(Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)

Bee-Hive Girl’s Pin (1921–1978): A gold pin with the watchword for the Bee-Hive program, Womanho, and the letters MIA, standing for Mutual Improvement Association, under the symbol of a beehive. Young women who entered the program were required to earn the money to purchase the pin. In 1950, MIA was removed. After 1964, this pin was also available as a charm.1

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Gleaner Pin (1924–1972): A gold pin in the shape of a sheaf of wheat, wrapped in a letter G. After 1950, the G was green enamel, with the wheat in gold. Also used as the Junior Gleaner membership pin from 1950 to 1959.2

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Junior Pin (1925–1950): A gold pin in the shape of an ornate letter J.3

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Mia Maid Class Pin (1950–1978): A pin with an ornate gold oval frame around a black- or white-enameled background, featuring an inlaid rose and the words Mia Maid. Also available as a charm for a bracelet, necklace, or earrings.4

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Laurel Locket (1959–1978): A gold oval enclosing a branch of laurel leaves with a pearl on one leaf. Could be attached to a chain to form a necklace.5

TBD

(Church History Museum, Salt Lake City.)

Young Women Logo Pendant (1988–2019): A gold pendant with an enamel image of the Young Women logo, a torch with the image of a young woman’s face and hair in a multicolored flame. Worn mainly as a necklace but could also be worn as a charm. In 2010, the flame was made entirely gold; the pendant has also been available in silver.6

TBD

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

Young Women Emblem of Belonging (2020–): A round medallion featuring a stylized temple image and a cubic zirconia gem pendant. Given to young women at the beginning of the year they turn twelve, along with a temple recommend holder.7

Children and Youth Bar Pendant for Young Women (2020–): A rectangular gold or silver pendant with a stylized temple image wrapped on its front and sides. Given on a necklace to young women at the beginning of the year they turn eighteen.8

Cite This Page

Cite This Page

Membership Jewelry, Carry On: The Latter-day Saint Young Women Organization, 1870–2024, accessed April 26, 2025 https://chpress-web.churchhistorianspress.org/young-women/appendixes/awards-membershipjewelry

Footnotes

  1. [1]Hand Book for the Bee-Hive Girls of the Y. L. M. I. A. (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association, 1921), 12, 13, 43; Handbook for the Bee Hive Girls of the Y. W. M. I. A. (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1950), 8; Beehive Girls Handbook (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1964), 18; “Old Program Symbolism,” Young Women Bulletin 2, no. 2 (1978): 1.

  2. [2]“Senior Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal 35, no. 7 (July 1924): 381; Program for Junior M Men and Junior Gleaners (Salt Lake City: General Boards of the Mutual Improvement Association, 1950), section 3, 6; “Class Chart and List.”

  3. [3]“Junior Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal 36, no. 5 (May 1925): 310; “Junior,” MIA Stake Leader 1, no. 11 (Apr. 1950): 4.

  4. [4]Life to Enjoy: Mia Maid Manual, 1950–51 (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1950), section 1, 13; Mia Maid Manual, 1951–52 (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1951), section 1, 9; “Old Program Symbolism,” 1.

  5. [5]Ensign-Laurel Manual (Salt Lake City: Mutual Improvement Associations, 1959), 267–268; “Old Program Symbolism,” 1.

  6. [6]“Logo Symbolic that Girls Will Hold up the Light of Christ,” Church News, 24 Oct. 1987, 7; Gerry Avant, “Young Women Leaders Introduce Pendant with Built-in ‘Identity,’” Church News, 12 Mar. 1988, 3; Elaine S. Dalton, “What’s New in Personal Progress,” New Era, Jan. 2010, 34; “Frequently Asked Questions,” Children and Youth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed 28 Jan. 2025, churchofjesuschrist.org.

  7. [7]“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.

  8. [8]“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.