Class Chart and List

This appendix presents a chart showing the classes in the Young Women organization from 1903 to 2019. An alphabetical listing of the classes is also included and gives a brief description of changes in the name and age grouping for each class. Determining factors for how young women were assigned to age groups varied over the years—for example, at times they were assigned by birth date, and at other times they were assigned based on their age at the beginning of the American school year.

The Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (YLMIAs) were first subdivided into Junior and Senior classes in 1903. Starting in the 1920s, further reconfiguration of age-grouped classes occurred frequently and sometimes paralleled similar groupings in the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA). For many decades in the twentieth century, the organizations for young women and young men functioned largely on a joint basis and were collectively known as “the MIA.” Until 1972, the MIA sponsored groups for adults; those groups are represented in this appendix. After 1972, the church’s youth programs served only young people up to age eighteen, and activity and service groups for adults took a different trajectory, which is not traced here. In 2019, the Young Women general presidency announced that class names and age groupings were being retired. Instead, local church leaders would determine the number of classes for young women and, if needed, age groupings that would best meet the needs in their areas.

TBD

Click on chart to enlarge.

Adult (1928–1940)

This class provided educational and leisure opportunities for adult women and men, including those who were married. The Adult class replaced the Advanced Senior class in 1928 and ended in 1940, when it became part of the new Special Interest groups.


1928–1932: for ages 24 and up1

1932–1936: for ages 36 and up2

1936–1939: for ages 41 and up3

1939–1940: for ages 31 and up4


Advanced Senior (1917–1928)

This class provided educational and leisure opportunities for adult women and men. It was replaced by the Adult class in 1928.


1917–1923: for ages 25 and up5

1923–1928: for ages 23 and up6


Beehive (1915–2019)

Bee-Hive Girls was initially an optional summer program for all members of YLMIA. The lessons associated with this program later became the regular curriculum for the Junior class. When the Junior class was split into two age groups in 1921, the Bee-Hive Girls name was used for a separate class for 14- and 15-year-olds. The class eventually expanded to include 12- and 13-year-olds, and the class name was shortened to Bee-Hive and then finally to Beehive. In 1950, the class became a two-year program for ages 12 and 13 and remained as such until 2019, when the class name and age grouping were discontinued.


1915–1919: for ages 14 and up7

1919–1921: for ages 14–16; interchangeably called the Junior or Bee-Hive Girls class during these years8

1921–1930: for ages 14–159

1930–1931: for ages 14–15; open to ages 12–13 with parental approval10

1931–1934: for age 14; open to ages 12–13 as part of the Nymph program with parental approval11

1934–1950: for ages 12–1412

1950–2019: for ages 12–1313


Gleaner (1922–1972)

Initially an optional program within the Senior class to provide young women with leadership opportunities, this group became known as the Gleaners in 1923. The Senior class name was changed to Gleaner in 1928. Gleaners often held lessons [C:18]and activities with their YMMIA counterparts, the M Men, and these two classes became essentially a joint group over time. In 1972, this age group was placed in the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA program and the name Gleaner was discontinued.


1922–1923: for ages 18–2414

1923–1930: for ages 18–2315

1930–1939: for ages 17–2316

1939–1940: for ages 17–3017

1940–1950: for ages 17–2418

1950–1959: for ages 19–25, married or unmarried; women up to age 29 could remain in class19

1959–1960: for ages 18 and over, unmarried20

1960–1970: for those who were at least age 18, graduated from high school, and unmarried21

1970–1972: for ages 19–25, unmarried22


Intermediate (1921–1922)

This optional class was created when the original Junior class was dissolved and divided into two age groups in 1921. The Intermediate class was for those who had completed their Bee-Hive Girls coursework but were not old enough to be enrolled in the Senior class. This class was renamed Junior Girls in 1922 at the request of the young women themselves.


1921–1922: for ages 16–1723


Junior (1903–1921, 1922–1950)

One of the two original divisions in the organization, this class was created to meet the needs of younger girls and increase their participation. The Junior group was interchangeably called the Junior or Bee-Hive Girls class between 1919 and 1921, because the Bee-Hive Girls lessons became the regular curriculum for Juniors during that time. In 1921, the Junior class was dissolved and divided into two classes, Bee-Hive Girls and Intermediate. In 1922, the Intermediate class was renamed Junior. The Junior class was replaced by the Mia Maid and Junior Gleaner classes in 1950.


1903–1921: for ages 14–1624

1922–1930: for ages 16–1725

1930–1931: for ages 16–17; 17-year-olds could attend either the Junior or Gleaner group26

1931–1950: for ages 15–1627


Junior Gleaner (1950–1959)

Created in 1950 by combining the younger ages of the Gleaner group and the oldest year of the Junior class, the Junior Gleaner class was for young women ages 16–18. [C:37]This group held some classes [C:38]and activities with their YMMIA counterparts, the Junior M Men. In 1959, the Junior Gleaner class was replaced by the Laurel class.


1950–1959: for ages 16–1828


Laurel (1959–2019)

A class for young women at least 16 years of age and still in high school, Laurel replaced Junior Gleaner as the class name in 1959. Laurels sometimes held classes and activities with their counterparts in church organizations for young men. The class name and age group were discontinued in 2019.


1959–1972: for ages 16–1829

1972–2019: for ages 16–17, or until young women graduated from high school30


Mia Maid (1950–2019)

This class for 14- and 15-year-olds was created by combining the youngest year of the Junior class and the oldest year of the Beehive class in 1950. The class name and age group were discontinued in 2019.


1950–2019: for ages 14–1531


Mutual Interests (1969–1972)

This class for adults was created to replace the Young Marrieds and Mutual Study classes. Mutual Interests was originally for those who had aged out of the M Men or Gleaner classes at age 26, regardless of marital status. In 1970 it changed to include only widows, widowers, divorced persons, and older singles. In 1972, this age group became part of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA program and was no longer supervised by the Young Women and Young Men organizations.


1969–1970: for ages 26 and up, married or single32

1970–1972: for ages 26 and up, single33


Mutual Study (1959–1969)

This class, along with Young Marrieds, was for adult church members and was part of the Mutual Marrieds Department. The Mutual Marrieds Department replaced the Special Interest groups in 1959. Mutual Study was intended for older married couples but also for all adults of “middle age” and older. It was combined with Young Marrieds in 1969 to form the Mutual Interests class.


1959–1969: for all middle-aged adults and older34


Nymph (1931–1934)

The Nymph class was created for 12- and 13-year-olds as a segment of the Bee-Hive class. They could join with parental approval rather than stay in the Mi-Kan-Wee class for that age group in Primary. The Nymph class ended in 1934 when the age group was placed solely in the YWMIA as part of the Bee-Hive class.


1931–1934: for ages 12–13, connected to the Bee-Hive class35


Senior (1903–1928, 1932–1939)

One of the original class divisions in the organization, the Senior class was initially for young women ages 17 and over. In 1928, the Senior class was renamed Gleaners. The name Senior was briefly reintroduced for a joint class for adults in the 1930s.


1903–1917: for ages 17 and up36

1917–1921: for ages 17–2437

1921–1923: for ages 18–2438

1923–1928: for ages 18–2339

1932–1936: for ages 24–3540

1936–1939: for ages 24–4041


Special Interest (1939–1959)

This joint class presented elective study topics for older members of the Gleaner and M Men classes. It absorbed the Senior and Adult classes in 1940. The class was replaced by Mutual Study and Young Marrieds in 1959.


1939–1940: for ages 25–30, part of the Gleaner/M Men class42

1940–1950: for ages 25 and up43

1950–1959: for ages 26 and up; those aged 26–29 could remain in Gleaners or M Men if they wished44


Young Marrieds (1959–1969, 1970–1972)

This joint class, along with Mutual Study, was part of the Mutual Marrieds Department. The Mutual Marrieds Department replaced the Special Interest groups in 1959. The Young Marrieds class was intended for younger married couples raising families. It was combined with Mutual Study in 1969 to form the Mutual Interests class. In 1970 it was reintroduced as a class for married adults regardless of age. In 1972, this age group became part of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA program.


1959–1969: for younger married couples45

1970–1972: for married adults regardless of age46


Cite This Page

Cite This Page

Class Chart and List, Carry On: The Latter-day Saint Young Women Organization, 1870–2024, accessed March 31, 2025 https://chpress-web.churchhistorianspress.org/young-women/appendixes/class-chart

Footnotes

  1. [1]“Special Instruction for M. I. A. Officers,” Young Woman’s Journal, May 1928, 312; “The Adult Department,” Young Woman’s Journal, July 1928, 434; “The Adult Department,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1928, 498–499; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1928), 221–222; Josephson, History of the YWMIA, 230; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1931), 63, 103.

  2. [2]“Adult,” Improvement Era, Sept. 1932, 686.

  3. [3]M. I. A. Guide for Executives (1936), 32; “Important Announcement,” M. I. A. Leader, Apr. 1940, 1.

  4. [4]Young Women General Board, Minutes, vol. 14, 8 Feb. 1939, 71; “Announcement of Enlarged M Men and Gleaner Departments,” Improvement Era, May 1939, 301; Bennion, Youth and Its Religion, 9, 252.

  5. [5]Lucy W. Smith, “Guide Work 1917–18,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1917, 463; “Advanced Senior Classes,” Young Woman’s Journal, Oct. 1917, 562.

  6. [6]“Ages for Enrollment in M. I. A. Classes,” Young Woman’s Journal, Jan. 1923, 38; Y. L. M. I. A. Hand Book (1923), 57; “Special Instruction for M. I. A. Officers,” Young Woman’s Journal, May 1928, 312; “The Adult Department,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1928, 498–499; Josephson, History of the YWMIA, 230.

  7. [7]Hand Book for the Bee-Hive Girls (1915), 4; “Summer Work,” Young Woman’s Journal, Mar. 1915, 192; Ann M. Cannon, “Junior Work,” Young Woman’s Journal, July 1919, 397.

  8. [8]Ann M. Cannon, “Junior Work,” Young Woman’s Journal, July 1919, 397–399; “Courses of Study,” and “The Bee-Hive Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Sept. 1919, 496–497; “Juniors—Bee-Hive Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Dec. 1919, 673; “Junior Course of Study,” Young Woman’s Journal, Sept. 1920, 535.

  9. [9]“Class Work,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1921, 494; Y. L. M. I. A. Hand Book (1923), 32.

  10. [10]Young Women General Board, Minutes, vol. 12, 5 Oct. 1930, 129.

  11. [11]Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1931), 148; Hand Book for the Bee-Hive Girls (1931), 10; “Placing Bee Hive Girls Entering M. I. A.,” and “Nymphs,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1931, 49, 50; Supplement to the Bee Hive Girls Handbook (1931), 3.

  12. [12]“Bee Hive Girls,” Improvement Era, Sept. 1934, 562; Heber J. Grant and Anthony W. Ivins to Stake Presidents, 3 Aug. 1934, in “Officers’ Notes,” Children’s Friend, Sept. 1934, 311; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Associations (1934), 64.

  13. [13]“Bee Hive,” MIA Stake Leader, Apr. 1950, 4; Bonnie H. Cordon, “Beloved Daughters,” Ensign, Nov. 2019, 68.

  14. [14]“Senior Class Organization,” Young Woman’s Journal, Sept. 1922, 496; “Senior Girls Organization,” Young Woman’s Journal, Dec. 1922, 672.

  15. [15]“The Gleaners,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1923, 453–454; Y. L. M. I. A. Hand Book (1923), 29–30; “The Gleaner Department,” Young Woman’s Journal, July 1928, 434–435; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1928), 269.

  16. [16]Bennion, Gleaning, 122; Beesley, Believing and Doing, 103; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1931), 103.

  17. [17]Bennion, Youth and Its Religion, 9, 252.

  18. [18]“Important Announcement,” M. I. A. Leader, Apr. 1940, 1; Lloyd, Learning to Live, 203.

  19. [19]“M Men–Gleaner,” MIA Stake Leader, Apr. 1950, 3; Executive Manual for Officers (1951), 33.

  20. [20]Executive MIA, 1959–1960, 105–106; “M Man–Gleaner Department,” MIA Stake Leader, Sept. 1959, insert, [2].

  21. [21]Executive MIA, 1960–1961, 109; MIA Executive Manual (1963), 269.

  22. [22]“Adult MIA Program Expands,” Church News, 27 June 1970, 4; MIA Executive Manual (1972), sec. 16, pp. 1–2; “2 Priesthood-Oriented MIAs,” Church News, 11 Nov. 1972, 3, 8–9.

  23. [23]“New Plans for Intermediate Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1921, 494; “Intermediate Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Sept. 1921, 529; “Intermediate Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Feb. 1922, 103; “Junior Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1922, 463–464; Outline of Courses of Study for Junior Classes (1922), 3.

  24. [24]Guide for the Junior Department (1903), 2; “Officers’ Page,” Young Woman’s Journal, Feb. 1903, 88; “Guide Department,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1903, 381; “Junior Classes,” Young Woman’s Journal, Oct. 1903, 469; Gates, History of the YLMIA, 183–185; Ann M. Cannon, “Junior Work,” Young Woman’s Journal, July 1919, 397–399; “Bee-Hive Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1921, 494; Y. L. M. I. A. Hand Book (1923), 32.

  25. [25]“Junior Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1922, 463–464; Y. L. M. I. A. Hand Book (1923), 31.

  26. [26]Beesley, Believing and Doing, 103.

  27. [27]Building a Life, 87; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1931), 121; “Junior,” MIA Stake Leader, Apr. 1950, 4.

  28. [28]“Junior M Men–Junior Gleaner,” MIA Stake Leader, May 1950, 5; Program for Junior M Men and Junior Gleaners (1950), sec. 3, p. 6; “Ensign-Laurel,” MIA Stake Leader, Sept. 1959, insert, [2].

  29. [29]Executive MIA, 1959–1960, 106–107; “Ensign-Laurel,” MIA Stake Leader, Sept. 1959, insert, [2]; Ensign-Laurel Manual (1959), 268; MIA Executive Manual (1963), 272; MIA Executive Manual (1970), 286.

  30. [30]MIA Executive Manual (1972), sec. 18, p. 5; Young Women Handbook (1975), 1; Bonnie H. Cordon, “Beloved Daughters,” Ensign, Nov. 2019, 68.

  31. [31]“Junior,” MIA Stake Leader, Apr. 1950, 4; Bonnie H. Cordon, “Beloved Daughters,” Ensign, Nov. 2019, 68.

  32. [32]MIA Executive Manual Supplement, 1969–70, 16; “Mutual Interests,” MIA Leader, Aug. 1969, 3.

  33. [33]“Adult MIA Program Expands,” Church News, 27 June 1970, 4; MIA Executive Manual (1972), sec. 16, p. 3; “2 Priesthood-Oriented MIAs,” Church News, 11 Nov. 1972, 3, 8–9.

  34. [34]“Mutual Marrieds,” MIA Stake Leader, Sept. 1959, insert, [2]; Executive MIA, 1959–1960, 101–102; “Mutual Interests,” MIA Leader, Aug. 1969, 3; MIA Executive Manual Supplement, 1969–70, 16. The manuals and handbooks containing this information did not delineate what ages were included in “middle age.”

  35. [35]Supplement to the Bee Hive Girls Handbook (1931), 3; “Placing Bee Hive Girls Entering M. I. A.,” and “Nymphs,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1931, 49–50; Hand Book for the Bee-Hive Girls (1931), 10; Hand Book of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations (1931), 148; Handbook for the Officers (1930), 87, 165; “Bee Hive Girls,” Improvement Era, Sept. 1934, 562.

  36. [36]Guide for the Junior Department (1903), 2; “Officers’ Page,” Young Woman’s Journal, Feb. 1903, 88; “Guide Department,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1903, 381; “Junior Classes,” Young Woman’s Journal, Oct. 1903, 469.

  37. [37]Lucy W. Smith, “Guide Work 1917–18,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1917, 463; “Advanced Seniors and Seniors,” Young Woman’s Journal, Dec. 1919, 673.

  38. [38]“New Plans for Intermediate Girls,” Young Woman’s Journal, Aug. 1921, 494; Outline of Courses of Study for Junior Classes (1922), 3.

  39. [39]“Ages for Enrollment in M. I. A. Classes,” Young Woman’s Journal, Jan. 1923, 38; Y. L. M. I. A. Hand Book (1923), 29.

  40. [40]“Seniors,” Improvement Era, Sept. 1932, 686.

  41. [41]M. I. A. Guide for Executives (1936), 32; Bennion, Youth and Its Religion, 9, 252.

  42. [42]“Special Interest Groups,” M. I. A. Leader, Nov. 1939, 4; M. I. A. Manual for Executives (1939), 52; “Important Announcement,” M. I. A. Leader, Apr. 1940, 1.

  43. [43]“Important Announcement,” M. I. A. Leader, Apr. 1940, 1; Brochure for Special Interest Groups (1940), 5.

  44. [44]“M Men-Gleaner,” MIA Stake Leader, Apr. 1950, 3; Executive Manual for Officers (1951), 32–33; “Mutual Marrieds,” MIA Stake Leader, June 1959, 3; “Mutual Marrieds,” MIA Stake Leader, Sept. 1959, insert, [2].

  45. [45]“Mutual Marrieds,” MIA Stake Leader, Sept. 1959, insert, [2]; Executive MIA, 1959–1960, 101–102; “Mutual Interests,” MIA Leader, Aug. 1969, 3; MIA Executive Manual Supplement, 1969–70, 16.

  46. [46]“Adult MIA Program Expands,” Church News, 27 June 1970, 4; MIA Executive Manual (1972), sec. 16, p. 2; “2 Priesthood-Oriented MIAs,” Church News, 11 Nov. 1972, 3, 8–9.