A decade ago, the official Young Women logo and symbols inherent in Personal Progress were introduced to the Church during a special satellite fireside Oct. 18, 1987.
Today, nearly a generation later, young women continue "living" Personal Progress - using the value experiences as a way to practice gospel principles.And practicing gospel principles helps them not only overcome challenges faced now in their young lives, but also prepares them to "make and keep sacred covenants" in their futures.
"The Young Women Personal Progress program was designed to help give young women experience in living the gospel," Young Women Gen. Pres. Janette Hales Beckham explained. "It's important that we learn things in our head, but we really have to experience them in our lives to know how they work for us."
With the 10-year anniversary of the Young Women values and symbols approaching, Pres. Beckham and her counselors in the general presidency, Virginia H. Pearce and Carol B. Thomas, discussed with the Church News the effects of the program in the lives of young people.
"The most important thing that can happen for a young woman is for her to develop a relationship with her Heavenly Father through prayer and learn to turn to the scriptures to receive help in meeting her daily challenges," Pres. Beckham explained. "The Young Women symbols seem to focus attention on these fundamentals.
"For example, the Laurel symbol of temple spires focuses young women on that ultimate destination as they prepare themselves to make and keep sacred covenants in the temple. I believe the symbols keep us founded on those things that matter most."
And as years pass, Pres. Beckham continued, hopefully the Young Womanhood medallion - the culmination of Personal Progress - will remind a maturing woman of the growth she experienced through the six years in Young Women. "That medallion becomes symbolic not only of the work she has done, but also of the changes that came into her life as she matured spiritually and developed her sense of discernment."
Sister Pearce added that most young girls probably don't recognize the impact the Personal Progress value experiences are having in their lives. However, as a young woman participates in such experiences, such as scripture study, then these habits become part of her - "and those are problem-solving, life-impacting kinds of habits," she noted.
In speaking of the great body of young women throughout the world, Sister Pearce explained the connection they can feel through the Young Women jewelry. Late in 1996, she visited Mongolia with then Relief Society Gen. Pres. Elaine L. Jack. During a question and answer period, the first question Sister Pearce was asked was, "Tell us about earning your medallion."
"Telling them what the medallion meant to me created a connection between us," she explained.
In speaking of the impact of the Young Women logo and symbols in today's world, Sister Thomas said: "We live in a world of symbolism. How appropriate it is that the Personal Progress symbols serve as visual reminders to our young women as they strive - in the words of Pres. Beckham - `to become righteous, problem-solving young women of faith.'
"Even the handbook itself, with its spiritual foundation, reminds a young woman of her relationship with the Savior as she tries to honor the Young Women Values by making right choices.
"For each young woman who earns her recognition awards, the culminating experience she will have is the honor of receiving her Young Womanhood medallion. The symbolism of this award reminds her of the exemplary and worthy life she has lived thus far. It is a visual reminder of her devotion to the gospel and her personal relationship with her Heavenly Father."
Perhaps Pres. Beckham best explained the progress in the lives of young women through the Personal Progress experience. "You return to Heavenly Father by going forward, not backward."