The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday introduced new age-group names for the Young Women program: Builders of Faith, Messengers of Hope and Gatherers of Light. More concrete and translatable than the legacy names of Beehive, Mia Maid and Laurel, the new names reflect the continued emphasis in the youth program on finding one’s identity in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly tonight, the first thing he would make sure you understand is your true identity,” President Russell M. Nelson told Latter-day Saint youth in 2022. “Identifiers and labels are powerful,” he acknowledged, noting how certain labels adopted can “stymie your progress or pigeonhole you in a stereotype that could potentially thwart your eternal progression.”
The late prophet then emphasized the need for identifiers that grant “a vision of who you can ultimately become.”
This guidance on carefully forming our identity represents important context for the new class names, because they aren’t simply names; they are invitations to the young women of the church to see themselves differently and to more actively participate in God’s work for them. For example:
- The name Builders of Faith (for young women ages 11-13) demonstrates that even the youngest young women are old enough to influence others in eternally significant ways.
- The name Messengers of Hope (for young women 14-15) reflects that as the young women grow in confidence and gospel knowledge, they can teach and share the gospel.
- The name Gatherers of Light (for young women ages 16-17) reflects a growing maturity in the gospel and an opportunity to be leaders in their youth groups and communities in gathering Israel.
One of us joined the church as a teen and never knew what a Mia Maid or Laurel was. The other author had good experiences as a young woman growing up in the church, but mostly viewed the program in terms of lessons and activities, rather than in terms of growth and responsibility to spiritual development.
Among other things, these new names clarify and orient young women toward becoming more than just doing. BYU professor Shima Baughman spoke with the Deseret News about how these changes dovetail with Young Men’s class names.
“At a moment when many young women are deciding whether faith is worth their investment, the church’s call for Builders of Faith, Messengers of Hope and Gatherers of Light arrives with unusual clarity,” Baughman said.
“These are not ornamental titles but an invitation,” she added. “And they have counterparts. Young women and young men are invited to stand side by side — Builders with Deacons, Messengers with Teachers, Gatherers with Priests — each bringing distinct, indispensable gifts to a community grounded in faith, hope and light.”
In announcing the change, President Emily Belle Freeman, general president of the Young Women, explained that these names and stages will “help God’s daughters live as disciples of Christ and prepare them to enter a lifelong sisterhood of charity — the Relief Society.”
These names point to stages in gospel growth and give young women a greater sense of ownership and belonging in the gospel, regardless of their personal circumstances. The words young women hear week after week about who they are — spoken by leaders, repeated in lessons, printed on event flyers — are reflected in these names.
And they can remind a young woman, in a moment of discouragement, who she is and what she’s capable of. A “Builder of Faith” may begin to notice opportunities to strengthen others. A “Messenger of Hope” may feel a little more responsibility to speak kindly or reach out. A “Gatherer of Light” may start to see leadership not as something distant, but as something already within her reach.
“The evidence is increasingly clear,” Baughman added. “Women who are deeply engaged in faith — who invest in family and community — report higher levels of meaning, resilience and well-being.
“Beyond the data, young women today are not content to simply attend. They have been called — and entrusted — to lead,” the scholar concluded.
This change is particularly wonderful news for international young women. Many Latter-day Saints see changes implemented in the church only within the context of the United States Mountain West. While most young women of an earlier age didn’t know what a Mia Maid actually was, or understand the connection between a Laurel and the gospel, those heritage names felt special and unique, and often reflected rootedness in our pioneer ancestry.
But translation of these names is nearly impossible — meaning Latter-day Saints around the globe either had to adopt the opaque English names or come up with their own. Now, much like the Relief Society, young women around the world will find connection to a worldwide organization of other faithful girls through a shared identity.
Social media commenters have been swift to point out the difficulties, since the names are longer and not “cool.” As with other changes the church is implementing, the adjustments may take time and effort, but should we expect anything less?
Members have been reminded repeatedly by church leaders that God is hastening his work of salvation. Policy updates that ask more from us — even in ways we weren’t expecting or which cause us to stand out — reflect in concrete ways Latter-day Saints’ belief that Christ’s return approaches and we want to be ready.
Names do more than organize a group; they signal what that group values. The new class names have singled out the values of faith, hope and light. In our view, it’s more than worth the inconvenience of change to help young women integrate these values more deeply into their eternal identity.