On March 23, 2014, I met with
Bishop Layton to receive my Young Womanhood Recognition Award, also known as my
Young Women’s Award. I stood up in sacrament meeting on March 30, 2014 and was
presented with my medallion. Unfortunately, it was 3 days after I had Carpal
Tunnel surgery and was hopped up on pain meds, so I don’t remember as much as I
want to. But I do remember how
spiritually happy I felt. As soon as I turned 12 and went into Young Women’s, I
made it a goal to finish my personal progress as soon as I could. So when I
did, I felt so blessed and I knew my Heavenly Father was proud of me.
I
started looking through my book as soon as Jeanette Singleton, MiKell Flamm,
and my Mom gave it to me. But soon after that, I let it go. A couple months
later, I began to get really serious about it. I brought it to church with me
and constantly thought about what I could do. Throughout the week, I would try
to complete as many value experiences as I could. I remember thinking I wanted
to complete all of my stuff by the time I became a Mia Maid. Sadly that didn’t
happen. One of the reasons was due to my mom being released from young women’s
and another, because of Junior High and the adjustment to it and the homework.
When
I did became a Mia Maid, I looked back through the book and saw how many value
experiences I completed already. I was able to check off almost every single
one through mutual and my own experiences. Then I just needed to worry about
the Projects. I was too worried to even try for a few months. But then I looked
through those as well and I found that I had started practically all of them. I
just needed to continue to put in the hours and get the approval from my
leaders. My leaders also asked me to put together a couple of power points and
help out with other things that could actually contribute to my projects. At
one point, I had actually had 3 projects going on at the same time.
It
took me, surprisingly a long time, to complete my very last project. I started
in December of 2013 and it took until March of 2014. Normally, I could get one
done in a month. I chalked it all up to the stress of High School, sickness and
pain, and surgeries. But boy did I feel so good when I did.
My
favorite project of all time is a toss up between my Faith project, Good Works
project, and my Virtue project. Faith
was a compilation of my photography, Good Works was a video of my Young Women,
and of course my Virtue was reading the book of Mormon for the first time. I
think I would have to say Good Works though. That is the one where I
specifically designated it for my project and I worked with a lot of people to
complete it. I was able to learn how to use the technology to make a fun movie
of our adventures throughout the year 2011. My leaders got me all the pictures
that we have taken and they put in tons of input. It let me learn more about
technology, because I love doing that. It helped me reminisce about girl’s
camp, boating, and other fun young women’s activities. It also made me feel
really good because it made everyone happy.
Personal
Progress has helped me to know that I am a daughter of God. I have a Heavenly
Father who loves and cares for me. I have worked on these things for 4 years
now and if I were to look back, I know that I never felt my Heavenly Fathers
love more than I do now. He has always loved me, but now I can recognize it. I
have discovered my true worth. I have faith. I have a divine nature. My
individual worth is great. I have the most abundant knowledge. I am accountable
for the choices I make. I have done many good works. I have integrity. I have
virtue. I know that I am a daughter of a King. I would like to bear my
testimony that I know this church is true. I love this gospel with all of my
heart. I try to live it every single day. I know that we all have a great
worth. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.