Young Woman of the 1860's:

"I am Annie Wells, a young woman of the 1860's. I've seen President Brigham Young cringe more than once when he saw the sisters walking the streets of Salt Lake City wearing the "Grecian Bend". The Grecian Bend is a dress style with long flowing skirts and mutton-leg sleeves. Seeing the need to take strong action to curtail the increasing worldliness of the sisters, Pres. Young called his many wives and daughters to the parlor of the Lion House on a crisp autumn evening of November 1869. He wanted his own daughters to set the example of economy and modest living. The family voted it's support, and the "Young Ladies Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association" was formed.

There's no doubt in my mind that Eliza R. Snow was the true power behind the throne in organizing the "Retrenchment Society". She was very extravagant in her own mode of dress, putting yards and yards of material into her skirts and trimming them as elaborately as possible. But she couldn't stand to see those of the younger generation in the like extravagance. I haven't the least doubt she was entirely sincere in the matter. She felt it was quite all right for a woman of her judgment and stature, but it would fill the heads of young girls with vain and idle thoughts.

President Young's daughters agreed, although with no great enthusiasm, to give up the frills so dear to all of us. I was one of the girls who benefited greatly from the Retrenchment Society. Some of the things I did to retrench from worldly ways include: piecing quilts, making hats, knitting stockings, and gleaning wheat. We also enjoyed molasses pulls, corn husking bees, and sleigh rides. Dancing was also a favorite, although Minerva Knowlton and her ward questioned how proper certain dances were and chose to abstain from waltzing.

Although pioneer life is difficult, the Retrenchment Society helps prepare me for it. And I always know there are 'Brighter Days in Store'." We then had a small group of girls, also dressed in pioneer clothes, sing the song, "Brighter Days in Store", from the old Seminary Quest songbook entitled, "The Mormon Pioneers". Just so you know, we did a lot of research on each period of time, and a lot of the material for this one was taken from the book, "Brigham Young at Home", by his daughter Clarissa Young Spencer.

Then the girl representing the early 1900's stood in the frame.

"I am Elizabeth Perkins, a girl of the early nineteen hundreds. Back in 1875, the name "Retrenchment Society" was changed to, 'Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association'.

Then, in 1902, we rejected a proposal to merge our program with the 'Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association'. We didn't mind having joint opening exercises, conferences, training sessions, and meeting times, but the Young Ladies Association wanted to maintain it's independence. Besides, consolidation is FAR to reminiscent of a dating service!

Some of the exciting curriculum we study in our brightly colored journals includes literature, history, physics, culture, physiology, and ethics. We also gain practical help in homemaking, recipes, home furnishings, and
sewing.

Now, in 1913, we have an additional program called the 'Beehive Girls Program'. It is patterned after the Campfire Girls. After it was organized, the first church-wide speech and other contests were held during the June Conference. Some of the requirements we have to do to advance as a Beehive are:

1. Sleep out of doors or with wide-open windows.
2. Refrain from candy, chewing gum, sundaes, and sodas for at least 2 months.
3. Know the proper use of hot and cold baths.
4. Pick 800 pounds of cherries or their equivalent in any six days without help or advice!
5. Care for and harness a team at least five times.
6. Drive fifty miles in one season.
7. Successfully care for a hive of bees for one season and know their habits. I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful organization! I feel accepted and loved by the other girls and by my leaders. We all enjoy learning, growing, serving the Lord, and learning the importance of 'Treating Each Other Kindly'."

Then a small group dressed in turn of the century clothes (this was the hardest one for clothes!) sang the song, "Let Us Treat Each Other Kindly". This was in that old blue Children's Songbook, (the one before the Children's Sing), pg. 114.

YW of the 1950's:

"I am Betsy Anderson, Young Woman of the 1950's. As a 'Beehive gatherer', I will endeavor each day to live by the Spirit of the Hive - Have faith, seek knowledge, safeguard health, honor womanhood, understand beauty, value work, love truth, taste the sweetness of service, and feel joy. This is our Beehive mission statement. We have two classes in Beehives, the guardians and the gatherers. Our teacher is called the Bee-keeper. As I fulfill my Beehive requirements, I am given badges to put on my bandelo. The Beehive class stands for Industry.

The MiaMaid symbol is the Rose. Everyone gets a different color rose. I hope I get pink, that is my favorite color. Day by day new petals will open until I am a full-blown rose. Each day I will ask my Father in Heaven to help me, that each petal may be fresh and beautiful.

I will be a Junior Gleaner when I am 16 years old. Some of the things I look forward to doing are: The Gold and Green Ball where everyone comes dressed formally in gold and green - the colors of Mutual. There will also be the competitive festivals of drama, speech, and dance! These are the things that everyone seems to enjoy the most. I can't wait! I will record all these experiences in my 'Treasures of Truth' book.

The Gleaners is the last class. I'll be in that class 'til I'm 25, or get married (whatever comes first!). The highlight of all my years in Mutual will be when I receive my Golden Gleaner pin. We all love MIA."

Then a small group dressed in 50's clothes (everyone volunteered for this one!), sings the song, "As We Hold Our Banners High". It's in that red songbook called (I think) Recreational Songs, on page 291.

The YW of the 1970's

"I am Cindy Pratt, a Young Woman of the 1970's. It's good to be young and to be me! It is wonderful to be a young woman today! This is what it says on the first page of my 12 year old journal. When I was a Beehive, we received a new journal on every birthday where we answered questions about ourselves and recorded information. These were fun to fill out and look back on. Now that I am a Laurel, I record my progress in my brand new Personal Progress book. As a young woman of the 70's, I strive to improve myself in 7 areas; spiritual awareness, homemaking arts, service and compassion, recreation and the world of nature, cultural arts and education, and personal and social refinement. I can sign off goals I have chosen in those 7 areas with my young women leader on Tuesday nights. Every Tuesday we all meet in the chapel for opening exercises for MIA with the Young Men. In opening exercises we all recite the theme, which is a scripture that is used by the whole church for one year. The one we're doing this year is, Mosiah 2:17. 'And behold I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.'

After opening exercises we divide into classes and have our lessons. We just have Sunday School and Sacrament meeting on Sundays, so our lesson time for MIA is on Tuesday nights. After our lessons we have time for a short activity. A lot of times this is a dance, but one of our favorite times of the year is the roadshow. We practice the roadshow every Tuesday night for our activity. Then it's time to perform. It is a competition, so we're always very nervous. If we do well in the stake competition, we move on to regional competition. And just for fun, we travel around and perform it for other wards. This year ours is based on the Book of Mormon, it is fun to learn from those who have gone before us."

A group dressed up for the 70's sings the song, "Like Unto Us", by Dennis Crockett. I'm not sure where you can find that, I had saved it from my Seminary days. The girls absolutely loved that song just as much as I did when I was in Seminary, so it would be worth it to try and find it.

If you haven't noticed, I tried to have the last sentence the girls say lead into the song, so if you have to use a different one anywhere, change the last line.

Young Woman of the 1990's (If I were doing it this year, I would say something about the turn of the century, or the millennium instead of 1990's.)

"I am _____________________, a Young Woman of the 1990's (century, millennium). In 1986, the Young Women's Program underwent several changes, and the seven values were introduced. Among the other changes were; age group mission statements and symbols, a new motto, a new theme, and age group recognition. I have become a Young Woman of Truth by earning my Beehive medallion. As I continue to progress, I will earn my Young Woman recognition award.

The experiences I have in Young Women are different than I have at school and with other groups. Young Women programs are based on gospel principles. I am not just an ordinary Young Woman! I am a choice spirit that has been held in reserve to come forth in this day when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest. I am at a critical time in my life. This is a time for me not only to live righteously, but also to set an example for my peers. As I seek to live the standards of the church, I will be able to reach out and lift and build my brothers and sisters.

Heavenly Father is mindful of us and he's given us commandments to guide us and discipline us. We have been chosen by Heavenly Father to live in this time and this place. Although the Young Women's program has changed throughout the years, it's mission has always been the same; preparation for our divine role, keeping our bodies and minds clean, and coming unto Christ as Zion's youth in latter-days."

All the girls came up and sang, (you guessed it!) "As Zion's Youth in Latter-days". I think I mentioned before, after we closed there were displays in the overflow that the girls found very interesting. We had invited mom's to bring any of their mementos from YW, and had also found some from more grandmotherly types. The parents loved the program! During practice, some of the girls mentioned that they thought it was boring, but on the night of the program they felt really good about it. Our 50's girl and our 70's girl were hilarious!

Stand As A Witness