IN THE LDS CHURCH, THERE ARE
TWO SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS FOR GIRLS BEFORE
THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
(NURSERY . . . AGES 18 MONTHS - 3, BUT
IT IS PART OF THE PRIMARY)
PRIMARY . . . AGES 3 - 12
YOUNG WOMEN . . . AGES 12-18
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH YEAR,
THE YOUNG WOMEN HOLD A
"NEW BEGINNINGS."
IT IS AN EVENING THAT INTRODUCES A
GIRL AND HER PARENTS TO THE
YOUNG WOMEN PROGRAM
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
THAT SHE TURNS 12.
EACH NEW GIRL RECEIVED A DARLING PILLOW.
JAYCIE WILL BE A "BEEHIVE". . . AGES 12-13
COURTNEY WILL BE A "LAUREL" . . . AGES 16-18
(THE 14-15 YEAR OLDS ARE CALLED "MIA MAIDS."
MIA STANDS FOR MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.)
SHE WILL ENTER THE PROGRAM
WHEN SHE TURNS 12 IN APRIL.
I'M GLAD IT WASN'T THAT WAY WHEN I WAS IN MUTUAL!
THE GIRLS ALL ADVANCED TOGETHER AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THEY'VE SINCE CHANGED IT SO THE GIRLS ADVANCE AT AGE 12.
I WAS THE YOUNGEST IN MY CLASS,
BACK IN MY DAY, THE SCHOOL DEADLINE WAS
OCTOBER 31.
DURING THE EARLY PART OF MY
TEACHING CAREER, THE DEADLINE
CHANGED TO AUGUST 31.
I'LL NEVER FORGET BEING THE PRIMARY
PIANIST ONCE IN THE 10TH WARD.
WE WERE IN THE CHAPEL, AND I LOOKED
DOWN AT THE KIDS.
THERE SAT MELINDA HANSEN, ALL ALONE.
SHE WAS IN 7TH GRADE...AND STILL IN PRIMARY!
(OCTOBER 31 BIRTHDAY)
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ME!
MY TWO BEST FRIENDS WERE RENAE & CAROL.
RENAE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN YOUNG WOMEN'S
9 MONTHS BEFORE ME.
CAROL, 11 MONTHS!!!
I WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN IN
YOUNG WOMEN'S IN MY SECOND
MONTH OF COLLEGE!!!
(I SURE DO RAMBLE!!! BUT, WRITING ALL
THIS DOWN BRINGS BACK A
FLOOD OF MEMORIES!!!)
