NEW BEGINNINGS

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!!!)