Young Women (organization)
Based on Wikipedia: Young Women (organization)
In March 1843, in the humid heat of Nauvoo, Illinois, a group of young people gathered under the direct advice of their founder, Joseph Smith, to form the first official youth association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They called themselves the Young Gentlemen's and Young Ladies' Relief Society. It was a modest beginning, born from informal meetings that had been brewing since late January under the watchful eye of Apostle Heber C. Kimball, yet it planted a seed that would grow into a global institution spanning nearly two centuries. Today, this organization is known simply as the Young Women, a youth body dedicated to a singular, profound purpose: to help each young woman become "worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple." But to understand the weight of that mission, one must look back to the man who gave the movement its enduring shape and the turbulent times in which it was forged.
The organization as it is recognized today traces its formal lineage to 1869, when Brigham Young, then the president of the church, stood before a gathering and issued a call that was as much about cultural survival as it was about spiritual growth. The West was changing. The railroad was knitting the continent together, and with it came new ideas, new fashions, and new anxieties about morality. Young saw a generation at a crossroads. He did not want his daughters to merely survive; he wanted them to lead.
I desire them to retrench from extravagance in dress, in eating and even in speech. The time has come when the sisters must agree ... to set an example worthy of imitation before the people of the world. ... There is need for the young daughters of Israel to get a living testimony of the truth. ... We are about to organize a retrenchment Association, which I want you all to join, and I want you to vote to retrench in ... everything that is not good and beautiful, not to make yourselves unhappy, but to live so you may be truly happy in this life and in the life to come.
This was the founding vision. The word "retrench" was the operative force. It meant to cut back, to prune, to strip away the superfluous to reveal the essential. In an era of rapid expansion and materialism, Brigham Young asked the young women of the church to define themselves not by what they consumed, but by what they believed. He wanted them to be architects of a new social order, grounded in "good and beautiful" principles that would stand in contrast to the world around them. The organization was born as the Young Ladies' Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association.
For the first decade of its existence, from 1869 to 1880, this vision played out in a decentralized manner. There was no single voice speaking for the young women across the entire church. Instead, the organization functioned at the local ward level, with each congregation interpreting the call to "retrench" in its own way. It was a period of organic growth, where the spirit of the movement was carried by local leaders and the young women themselves. In 1871, the name was shortened to the Young Ladies' Retrenchment Association, or YL, a moniker that stuck for a few years as the group solidified its identity.
The trajectory of the organization shifted again in 1877. As the church continued to mature, there was a growing desire to align the youth programs into a cohesive structure. The Young Ladies' National Mutual Improvement Association (YLNMIA) was formed, serving as a companion to the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, which had been founded two years earlier in 1875. The word "Mutual" was significant; it implied a reciprocal relationship, a place where young women could improve themselves not in isolation, but in concert with their peers and the wider community. It was a move from the solitary act of retrenchment to the communal act of mutual improvement.
By June 19, 1880, the need for centralized leadership became undeniable. Under the direction of LDS Church president John Taylor, the first general presidency of the YLNMIA was organized, granting the body church-wide authority. At the helm was Elmina Shepard Taylor, the first general president. Her appointment marked a pivotal moment. For the first time, the young women had a unified voice, a central command that could guide the disparate local groups with a single vision. Elmina Shepard Taylor was not just a figurehead; she was a leader who understood the gravity of the task. She was tasked with shepherding a generation of young women through the complexities of the late 19th century, ensuring that the spark lit by Brigham Young did not flicker out.
As the 20th century dawned, the organization continued to evolve, shedding its longer names for brevity and clarity. In 1904, the YLNMIA became the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association (YLMIA). The name stuck for thirty years, until 1934, when the title was updated to the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association (YWMIA). This was more than a linguistic tweak; it reflected a subtle shift in how the church viewed its youth. They were no longer just "ladies" in the Victorian sense, but "women" with agency and responsibility. The change signaled a maturation of the organization itself, acknowledging that the young women were not merely children to be protected, but young adults to be empowered.
The mid-20th century brought a period of experimentation that would ultimately prove to be a brief, if instructive, detour. In 1972, in a move to streamline church administration and perhaps to address changing social dynamics, the church consolidated the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association and the YWMIA into a single entity. It was called the "Aaronic Priesthood MIA Young Women." This new organization was a hybrid, with leadership shared between the presiding bishopric and the general presidency of the Young Women. The idea was to create a unified youth experience, but the reality was complicated. The distinct identities of the young men and young women, each with their own specific spiritual needs and cultural contexts, seemed to blur in the merger. The experiment was short-lived. By 1974, just two years later, the organization was divided once more, returning to the separate paths of the Young Men and the Young Women. The lesson learned was clear: while unity was a noble goal, the unique spiritual journey of the young woman required its own dedicated space.
From the 1990s through the early 21st century, the Young Women organization found a new rhythm of connection that transcended geography. Between 1994 and 2013, an annual General Young Women Meeting was held every March. This was a massive event, broadcast via satellite to meetinghouses around the globe. In these gatherings, the Young Women general presidency, often joined by a member of the church's First Presidency, spoke directly to the young women, their mothers, and the adult leaders. The proceedings were published in the May issues of the Liahona and Ensign magazines, ensuring that the message reached those who could not attend or were in time zones that made live viewing difficult. Video and audio archives were created, allowing the teachings to be downloaded and revisited. It was a digital age before the internet was ubiquitous, a way of creating a global family room where millions of young women could feel a sense of belonging to something larger than their local ward.
In 2014, the format of this gathering changed. The annual Young Women Meeting was replaced by a semiannual general women's meeting, open to all females eight years of age and older. This shift reflected a broader trend in the church to unify the experiences of women and girls, creating a more inclusive atmosphere where the wisdom of the elders could be shared with the youngest members of the faith. The separation of the meetings acknowledged that while the Young Women had unique needs, they were part of a continuum of female leadership and spirituality that began in childhood and extended through all stages of life.
For decades, the structure of the Young Women program was defined by a clear, age-based progression. From 1959 until 2019, every young woman moved through three distinct classes, each with its own name, badge, and set of expectations. The Beehive class was for 12- and 13-year-olds, a time of transition from childhood into adolescence. The Mia Maids class followed for 14- and 15-year-olds, a period of deepening commitment and skill-building. Finally, the Laurels class for 16- and 17-year-olds prepared young women for the responsibilities of adulthood and temple covenants. This system was familiar to generations of members. It provided a roadmap, a way to measure progress and celebrate achievement. The names themselves—Beehive, Mia Maid, Laurel—evoked images of industry, beauty, and victory. They were symbols of identity, badges of honor that a young woman could wear with pride.
Underpinning this structure was the Personal Progress program, a requirement that guided young women through a series of values, experiences, and projects. It was designed to be a holistic approach to growth, ensuring that a young woman's development was not just academic or spiritual, but also practical and social. However, in late 2019, the church announced the discontinuation of the Personal Progress program. It was replaced by the new "Children and Youth Program," a more flexible framework designed to adapt to the diverse needs of young people in a rapidly changing world. The shift was significant. It moved away from a rigid, checklist-based approach to a more relational, mentorship-focused model. The goal remained the same—to help young women grow—but the path was no longer a straight line.
The evolution of the organization did not stop there. In 2026, the church announced a new set of age-group names for young women, replacing the historic Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel titles. The new names—Builder of Faith (11–13 year olds), Messenger of Hope (14–15 year olds), and Gatherer of Light (16–18 year olds)—were chosen to reflect the core values and spiritual missions of each age group. "Builder of Faith" emphasized the foundational work of establishing a spiritual identity. "Messenger of Hope" highlighted the role of young women as bearers of good news and encouragement in a world often filled with despair. "Gatherer of Light" pointed toward the ultimate goal of gathering the scattered and illuminating the path for others. These names were not just labels; they were calls to action, reminders that every young woman had a specific role to play in the spiritual economy of the church.
Today, the Young Women organization operates on a vast scale, yet its power lies in its local implementation. In every ward, or local congregation, all females between the ages of 11 and 18 are members of the Young Women classes. The structure is flexible, adapting to the size and needs of each community. The sub-division of classes is determined at the local level by the young women president, with the approval of the bishopric. Each class is led by a class presidency, typically consisting of a president, two counselors, and a class secretary. These are young women themselves, selected for their ability to lead and serve. They are the ones who plan the activities, teach the lessons, and provide the peer support that is so crucial during adolescence.
The adult leadership structure mirrors the youth structure. A ward has a Young Women President and two counselors, adult women who serve as mentors and guides. They are the bridge between the church's general leadership and the young women in the ward. The presidency may also ask an adult woman to serve as the secretary, ensuring that the administrative side of the organization runs smoothly. This dual layer of leadership—young and old—creates a dynamic environment where wisdom is passed down and energy is poured up.
The weekly rhythm of the Young Women organization is a blend of instruction, activity, and community. During Sunday meetings, each class typically meets separately for instruction, allowing for age-appropriate discussions and learning. But the organization is not confined to the Sunday hour. Young women also meet one day during the week for an activity, a time for fun, service, and bonding. Once a month, they hold a combined activity with the young men, fostering a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between the two groups. These activities are not merely distractions; they are opportunities to practice the values they learn in class, to build friendships that last a lifetime, and to see their faith in action.
Beyond the weekly meetings, the Young Women organization organizes an annual Young Women Camp, or Girls Camp. These camps are held at the ward or stake level and are often the highlight of the year. They provide a chance for young women to step away from their daily routines, to connect with nature, and to deepen their spiritual experiences in a setting away from the distractions of home. The camps are a place for laughter, tears, and transformation. They are where the abstract concepts of faith become concrete realities in the lives of young women.
Every other year, eligible young women may attend regional For the Strength of Youth conferences. These are massive gatherings that bring together thousands of young people from across the region. They are a celebration of youth, a time to be inspired by the messages of church leaders and to see the sheer scale of the global community they are a part of. The conferences are a reminder that the Young Women are not alone; they are part of a vast network of young women who share their values, their challenges, and their hopes.
The organization is supported by a stake Young Women presidency, which oversees the work in a larger geographic area, and by the Young Women General Presidency, which provides vision and direction for the entire church. This hierarchy ensures that the local efforts are aligned with the broader mission of the church. The church advises that young women and their leaders repeat the theme of the Young Women organization during Sunday opening exercises and at other gatherings. This repetition is not empty ritual; it is a way of keeping the mission front and center, of reminding everyone of the purpose of their gathering.
The history of the Young Women is a history of adaptation. From the retrenchment of the 1860s to the mutual improvement of the 1880s, from the consolidation of the 1970s to the new age-group names of 2026, the organization has shown a remarkable ability to evolve while staying true to its core mission. It has weathered changes in society, in technology, and in church policy, always finding a way to remain relevant to the young women it serves.
The legacy of the Young Women is carried in the lives of the millions of women who have passed through its ranks. They are the mothers, the teachers, the leaders, and the community organizers who have taken the lessons of the Beehive, the Mia Maid, and the Laurel, or the Builder of Faith, the Messenger of Hope, and the Gatherer of Light, and applied them to the world. They are the living proof of the vision Brigham Young had in 1869, when he asked the young daughters of Israel to set an example worthy of imitation.
The Young Women organization is more than a youth group; it is a crucible for character. It is a place where young women are challenged to be better, to do better, and to be a light in the world. It is a place where the past informs the future, where the wisdom of the generations is passed to the next, and where the promise of the temple is kept alive in the hearts of the young. As the organization continues to grow and change, its purpose remains constant: to help each young woman be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants, and to receive the ordinances of the temple. That is the goal, and it is a goal that has guided the organization for nearly two centuries, and will continue to guide it for centuries to come.