Six Simultaneous Young Womanhood Recognition Awards in Bintulu

Six beautiful daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves them received their Young Womanhood Recognition awards recently in a program held in the Bintulu Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Miri District in East Malaysia.  Such a significant joint accomplishment is unprecented in Malaysia, according to President Ethan Tan of the District Presidency, as he shared remarks at the event.

At the combined Night of Excellence and New Beginnings, President Tan said he noticed a visible change in these young women.  As he interviewed them in preparation for receiving their awards, he discerned spiritual progress in their lives.  He said they have become more self confident and more cheerful.  He saw a “glow radiating from them,” and recognized it as a true conversion process.  He was overwhelmed and touched by their strong testimonies, which strengthened his testimony. 

The evening continued with remarks by the Branch YW President, the District YW President and the Bintulu Branch President.  All were generous in their praise of the hard-working young women whose lives are now changed because of this spiritual accomplishment, and who are now good examples for others. Sister Philip, the Bintulu Branch YW President, was recognized and thanked for making this evening possible. It is her vision of who these Young Woman are and her motivational skills and spiritual connection that prompted all the hard work from the young women.   .

Spectacular preparations were made for this event.  Cutouts of a temple, the Young Women logo, and banners identifying each Young Women value were painstakingly made and prominently displayed. Special invitations went out in advance.  The Branch Young Women, including these six Laurels, prepared a musical number to share, titled “Press Forward” for the event.  It was clear that the leaders wanted this to be a special evening for all the Young Women and their families.

After being presented with their awards, each of the six Young Women Recognition recipients bore her testimony.  One said she has learned how to press forward.  Another, who is the only active Church member in her family, told how she wanted to be a good example to her family to show how the gospel changes lives. One mentioned that the value experiences in Individual Worth were meaningful, and made her aware of the blessings that are hers.  She concluded her testimony by saying that the Personal Progress program is divinely created and will help young women to “Come unto Christ.” Most of the young women said they now had goals to serve missions and be temple worthy.  One young woman supported the Church's initiative of making the Sabbath a Delight because she was able to spend her Sundays working toward many of her Personal Progress goals. Each bore testimony of the newly recognized value in serving others and improving selves.

The Young Women motto is “stand for truth and righteousness.” The Young Women logo is a torch surrounded by the Young Women motto. The torch represents the light of Christ, inviting all to “come unto Christ” (Moroni 10:32). It invites all young women to make a commitment to hold up their light by being an example and remaining worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple.  These six Young Women in Miri have established this pattern of progress in their lives.

To complete the comprehensive "Personal Progress" program, a young woman must complete an impressive six value experiences for each of the eight values, plus pertinent projects, along with additional requirements like church attendance and regular Book of Mormon reading! Young Womanhood Recognition signifies completion of the program and is accompanied by a lovely necklace with a medallion of the YW logo.