Personal Progress and Honor Bee

Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to work with the 12-18 year old young women at church. Specifically, I work with the 14-15 year olds, but I end up working with everyone at some level. And it has been an absolute joy in my life. I spend hours a week at it (mostly because I want to and because I'm a pro at over-volunteering for stuff because I love that kind of thing). I teach them on Sundays, I do activities with them on Tuesdays, I bake them all sorts of absurd treats, and they have named me their squad mom. (That's a good thing, right?)

One of the most amazing things I get to work on with these girls is doing the Personal Progress program. The closest thing I can compare it to is earning an Eagle Scout award. Each girl that earns it completes 6 smaller projects and one 10 hour project each for 8 different value topics, plus a cover-to-cover reading of the Book of Mormon. So, yeah, it's a lot of work. Not every girl earns it, but those that do come out with a real sense of who they are.

The program has changed a lot in the last 15 or so years. I earned it at 17, right as the program had a major change in requirements and parameters, so they let me finish the "old" program. I earned it again at 26, just because I wanted to focus on something meaningful and strengthening in my life. So when I was called to work with these girls, I decided that I'd follow my old teaching adage of, "I won't ask you to do it if I'm not willing to do it," and earn it yet again. 

For the last year of my life, I have spent countless hours reading, journaling, serving, praying, and growing in ways that, frankly, are really hard and time consuming. But I knew that it'd be worth it, having done it twice before. Plus I got to do it with my cute girls! And in about 9 months, I finished it all. But I felt like I wasn't done, so I looked into an additional award available to those who have earned their Personal Progress award, called the Honor Bee. This award requires a re-reading of the Book of Mormon and 40 hours of service, some of which is specifically geared to help others in their journey to earn their Personal Progress award. Well, thanks to my calling, that 40 hours of serving and helping others with their Personal Progress was a breeze. The second reading of the Book of Mormon in one year was not as easy. In fact, it was really hard to find the time to get through it, especially because I really only gave myself 45 days to finish it. If you know me, though, you know that when I set my mind to something, this fiery determination explodes forth, and I do what I've gotta do to get things done. 

On June 4, the young women, the leaders, and some of the parents got up at 4 in the morning to go on a sunrise hike in Boulder City. As we stopped along the way, we had 4 mini talks about where we are going in the eternal scheme of things and what gifts God gives us to do so. And we hiked in the near dark to the top of a mountain, watched the sunrise, and one of the girls, another, leader and I were awarded our Personal Progress awards (plus my Honor Bee).

Sophie, one of my cute girls I get to work with, earning her award. (Apologies for the cracked camera lens)

Erica, my co-leader with the 14-15 year old girls, and me receiving our awards.

Three of the cute girls and my darling friend, Brieann, who also works with the girls.

My third Personal Progress medal and first Honor Bee medal.

 So why would I go through all of this? Why would I spend over 150 hours doing service and projects and checking boxes and helping others earn their awards? Why would I do this when I've done it before? Simple: because I know from personal experience and through the spirit of the Lord that this program brings me closer to my Heavenly Father. It allows me specific ways to focus on faith, divine nature, individual worth, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue. It allows me a way to demand time in my life to focus on the things of eternity, the things that truly matter. It creates ways to bring the spirit into my life and into my home. It helps me feel better about me, a daughter of my Heavenly Father. It helps me realize that He loves me and that He wants me to be successful. It guides me to find ways to recognize His hand in my daily life and allows me the opportunity to help others see that as well.

So yes, I earned my Personal Progress for the third time. Yes, I earned my Honor Bee for the first time. But it's more than that - I came measurably closer to my Savior and my Heavenly Father and I can better feel His love for me. And you know what? Chances are, I'll start earning yet another round of these all over again really soon.