I'm working on a project that required a thorough examination of how the new personal progress program differs from the old one, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. After all the controversy around the bloggernacle about how the YW are "soft and pink," I wasn't expecting to see progressiveness, but that's exactly what I found.
Most of the changes were subtle, adding more explanation or context and personalizing the experience, like in this example from the Faith Value Projects:
Old Way:
Think of faith as a seed as you help plant, care for, and harvest a vegetable garden.
New Way:
Read Alma 32:28-43. Think of faith as a seed as you help plant, care for, and harvest a vegetable garden. Record in your journal how you can nourish, care for, and strengthen your faith.
There was also more emphasis on the Savior, which always makes us happy around here. This was added to one of the Integrity experiences:
The Savior is the perfect example of integrity; He did what He promised the Father He would do. Read 3 Nephi 11:10-11
A couple experiences were eliminated all together and replaced with experiences that make a whole lot of sense.
From the Knowledge section:
Old Way:
Develop the skill of storytelling
New Way:
Learn the skills of first aid and develop a list of basic supplies for an emergency
I never really understood what the art of storytelling had to do with anything, and I love that it's replaced with something as practical and self-reliant as first aid. Plus, they reference that they should be doing this at camp, so it's an easy one to pass off.
Knowledge Value Project:
Old Way:
Prepare to instruct others by completing the Teaching the Gospel course taught in your ward or branch.
New Way:
Learn about the proper care of clothing, including how to wash, iron, and make basic repairs and alterations. Apply the skills you learned by taking care of your clothing.
While I wish everybody got a chance to learn how to teach, this never seemed to be logistically possible. Why would the YW program get to infringe on how they spend their Sunday School time? And what they replaced it with is another chance to learn life skills that will benefit them no matter what their future holds.
There was also a few changes in what were the mandatory experiences everyone should complete, and which were part of the optional experiences you got to choose between. To me this seems like a subtle re-prioritization.
From the Knowledge section:
Old Way:
Mandatory: Memorize two hymns and conduct them
Optional: Memorize the 13th article of faith and use it (and your critical thinking skills) to evaluate artwork, performance, and media.
New Way:
Swapped
And from the Individual Worth section:
Old Way:
Mandatory: Learn the importance of planning and preparation. Read D&C 88:119. In your journal make a list of your hopes and dreams for your future home, family, and education and some important things you would like to accomplish in your life, including becoming a wife and mother. Then record a plan that will help you achieve your goals. Share this plan with a family member, leader, or friend.
Optional: Learn about the importance of patriarchal blessings. Find out why they are given, who can give them, and how to prepare to receive one. Discuss with a parent or Church leader how a patriarchal blessing can guide your life. If you have not received your blessing, prepare to receive it.
New Way:
Mandatory: Learn about the importance of patriarchal blessings by studying about them in True to the Faith and recent conference talks. Find out why they are given and who can give them. Discuss with a parent or Church leader how a patriarchal blessing can guide your life. If you have not received your blessing, prepare to receive it.
Optional: You are preparing now to fulfill a unique mission on the earth. Read D&C 88:119. In your journal make a list of your hopes and dreams for your future home, family, and education and some important things you would like to accomplish in your life, including becoming a wife and mother. Then record a plan that will help you achieve your goals. Share this plan with a family member, leader, or friend.
I also really like the language change in this experience. The old way seemed to suggest that if you planned and prepared hard enough, you could get whatever you wanted. Which carries with it the message that if you don't get what you want it's your fault for not planning and preparing enough. The new language takes some of that weight off.
But the change that is my favorite comes to one of the many many "make for your future home" projects.
In Divine Nature:
Old Way:
Using an art or handicraft you have learned, make something for your future home.
New Way:
Using an artistic skill or handicraft you have learned, make something for your current or future home. Record in your journal how being creative is part of your divine nature and how sharing your creativity has blessed others.
The addition of "current" may seem ridiculously subtle, but I think it really takes the edge off the message that the girls' whole life builds up to marriage and motherhood. That they are now, and always will be, in charge of their immediate environment and should have the skills to make that an inviting place. I also LOVE the additional sentence placing all those crafts we make in a larger context by pointing out the divinity of creativity. It's not just about preparing for the day you'll play house, it's exploring your personal creativity. That's empowering.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for breaking this all down. I had just started going through and comparing them also and noticed some of the changes. I agree that it is an improvement!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I haven't taken the time to look through the new PP book. I assumed it was the same.
ReplyDeleteI too, noticed some of these changes. I agree that it is an improvement!
ReplyDeleteStorytelling is an art, and a darn pleasant and important one.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're old and alone, you're going to wish you had learned to tell stories. You'll be one of those boring old people who loses track of what you were trying to say by debating with yourself whether Mabel is your third cousin twice removed or your second cousin thrice removed.
Then when you're alone because nobody can stand to hear you talk, you'll remember this day and wish you had learned how to tell stories.
There wouldn't be a Keepa if I weren't a storyteller. Just sayin'.
:-)
Yeah, I'm with Ardis about storytelling.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm so glad you highlighted some of the changes. They make me so happy.
Even "future home" does not denote marriage and kids (although individuals may interpret it that way, I think it displays a personal bias); single people live in homes, too. I agree that the focus should be on creating a pleasant environment, and plenty of YW have precious little control over their current environs.
ReplyDeleteOh Ardis, I would never intend to denigrate storytelling. Not a podcast junkie like me!
ReplyDeleteBut it did seem like a random project to me. Of all the things we could gain knowledge of, of all the things these girls need to gain knowledge of for their immediate future....I don't know. It made me shrug.
I'm guessing the storytelling option came from an older General Board member, or a younger one reading through old manuals for ideas, because learning to tel stories and sharing them in opening exercises was a regular component of MIA in the 1960s and earlier.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for putting this together. It was great to these changes in a side-by-side comparison.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I was just called to be in the YW presidency, and I haven't been involved with YW's since I was one. I'm following now :).
ReplyDelete