by Valerie Albrechtsen
This is how we came up with a 8 1/2 x 11 inch wooden temple plaque for each girl to hang in their rooms. It is shaped in the frontal image of the Salt Lake temple, since that is in the Personal Progress book. It is painted white.
Then we divided it into three levels. On
the Beehive and Mia Maids levels there are seven windows to the left (representing
BH 1, or MM 1) a doorway in the center with Beehives (or Mia Maids)
written on it, and seven windows on the right (representing BH 2, or MM
2). On the upper level there are two windows on the left (for L 1
projects), a center doorway with Laurels on it, and two windows on the
right (for L2 projects). We found a candy mold of the young women's recognition
award (in Utah), poured plaster of Paris in it, let them dry, and
spray painted them gold. This is glued in the center
spire of the temple.
We found jewels in the colors of the young women values.The girls receive the jewels in our opening exercises once a month when they complete two goals in a value area. We invite parents to come in to see the girls receive their jewels from the Young Women's president. The Laurels receive 1 jewel for each Laurel project.
Our Young Women's presidency pulled an all-nighter to get the plaques painted, etc. But it was worth it. We each did a portion that we felt comfortable with, since we all were not crafty.
The initial cost to get them started seemed
like a lot (about $80.00 for 30 girls) but later we only had to purchase
extra jewels. We make more plaques every year for new girls. As a girl
enters the young women's program she receives her plaque, as well as her
personal progress book.