Primary Seal/Colors/Awards
Primary Organization Research Guide
Primary Seal
Colors:
Church News, April 4, 1970
Awards:
1878 – Rewards of Merit for meetings attended, times punctual, recitations, and songs.1
1922 – Seagull Pin, silver, earned by memorizing the Charm and Motto.
1929 – Nanko for the Mi-kan-wees, a sash with beads sewn on.
1948 – Zion’s Girls and Zion’s Boys (Zeegees and Zeebees) badge.2
1953 – Top-Pilot medal—a beacon light in a round center section with bronze wings found on either side of the center.3
1970 – CTR ring, in conjunction with the new Primary curriculum.
1970 – Merrie Miss and Blazer Articles of Faith banners—girls and boys would earn emblems for memorizing the Articles of Faith.4
1970 – Merrie Miss circlet—girls would complete six “code experiences” and earn plastic inserts to put in a bracelet.5
1982 – Gospel in Action award—boys could earn a lapel pin and girls a necklace. The emblem included an image of a Book of Mormon with the angel Moroni on the front and an open set of scriptures.6
2020 – New logo was introduced. It includes a temple symbol with the words “Strive to Be.” Additionally, when children turn eight years old, they will receive a picture of the temple and a CTR ring.7
Bandlo
Between 1929 and 1970, 9- to 11-year-old Primary children received a bandlo, a pointed piece of neckwear made of felt. It was used to display emblems and awards that showed the progress of each girl and boy in their respective class. Each child would use the same bandlo for their three years in a Primary program. The color of the felt and the emblems changed throughout 1929 to 1970.
The boys participated in Trail Builder activities, earning the following titles:
- Blazers (age 9)
- Trekkers (age 10)
- Guide Patrol (age 11)
The girls participated in Home Builder (later Lihoma) activities, earning the following titles:8
- Larks (age 9), later Gaynotes
- Bluebirds (age 10), later Firelights
- Seagulls (age 11), later Merrihands
Left: An example of a boy’s bandlo from 1949 (M257.56 G946 1949, Trail Builder Lessons for Guides). Right: An example of the girl’s bandlo from 1949.
Sources:
1. See Illustrated History 1878–1951, Primary Association, accessed June 2, 2020.
2. See “Back to Primary—45,000 Children to Enroll This Year,” Church News, Aug. 8, 1948, 8.
3. See “New Course Outlined for Primary Groups at Annual Sessions,” Church News, Apr. 4, 1953, 5.
4. See Stephen W. Gibson, “Primary Programs to Change,” Church News, Apr. 4, 1970, 3, 15.
5. Lynee Hollstein Hansen, “A Woman’s Training Begins in Primary,” Church News, Sept. 15, 1979, 5, 15.
6. See Gerry Avant, “Emblem, Incentive Program Introduced by Primary,” Church News, Jan. 30, 1982.
7. See “Leaders Outline Church’s New Children and Youth Program,” Newsroom, Nov. 17, 2019, accessed May 14, 2020, https://newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org/article/church-leaders-outline-new-children-and-youth-program.
8. See Home Builder Lessons for Seagulls (Salt Lake City: General Board of the Primary Association, 1949), accessed May 19, 2020, https://catalog.ChurchofJesusChrist.org/assets?id=b1bd92af-fc6b-4da2-af82-d627c1fe8e3a&crate=0&index=8.