Guardians of Virtue

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Young Women Meeting of the April 2011 conference.

If my calculations are correct then the young women attending and viewing this session are now between 26 and 33 years old. I hope most are married and mothers. I know that some won't be, I have a 36 year old daughter who has never had the opportunity to marry and have children though she would love that blessing.

 

These talks were so encouraging to even me, a "little old lady" in the autumn of life. Wouldn't it be wonderful for those girls to hear or read them again and be reminded of all that was said.

 

Sister Elaine S. Dalton is special to me because of the way she greeted me with a hug, as if we were best friends, prior to a regional Young Women morning devotional in Omaha, Nebraska.  She made me feel special and important and I was in my fifties having driven some young women from our branch to the meeting.

 

One thing I've learned as I've lived into my seventh decade, is that each generation lives in what seems to be the most wicked times. And for that generation it is! No generation has had it easy, without challenges and struggles. Mortality is hard, but it's supposed to be; after all, it is a test.

 

Young women, in a world ever growing in moral pollution, tolerance of evil, exploitation of women, and distortion of roles, you must stand guard of yourself, your family, and all those with whom you associate. You must be guardians of virtue.

 

Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress but also in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media.

 

For mothers listening tonight [and these young women, now grown up], you are your daughters' most important example of modesty and virtue--thank you. Never hesitate to teach them that they are royal daughters of God and that their value is not based on their sensual appeal. And let them see your belief modeled correctly and consistently in your own personal attitude and appearance. You are also guardians of virtue.

 

When we were praying about homeschooling in 1994 I received an unexpected answer. I was told that we needed to know how to homeschool because in the future it would not be safe to send covenant children to public schools. I have seen that answer fulfilled year after year. Whether or not you homeschool, we all need to stand as guardians of godly virtues and be a light to the increasingly wicked world. Modest, virtuous young women and young men are especially needed lights to those who are seeking a better way to live but haven't been taught in their own homes.

 

Building our life upon the rock of our Redeemer is the only sure way to stand firm in keeping covenants, obeying commandments and withstanding temptations. As the gulf between good and evil deepens and widens let's be found on the right side, the Lord's side, safely anchored in His teachings, ordinances and covenants.

Parental Correction

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2011 conference.

I've long believed that parents need to teach two important things to their babies, toddlers and children: the word NO, and obedience without negotiation. There are many ways to do this because there are many personalities of children, but those who don't learn those two things have lots of trouble in life.

By "parental correction" I mean a parent noticing the child doing something wrong and correcting the child and leading them to do the right thing. Acknowledging that we have standards in our homes and expecting children to attempt to the best of their abilities to live up to those standards makes life better, more peaceful, more abundant.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, "Our Heavenly Father is a God of high expectations."  He knows who He wants us to be and provides ways for us to be transformed. "He knows what is required, and so, to make our transformation possible, He provides His commandments and covenants, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and most important, the Atonement and Resurrection of His Beloved Son." 

Our own little children don't know enough to ask for correction; we usually have to just give it to them, teaching and training them in the ways of the Lord and our home. 

We as adults though, know enough from gospel study and living to know when we are falling short of the Father's high expectations. Elder Christofferson says, "I would like to speak of one particular attitude and practice we need to adopt if we are to meet our Heavenly Father's high expectations. It is this: willingly to accept and even seek correction."

I know this is scary--what if I have to give up something that I really enjoy (perhaps my favorite sin), or do something that is uncomfortable, or causes feelings of embarrassment or vulnerability? I don't think I've asked because I'm afraid of what the answer might be.

Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct.

 Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path.

All of those are good reasons! Elder Christofferson repeats what Elder Johnson said in the Sunday morning session, "we should take care not to resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature."

This promise is comforting, "If we sincerely desire and strive to measure up to the high expectations of our Heavenly Father, He will ensure that we receive all the help we need, whether it be comforting, strengthening, or chastening."

Why do I ever doubt that my loving Father in Heaven will do whatever He can or needs to, to help me return to Him in our heavenly home? He's a better parent than I am and I can trust Him to give me what I need to become who I am supposed to be. 

 

Hear Him!

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2011 conference.

One of President Nelson's admonitions was to "Hear Him" especially as we made Jesus the focus of our lives, and let God prevail. Elder Uchtdorf's talk has some important reminders about how we can do exactly that.

To better hear His voice, it would be wise to turn down the volume control of the worldly noise in our lives.

 

My husband frequently asks me if I've heard about this or that in the news currently. Often I have only seen a headline but not followed through reading the whole article or listening to a podcast or YouTube video. I just don't have the "bandwidth" to keep up with all the bad news in the world. It gets to be so depressing and discouraging. (I wish there was a channel devoted to just reporting the good things that are happening!)

I love listening to the new hymns while I'm working around my home, currently packing up to move, or while I'm driving (it's forty-five minutes to the towns where I shop and attend church). The hymns are soothing, inspiring, and conducive to hearing the Spirit.

My dear brothers and sisters, let us strive to be among those whom the Lord can rely on to hear His whisperings and respond, as Saul did on his road to Damascus, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

Not only can we receive promptings for service, but answers to questions, solutions to challenges, and ways to move forward.

I remember what it's like to be home surrounded by clamoring children and in the throes of intense motherhood. Generally at the end of the day I could be heard saying, "Please, Mother needs peace!" Putting on some classical music to soothe the savage beasts helped relieve the clamor and brought a better spirit into our home, enough so that I could feel calm and be able to hear and perceive the Spirit. I remember a few times of receiving promptings of what I could do for the sisters I visited taught (the olden days). But also answers to what I could do for solving challenges we were facing in our family. Never discount the work we do in our homes with our families as somehow less than serving others outside. The people most important to us, now and in eternity, are our own family, spouse and children!

If we live according to our beliefs, people will notice. If the countenance of Jesus Christ shines in our lives, if we are joyful and at peace with the world, people will want to know why.

Once I asked my children if they could tell what was most important to me. "Yes, Mom, the gospel," they answered in an almost exasperated tone, as if that was a duh question. It made me feel good to know that I was doing something right and that they knew what and who my life was focused on, besides them.

Brothers and sisters, dear friends, let us not wait too long on our road to Damascus. Instead, let us courageously move forward in faith, hope and charity, and we will be blessed with the light was are all seeking upon the path of true discipleship.