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.

Lead, Kindly Light

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the October 2000 conference.

In the second area I served in as a missionary we walked much of the time to save miles on the mission car. We covered three towns, the branch was in the middle town and the other two were about thirty miles away to the north and south. As we'd walk home in the dark we often sang the hymn Lead, Kindly Light to calm our (my) nervous souls. I loved that hymn before my mission, I loved it while serving, and I've come to love it even more in the many years since I served. 

Sister Virginia U. Jensen, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency used this hymn as the theme of her talk. 

The light of Jesus Christ is stronger than any darkness we face in this life, if we have faith in Him, seek after Him, and obey Him.

 

I remember a line Lord of the Rings from Gandalf, referring to a darkness spreading over the land. When I heard it in the film I thought it perfectly described the last days when the wickedness and power of Satan would cover the world. We seem to be there.

 

We can find ourselves in places of darkness from time to time. We may wander into dark, spiritual caverns when we make foolish choices, admit harmful influences into our lives, or turn away from the light of the gospel to embrace the world just a little longer. It may seem harmless at first--just a little exploring, that's all. Before we know it, we become separated from the light and left in darkness alone. Why do we remain in darkness when such rescuing light awaits us? Let us bask in the warm and illuminating light provided by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let the Savior's kindly light lead us one step at a time. Let covenants and commandments keep us safe as we follow the gospel pathway to our heavenly home.

With the world's path darkening by the day, and perversions and sin celebrated in the media, the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines more brightly than ever. We can be safely led through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil by following the Good Shepherd's light to our eternal home.

We have children who have turned off the path, or are struggling to stay on the path, lured by the ways of the world. It grieves my heart when they turn from the light and blunder into the dark. I cling to the promise of the prophets and apostles that there is no one so far away in the dark that the light of the Savior's Atonement can't reach. 

Sister Jensen began her talk with a story about a ten year old boy who spent five days trapped in the pitch-black darkness of an abandoned mine. Now at the time of the talk he was Elder Dennis in Honduras "sharing a message of hope, salvation, and light."

What he teaches every day is the paradox he experienced as a young boy lost in a mine: that amidst the encircling gloom, amidst the darkest possible circumstances, it is possible to feel hope, peace, and comfort--all because of the light which is stronger than all darkness, the light of Jesus Christ.

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Advent - Day 6

But thou, Bethlehem, . . . though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.                                               Micah 5:2

A New Light

By Joe Fitzgerald from Boston Herald

The Markovitz family was one of just a few Jewish families in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Pennsylvania where Christmas decorations lit up the street. In their home, however, an illuminated menorah in the window reminded everyone it was also Hanukkah.

Around five o'clock one morning, Judy Markovitz was awakened by the shattering of glass. "My husband and I ran downstairs and saw our window had been broken and the menorah was on the floor. The frame was shattered. They must have used a bat. Whoever did it had to squeeze behind bushes to reach it."

For the Markovitz family it was an assault compounded by personal history. "Both of my parents were in the camps at Auschwitz; my husband's mother was there also, " explained Judy, who came to America in 1974. "All of my mother's family died. There are things we don't talk about, but I know older people like her have a need to feel safe, so I didn't tell her much about this. And I tried to isolate my children from it too."

"We were home much of that day because my husband had to get the window replaced," she recalled. "Neighbors kept approaching us to say how sorry they were."

One of those neighbors, Lisa Keeling, now living in North Carolina, explained their thinking. "I know a menorah represents a miracle by our God before our faith was known as Christianity. I know of the king who told the Jews they couldn't practice their religion. When they reclaimed Jerusalem and saw the Temple had been desecrated, they wanted to reconsecrate it, but found only a tiny bit of oil, enough for a night. They decided to use it anyway and it burned eight nights.

"That was a miracle from the same God we worship, and why anyone would take a symbol of His love and use it for hatred, I don't understand."

These were things the Markovitzes did not understand as well. After workmen repaired their shattered window, the family went to Judy's brother's home, unaware that their neighbors were working determinedly to repair something else.

That evening when the Markovitzes came home from their visit and turned onto their street, they were met by an extraordinary sight: Nearly every home on the block was adorned by an illuminated menorah.

Vicky Markovitz, Judy's daughter, now 18, remembers those glowing windows as an affirmation of the compassion and community. "It was as if they said, 'If you break their windows, you will have to break ours.'" 

And the light spread.

Light

Count Your Blessings - Day Thirteen

I suppose it is fitting that on Friday the Thirteenth our local high school put on its fall play "The Walking Dead" based on the television show of the same name. Our son, Dandylion, played Dr. Jenner at the CDC in Atlanta. He did a great job. But the play as a whole was, well, horrible.

The English teacher, new to the school this year, wrote and directed the play. I told TopDad that I am extremely grateful Dandy is our youngest and we don't have to support any more garbage like this.

What does this have to do with Light? Just this:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

When we follow Jesus and understand God's plan of happiness for his children we will remember with Paul that "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thes. 5:5)

And from the Book of Mormon:

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. 

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.  (Moroni 7:16-17, 19) 

At the play the students in the audience were cheering and applauding wildly. I was totally disgusted. Not only was the subject matter awful, the play was full of swearing and using the Lord's name in vain.

If this is what passes for entertainment we are in far worse shape as a nation than I thought. For myself I'm so grateful for the Light of Christ, for the gospel, His grace, love and mercy. I'm thankful for the hope of a better world.

 

 

The Light of a New Day

A perfect beginning to a new month--light in the morning. I wish we could stay on standard time all year long because I'm grateful for the sunshine in the morning to help me wake up.

From Paul's epistle to the saints at Thessalonica:

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.                 (1Thessalonians 5:5)

From the Gospel according to Saint John:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.         (John 8:12)

This is the beginning of Count Your Blessings during the month of November. I hope you'll join me in looking for and counting our many blessings during this month of Thanksgiving.