RS Lesson April 2009

A Return To Virtue by Sister Elaine S. Dalton, taught by Alison Jaehne

Virtue “is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.” It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions. Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost. President Monson has counseled: “You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone...."

Could it be that we have been slowly desensitized into thinking that high moral standards are old-fashioned and not relevant or important in today’s society? As Elder Hales has just reminded us, Lehonti in the Book of Mormon was well positioned on the top of a mountain. He and those he led were “fixed in their minds with a determined resolution” that they would not come down from the mount. It only took the deceitful Amalickiah four tries, each one more bold than the previous, to get Lehonti to “come down off from the mount.” And then having embraced Amalickiah’s false promises, Lehonti was “poisoned by degrees” until he died. Not just poisoned, but “by degrees.” Could it be that this may be happening today? Could it be that first we tolerate, then accept, and eventually embrace the vice that surrounds us? Could it be that we have been deceived by false role models and persuasive media messages that cause us to forget our divine identity? Are we too being poisoned by degrees? What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me, to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence? A return to virtue must begin individually in our hearts and in our homes.

What can each of us do to begin our return to virtue? The course and the training program will be unique to each of us. I have derived my personal training program from instructions found in the scriptures: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” [The root word of garnish means 'to warn, to take heed'. To garnish means to 'take over' as in garnishing wages. And to garnish means 'to enhance and adorn with decorative or savory touches, to beautify'. So we can embellish our thoughts unceasingly with beautifying virtues]
Many people do not fully understand the meaning of virtue. One commonly understood meaning is to be chaste or morally clean, but virtue in its fuller sense encompasses all traits of righteousness that help us form our character. May I suggest 10 virtues that each of you can pursue in your quest for excellence and happiness: Faith, Honesty, Chastity, Humility, Self-Discipline, Fairness, Moderation, Cleanliness, Courage, and Grace. We frequently find that the influence of good women is underrated. It is an influence that is often subtle but yet has tremendous consequences. One woman can make a great difference for a whole nation. As the Prophet Joseph Smith told us, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue” (History of the Church, 5:134–35). ( Elder James E. Faust The Virtues of Righteous Daughters of God Ensign may 2003)
The Apostle Paul taught that divine doctrines, such as these of identity and priority, are to be written “not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Cor. 3:3). The importance of an inward commitment to the Lord is symbolized as we partake of the sacrament. Contrast it to other promises made in life, usually symbolized by an outward sign, such as a raised hand or a written signature. The Lord has invited us to symbolize our covenant with Him by a sign that is inward as well as outward. When the sacred emblems of His flesh and blood are administered to us, we are invited to take them into our bodies. As we do, His atoning sacrifice literally becomes a part of our own identity. The Savior stated simply: “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27). Your most sincere sign of adoration of Jesus is your emulation of Him. You know of Him. You know of His divine parentage. You know of His mission and ministry in mortality. You know of Him, not by direct visitation but through the testimony of the Holy Ghost. “The testimony of the Holy Ghost is the strongest testimony that can be given. It is better than a personal visit.” (Elder Russell M. Nelson Identity, Priority and Blessings Ensign Aug 2001)

Quotes from the Visiting Teaching Lesson in 2003- President Gordon B. Hinckley: “I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. … I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 696).
Margaret D. Nadauld, Young Women general president: “The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. … There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity” (“The Joy of Womanhood,” Liahona, January 2001, 18).
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “We cannot hope to influence others in the direction of virtue unless we live lives of virtue. The example of our living will carry a greater influence than will all the preaching in which we might indulge. We cannot expect to lift others unless we stand on higher ground ourselves. … The home is the cradle of virtue, the place where character is formed and habits are established” (“Opposing Evil,” Ensign, November 1975, 38–39).
President James E. Faust: “The Prophet Joseph … said, ‘If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.’ … Hold your soul very still, and listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. Follow the noble, intuitive feelings planted deep within your souls by Deity in the previous world” (Ensign, May 1998, 97).

Sister Dalton testified that she believes that one virtuous young woman or man can change the world. I believe that we can change the little worlds we have here in Farmington by increasing the virtue in our hearts and through living virtuous principles and being joyful role models of our divine identity. Heavenly Father and Jesus have invited us to become one with them. We can become virtuous like them. The world tells us that the highest degrees of achievement can only be won by those who are the smartest and fastest and most talented. The Lord's plan is different. All mankind may be saved through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. (The Way Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge Ensign Nov 2008) I know that this is true because the Spirit has touched my heart. I know that we can influence our families and others for good as we strive to increase our virtue and find joy in it. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.