Elaine S. Dalton, October Conference 2008 - A Return to Virtue
Taught by Elizabeth Latey
Sister Dalton asks us, "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?
"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?
"What could be more deceptive than to entice the youth of this noble generation to do nothing or to be busy ever-texting but never coming to a knowledge of the truth?
"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?"
What has desensitized us? Influences such as the media, magazine images on the grocery shelves, dolls on the market, even Disney heroines.
Let's return to these virtuous ways found in the scripture above. A woman of virtue is dependable, trustworthy, selfless, industrious, charitable, clean, knowledgeable, strong (as in girding our loins with the armor of righteousness), kind, a wise steward, and repentent.
Sister Dalton: "Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord’s holy temples and to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. 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."
Elizabeth shared with us symbols that remind her to be virtuous...a beautiful painting of a woman in white—at peace with herself, a small oil lamp that's filled by many small drops over time, a statue of a woman kneeling with a child in her arms to remind us of what's important, and an orchid–beautiful, fragile-looking, but able to grow and thrive anywhere.
Thanks Elizabeth for sharing your testimony and your love of the gospel with us.
You must never under estimate the power of your righteous influence.
Sister Dalton asks us, "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?
"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?
"What could be more deceptive than to entice the youth of this noble generation to do nothing or to be busy ever-texting but never coming to a knowledge of the truth?
"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?"
What has desensitized us? Influences such as the media, magazine images on the grocery shelves, dolls on the market, even Disney heroines.
A virtuous women's price is far above rubies. ~Proverbs 31: 10-31.
Let's return to these virtuous ways found in the scripture above. A woman of virtue is dependable, trustworthy, selfless, industrious, charitable, clean, knowledgeable, strong (as in girding our loins with the armor of righteousness), kind, a wise steward, and repentent.
Sister Dalton: "Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord’s holy temples and to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. 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."
Elizabeth shared with us symbols that remind her to be virtuous...a beautiful painting of a woman in white—at peace with herself, a small oil lamp that's filled by many small drops over time, a statue of a woman kneeling with a child in her arms to remind us of what's important, and an orchid–beautiful, fragile-looking, but able to grow and thrive anywhere.
Thanks Elizabeth for sharing your testimony and your love of the gospel with us.
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