At the most recent Young Women\u2019s Meeting, Sis. Cook challenged ALL women to fulfill the Personal Progress requirements for the value VIRTUE.\u00a0 The pamphlet is free at the Distribution Center (you could probably get one from your ward Young Women\u2019s President).<\/p>\n
The definition of Virtue tends to be very nebulous.\u00a0 When the Young Women leaders spoke to us they talked mostly about being pure, being chaste, and being worthy of entering the temple.\u00a0 President Monson spoke on Courage-a perfect example of virtue.\u00a0 Virtue is the courage to act pure, chaste, and holy, even when others choose otherwise.\u00a0
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\nThere are four experiences and one project to complete. \u00a0These experiences demand a \u201cthinking process\u201d where you are to realize how you really feel about the gospel and how you choose to live the standards laid out before you.\u00a0\u00a0 We all know what is expected of us\u2014a very high standard.\u00a0 We have to decide for ourselves how close we want to align ourselves with that expectation.<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The first experience is to strive to be sexually clean and pure.\u00a0 How do we know when we achieve this standard of living?\u00a0 Does this involve just ourselves, or the people we surround ourselves with?\u00a0 Are we willing to separate ourselves from those who would bring us down; including friends, media, music?\u00a0 Do our clothing and actions speak for us what we want to say?\u00a0 Are we aware of evil around us, so we can avoid being trapped, play things smart, act instead of react?
\n2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Virtuous living allows the Holy Ghost to be your constant companion.\u00a0 The second experience is to practice feeling the Spirit; recognizing His warnings, feeling joy when you choose well, enjoying the confidence that comes with blessings of obedience.\u00a0 I think that\u2019s a big one:\u00a0 the self-confidence that comes with obedience.\u00a0 We need to stop being embarrassed, or self-conscious, when we choose a higher standard.\u00a0 We are never alone, because that is when the Holy Ghost is with us.
\n3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If we haven\u2019t been to the temple yet, we need to do what it takes to get there.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t go to the temple regularly, we need to strive to get there more often.\u00a0 If we can\u2019t attend the temple very often, we need to keep ourselves worthy to hold on to that temple recommend.\u00a0 The third experience is a true achievement and a manifestation of sweet blessings the Lord has in store for us.
\n4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The last experience is a commitment to live this high standard from here on out.\u00a0 As you complete the previous experiences, you become familiar with your firm position.\u00a0 Now, you settle comfortably into the higher standard in which you have chosen.\u00a0 You must learn to love this new person you are now compelled to be.\u00a0 You must feel the confidence, joy, and satisfaction that comes when God is with you and you know it.\u00a0
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\nThe Project is to read the Book of Mormon all the way through.\u00a0\u00a0 As you read, search out the virtuous examples of the Savior.\u00a0 Look for examples of courage in His prophets.\u00a0 Who chose to take the high road, to come out of the mists of darkness, to repent and choose God\u2019s way?\u00a0 When did the blessings come for these people?\u00a0 Digest the testimonies of those who discovered that true virtue is what brings happiness; warnings are real and meant to be heeded; avoiding sin is easier than repenting from it.
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\nThese goals are worthy of our attention, diligence, and achievement.\u00a0 I challenge all of us to sharpen our focus in the way we live the gospel.
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\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the most recent Young Women\u2019s Meeting, Sis. Cook challenged ALL women to fulfill the Personal Progress requirements for the value VIRTUE.\u00a0 The pamphlet is free at the Distribution Center (you could probably get one from your ward Young Women\u2019s President). The definition of Virtue tends to be very nebulous.\u00a0 When the Young Women leaders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[175],"class_list":["post-822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-relief-societyyoung-women","tag-virtue-pp"],"yoast_head":"\n