LDS Youth Commit To Stand For Virtue

In a world of ever increasing liberalism and immorality, LDS Youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made a worldwide commitment - to re-commit and invite other young people to join with them, in standing for VIRTUE!

Mormon teens gathered throughout the Church, to ring in the New Year with a re-newed determination to rise above the "things of this world" - and do the RIGHT things. The "right things" for LDS Youth include, living a life that is contrary to what most of their peers are doing. In a world that sees sexual abstinence as old fashioned, out-of-date and totally unrealistic, LDS teens feel otherwise. They are realistic. In fact, they fully understand what a difficult standard it is - to keep themselves morally clean. However, they know the reasons for this important commitment, and strive to keep this commandment to the best of their abilities. They also understand how critical it is, to join with others who have a similar desire to remain virtuous.

LDS Youth are not blind. Each day they clearly see the consequences of their peers, and even close friends on occasion who have broken the commandment to be chaste. Rarely do they see happiness in connection with immorality. They are making this connection early in life, and choosing to keep the standards of morality - by striving to live a virtuous life.

To the Youth of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson gave this counsel...

"Young people, you live in tumultuous times. You have choices to make—choices with eternal consequences. But you are not left unaided in your decisions, however small or however large they may be.

Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, and the power of peer pressure cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams.

Anxiously you ask, “Is there a way to safety? Can someone guide me? Is there an escape from threatened destruction?” The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, “This way to safety; this way to home.”

The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing. These words of warning, these safety standards, are printed in a small booklet … entitled For the Strength of Youth."

To learn more about this energetic program introduced to the youth of the LDS Church, watch this inspiring video - A Brand New Year!

Mormon Leaders Teach The Principle Of Virtue...

Elaine S. Dalton, "A Return to Virtue," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 79

"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' (Preach My Gospel [2004], 118). 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."

Susan W. Tanner, "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord," Ensign, May 2008, 82

"Jacob taught that the Lord delights 'in the chastity of women' (Jacob 2:28). I delight in the chastity and purity of all women and men. How it must grieve the Lord to see virtue violated and modesty mocked on every side in this wicked world. The Lord has provided for His children great joy through intimate, loving relationships, as my grandchildren were learning. I delight in the clarity of the proclamation to the world on the family which warns that 'individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.' "

One Life Is All We Have And Our Happiness Will Come In Living It The Right Way For The Right Reasons...

Too many people are living in the moment. Our youth in particular are encouraged to seek out that which will give them immediate gratification, without ever considering the consequences of their actions. Mormonism teaches that there are "right reasons" for doing the right things now, but also beyond this life - into eternity.

From the time that my own children were young, I remember teaching them that if they wanted to be happy, they would need to choose to keep the commandments of God. To Christians universally, this is not new doctrine. However, it is unfortunately being ignored and even felt as old fashioned by many good parents and teachers today. It's almost as if because the world is so wicked, we cannot expect our young people to actually live up to Christian standards. Perhaps we as parents need to rise up ourselves and exercise a bit more confidence in our young people and their ability to live by these standards.

Along side of teaching the principles of virtue, Christian parents also teach the doctrine of repentance. God knew that none of us would be perfect in our desire to do the right thing, all of the time. How grateful I personally am, that when my own children hit a bump in the road - they also understood the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on their behalf, so that they might recommit themselves to keeping the commandments. For some, this was a more difficult road than for others.

As a parent, I am grateful to LDS leaders for their teachings and encouragement to our youth, as they inspire all of us to believe that living a life of virtue, is possible!

tDMg

LdsNana-AskMormon