Young LDS women are urged to pursue virtue, education

Published: Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:54 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Living with virtue will help Latter-day Saint young women navigate their lives and draw closer to the Lord, church leaders told 12- to 18-year-old young women Saturday in the annual General Young Women's Meeting.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, who leads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reminded young women of the church's theme for girls this year to "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God."

Allowing virtue to be a constant guiding principle in life will enable young women to develop their talents and potential, President Hinckley said in the meeting, which is part of the church's 177th Annual General Conference that concludes next weekend.

"If you will take control of your lives, the future is filled with opportunity and gladness. You cannot afford to waste your talents or your time," he said in the meeting at the Conference Center.

President Hinckley also outlined four ways young women can ensure virtue is a staple in their lives: prayer, study, tithing and church attendance.

"Prayer is the bridge over which we approach our Father in heaven. It costs nothing. It requires only faith and effort," he said.

Story continues below

In addition, President Hinckley encouraged young women to garner as much education as they can. Although some young women may plan on getting married, he said that is not a certainty and "education will be of a great benefit."

"We live in a highly competitive age, and it will only grow more so," he said. "Education is the key that will unlock the door of opportunity."

President Hinckley also instructed young women to attend church meetings and pay tithing, a donation of 10 percent of income that church members are asked to pay.

Susan W. Tanner, young women general president, also encouraged the church's young women to stay true to themselves and to their divine heritage as a daughter of God. Often, she said, teenagers have an "identity crisis" and become victims of "identity theft" as they lose "the knowledge of our true identity."

"In families, friendships, dating and marriage we should value not just beauty and resumes, but rather character, good values and each others' inherited divine natures," Tanner said.

To gain that perspective, young women should "stay on the path" of righteousness and not "loiter in dangerous places," said Elaine S. Dalton, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency.

"Sometimes we think we can live on the edge and still maintain our virtue. But that is a risky place to be," she said.

In particular, Dalton encouraged young women to include modesty as one of the top principles in their lives.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Michael Brandy, Deseret Morning News

President Thomas S. Monson, left, talks with President Gordon B. Hinckley at LDS General Young Women's Meeting.

previousnext

Latest comments

wow! i cant believe this! he was a great man and no one expected this. he...

Just another example of the skewed world of professional sports...true...

LDS seminary principal is arrested in sexual abuse

wow!! he lied to so many!!!!!!

I forgot what I was going to say. Let's go ride bikes!

I have had it up to here......next time I am voting for Prop Hate!

Everyone here blames the victim over the teacher in these cases...regardless...

"friend says..." dang typos.

LDS institutions will not crack down more on this issue...they tend to...

In economic bad times if your neighbor is out of a job, it's a recession. If...

Nice Turns, Tatiana! Nice behind too ;)

Advertisements