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.

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.

"Modesty is not a matter of being 'hip.' It is a matter of the heart and being holy. It is not about being fashionable. It is about being faithful," she said. "It is not about being cool. It is about being chaste and keeping covenants. It is not about being popular, but about being pure."

Julie B. Beck, first counselor in the young women general presidency, added that young women are not expected to be perfect and will likely make mistakes. For them, repentance is the way back to the path, she said.

That repentance will be difficult and require the help of the Lord, Beck said, but each day is a chance to change.

"Because we are all mortal, we all make mistakes. Repentance is not optional, but we don't do it alone," she said. "We have a Savior to help us repent. By developing His qualities in our lives, we know we are making changes that help us come closer to Him."

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