Return to Virtue!

I'm leaving for camp early in the morning (eeeek!! Woo-hoo!) and I am very excited! I'm also a little nervous since I am giving the FHE lesson in front of about 70 16 & 17 year old girls and lots of leaders! Augh! I'm pretty pumped about the topic though and wanted to share it. If you want to read it, it's right here! If you don't want to read it, wait for my next blog, which I may or may not put out some day about my baby and her potty training catastrophes. Good stuff right there! Here it is:


Virtue:

I will dress (and act) modestly and be a symbol of virtue:

• Advertising: A campaign to increase awareness of a product in order to increase sales. All advertising is designed to attract target groups, because they are the ones most likely to buy.

• Each of us advertises who we are all the time. We (read def. above)

o It is how we attract friends
o It is how we attract boys.

• Think about what you wear. Which target group are you attracting?

• If you dress immodestly, you are advertising to those who are not virtuous. You are luring them in with the unspoken promise that there is easy access to sacred parts of your body; showing that you do not protect that which is precious: virtue

o Tight clothes too: not for sale, but here’s exactly what you would get if it were for sale, and maybe it might be for sale in the future.

o Conference Talk: “[you need] to understand that when [you] wear clothing that is too tight, too short, or too low cut, [you] not only can send the wrong message to young men with whom [you] associate, but [you] also perpetuate in ]your] own mind the fallacy that a woman’s value is dependent solely upon her sensual appeal. This never has been nor will it ever b within the righteious definition of a faithful daughter of God.”

• When you are targeting your advertising to immoral boys, you CANNOT be surprised when they push you to fulfill your unspoken promise to do immoral things.

• Advertise to a virtuous target group:
o These are the boys who will go on missions, marry in the temple, protect your honor and virtue, love you and love the Lord.
o To attract this type of person, you need to BE this type of person, and dress like it.
o Show by what you wear that you protect that which is sacred.

• Whole armor of God, not skimpy armor
• How does this make you a symbol of virtue to others?

I will not use vulgar or degrading language

• Vulgar: indecent; obscene; leud; coarse; crude; unrefined.
o This isn’t talking about using bad words: bad content. How many times have you been the person who listened as a dirty joke was told. Did you laugh? Did you pass it on?
 Pres. Monson: How you speak and the words you use tell much about the image you choose to portray. Use language to build and uplift those around you. Profane, vulgar, or crude language and inappropriate or off-color jokes are offensive to the Lord.

o If you find yourself talking about sexual subjects, who is being immoral with whom, detailed discussions about homosexuality, and other things at inappropriate times, that means it is time to change your thoughts so they don’t spew out in vulgar language.

 What it an appropriate time to speak of sexual things? Talking with your parents or your leaders about your questions, or speaking openly with your spouse are appropriate times.
 It is not good to dwell on sexual matters

• Reminds me of Harry Potter:
o Ron puking slugs; something obviously went wrong inside. Don’t let that kind of nastiness slime out of your mouth. It is evidence of inner decay.

• Degrading language:
o What ticks me off about TV: degrading of men; used to be pillars of honor, honesty, discipline. Leaders and examples.
 What does this have to do with virtue? If you degrade and mock men, it decreases their value in your eyes. W/O respect for someone, it is easier to use them and not care about their own virtue
 Let your words show that you honor men and expect them to fulfill their divine role to lead and provide.
 Also show that you honor your role as women and mothers-to-be: Conference: “popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless, and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction—easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves.”

I will protect myself from pornography in all its forms

• Bella vs. Volturi
o Didn’t wait for the battle to begin before she put up her shield and made sure it was strong
o Because her shield was strong, she could protect others as well as herself
o Attack: Jane and brother (pain and darkness: not being able to see your way out) Sneaky, unseen

• Bella when jumping off the cliff
o Thought it would be fun; a thrill
o Caught in undercurrent. Because she had already immersed herself, she was vulnerable to its pull.
o When Victoria (enemy) came towards her to attack, Bella didn’t know which way to go to escape.
o Pornography grips you and drags you under. It fills every thought and you become addicted to sexual thoughts.
• But I don’t look up pictures of naked people!
o Other ways to view pornography. We are blasted by it every day when we turn on the TV, when we check our email, when we do research on the Internet: scantily clad women and near naked men are all over the place.
o If you feel like you are looking at something private, that should only be viewed by a husband or wife, it is something that you should not be looking at. If you would see the same thing by spying in someone’s bedroom window, you should not be looking.
o If it is a book that brings lustful or sexual images to your mind, or makes you feel sexual feelings, you should not be reading it. This is pornography.
o Pres. Monson: “Pornography is especially dangerous and addictive. Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit, leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression. Avoid pornography at all costs.Don’t be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what’s being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father’s standards. In short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don’t see it, don’t read it, don’t participate.


I will defend the family and the importance of marriage

• Conference talk: Talk with your mothers about sexual matters. “[You] are coming of age in a world that openly embraces early, casual, and thoughtless promiscuity. Immodest, unchaste women are glamorized and all too often celebrated and emulated. While there are steps that we can take in our homes and families to minimize our exposure to these unsavory elements of contemporary living, [you] cannot entirely avoid the blatant sexual messages and enticements that surround [you]…
o Movies now glorify adultery or immorality if the couple is “truly in love.” The first glances of attraction progress straight into fornication. This is not the way it is meant to be.
o Like investing life savings into a stranger’s lemonade stand. No contract, no commitment, no promise to not run off with the money.
• Pres. Monson: “Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage as well as full fidelity after marriage. In dating, treat your date with respect and expect your date to show that same respect for you. Tears inevitably follow transgression.
o President David O. McKay, ninth President of the Church, advised, “I implore you to think clean thoughts.” He then made this significant declaration of truth: “Every action is preceded by a thought. If we want to control our actions, we must control our thinking.” … fill your minds with good thoughts, and your actions will be proper…
o Society sends teens a mixed message: advertisements and the mass media convey “very heavy messages that sexual activity is acceptable and expected,” inducements that sometimes drown out the warnings of experts and the pleas of parents. The Lord cuts through all the media messages with clear and precise language when He declares to us, “Be ye clean.”
o Whenever temptation comes, remember the wise counsel of the Apostle Paul, who declared, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Return to Virtue (Pass out flags with 5 main points on it. Later have them each sign the big flag.)

• To those who are already repentant: Woman who was a prostitute wept at Jesus’ feet. “Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee.
• To those who are just realizing that they want to repent, woman taken in adultery “Go and sin no more.”
• This is what the atonement is for. This is why it was provided; because we all mess up.
• Cliffs of Insanity (Princess Bride)
o Satan introduced sin into the world (cutting the rope) making it so we could not get back to Heaven by ourselves.
o We can hang on as tightly as we can, and even try to climb up ourselves, but eventually we will fall and make mistakes. We will slip and get stuck. We may fall all the way to the bottom.
o Christ is waiting at the top with a rope to pull us up. It doesn’t matter how far we have fallen. His rope reaches clear to the bottom. He can lower it to us and pull us up.


• Captain Moroni made a Title of Liberty to proclaim what he believed and to encourage the people to stand strong and defend themselves and their homes from their attackers. “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” This is what we have. This is our Title of Liberty. Let’s show our commitment to virtue. Stand and say them with me!
o I will dress modestly and be a symbol of virtue!
o I will not use vulgar or degrading language!
o I will protect myself from pornography in all its forms!
o I will defend the family and the importance of marriage!
o Return to virtue!