This was kind of a difficult topic for
me because I don’t feel like I even fully understand what we mean when we talk
about virtue--it seems like there is a very narrow definition (virtue = chastity) and a very broad definition (virtue = every good characteristic we could ever hope to have). So, I had to start just by looking at what it is, and in the VT
message, it quotes President Faust, who said that it “encompasses all traits of
righteousness that help us form our character.”
Preach My Gospel says it “is a pattern of thought and
behavior based on high moral standards.”
One of the scriptures
mentioned at the end of the visiting teaching message is Psalm 24:3-5, which
doesn’t directly mention virtue but talks about having “clean hands and a pure
heart”.
And finally, I turned to a
talk by Elaine S. Dalton, since virtue was a major topic that she addressed
while she was the YW General President.
She said, “It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in
the heart and in the mind...It is the accumulation of thousands of small
decisions and actions.
So, having a basic
understanding of virtue, I was intrigued by the question posed at the end of
the visiting teaching message: “How does virtue empower and strengthen us?” I
thought of just a few things, although I’m sure there are many others:
·
It qualifies us for the Holy Ghost and for God’s
help
·
It, among other things, qualifies us to enter
the temple and receive all of the blessings and power available there
·
It allows us to have a clear conscience before
God, rather than being tormented by guilt
·
It helps us to see clearly (we are fixed on God
and striving to do His will, which helps us to can see the temptations of the
devil and the enticing of the world for what they truly are and to not be
distracted or deceived)
·
It brings joy into our lives as we follow God’s
plan for us
·
“Through virtue we find the power divine that
can change the world”
·
The “From the Scriptures” section recounts the
story of the woman with an issue of blood who touched Christ’s robe and was
healed. Jesus said “virtue is gone out of me.”
The section goes onto call the woman “virtuous” and then says, “Through
His virtue, Christ can heal, enable, strengthen, comfort, and cheer when we
choose with courage and faith to reach out to Him.” To me, this seems to show a
connection between the woman’s virtue and Christ’s virtue; by her living
virtuously, through having clean hands and a pure heart and faith in Christ,
she was able to reach out to Him and then have His virtue heal her.
I don’t know feel like I have a very strong grasp of this principle;
it’s something I’ll have to study more. However, I want to close by sharing a
song that really touches my heart. I don’t fully get the principle, but I feel
the Spirit testifying that there is power in being virtuous when I listen to
this song, and I hope you can feel it, too.
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