If We Don't Stand for Virtue Who Will?

Sister Elaine S. Dalton posed that question when the Young Women general presidency added virtue to the list of young women values. A couple of nights ago I had a very interesting conversation with my best friend from high school. She's made some decisions that are very different than the decisions I have made. And she typically spends a great deal of our time together deriding me for being a prude and being too religious. As a result, I don't spend that much time with her anymore. But as we were sitting in my car talking she gave me the advice, "have fun kissing, but don't go any farther- it isn't worth it". I almost started crying because I realized that she regrets the decisions she's made. It also brought home this quote for me, "Often those who publicly deride you for your high standards privately do not want you to violate them. They need your good example." I can't think of any way I can be a better example to others than by being virtuous. President Hinckley said, "there is nothing in this world as magnificent as virtue. It glows without tarnish. It is precious and beautiful. It is above price. It cannot be bought or sold. It is the fruit of self mastery." I am grateful for the doctrine of virtue in my life, it has saved me a lot of heart ache in the past. I am also grateful for all my gorgeous virtuous lady friends- they are wonderful people who are great examples to me- I love you guys! To wrap things up I would like to leave you with an excerpt from Pres. Hinckley's How Can I Become the Woman of Whom I Dream speech, "You are creatures of divinity; you are daughters of the Almighty. Limitless is your potential. Magnificent is your future, if you will take control of it. Do not let your lives drift in a fruitless and worthless manner...For you my dear friends, the sky is the limit. You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you....Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with a great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the church. Never forget that you came to earth as a child of the divine father with something of divinity in your very makeup. The Lord did not send you here to fail. He did not give you life to waste it."