Practice Virtue and Holiness

Practice virtue and holiness,
Thankfully, from the heart.
For, along the path of happiness
Gifts are needed. You've a part!



Virtue of the mind and heart
Has high moral standards as its start
Unto a holy sheen
That in the eyes, then, can be seen

Based on everyday reactions-
To others words, to others actions
Quiet dignity and inner strength
Comes to those who do not stray 

Virtue encompasses chastity

And purity-based morality
Practiced and nurtured in the home
For a nobler place to be shown...

Holy, this place, is the temple
Where our Father's covenant people
Can receive the Spirit's guidance
And be led unto His presence

Doctrine and Covenants 46


"Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord's holy temples and to receiving the Spirit's guidance. Virtue 'is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards' (Preach My Gospel [2004], 118). It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions. Virtue is a word we don't hear often in today's society, but the Latin root word virtuous means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost."
Elaine S. Dalton
A Return to Virtue
Ensign, Nov. 2008, 79

A really good read:

World religions were asked to comment on their view of our nation and morality today:

https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2022/02/03/whats-status-morality-our-nation-today-faith-forum/6653207001/

Keep the End Goal

Keep the end goal
always in sight.
Ready, set, go!
Follow the Light.

I am His daughter

See the daughters
Of God on high
Virtue matters
And here is why

There is a light
Shone in their eyes
When all is right
It never lies

Let There Be Light

Let there be light
Shining forth from me
Virtue to ignite
Others for preparing

Let There Be Light!

"We can be a force for righteousness in preparing for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

—Quentin L. Cook, "Let There Be Light!"
Topics: Jesus Christ, Virtue

A Queen of the Quiet Years

http://youtu.be/_Jk4tpPGu_M

As I went forward

He held out his hand

His wife said not a word

Her smile was grand

I told him about me

Our eyes did not part

I spoke of my family

He looked in my heart

Then, taking his wife's hand

He said, "This is my queen!"

And now I understand

Just what deep beauty means

Her hair, white, was a crown

Her eyes sparkled, bejeweled

Through her, goodness endowed

Of life's best gifts, she was schooled

Optimism and trust showed

She knew who she was

From within she just glowed

That is what a queen does

Since then I have sought

Knowledge and virtue

From the best I've been taught

For I want to be like her too

Sister Elaine S. Dalton tells of how she learned as a young woman what true beauty means. As a young woman, you were born to be a queen.

Verse 1] He took his old love's hand Said "This is my queen" Silver threads like a crown Softest smile he'd ever seen Her laugh like morning air Her scars like secret maps Every wrinkle on her face A story he could trace and trace [Chorus] That's my queen in the quiet years Turning time into souvenirs With that brave Wide-open heart Facing every fear Teaching love by how she lives Turning losses into gifts That's my queen in the quiet years That's what deep beauty is [Verse 2] Her eyes They still threw sparks Little fireworks of grace She'd shine in kitchen light Sanctifying every place Hope folded in her hands Faith stitched into her days She moved so sure of who she was Lit the room in quiet ways [Chorus] That's my queen in the quiet years Turning time into souvenirs With that brave Wide-open heart Facing every fear Teaching love by how she lives Turning losses into gifts That's my queen in the quiet years That's what deep beauty is [Bridge] Since then I've been chasing wisdom Tracing footsteps she once knew Learning kindness like a language Trying to let the light shine through (oh yeah) If I grow into that courage If my soul grows steady too Every good thing in this life Will be something learned from you [Chorus] You're my queen in these growing years Turning doubt to souvenirs With your calm Unshaken heart Holding all my fears Teaching love by how you live Turning losses into gifts You're my queen in these growing years Now I know what beauty is

Virtue is the Golden Key

Virtue is the golden key
That unlocks the temple doors
Where one can glimpse eternity
And link to ancestors

Virtue comes of being chaste
And glowing with integrity
While seeking the love of God, there to taste
Inspiration sweet with purity

Leading the world in a return to virtue
Sister Dalton exhorts young adults to always be examples of purity
By Greg Hill
Church News staff writer
Published: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009
click on above title to go to site

Trusting Our Father

Trusting our Father...
We draw nigh unto Him
For, truly He is our Author
And, our lives come of Him

When we are refined
There is beauty to behold
For... in virtue we find
Our hearts are as gold

May we shine with purity
Showing our true worth
We've value...in surety
Made precious through good works

Refined by Life's Experiences

"Never before has there been a greater need for virtue and purity in the world.

"The value of virtue has been given a symbolic color, like the other values. The color of virtue is gold because gold is pure. It shines. It is soft, not harsh or brash. It is precious. Gold must be refined. As you live a pure and virtuous life, you will be refined by your life's experiences, and as you 'trust in the Lord' (Proverbs 3:5) and draw closer to Him, He will 'make [your] hearts as gold' (Roger Hoffman, "Consider the Lilies")."

Elaine S. Dalton, "Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord," Ensign, May 2009, 120

Topics: Virtue

Here On My Mission

Here on my mission
I can only envision
My lovely dream girl
Waiting for me in this world

First, and foremost
She has the Holy Ghost
To walk with virtue, the narrow way
That our two paths will meet some day

For now I will prepare
That of me there's much to share
With the qualities of the Savior
I know there's more of me to favor

This can easily be said that sister missionaries do the same.  "My handsome dream boy"

The Daughters of Divinity

The Daughters of Divinity

Are destined for eternity

Let them be found in the House of the Lord

Dressed in white and worthily adorned

As guardians of virtue

We are queens of our bodies true

And with a destiny to strive for

It's expected we do more

Come let us now go up

Unto the House of the lord

And learn within there of

That which moves us heaven ward

The virtuous life yields power

Confidence and light

As the Holy Ghost more showers

Guidance to choose the right

Take the invitation

And be willing to there climb

For the final destination

Is glorious to find...

Now, some of you have slipped

To the hard ground below

Acknowledge where you tripped

Repent and seek to grow

Know the power of the word

Is enlivening to the mind

As it is light to be discerned

There to leave darkness behind

Be a living witness

How the soul is then transformed

Unto a path of fitness

Being spiritually informed

On the trail of recovery

There are answers in holy writ

It is there for discovering

Through faithful pursuit of it

Come, let us go up

Leaving none behind

With the Lord, let's sup

His feast, ours to find

Elaine S. Dalton
Come Let us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord
Ensign, May 2009, 120

Virtue Written in the Heart

Virtue that's ever written
Deep inside the heart
Yields such purity within
That quality sets one apart

For, as though made of gold
One's refined unto trust
Till integrity shines so bold
That one walks away from lusts

One that's spiritually attracted
Waits for eternal love that's pure
And from the temple is not distracted
There to glow with beauty that endures

One that rises to the Lord's mountain
Has a virtuous life that shows so well
For it's refreshed by living fountains
As through purity the heart does swell

One finds of the lord's standards
They are ever true and absolute
For He leads as a wise shepherd
Unto the highest of all pursuits:

On the path back to Heavenly Father
There to be found clean in His presence
And called forth as precious sons and daughters
Kings and queens of body to luminescence


Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord
Elaine S. Dalton,
Ensign, May 2009,120

Hiking to the Top of Ensign Peak

Hiking to the top of Ensign Peak
Three women unfurled a gold banner-
A shawl, in this color they did seek-
To symbolize virtue in manner

This element, when refined, shows it's worth
As does a young woman developing moral purity
For as she proves strong in behavior and thought
She glows with high standards and chastity

Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Sister Mary N. Cook, Sister Ann M. Dibb
New Young Women Value: Virtue
First Presidency announces new attribute to Young Women theme
By Sarah Jane Weaver
Church News staff writer
Published: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008

Click the title to see the article

The Rising Generation

The rising generation
Is full of exuberance
With virtue and veneration
Reflecting their ebullience

The spirit is so wonderful
As they gather to conference
That one's words must be masterful
To help make a strong difference

They've so much they'll accomplish
That it's a bit intimidating
But gifts of faith and prayer do bless
That all are found appreciating

Though, still, a work in progress
As they learn how to contribute
They're surely marked for success
For they show Christ-like attributes

With love of God and fellowman
They've compassion and example
And their obedience to God's plan
Is devotion as a sample

And to feel and do what is right
They listen to the still small voice
Thus, they've polish and a bright light
That their bosom burns to make each choice

Shall they fear or take counsel from their fears?
Too busy, they've no time for discouragment or doubt
And as each uncertainty and shortcoming appears
They find more to be grateful for and excited about

And in their enthusiam they can never stand still
As this is the manner of women and men that they are
For they've ambitions and goals and much to fulfill
On the Lord's errands, while angels are near and afar

Bishop H. Burton
What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be
(I took his counsel of not giving into
fear and not getting discouraged
and made it a vision of the exemplary)
CES Fireside for Young Adults
November 2, 2008

D&C 84:88
And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

D&C 9:8
But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

1 Nephi 22:22
And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded.


rhymezone
veneration
religious zeal; willingness to serve God
a profound emotion inspired by a deity
ebullience
overflowing with enthusiasm
exuberance
overflowing with enthusiasm
joyful enthusiasm

Never Underestimate

Never underestimate
The power of virtue
For, whoso is found possessed of it
Has the Lord's strength in all they do

Never underestimate
The power of just one
For whoso with truth is intimate
Has sure instructions from the Son

Alma 20:4 Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things.

Alma 53:20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

A Banner is Calling- Return

A banner is calling - return
And be a light full of virtue
That others might see and then learn
That it's always best to be true

Virtue is a pattern of thought
That gives rise to choice behavior
And when this inner strength is sought
It ultimately leads to our Savior

There to enter His temple with purity
And humbly stand at our appointed place
Tall and bright with a quiet dignity
That's born of a clear conscience and grace

For those worthy to make sacred covenants
Do receive the Holy Ghost as their guide
That protects us at the needed moments
That we're worthy no longer to hide

Now is the time for each to arise
And unfurl this banner to the world
That when comes our Savior Jesus Christ
We'll be encircled about with light swirled

That when He appears we will be like Him
Purified even as He is pure
From within our hearts to our very limbs
We'll wax strong in confidence that is sure


Elaine S. Dalton
A Return to Virtue
Ensign, Nov 2008, 78

D&C 121:45
Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

Moroni 10:30
And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.
31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

Moroni 7:48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Dress is a Language that We Employ

Dress is a language that we employ
To express who we are in our conduct
And those who choose to flaunt or exploit
Lack in tact as well as in cloth that they construct

While those who dress to be found modest
Are aware of the prevailing standards
They've put moderation high on their list
While practicing social virtues and good manners

Our daily preparations to impress
Should be preceeded by this question
Do I remember the naked and needy who stress?
Or does my attire require too much attention?

There's one more thing for consideration
As we balance function and decency
It's the matter of appreciation
To God of whom we've dependency

For our bodies are but gifts from Him
That we're to care for both inside and out
We're like a temple with an adorned garden
To preserve that we might have God's spirit about

John S. Tanner
To Clothe a Temple
Ensign, August 1992, 44

Celestial Marriage

In this world abounding more with misery
Marriage is in need of God's ministry
I'm profoundly grateful to know of His plan
That brings eternal joy to the woman and man

Like a shopper who selects what endures quite well
Love in marriage can bloom unto the Celestial raised realm
Beyond death what is of God forever continues
And unto this joy we are now free agents to choose

This kind of marriage cannot be found through urge
Of bargain, of theft, nor out of splurge
Nor can it be attacked and redesigned
For through proclamation its sanctity has been defined

And while other arrangements might now exist
Only the virtue of temple marriage can and will persist
Because what's been ordained of God and by Him sealed
Endures forever as unto covenants couples yield

Nonmarital options crafted in misery
Can through repentance be upgraded to destiny
This is the pivotal part of our preparation
Providing blessed assurance and hope of exaltation

For what's celestial we must ever more focus
And search outside ourselves as was taught by Jesus
Like the effort applied for the best orchestra
The holy order of marriage is concerted with something extra

Still,...there are those unwed through no fault of their own
Who have been endowed in the temples all alone
There are those who have died with the gospel yet unheard
Who would have embraced it if they had found The Word

In the Lord's plan they will not be excluded
For through proxy work they too might be included
How thankful I am for Heavenly Father's plan
And for the sanctifying vows given between God and man

Elder Russell M. Nelson
Celestial Marriage
Ensign, November 2008, 92

In The Stage of Our Mind

In the stage of our mind
Our thoughts continually flow
And except at sleep we find
The curtains never close

If we could control our thoughts
We'd conquer our bad habits
Thoughts are as imps before us
Who make a show with grand fits

They command our attention
And lurk alongside the shadows
All too eager for dissension
To lead virtue out the windows

Still more they are persistent
To be seen as though they're harmless
But, they're rehearsing with the intent
That we'll reinact what will harm us

But, we can add a sound system
That will send them off the stage
For whenever we hum or listen
They're upstaged and leave in rage

If we'd upload a single hymn
For our recall when e'er there's a need
It will interrupt the bad imps
And we'll control where our thoughts lead

Boyd K. Packer
Worthy Thoughts, Worthy Music
New Era, April 2008, 6

We've Gone About Doing Good

We've gone about doing good
Loving as the Savior would
But, now we have felt impressed
There's more He would that we address

We must reach beyond our Sisterhood
To assist alongside the Priesthood
To understand our purpose and our role
We must study the restoration's goals

As calamities must come to pass
Faith must increase and covenants ever last
As the fullness is taught of the gospel
Unto the world by the weak and simple

As daughters t'wards eternal blessings
Our righteousness should be increasing
That we might help our family and friends
To serve the Lord and teach His children

And thus, through a divine commission
We'll bless the home and support the missions
Attend the temples and show welfare
As we extend hands that nurture and care

And in memory of the sisters of old
Who endured persecutions and were bold
May we walk in faith with fire in our souls
And rise in stature to accomplish our roles

May our homes be sacred sanctuaries
Where virtue and loveliness in it carries
Strength to defend and practice truth
To prepare our children and our youth

May the Holy Ghost show what we should do
As we pray, read, study, and ponder anew
With serious mental effort and fasting
To catch the vision the Lord is casting

Julie Beck
Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society
Ensign, November 2008, 108

With Knowledge of God's Plan

With knowledge of God's plan
We've much work to do
To restore faith in man
And in families too

In science there's success
As laws are applied
And for mankind's progress
Logic is supplied

The forefront place to learn
Is inside of the home
Where children can discern
The basics to be known

To safeguard children's virtues
Parents patiently train
And model morals and values
To pass on their good name

As children watch and observe
They explore and factor
As children learn to work and serve
They build up character

Where best to learn how to's?
Like making good decisions
So when a child's confused
They've the tools for discussions

The home is training for life
And for marriage, too
A husband and a wife
Have much work to do...

But, they're not alone
As we're all God's noblesse
Thus children, can't be owned
And we've His Light for success

Elder Kenneth Johnson
Restoring Faith in Families
Ensign May 2008, 15

We Are Daughters of Heavenly Father

We are daughters of Heavenly Father
And we offer Him our obedience
We've divine nature, as His daughters
Which is reflected in our countenance

We walk in virtue and understand
A chosen peculiar person has worth
Our dignity shows in how we stand
And we've retrenched to arise and shine forth

To be the worlds one bright shining hope
We have been called to be immovable
We've power, love and sound minds to cope
Combined, our strength is incalculable

You will find us standing on high ground
For we've drawn a line where we will not go
We have shown our line to all around
And hope for others to come see and know

We have our own style that protects us
As our time's not spent looking like the world
Our dress is modest and free from fuss
And, we're comfortable when our posture is curled

Our temple grounds are constantly groomed
To reflect the sacred spirit inside
And as daughters of God, how our light blooms
When we're good on the inside and outside

Elaine S. Dalton
Arize and Shine Forth
BYU Women's Conference 2004

retrench- to cut down, to reduce or diminish,
to curtail, or to economize
"Retrench in everything that is bad and worthless, and improve in everything that is good and beautiful"- Susa Young Gates, MIA, Deseret News, 1911