"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10
My dear girls,The First Presidency just announced that the value of "Virtue" has been added to our Young Women Values. Now we have 8 values! That means the theme has changed, a bit (see it on side bar), there is a new color - gold, and now there is another value to do value experiences and a value project for in Personal Progress.
This is so exciting! I feel so good that this is an important addition for all Young Women. It strengthens my testimony that our prophet really is the mouthpiece of the Lord, and that the Lord himself really does guide us in what we need today. And a return to Virtue IS what we need TODAY! That means He loves YOU so much than he made this change! Isn't that wonderful?
So what is this value Virtue? Virtue is so much more that chastity, it is holding up high moral standards, and remaining clean and pure. Virtue is absolutely necessary to gain in order to be worthy to attend the temple, and to be in our Heavenly Father's presence again. Living a virtuous life now is how you can prepare yourself to go to the temple, and the main purpose of the Young Women's program is to prepare you for the temple. That is why was are celebrating virtue!
In the scripture above it says that the value of a virtuous woman is far above rubies. Rubies are precious gemstones, like diamonds and emeralds. They are highly valuable because of their exquisite beauty, brilliance, and rarity.
A few years ago, I had a one day lay-over in London. Only one day, and we had to decide what, of all there is to see in London, we were going to see. I wanted to see the Tower of London because that is where Crown Jewels are. What girl wouldn't? Before we got there we were wondering whether or not they would be the real jewels on display, or just really good copies. But the moment we walked in, we knew they were the real deal. The jewels just glowed like nothing but the real thing could! Even in a dimly lit room they were brilliant beyond belief. Brilliance, the ability to capture and reflect light, is what makes gems so valuable! If a diamond is flawed, even a flaw so small that it cannot be seen by the untrained eye, the value of the gem is much, much less, because a flaw decreases the brilliance. A flawless, virtuous, gemstone is a thing of beauty and value indeed!
But they don't start out looking that way. Gemstones mined from the ground look like ordinary rocks. A good gem cutter can recognize a precious stone when he sees one, and knows exactly what to do with it. He cuts it. Did you know there are many different types of cuts for gemstones? There is the princess cut, the diamond cut, the baguette cut, and on and on. The gem cutter doesn't just decide he wants a princess cut. He studies the stone carefully, and takes into account its shape, size, flaws, etc. to determine the very best cut that will give that particular gemstone the maximum size and brilliance, and thus make it as valuable as possible. The stone tells the gem cutter what cut is is to be, and every single one is different.
My dear girls, you are not rocks! The world around you would love you to believe you are just a rock, and Satan needs you to believe that too, because if he can get you to believe that, he wins. You are a gem more precious than rubies - a diamond! You are a diamond, my dear, and the Lord himself is the diamond cutter. He knows your value! And he had told you parents and your leaders your value, and we see what He sees. He also knows exactly what cut will make you sparkle and shine like no other. You are supposed to be a different cut than your friends. Don't worry what cuts they are. The cut the Lord makes you is the most brilliant, most valuable you can be.
Did you know that a diamond is the hardest element on Earth? How do you cut the hardest element on earth? Only with other diamonds. The diamond cutter has the valuable tools, the only tools that will cut a diamond. His tools are your parents, your leaders, the Young Women's program, Personal Progress, the scriptures, seminary, and other valuable and inspired programs and people.
Beware. Satan and the world want to shape you and cut you into something much less valuable, but you cannot be cut and shaped by the world, because the world does not have the proper tools. You are a diamond, nothing less, and the ways of the world will never, never cut you into the perfect gemstone you are to be. Only the Lord can do it. Let Him. Ask Him to help you see the uniquely brilliant diamond your really are inside. Allow him to use his superior tools to help you cut out your flaws and find your brilliance. You do this by understanding and living the value of virtue.
A great place to start is by reading this talk given by Sis. Dalton, the Young Women General President, at the YW broadcast in November. It is really wonderful!
I love you. Your leaders love you. Your parents love you. And the Lord loves you. Study virtue, and do what you can to let it become a part of who you are - nothing less than a precious brilliant gemstone, reflecting the light of the Lord.
Who can find a virtuous woman? I can. They are who you are growing up to be, and your price is far, far above rubies!
Love, Sister V.
P.S. If you read this, and didn't get one of my chunky not-so-genuine gemstones yet, ask me. I have one for you.
