Attribute #22 - Virtue

Virtue and integrity go well together. I guess that's why Cody and Brad make such a great team. One of the first things that impressed me about Cody was her commitment to choosing the right. In particular she had high standards for what she would watch for entertainment, and she kept and honored them, without making others feel badly for being less strict.

Virtue: moral excellence, righteousness, goodness, uprightness, strength, courage

2 Peter 1:5-7
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

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.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Photo Credit: Walter Rane

Even before it became part of Personal Progress, Cody exemplified this YW Value. Sister Elaine Dalton described virtue like this:

Young women, in a world ever growing in moral pollution, tolerance of evil, exploitation of women, and distortion of roles, you must stand guard of yourself, your family, and all those with whom you associate. You must be guardians of virtue.

What is virtue and what is a guardian? “Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity and [moral] purity.” And what is a guardian? A guardian is someone who protects, shields, and defends. Thus, as a guardian of virtue, you will protect, shield, and defend moral purity because the power to create mortal life is a sacred and exalted power and must be safeguarded until you are married. Virtue is a requirement to have the companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost. You will need that guidance in order to successfully navigate the world in which you live. Being virtuous is a requirement to enter the temple. And it is a requirement to be worthy to stand in the Savior’s presence. You are preparing now for that time.

I am grateful for Cody's example of this attribute of the Savior.