VIRTUE: LDS Activity Days - Preparing for the Young Women Program - Goal 1, make a list of things that are uplifting and virtuous

Seeking Uplifting and Virtuous Things

ACTIVITY DAYS “Preparing for the Young Women Program”

GOAL 1 – After studying the thirteenth article of faith, make a list of things that are uplifting and virtuous. Discuss with a parent or leader how you can seek after these things.

Topic: virtue, 13th article of faith

Print the Planner Form – Seek Uplifting and Virtuous Things for girls age 11 to fill in to complete this goal. They can mount form on their mirror as a reminder to complete.

See Elaine S. Dalton’s video/talk below where she encourages Young Women to make a list and “Live Your List.” See details below*.

IDEAS TO PRESENT THIS ACTIVITY:

• Memorize: 13th Article of Faith. “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” – Joseph Smith (Pearl of Great Price)

DOWNLOAD • Articles of Faith 1:13 . . . READ MORE (Honesty, Chastity, Virtue, Choices)

Virtues in a Basket – Gift Exchange:

Have girls study this article of faith this week at home and have them create a gift they can exchange during the next activity that relates to one of the virtues. Review some of these found on the form. Then when having the exchange gifts can be placed in the center in or near a basket. Then girls can take turns opening a gift and reading the words attached. The next girl to draw for a gift can either take a gift already taken or choose a new. The gifts can only be stolen three times.

Use 13th Article of Faith as a Temptation Blocker

Viewing the concepts below (addressed in this scripture), talk to girls of how they can block daily temptation. “[This] article of our faith is one of the basic declarations of our theology. We ought to reflect on it again and again. Then, whenever we might be tempted to do anything shoddy or dishonest or immoral, there would come into our minds with some force this great, all-encompassing statement of the ethics of our behavior.” – President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), “Fear Not to Do Good,” Ensign, Jan. 2000, 2.

• CHASTE (Prepare to live high standards) – “Human sexuality is more than a physical matter. Chastity and fidelity begin in the spirit, not in the body. They are an expression of the condition of our spirit. When our spirit is in tune with godly thinking and gospel truths, we want to live high standards, and our actions reflect that desire. Thus, chastity and fidelity are more than sexual abstinence before marriage and sexual fidelity after marriage. They express the quality of our spiritual life.” Terrance D. Olson, “Truths of Moral Purity,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 43.
– SHARE VIDEO Return to Virtue by Elaine S. Dalton
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO FROM I-PHONE

• BENEVOLENT (be kind and giving, in a word—to do good) – As you live with benevolence, God will uplift and strengthen you. Follow Christ’s example to go “about doing good . . . for God was with him” Acts 10:38. See Jesus Christ.

• VIRTUOUS (begins in the heart and mind) – “Virtue ‘is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards’ (Preach My Gospel, 118). 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. … 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, Young Women general president, “A Return to Virtue,” Ensign, Nov. 2008, 78–80.

• ADMONITION OF PAUL – Read Phillippians 4:8 (part of a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Saints in Philippi): “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

• SEEK AFTER THESE THINGS – Read the “Entertainment and Media” section in For the Strength of Youth (page 17). Check by asking yourself, “Are my actions consistent with the standards in the thirteenth article of faith?” Write in your journal how you have been blessed as you make good media choices.

Note: These ideas are not meant to explain this scripture; they are only a starting point for study.

VIDEOS TO SHARE:
• Guardians of Virtue – Young Women’s Song (below)
*• Guardians of Virtue – Click HERE to capture the quote (from the video below) to share with girls given by Sister Elaine S. Dalton in the General Young Women meeting in March 26, 1011. Objective: Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples.

Sister Dalton talks about living your “list.” (helping you achieve this goal in preparing for Young Women – at the top of this page: “make a list of things that are uplifting and virtuous”).

*”When I was a young woman, I learned that some decisions need to be made only once. I wrote my list of things I would always do and things I would never do in a small tablet. It included things like obeying the Word of Wisdom,
praying daily, paying my tithing, and committing to never miss church. I made those decisions once, and then in the moment of decision, I knew exactly what to do because I had decided beforehand. When my high school friends said, ‘Just one drink won’t hurt,’ I laughed and said, ‘I decided when I was 12 not to do that.’ Making decisions in advance will help you be guardians of virtue. I hope each of you will write a list of things you will always do and things you will never do. Then live your list.”