Strength in Standards

In this section, I will be covering topics from the For Strength of Youth pamphlet.  Some teenagers groan whenever a leader or parent mentions this book, but I will show you how you can love the standards inside of these pages. 

Dating

Recently, I was able to realize just how much I agree with and am blessed by the standards which the Lord sets about dating. I'm sure you've all heard the rules: Don't date before age 16, start with double dates and group dates, be very cautious about being in a relationship, etc. Many teenagers feel like these are restrictions. Others are dismayed by these guidelines, and as much as they want to be able to follow them willingly without any second thoughts, have a hard time doing so. Well, I'm going to share with you how you can follow these standards and actually enjoy doing so!

Here's why I am so glad and blessed to have the church's standards about dating:

• Teenage years are emotional.  Personally, I have so much to be emotional about already, what with everything that goes on, and all those hormones, I really don't need or want to add any extra heartbreak, jealousy, lust, or frustration to the mix, all of which are included with dating and having relationships.
• Teens have a lot on their plates! Teenagers these days, especially LDS teens, have tons of stuff to do everyday! We have school, which in itself includes tests, studying, punctuality, homework, social expectations, and more. Then, we have extra-curricular stuff to do. Whether it be music, sports, student government, yearbook staff, or any clubs, most teens do at least one of these things, and many do even more!  Then, lots of us have jobs. Younger teens may babysit or mow lawns, and older ones may work at a frozen yogurt shop, or something. All teenagers will eventually do driver's ed. And, most teenagers, whether they're LDS, or not, have lots of things to do for church. LDS teens have church on Sunday, Mutual, Seminary, Family Home Evening, Duty to God or Personal Progress, service activites, genealogy, temple trips, and more! Also, all teenagers should have a focus somewhere in their mind of trying to get into college eventually. Obviously, we have a lot of stuff to do! The more we have to do, the more sacrifices we have to make of things we can't do. So, if you add a relationship on top of everything, you may have to sacrifice something like getting good grades, Personal Progress, focusing on college, etc. Letting these things slip by will harm you.

• Babies are great, but not so great for teens!  If you're not careful when you're dating someone, you could end up being a parent long before you ever thought you would. And, while being a parent is a great thing, it's not what teenagers need to be doing at this point in our lives. Having a baby before you're married could: hinder or permanently stop you from getting a college degree, strain relationships with friends, family, and your boyfriend/girlfriend, rush marriage which could cause marital problems in the future, cause an unstable family or financial environment for your baby/ family. The best protection is abstinence, and it's easiest to stay pure when you are not in a serious relationship.

These are only some of the reasons why I feel blessed to have the guidelines and standards which the Lord gives us. I know that when I follow these guidelines, I will be blessed. I will be able to have a good time when I am dating, I will save myself from lots of heartbreak, I will be able to enjoy having children when I'm married, rather than worrying about it when I'm not married, I will be able to have a beautiful, successful marriage, I will be able to focus on the things which I need to do now which will make my future more successful, and so many more things. But, most of all, I know that when I follow the standards which my Father in Heaven gives me, He will be pleased with me and trust me with more things.

 

Language

I'm noticing that as I get older, swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain becomes more and more prevalent around me. After a while, it's hard not to get discouraged when you hear so much of the trash that comes out of people's mouths. And then, there's the swearing in books and movies which are appropriate otherwise. How do you get away from it?

Here's what the For Strength of Youth book says about language:

"Do not use profane, vulgar, or crude language or gestures, and do not tell jokes or stories about immoral actions. These are offensive to God and to others."

 "Always use the names of God and Jesus Christ with reverence and respect. Misusing the names of Deity is a sin. When you pray, address your Father in Heaven in reverent and respectful language. The Savior used such respectful language in the Lord’s Prayer (see Matthew 6:9–12)."

 "How you communicate should reflect who you are as a son or daughter of God. Clean and intelligent language is evidence of a bright and wholesome mind. Good language that uplifts, encourages, and compliments others invites the Spirit to be with you. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith, hope, and charity."

I read a really great article in the New Era a while ago about this very subject. Before I read it, I knew that I shouldn't take the Lord's name in vain, but I didn't know why. After reading it, however, I realized the importance of not taking Heavenly Father or Jesus' name in vain.

Basically, a girl was in a choir, and one of the kids in the choir was using the Lord's name in a rude way. So this girl asked her to stop, even though she was a bit shy. The girl said to the other, "Please don't say that. He is my Savior." The room got quiet, and she was embarrassed, but to her surprise, another member of the choir spoke up, "He is my Savior, too."   (To read the full article, click here.)

This story has always stuck with me. We keep the Lord's name holy because He  is our Savior and He saved us from our sins. 

So, now I pose a question: How do YOU stand up to foul language and rude uses of the Lord's name?

Go Forward with Faith                                                                

The young women in our ward are singing this song on Sunday.  We just learned this song this last Sunday. I"m really excited to sing it because it is so beautiful. This song really describes one of our roles on earth- to be guardians of virtue.  But virtue doesn't just mean staying sexually pure. Virtue combines all of the young women values, and all of the attributes we want to acquire to become celestial beings.  Virtue is a golden standard of purity. This video is a beautiful display of this song.

 

The Word of Wisdom- How to answer hard questions        

A lot of times people probably ask you "Why do Mormons have so many rules?" "Why can't you drink coffee?" "What's wrong with wine?".  What do you answer to these questions? Often it's very difficult because you know that the concept is so different to these people that ask you.
So what can you answer?
I really love how lds.org defines the Word of Wisdom concisely and adequately:

            The Word of Wisdom is a law of health revealed by the Lord for the physical and spiritual benefit of His children. On February 27, 1833, as recorded in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed which foods are good for us to eat and which substances are not good for the human body. He also promised health, protection, knowledge, and wisdom to those who obey the Word of Wisdom. 

Now we need to know how to put this into our own words. Make sure you convey these key points:

• It's called the Word of Wisdom
• It's a law of health
• It's revelation from God
• It tells what things are good and bad for our bodies
• We are promised blessings if we keep this commandment (health, protection, knowledge, wisdom)

But, even with telling these key points, the Spirit will be in your conversation the most when you bear your testimony of the Word of Wisdom's truthfulness.

I know that when I obey the Word of Wisdom, I am blessed with the blessings that that the Lord promises to give me. I truly can see these blessings in my life.

If you would like to read the Word of Wisdom, it's in Doctrine and Covenants 89:5-21.  You can click here to read it.

If you would like to learn more about the Word of Wisdom, click here.

Modest... Reasons Why you should be       

Modesty. Some girls cringe whenever the word is mentioned. They wonder why they shouldn't be able to wear what their friends and peers are wearing, and why it has to be so difficult. Some girls believe that modesty is outdated. I used to think all of those things. I noticed that in all of the magazines, all of the beautiful models were wearing revealing tops and short skirts, shorts, or dresses. What girl doesn't want to be like a model? I always dressed modestly, but I always wondered why I was being modest, besides the fact that my parents told me to be modest. So. Why should you be modest? I have come up with a list.

1. It is physically more comfortable.Whenever I have worn clothes that weren't the most modest, I felt really awkward. And it felt like everyone was staring at me. Especially when wearing tops that were too low cut. When you dress modestly, you feel comfortable because you just feel good.
2. Most of the time, only models look "good" in immodest clothing. It is much easier to love your body when you dress modestly.
3. You know that people love you for who you are, not just your body. Sometimes a person will hang out with you only because you are "sexy". This leads to heartbreak because after a while, the person will find someone they think is "sexier" than you, and leave. When you dress modestly, you know that people around you will love you for your personality and not for your body.
4. You know that you are doing the right thing. This is so important because it will give you confidence. You will have more confidence because you know you are doing the right thing, and because of that, God is pleased with you and will bless you.
5. You will have higher self esteem. Because of the confidence you will get, the comfort, and knowing that people around you love you for who you are, you will be confident in yourself.
6. You will have the Holy Ghost with you to guide you. This is so super important. With the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we receive comfort, and help with all of the trials that being a teenager brings.
7. You will have an easier time making good choices. Not just because you aren't being revealing
   (which is important) but because you have the Holy Ghost with you, and because you are confident in yourself.
8. You will gain the respect of other people. When people look at a girl who is dressed immodestly, they think that she has no respect for herself and has a low self esteem. But when you are being modest, people respect your opinions, ideas, and personality more.
9. You show others that you know you are a princess. Yes. I just told you that you are a princess. You are a daughter of God, your Heavenly Father who loves you. You were born to be a queen. You can prepare for that role, and show Heavenly Father that you are doing your best to live up to that by dressing modestly.
10. You will be worthy to go to the temple. We believe that temples are holy houses of God, which are the only places on earth that can compare to the holiness of heaven. Only individuals who are spiritually worthy may go to the temple, and you must be modest to be worthy.

These are only a few of the reasons why you should be modest. Modesty includes:

• Shorts/Skirts/Dresses come to at least your knees.
• Shirts have sleeves.
• Clothing is not too tight.
• Tops are not very low cut in the front or back.

I know that when I am modest, my Heavenly Father is proud to call me His daughter. I know that He loves me, and I know that when I am modest I am showing Heavenly Father that I appreciate my body, which is a gift from Him. I know that when I dress modestly and live worthily, I can go to the temple, which is such a tremendous blessing!

.................................

This woman, Jessica Rey, is a fashion designer who is an advocate for modesty. This is her presentation about modest swimsuits. I can't even describe how amazing it is, so I'll just quote her so that you may realize her awesomeness.

"... modesty isn't about covering up our bodies because they're bad. Modesty isn't about hiding ourselves. It's about revealing our dignity."

"We were made beautiful- in His image and likeness. So the question I'd like to leave you with is 'How will you use your beauty?'. "

Seriously. These nine minutes are worth it. Guys, even for you, too. Just watch it.