A virtuous life- March 2, 2015

Yesterday, I was able to share the gospel message of a virtuous life with my Young Women.  We read from Proverbs 31:10-31:

10 ¶Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothingis silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

I added the red for emphasis.  We are so in need of virtuous women rising up and speaking out.  I explained to the class that women used to hold tight to values, and that kept us on a higher plain.  I don't know what happened in the 1960's in this country, but we went from women holding tight, to "make love, not war".  In a cry for freedom, we gave up some of the greatest freedoms that we had.  

It hit me this week especially because I was planning the lesson and also am very concerned about books and movies that glorify inappropriate sexual relationships.  I read an interview from the author of the current "hot" book.  She denies her book is pornographic.  Based on the critiques I have seen, it is not only pornographic, but is also glorifying violence against women.  Because of that, I decided not to go to a movie anywhere that movie is being shown.  

Elder Dixon and I don't often take a "preparation day" or a date night, but we decided we would like to see the current movie about migrant workers who become track stars.  We could not find a theater close to our home that was not also showing the pornographic movie.  So, instead, we just went to a dollar movie where the pornographic movie was not being shown.  My little stand is not much, but I feel good about not supporting an industry that is destroying lives.

You may wonder about my statement that pornography destroys lives.  It destroys marriages, gives people false ideas about the sacred nature of sexual intimacy, makes exposure to those things almost a given to children who use the internet, and can lead to child pornography and even other crimes.  It is a sad commentary in our country that you can be prohibited from saying a prayer, but you can produce filth with no prohibitions.  

I hope that women will care enough to lead the charge to try to change our world.  We have children and grandchildren who deserve better than this.