Chastity: What are the limits? video

This is a great video to foster a discussion about the value of virtue and the standard of sexual purity.



Shareable link:  https://lds.org/youth/video/chastity-what-are-the-limits?lang=eng

Ideas on how to use this video:

• Show it during an activity followed by a discussion.
• Ask questions such as: When is the best time to decide on your limits? How do you know what is right and what is wrong? Why would a young man push you to do things that are not right? Why is it important to remain virtuous? How will your virtue affect your happiness? How will your virtue affect your future husband and children? Why do you think God gave us this standard?
• Listen to or read Sister Dalton's talk - "Guardians of Virtue" and have each young woman follow this counsel: "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." 

More on this topic:

• For the Strength of Youth - Sexual Purity
• Personal Progress - Virtue
• "Guardians of Virtue" Elaine S. Dalton, 2011 General Young Women Meeting

He Showed Us the Way to Return Home - Elaine S Dalton

This quote was in the April 2011 Ensign:

“The Savior came to the earth to show us how to live the plan that was authored
in heaven—a plan that, if lived, will make us happy. His example showed us the way to return home to our Heavenly Father. No other who has ever lived has been so ‘steadfast and immovable’ (Mosiah 5:15). He was never distracted. He was focused on carrying out the will of the Father, and He
remained true to His divine mission. . . .

“You are a part of that wondrous plan that was presented in the premortal realms. Your coming to the earth now has been anticipated since the plan was accepted. Your position in time and place is no accident. Your ‘exceeding faith and good works’ (Alma 13:3) then has laid the foundation for what you may accomplish now if you are faithful and obedient. . . . You have a great work to do. In order to accomplish your divine mission and live the plan of happiness, you too
must be steadfast and immovable.”

He Showed Us the Way to Return Home


Originally from “At All Times, in All
Things, and in All Places,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2008, 116.

A Prophet's Voice: Following the Lord's anointed

How can you bring the blessings of General Conference to the young women you serve?

There's an extremely important article in today's Church News by Sister Elaine Dalton on that topic: "A Prophet's Voice: Following the Lord's Anointed."

Here are a few quotes:

"I believe, in a world increasing in media messages each young woman must be riveted on their words and know how to apply them in their lives. Prophets speak for God. They are a voice of warning. They can guide, direct, admonish correct and teach. They can provide personal answers to life's questions and challenges. They can also prepare each of us for what is to come.


"In Young Women, the curriculum has been updated with current messages from the prophets, seers, revelators and other Church leaders. This is being done through the use of the online Resource Guide, which updates the lessons in the Young Women Lesson Manual 3. These inspired general conference addresses can now become part of our Sunday lessons, and could also become a part of family discussions, youth talks, seminary sharing, and family home evening lessons....


"The Resource Guide for Leaders will continually update the lessons with the current words of the prophets, visual resources and relevant questions. These teachings will bless and guide the young women and all of us as we focus not only on what they have said but what we will do to live the doctrine they have taught....


"I believe that in order for our precious young women to be able to navigate in the world in which they now live, they will need to be riveted on the words of the prophets, seers and revelators. They will need to hear them in general conference, in their homes and in their young women classes. They will need to not only know what was taught but how to accept and act on these prophetic words. They will need to be shown how to relate the doctrine to their everyday lives and the situations they face. They will need to be mentored on how it connects with Personal Progress. It is so important that what they learn on Sunday, translates into action on Monday.

BYU Study: Sexual abstinance until marriage leads to stability and trust

We live in a toxic world. Young women today need our help, as parents and leaders, to stay on the path of virtue.

An article, published in the Jan 8, 2011 Church News, describes research support for our standards of virtue and sexual purity. It describes a recent Brigham Young University study, published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Family Psychology, exploring impact of sexual involvement during dating.

Here's an excerpt:

"Research shows that as couples develop their relationship while delaying or refraining from sexual intimacy they are able to form foundations on communication and other social processes."

"When couples become sexual early in the relationship … other areas do not develop as well," Brother Busby said. "Couples who wait spend time talking and sharing their life, getting to know each other in other ways, strengthening their relations and creating greater relationship satisfaction."

Elaine Dalton has consistently emphasized virtue during her years as Young Women General President.

Here are links to a few of her talks on virtue:

"Remember Who You Are!" April 2010 General Young Women Meeting

 "Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord," April 2009 General Young Women Meeting

"A Return to Virtue," Oct 2008 General Conference

Update:

This article is making news in far away places:

The Economist
and The Irish Times

We Believe - 2011 Youth Media

Media supporting the 2011 youth theme and For Strength of Youth standards is now available online here.

It includes wonderful messages from President Monson and  Sister Elaine Dalton.

Each bishop and branch president should have DVDs of this media available for youth leaders.

For help in using this media, view this video clip.