Who can find....?

I am intrigued by Michelle/Ali/Jenn’s idea of choosing one word to focus on this year. I like the idea that instead of working towards (failing at) a goal, you can look to making some progress.


I serve in Young Women and the Mutual theme this year is:
“…let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly…”
We usually think of virtue as chastity, but there are many virtues that make up a good and moral character.


While yet a young man, Benjamin Franklin made a list of thirteen virtues that he felt were an important guide for living. He wrote each virtue on a page in a small book that he kept with him most of his life. He would select one virtue to focus on each week, but every day he checked the entire list to see how he was doing.


When the Lord asks us to let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly, surely he meant for all good things to be in our minds and in our hearts continually. Ben Franklin came close to what the Lord had in mind in thinking about virtues every day, and of having a plan to improve them in his life.

President Hinckley has said,
"You may not be a genius. But you can be good, and you can try."


The word I will have on my mind this year is

Virtues

Maybe that is more than one word. There are many virtues. I've already made a very long list.


Holy writ asks, "Who can find a virtuous woman?"

I hope I can answer, "Right here."


In the hour since I’ve made this decision, I’ve already hit the wall several times and seen how far I am from any ideal or perfection in any virtue. Maybe it will be a year of just magnifying my faults.

Hopefully awareness will lead to improvement.

Certainly trying is a virtue.



If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report, we will seek after these things.