A Guardian of Virtue

In order to stay on the path to the temple, you must guard your personal virtue and the virtue of others with whom you associate. Why? Mormon taught in the Book of Mormon that virtue and chastity are “most dear and precious above all things.” - Sister Elaine Dalton

<sup>Sister Dalton's talk entitled "Guardians of Virtue" is one of the greatest talks that I have treasured by heart. It speaks about the power and great responsibilities of young women; it emphasizes that even at a very young age, young girls have such a great influence upon all that they associate with. So great are the power of the young women that they are given the title "Guardians of Virtue".

What is a guardian? I searched the internet for the most appropriate meaning of the word and I found this short but very profound definition: "someone who protects". A "guardian of virtue" helps protect, preserve, and shield the purity and moral cleanliness of those around her. 

What great trust the Lord has put on every young woman! He knows that if the girls of the world will strive to become examples of righteousness and moral cleanliness, other people can easily be influenced. He knows that if young girls set an example of choosing the right, people who can see the way they live will say "we do not doubt, our mothers [and yes, sisters] know [and live] it..."

We now live in a world where a spiritual war is raging. The attacks of the adversary are centered towards our young men. The temptations around them are strong, fierce, subtle, and absolutely overwhelming. Satan knows that these young men will one day lead a family, an organization, a community. He knows that if he can tempt one potential young man to live in a way contrary to what is expected of him and eventually lead him to "the gulf of misery and endless woe", he also destroys the possibility of creating a family of faith, an organization of integrity, and a community of strength. 

The adversary also sees a young woman's potential to influence a young man to choose the right. He is knowledgeable of the fact that when a young man looks up to a young woman, her righteous choices can easily create a difference to his own. That is why the adversary is doing all he can to cripple the confidence of the young girls by making them forget their true identity as a daughter of God. He knows that when a young woman decides to become a guardian of virtue, his powers waver. When a young woman "stands for truth and righteousness", his hold over a young man diminishes.</sup>

We should not let him win. In this war we are on, we should "take upon [ourselves] the whole armor that [we] may be able t[o withstand the evil day". In these days of confusion and moral relativism, we should stand as true guardians of virtue.

What makes a "Guardian of Virtue"?

1. A guardian of virtue knows the enemy.

An ancient military general named Sun Tzu said these words "He who knows himself and the enemy need not fear the result of a hundred battles..."A guardian cannot know how she should protect if she is not knowledgeable of the strength and the objective of her  enemy. 

Satan is our greatest enemy. He desires that "all men will be miserable like unto himself" and he wants to drag us down to "the gulf of misery and endless woe". Since the Old Testament times, his greatest goal is to frustrate the work of the Lord. 

This enemy knows who you are and your potentials. He knows what you are capable of and he can see how great your power is. He tempts you to live below your potentials so you cannot be an instrument in the hands of God. 

Satan is real. He is not just a figment of an author's fictional imaginations. He strives everyday to make you choose what is wrong. His mission is to keep you from becoming the person the Lord sees you to be. He tells you "You aren't good enough", "You will never be accepted because you are not as pretty as the girls in the magazines", "You are insignificant". He does these things to weaken your armor. DO NOT LET HIM.

2. A guardian of virtue knows who she protects.

You may not know it but people can see the way you live. They notice that you are modest, that you love the Lord, and that you strive to live a life of integrity. They can see that you are bubbly, optimistic, and you want other people to also feel the joy that you feel. You are silently influencing many lives when you live right.

As a guardian of virtue, you should know who you protect, whose virtue you are helping to maintain. 

I am a sister to two young men. I can see their great potential and I know that their life during these years are not easy. They are teenagers battling giant temptations. I am sure that strong fiery darts of the adversary are being thrown their way because they are future missionaries of the Church. I fear for them considering that they are living in a very difficult world today. However, I am confident that if I will be a guardian of their virtue who helps them choose what is right no matter how challenging it is, I can help them battle the temptations that come their way.

You are protecting your brothers' virtue. Help them choose the right by teaching them to be morally clean. Help them identify the kind of entertainment they should enjoy. Teach them to restrain themselves from sexual impulses by telling them BOLDLY that sexual relationships outside of marriage is wrong. Be brave enough to correct them when they commit something against the commandments of God. We should be strong and bold sisters.

You also hold on your hands the virtue of those you date. Treat your date with respect. Honor him. Do not be the cause of his fall. I once wrote in my journal "I would rather be a Rachel who makes a man work righteously for me than to be a Delilah who will lead a man to his downfall..." Satan knows how to manipulate your special feelings for a young man. He strives hard to turn those healthy emotions into deadly feelings that can lead you to commit sexual immorality. Be the kind of young woman who upholds the virtue of those she dates. Go on wholesome dates, avoid places where temptations are strong. Be a young woman who will never ever settle for anything than temple marriage and who will not have choices that could compromise the blessings of purity and chastity. Remember the scripture that says "Virtue loveth virtue, light cleaveth unto light". Let's help our young men to also strive to become virtuous till the end.

3. A guardian of virtue is fearless because she has the whole armor of God and she knows who she is.

A guardian of virtue is strong and bold in standing for what is true and right. She "does not apologize for teaching the truth". She is confident because she is virtuous. 

She knows that in order for her to be victorious in the war against sin, she needs to put on the whole armor of God. The Savior Jesus Christ gave the perfect example of an invincible armor

 15 Wherefore, ^alift up your hearts and ^brejoice, and ^cgird up your loins, and take upon you my whole ^darmor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to^estand.

 16 Stand, therefore, having your loins ^agirt about with ^btruth, having on the ^cbreastplate of ^drighteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the ^egospel of ^fpeace, which I have sent mine ^gangels to commit unto you;

 17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the ^afiery darts of the wicked;

 18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my ^aSpirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be ^bcaught up, that where I am ye shall be ^calso. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18}

A guardian of virtue knows who she is. She is a daughter of God who is deeply beloved by Heavenly Father. She understands her responsibility to always be a light and an example of a Christ-like life to others.

Of course, there will be times that you will feel incapable and fearful. It seems as though you do not have the courage and strength to become a guardian of virtue because of your weaknesses and unwise choices. Have an assurance in the word of God as stated in the 7th stanza of the song "How Firm a Foundation" 

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I cannot desert to his foes. That soul though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never no never, I'll never no never, I'll never no never no never forsake!"

The adversary will be rooting for your failure. Do not let him. Fight in the war against sin with courage, understanding, and faith in the Lord. You will emerge victorious. 

The world needs you. Be a true guardian of virtue.

The Best Way to Win a Girl's Heart (Lessons from Beauty and the Beast)

Whether you are a Disney kid or not, it is a universal truth that Disney animated movies carry with them very important and wonderful lessons whether it be on life, love, or family. Its messages can touch the heart and make you realize many things.

Just a few days ago, while viewing some clips of one of my favorite Disney movies -- Beauty and the Beast -- I had come to a conclusion that this cartoon made specifically for kids can also teach the young adults some points about courtship and winning a girl. :)

The movie features two men with different characteristics: one is a man who got rejected and the other is a man who got the girl. Before I get into details about how a guy can win the girl of his dreams, I will first list down the one important thing guys should remember: DON'T BE A GASTON.

"Who is Gaston?" you ask. The main antagonist of the movie, Gaston, was the vain, obnoxious, self centered man who professed his love for Belle. We all know Gaston got a big "NO!" from the woman of his dreams. If we look into Gaston's actions, we can see why Belle just couldn't take a man like him:

1.) Gaston is vain, obnoxious, and self-centered.

I'm sure we all don't like these kinds of people. These are persons who talk about themselves all day and they are the types who often feel they're never wrong. They feel like they're the "King". Guys like this just don't enter the "attractive" list no matter how good-looking he may be.

2.) Gaston made fun of the one thing Belle loved.

Belle is a huge bookworm and books are her very treasured possessions. Gaston, being the vain and insensitive man that he is, made fun of Belle's love for reading and even told her " why don't you focus on more important things like me?"

I won't deny the fact that girls do have some weird hobbies and unexpected favorites; I guess that's a given because girls have the tendency to see the good in all things. However, I don't think that is a proper excuse for a guy to dismiss anything he can't relate to as "gay" or "ridiculous" or "waste of time". It is her passion, it is what she loves. Making fun of what she appreciates is not only a factor that could lessen your chances of winning her; it could also make you look like a total jerk.

3.) Lastly, Gaston takes things tooooooooooo fast.

Not all guys are vain, self-centered, and obnoxious. The number of those who make fun of girls' hobbies are also but few. But, guys who take things toooooooo fast, well, they certainly are many.

After making fun of Belle's love for reading, Gaston formed a grand plan on his mind to surprise Belle with an all-ready, all-set wedding; all she needed to say was "Yes". See how Belle reacted:

I am not saying that guys who plan ahead for a wedding are also going to face this kind of predicament; I actually think that his eagerness to make the girl his wife is really sweet and exemplary. However, abruptly taking the relationship into another level -- without even building the foundation of friendship, or truly knowing the other person and sans the gauging of the girls feelings for you -- could shock her and could create some "awkwardness" into your relationship. No one wants that to happen, right? :)

Guys who are now reading this must be complaining "You girls are weird and very hard to understand! How can we win you then?!" Yes, I must confess that the female gender is composed girls who are moody, mysterious, hard to comprehend, and confusing. But! If you only know what makes a girl tick, what allows the relationship to bloom, and what you need to do to truly win her heart and her trust, you'll discover that girls aren't "that" difficult. Let us give "Beast" (aka as The Prince) the honor to show us how things should be done :)

1.)  Although he has some booming temper, he listens to her.

Beast has a very strong character in the movie. However, when Belle told him he needs to control his temper, he followed her. When Belle read "Romeo and Juliet" to him, he was all ears! Believe me or not, girls are easily attracted to guys who can listen to them. Your act of sincerely listening and giving your full attention makes girls wonder "Wow, he is sweet. I love talking to him!" That, gentlemen, raises your pogi-points by a hundred one percent. :). Girls don't like guys who don't allow them to really "talk" like when she's saying something that she thinks is awesome and the guy would cut her off mid-sentence saying "Oh no! That's nothing compared to what happened during my mission!!!" Learn that there's a thing called "give and take". Listen to her when she's talking, compliment her, do not ruin her moment. If the girl's truly into you, she'll do the same (and that's saying something because us girls looooooove to talk!) :)

2.) Beast, even without telling Belle her true feelings, gave her the thing she dearly loved.

Unlike Gaston who made fun of Belle's love for books, Beast asked his friends what they think would make Belle happy. They told him she loved books. After that, Beast gave her her very own library (what a lucky lucky girl).

I'm sure you guys have also heard some girls complain "Wala naman kasing effort. Hindi ko alam kung sincere sya..." (There's just no effort on his part. I don't know if he's sincere). To girls, the word "effort" is important. However, most girls I have conversed with also prefer "effort with mystery". :)

I don't know why but girls love mystery! They say that's the reason why girls love "bad" boys because they are so mysterious. Although I am the girl who prefers and who always roots for "nice guys", I must admit that a little sprinkle of mystery goes a long way. :)

You may wonder, "What do you mean?"

When a guy, who has not yet confessed his feelings, does special efforts for a girl, it makes a girl think "Why is he doing this? Does he like me? The more he does things for her, the more she will wonder. If she likes you, she will be already be anxiously waiting for that day when you will confess to her and verify her hunches. If she does not reciprocate your feelings, it's still okay. That could build a friendship free from awkwardness and who knows, maybe those efforts could also lead to a more colorful road. :)

3.) Beast puts Belle's feelings first.

That was quite a tongue twister, wasn't it? :))) Anyway, we see in the movie that although Beast is already in love with Belle, he still lets her go because she needs to. I think that was really a heartbreak for Beast. That sends a message to guys out there; if you truly love a girl, you also need to know and consider what she feels. Sounds a bit cliche but it's still true till today. You have to be sensitive "Does she like me back?" "Will she understand my feelings for her?" "Will my confession be a shock to her?" Even though it will painful on your part, your respect and understanding of her decision will make her appreciate you. Because Beast considered Belle's feelings above his, Belle realized that she loved him as well, and she came back to him. :). That could happen to you, too. (Well, that happened to Papa and Mama, too. So, yeah *smile*)

Love, just thinking about it, is complicated. The relationship between the opposite sex is both inspiring and mind-boggling. However, if only both sexes know what they should do, love could be pretty much smooth sailing. :)

P.S.
Yeah, I over analyze Disney movies. ;)

Free Book Giveaway!

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ― Charles William Eliot

Books are one of the most wonderful creations in the world. I am sure that everyone has one book that they dearly and absolutely love. In every human being's life, there will always come a book that will teach them to be better, bring to places they've never been, and give them life's lessons in a fashion none else can give.

I, too, have a particular book that is immensely important to me and has helped me weather the tide of life's changing morals, rampant temptations, and skewed ideologies. I, too, have a book that has inspired me to become a better person. This book, though often questioned and criticized by many, has drawn me closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

This book, ladies and gentlemen, is the Book of Mormon.

A conversation once happened between me and a friend in which I encouraged him to try reading the Book of Mormon. It broke my heart when he answered "Why would I read something that could lead to the damnation of my soul?" If only other people would only take time to truly read the message written on its precious pages, I'm sure they will change their mind about the book. It's tremendously far from something that could "damn your soul". 

I will give you a preview of what you can someday read if you avail of a copy of it.

Are you fascinated with stories about wars? Are you interested to know and discover new battle tactics? Captain Moroni and his soldiers will tell you how intelligently they won a battle through their well-planned tactics and complete faith to the Lord.

Maybe you are more into guide books where you'll find gold nuggets of information on how to become a better man or woman. In the Book of Mormon, you will find advice such as these:

"Behold the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God" (1 Nephi 17:30)

"Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48)

or maybe, some financial advice?

"Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy" (2 Nephi 9:51)

or maybe you're searching for tips on how to be Mr. Right?

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold this was not all-- they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted." (Alma 53:21)

"Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." (Alma 48:17)

and lastly, maybe you want to establish a relationship with God and discover how loving and merciful He is? This is one of my favorite passage from the book that attests His love for us

"O, all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.." (3 Nephi 9:13-14)

Isn't it wonderful to know Someone loves us THAT much? :)

There are so many other beautiful lessons in the Book of Mormon that can help you understand better about love, family, change, courage, and faith. 

People would often ask me how I stay optimistic despite the pressure of life, and sometimes, I don't even know myself why I am happy amidst hardship. However, I would then recall the times that I am about to give up on so many things and I just read the Book of Mormon and I will then be comforted. This book, truly, is written by the hands of men inspired of God.

I love this book so much. It has helped me to become the girl (or woman) that I am now. I want you to experience that same joy and happiness I felt. Because of this, I am giving away FREE copies of the Book of Mormon! Yep, you got that right. FREE! As in libre! :). Here are the mechanics:

Do not hesitate to ask a copy for I am more than happy to give you one. :). The world's entertainment is tiring and overwhelming, I hope that the book I'm going to give you will quench your thirst for an inspiring and peace-giving book.

 

This book is true. It's not just a collection of fictional stories. It is of God. :) I hope it will influence your life as much as it did (and still does) to mine. :)

School Pub Article

LOVE ACCORDING TO THE MASS MEDIA: Does it always have to be like that?

"It's us against the world!" Oh, the ever-popular line of teleserye protagonists! True to that statement, they are always bombarded with problems, with life-threatening events, and with people so determined to plot against their lives. These scenarios may be exciting on the silver screen and on the tube but should love always be like that?

Filipinos love drama. Honestly, without twists in a teleserye, will it ever be considered exciting? Some people (author included) who aren't thrilled and attracted to "Pinoy twists" -- which consists of "My family hates you", "We are Romeo and Juliet", "Bad-girl-gets-the-good-guy-through-her-michievous-actions", and the classic "You are adopted!" -- cannot anymore count the times they have screamed "What?! THAT plot again?! Okay, I had enough!" A viewer has the choice of turning off the TV when he/she thinks that the show is senseless. However, those who are really into "super dramatic" teleseryes can be affected by the themes shown on the shows.

One concept that is most often misrepresented on Philippine television is the idea of a love story. It's as if television shows relay the message that your relationship is not that strong once you and your special someone did not have the opportunity to survive from a hostage situation or escape from a building where a bomb was planted. It's funny and irritating at the same time. Here are other skewed ideas injected by script writers on love stories:

1.) It does not matter how old you are as long as you are in love. You are wise enough and people find it cute when they see young teen couples.

As I was browsing Facebook one day, I saw a post from a 12 year old girl that says "Baby, I love you and I'll never let you go. #You'remyeverything #Iloveyou #18forever". My first reaction was "Uhhhh..." Nowadays, it seems as though even young kids are starting to enter into romantic relationships thinking it is okay and it will not hurt them. I associate this effect on tweens to TVseryes that show what is popularly known as "young love". Take Princess and I, Luv U, and Tween Hearts as an example. In these shows, the young protagonists already have their own love stories and they are portrayed as blissfully happy, without problems, and without concern. They look like they are already going down the road of their "happy ever after". This fairy-tale idea influences kids' minds and they begin to think that having a premature love lives at a very early age would give them all the happiness in the world -- which, unfortunately, is not true.

2.) There will always be people plotting against you and the one you love. They are on a corner just waiting for a perfect time to prance at you.

This ingredient is ever present on primetime shows. The bitter antagonist could be a jealous ex-girlfriend, a possessive best friend, a relative who wants to bring you unhappiness. Whoever that is, a love story is always in for a surprise; evil is always lurking. Sometimes these scenes can make me ponder "Can a love story just be peaceful? Can it just be harmonious where there are no threats like this and where the couple can have the chance to be happy and where no one dies?" It is undeniable, the Romeo and Juliet element is still a huge hit to modern day stories but it's not healthy to be seen over and over again.

3.) "Affairs" are now "beautiful".

I'm sure it's not only me who noticed how love stories with "affairs" on their titles have graced the big screen and the local televisions. Scriptwriters have screamed "Eureka!" because they have finally found a plot that catches watcher's attentions. This is one of the most heartbreaking realities. The mass media has a great influence on citizens and what they show could influence those who see them. Instead of brainstorming for shows with positive topics to strengthen family, they expose the complete opposite: you can have an affair and you can be happy while you're in it, you can have sex before marriage and can be completely happy the morning after. These are sensitive topics that harm the whole concept of love. They should shun it and hate it. However, for the love of money, they do nothing about it.

Love is a beautiful thing. It is splendid and if respected, treated wisely and righteously, can bring complete bliss and felicity. Love gives hope despite of the problems. Love, in a right way, can bring a solution to a problem and not the problem itself. God is love, and love should mean happiness. In this world, the factors that contribute to the misconception of love is many and you can see them everyday on your television screens.

Although there are shows that carry with them a negative message, there are also shows that relay a comforting plot. Awful plots will always be there but we should be wise enough to know what to believe in and what to allow to get into our heads. Love is not created to be a means for sadness. It always brings hope. And there will always be a hope within my heart that the mass media won't completely forget it.

I'm not bored, just distracted, and I can learn to write again...

Hola, my long ignored blog.

It's been a long time since my last inspired entry and it quite frustrates me to realize that I am depriving myself of happiness that can only be derived from doing the things I love; writing being one of them. It's not that I don't allot a time in my day that is specially dedicated to writing -- I really want to post some blog entries as often as I want-- but every time I try to sit down in front of our computer, nothing worthy comes to mind. I don't want to call it writer's block, rather, I shall call it "writer's distraction". Because of the too many activities that I have to do (I am currently self-reviewing for the CPA Board Exams}, I would often say "I can't stay long here, I have to study Taxation!" or "This idea is great, but, it would take so much of my time. I  can't write this..." 

I know, I know. If I want to write, I should put my heart into it and devote some really serious piece of my 24-hours to type down some of my two cents. Gaaaah, I wish I can have a day where I'm free from any worries or responsibilities so I can have the luxury of writing anything I want any time of the day.