Remain virtuous, prepare to enter God's temple
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PROVO, Utah
LDS young women need to remain virtuous and prepare to one day enter God's temple, Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, said April 30 during the annual Women's Conference on the BYU campus.
"It is the desire of my heart that all young women ... will look toward the temple and prepare to enter there someday," said Sister Dalton. "That is why our vision for the young women of the Church is all about preparing every young woman to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple."
Not only is this vision for the young women of the Church, it extends also to all women to embrace a return to virtue and look toward the temple. In order to do so, Sister Dalton said, one must put aside the things of the world and qualify for the blessings of the temple.
"When we truly know that we are a daughter of God and have an understanding of our divine nature, it will be reflected in our countenance, our appearance, our actions and our priorities," she said.
In a world of sliding values, a return to virtue will enable women to go to the temple and qualify for the blessings that come exclusively through temple attendance.
"Virtue is a prerequisite to entering into the Lord's holy temples. It is the only way that we can qualify for the companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost," she said. "We must firmly set our hearts on those things that matter most. We cannot allow ourselves to become distracted, distraught or discouraged."
In focusing on what truly matters most, a woman chooses to become virtuous, she declared.
"We are not of the world. We are elect daughters of God who have made and must keep sacred covenants," emphasized Sister Dalton. "You and I are elect ladies."
Although the world may say otherwise, women of the Church need to realize the potential each has, and cultivate the ability to listen to the Spirit. For the Spirit will screen out the loud worldly influences, allowing each sister to be taught about her true potential as a daughter of God and stay faithful to her covenants.
"In the temple we learn everything we need to know and do to return back into the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ," she said. "I know that as we understand our identity and place in this matchless plan, our lives of virtue and covenant will bless generations."
