Margaret D.
Nadauld
-Young
Women General President
What
does it mean to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things
and in all places? First of all, in standing as a witness
at all times, we promise to love the Lord, to
honor Him all the time--daytime and nighttime, good times and bad times--love the Lord
and let that love show by the way
we live. We also take time to thank Him, take time to ask for help, take time to seek guidance,
and then take time
to listen. Take time for that still, small voice which will whisper to us, help us, and give us courage. Let me
illustrate: Standing as a witness in all things means all things--big things, little things, in all conversations, in jokes, in
games
played and books read and music listened to, in causes supported,
in service rendered, in clothes worn, in friends made.
Standing as a
witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to
say hello, being the first to smile, being the first to make the
stranger feel a part of things, being helpful, thinking of others'
feelings, being inclusive. Our Heavenly Father does bless us when we
show our love for Him in all things. We say that we will stand as a
witness in all places. That means not only in public places but in
private places, in secret, in dark or in light places; in church,
school, home, or cars; in mountain places or beach places; on the street
or in the park. Stand as an example of a worthy daughter of God in all
places.
Remember
Joseph who was sold into Egypt? Certainly he exercised good judgment
when he was tempted by Potiphar's wife to become involved with her in an
immoral act. We read in the Bible that at this critical time in his
young life, Joseph stood up and got himself out of the situation (see
Gen. 39:712). He didn't sit around wondering what to do. He didn't
linger a little longer. He stood--he stood as a witness of
righteousness at this crucial time. You, like Joseph, are of noble
heritage. You have a royal inheritance, for you are a spirit daughter of
God. You were chosen, before this world was, to come forth at this
time. You were taught in a premortal world by God Himself. The time is
here for you to stand up for what you know is right. You must judge
right from wrong. No longer can you be complacent or go with the flow or
wonder what to do. You must decide now which path you will follow and
which answer you will give. Decide well in advance, before the pressure
is on.
The great good
news is that you can win any assault that is aimed at you! And it is not
that hard. Just use good judgment! You can stand up and change the
channel on the television, delete any comments that cuss on MySpace and
don’t go to or rent bad movies. Don't wear the revealing clothes that
are too tight or too bare or too short. Leave them in the closet. Better
still, leave them in the store. Stand up and walk away from temptation,
just like Joseph did--only he didn't just walk away, he ran! You can do
this too, literally and figuratively, and you will be safer, more pure,
more secure.
One way to
disrupt God's plan for you would be to desensitize young women. Give
them a small, seemingly innocent taste of something ultimately
destructive, next time a little more, and next time even more again, and
soon, when it was time for the big whammy, it would hardly be
noticed.
It
is said if you want to boil a frog, don't throw him in a pot of boiling
water. He will immediately jump out. Put him in a pot of cold water and
turn the heat up so slowly that he won't even notice the dangerous
increase in temperature. Young women, I fear that the trend in our world
is to slowly turn up the heat. Pay attention. Don't allow yourselves to
be desensitized by gradual lapses in good judgment.
As you view images, whether
on TV or movies or Internet or magazines, you will see some good things
and most probably some bad. Wrong and evil may be made to appear
acceptable. Don't be tricked! Simply stand up and walk away! Christ
showed us the way. He willingly suffered for our sins because He loved
us so completely. He gave us the right to repent. When we think of the
magnificence of His gift to us, what small thing could we do for Him and
for our Heavenly Father who sent Him? We could stand as witnesses of
Their love & teachings at all times, in all things, and in all places.
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