Alice Gifford - YW Connection - 1998

I am the first virgin. I represent a Christ-like person. My gifts to the bridegroom are palm fronds, olive branches, and 7 white lilies. I represent a woman who has developed those Christ-like qualities of love, patience, kindness, obedience, understanding, truth, hope and faith. This is the person who is merciful and just, one who is pure in heart, and hungers and thirsts after righteousness. This is the member of the church who is a peacemaker, who is humble and meek, and that doesn't mean weak. It means a person so strong of character and in control that when someone says or does something to them that is hurtful, instead of lashing back in word or deed, this person turns the other cheek. One of my gifts to the bridegroom is a bouquet of palm fronds, which represent one's recognition and acceptance of Christ. When Christ entered Jerusalem that last time, those who recognized Him as the Christ, the Messiah, took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him and cried, "Hosanna, Hosanna to the King. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.' You can not be a Christ-like person unless you know Christ. And we can know Christ through studying the scriptures, through fasting and prayer, and by being obedient to His commandments, and covenants. A Christ-like woman attends her church meetings, pays tithes and offerings and does all that the prophet has asked her to do.

My gift of olive branches represent the gathering of Israel in the last days, when the righteous shall be saved and the wicked shall be burned. My gift of seven white lilies represents the seven dispensations of time. This parable takes place at the end of the sixth, the beginning of the seventh dispensation of time. The seven lilies could also represent that a Christ-like woman is religious seven days a week and not just on Sunday.

I am the second virgin. I represent repentance. My gifts to the bridegroom are a stalk of wheat and a vessel of water. I represent
repentance because no unclean thing can enter into the Celestial Kingdom or dwell with God. Now no one is perfect, we all make mistakes. But we can become perfect through repentance. Please notice that I am dressed simply in white linen which is symbolic of the material Christ's body was wrapped in when He was brought down off the cross. Remember Christ's teaches us "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins, behold, he will confess them and forsake them. (D&C 58:42-43) For I, the Lord, cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven." (D&C 1:31-32) My gifts to the bridegroom are a stalk of wheat and a small vessel of water that is tucked beneath the wheat. This represents the bread and water that we partake of during the sacrament (D&C 27:2)  When we are baptized, we are forgiven of our sins. And then weekly, during the sacrament service, we renew our commitments and our covenant to our Father in Heaven that we will take upon us the name of Christ, that we will always remember the sacrifice He made for each one of us, and that we will try to live our lives in such a way that we can have His spirit to be with us. My face glows with confidence and sincerity. I feel joy and gratitude to the Savior for the sacrifice He has made for me and for you. I look forward to meeting my Savior.

I am the third virgin. I represent ordinance and temple work. My gifts to the bridegroom are two doves. I remind us that "that which is bound here on earth is bound in heaven.' (D&C 128: 10) Families can be together forever because of the covenants we make in the temple. I have four bands on my cummerbund, which represent the four ordinances we need to have performed for ourselves in this life: Baptism, Confirmation, Endowments, and Temple Marriage. Each one is great and important. Temple work also includes genealogy. We must remember to keep a journal, start our own personal history and gather valuable information and dates on our family and ancestors, and then go to the Temple and have the work done for these people. Baptizing for the dead is another of these important ordinances. My gifts of two white doves represent the gift of the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit of Promise.  Notice that the doves are not in a cage. There is nothing binding them to my arm. They are free to come and go and so is the Holy Ghost. If we are listening to the wrong kind of music, or watching the wrong kind of programs on television, or in the movies, or if we are angry with someone, the spirit leaves swiftly, silently.

I am the fourth virgin. I represent truth, light, knowledge and talents.  The gifts I bring to the bridegroom are scrolls and a lyre. The glory of God is intelligence (D&C 93:36) We have been asked to seek diligently out of the best books (D&C 88:118) We have been asked to read daily from the Book of Mormon. We know it is impossible for man to be saved in ignorance (D&C 131:6) Our intelligence will rise with us in the resurrection (D&C 130:18-19) When we die, we will not take with us our clothes, our homes or any material possession. When we meet our Savior we take with us our knowledge and our talents. My small harp, called a lyre, represents discovering and developing and using our talents to help build up the kingdom of God. This represents all talents, not just musical talents. We are asked by our Savior to not bury our talents. And we know that each one of us has been given special gifts and talents. Sometimes our talents come in quiet packages, perhaps a listening ear or an understanding heart. If we use and find our talents we will be blessed with more talents. If we do not do this, that which we have will be taken from us (D&C 60:2-3, 13).  As you look closely at my face you may notice the look and expression of one who has dreams and goals and the determination and enthusiasm to step by step go forth and accomplish goals that make dreams a reality.

I am the fifth virgin. I represent charity and service. My gift to the bridegroom is a basket of fruit. Charity, is the pure love of Christ. It is service to others. I feel calm and I am smiling. I enjoy serving where I can. I try not to complain. I do not tell the bishop when and where I will serve but gladly accept each call that comes to me and then I try to serve with all of my heart. Mary, the mother of Christ, seems to be the epitome of motherhood and the sweet unseen service to one's family and others. We are not always thanked when we serve our families but our service does not go unseen by our Heavenly Father. I think I was painted to look like what Mary might have looked like. Notice in my background in the painting that I am quietly going about my work. I do not want to call attention to myself or sound a trumpet before my good works to announce all the wonderful things that I do through quiet acts of service . . . I know that the Father sees in secret, and He will reward me openly someday. My gift to the bridegroom is a basket of fruit which represent two things: First 'by their fruits ye shall know them; A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit' (Matt. 7:16-20). Second: the word of wisdom (D&C 89) Notice my basket and fruits are partially hidden. This is symbolic of the hidden
treasures spoken of in the word of wisdom. I desire to be a virtuous woman. This is what the Savior says about a virtuous woman: "Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies. Her candle goeth not out by night: She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy; Strength and honor are her clothing; She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and her tongue is the law of kindness; Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:10  I am the shortest in stature of all the virgins in this painting. This could represent humility. Also, I am the closest of the five wise virgins
to the foolish virgins. Looking down, almost as if I am trying to think of ways to help my sisters return to the side of the wise. I try to serve everyone and not make judgments for I know that the Savior has said 'And in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me' (Matt. 25:40)

I am the sixth virgin. I represent vanity and seeking after riches. My gift to the bridegroom is a golden vessel filled with gold and monetary things. I represent those members of the church who become entangled in the vanities of the world. I am the tallest virgin in the painting because it is easy to see the riches of the world. I would be the one to whom wealth and possessions are most important. I place the importance of money and material possessions above all else.  My gift to the bridegroom is a golden vessel filled with gold and
precious jewels because I have forgotten that the bridegroom does not value this gift. Notice I hold it very close to my heart. This may remind you of the scripture that says 'Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also' (Matt. 6,19-21) Even the scarlet color of my dress, which is decorated with jewels and gold is a sign of wealth. Anciently, only the most wealthy could afford this color of cloth. I am proud to have more than others, and to be admired for my beauty.  If you look closely at me you will see my beauty is cold and hard like the jewelry I wear. I feel smug because I know I am beautiful to look at. I am giving a valuable gift in my opinion, but it is nothing in
comparison to what I keep for myself. I do not heed the scripture 'Wo unto the rich men that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls.' (D&C 56:16) My lamp does not have enough oil to light my way to the bridegroom because I have chosen worldly over spiritual things.

I am the seventh virgin. I represent the sin and pleasures of the world. My gift to the bridegroom is a vessel containing alcohol. I love the attitude eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die. I am very appealing because I am fun loving and throw caution to the wind. I just want to have a good time. I love to dress immodestly. I don't really consider how my dress may affect other people's minds and thoughts. I don't worry about setting a good example; I just want to be in style. I love being popular, no matter the cost to my self-esteem. I love to procrastinate because I think I have plenty of time to repent. I love to follow the crowd who seems to be having a good time whether it fits the commandments of the Savior or not. My gift to the bridegroom is a large vessel on my shoulder containing what would be like an alcoholic beverage. Drinking and Sinning are alike in that they gradually dull the mind and senses, until one day you wake up horrified at what you have done and become. I am opposite from the second virgin because she is continually repenting of her sins and trying to do what is right. My attitude is if it feels good I'll do it and worry about the consequences later. Much later. My lamp does not have enough oil to meet the bridegroom. I wonder if I have made a terrible mistake?

I am the eighth virgin. I represent addiction and excess. My gifts are a swine's head and honeycomb. My gift represents the filthiness of body, mind and spirit. There is honeycomb that surrounds the swine's head, which represents the addicting vices, which are too sweet for us to give up. These addictions are what we take into our bodies such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, excess sugar, excess eating, or anything else that would be harmful to our bodies. I do not really believe that my body is a temple or that Heavenly Father cares what I do to my body. I don't have any really good health habits such as good nutrition or regular exercise. I don't worry about addictions of the mind either. I love soap operas and unrestricted TV and movies. I don't worry about what comes out of my mouth either. Slang words and an occasional swear word help to prove my points as I speak. I love a trashy magazine or a really racy romance novel. I love listening to dirty jokes and then passing them on. I don't worry about what comes in my mind because I think I can handle anything. I don't try to guard against Satan because I am not worried about him. I will worry about Satan tomorrow. Right now I just think I am having a good time. I have totally forgotten the scripture, which says.  "And He doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the Kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness. ' (Alma 7:21) The bridegroom came too soon. I have no oil in my lamp.

I am the ninth virgin. I represent dark works and idol worshipping. The gift I bring to the bridegroom is a goat's head. I have been the most difficult to paint. Anciently there were groups of people who worshipped idols made out of metal, wood or stone and they came in many forms. If I lived in your day, the things that I would worship are a car, a home,  name brand clothes, jewelry, boats, ski equipment, beautiful men, a flawless figure. I crave possessions. I do not value church or reverence.  I do not value my family or meaningful relationships. I love fortune telling, and secret combinations. I think cults have a place in today's society. I thrive on pornography and child abuse and sins of sexual natures and perversions. I like dark places and I fear the light and exposure to truth. I have fooled myself into believing that I can hide my dark works from the Lord. I have a band about my neck which represents sins that are first just threads and then the sin become cords and chains which drag us down to hell.  I have a jewel on my forehead which represents the mark of the beast (Alma 3:4) 1 have the idol of a goat's head as my gift to the bridegroom. The goat is the symbol of Satan. In the Bible, the parable that follows right after the parable of the talents (Matt. 25: 31-46) talks about when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him. He will gather all nations to him and separate them as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, the sheep being on his right hand, and the goats being on his left. Notice that if you stepped into this painting and Christ stood in the middle of the ten virgins, I would be on the Savior's left side with the goats. The green sphere directly beneath the goat's head represents the power and influence Satan has over the children of men here on the earth. Because I follow Satan, I am in his power. My lamp is hidden behind the eighth virgin. You can not even see the reflection of my lamp on my face or on the folds of my garments.  All light is consumed by me. I do not reflect light. It doesn't matter where you stand or walk, my eyes follow you. You see, I am waiting very slyly, very craftily to catch you in a moment of weakness and pull you down to my level. I have forgotten that the Lord's power is greater than my power. It is still possible for me to repent and to go to the side of the wise but I must change my habits and my heart. I have no oil to find my way to the bridegroom unless I repent.

I am the tenth virgin. I represent unrighteous power and ego. My gifts to the bridegroom are my crown and scepter. I am puffed up because I know I am better than others around me. I believe that my standing in the community is more important and greater than my standing in the church. I would feel it beneath me to serve in a little calling without a title of importance. I will only do prestigious jobs. I really do not want to serve anyone at all unless it benefits me. I would rather have people serve me. I would like to wait for the bridegroom to come to me. I get bored easily. I need to be pampered and entertained before I want to come to church.  I am a manipulator. I do not tell the truth unless it will benefit me. I live one way for my church friends and another way for my daily friends. I rationalize that I am too smart and too good for the lowly things church has to offer. I do not attend my classes because I am better than the other students and the teacher. Of course I do not tell them my feelings but this is how I feel deep inside. I do not want to sit
by or associate with anyone who is beneath me in money or fame.  If people talk good about the church then so do I. If people talk bad about the church, then so do I. I want to look good and have people envy me. Interestingly, I am wearing my gifts. My crown on my head of course, and I carry my scepter. These are symbols of my power and  authority over others. It is hard for me to give what really belongs to the Savior to him because my gifts have brought me such recognition and I want to keep them for myself. I love my proud and pompous expression. I have forgotten that the Lord hates a proud look and a prideful attitude. The scriptures tell us "Be Thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answers to thy prayers.' (D&C 112: 10)- Maybe my lack of humility is what has kept me from going in to see the bridegroom. Surely not. I am better than everyone. Then why don't I have enough oil to meet the bridegroom?