Abstinence Education
Moral Values

Look toward Eternity!

Elaine S. Dalton
Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

Do you understand why it is so important to remain clean and pure?

When our first grandson was born, the entire family rushed to the hospital. It was an amazing experience for me to see our oldest son, Matthew, holding this precious new baby boy. While standing at the nursery window with our youngest son, Chad, we gazed into the eyes of this new little spirit—so clean, so pure, so recently from heaven. It seemed that all time stood still, and for an instant, we could see the great eternal plan. The sacredness of life was crystal clear, and I whispered to Chad, "Do you understand why it is so important to remain clean and pure?" He responded reverently, "Oh yes, Mom, I get it."

That moment was so powerful that I desire for every young man and woman, every young adult, and indeed each one of us to feel and know the importance of living a worthy and pure life. It is our personal worthiness that will qualify us to fulfill our individual earthly missions.

Our personal mission began long before we arrived on the earth. In the premortal life, we were "called and prepared" to live on the earth at a time when temptations and challenges would be the greatest. This was "on account of [our] exceeding faith and good works" and because of our "having chosen good."1 We understood our Father's plan and knew that it was good. We not only chose it, but we defended it. We knew that our earthly missions would be fraught with temptation, challenges, and hardship, but we also knew that we would be blessed by the fulness of the gospel, living prophets, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We knew and understood that our success on this earth would be determined by our worthiness and purity.

What does it mean to be worthy?

What does it mean to be worthy? In the Book of Mormon, Lamoni's father implored, "What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken?"2 Then the king made a commitment to the Lord by saying, "I will give away all my sins to know thee."3 Once Lamoni's father understood who he was and the great plan of which he was a part, worthiness became his heart's desire.

To become worthy, we make choices that will enable us to return to our Heavenly Father's presence. We do those things which will qualify us to claim all the blessings that He has in store for us. This is the reason we are here on the earth—"to see if [we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord . . . shall command."4 It is through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we can resist temptation.5 Our faith will enable us to shun evil. It will be repulsive to us because "light cleaveth unto light" and "virtue loveth virtue."6


Purity, Part 2: Standards, Moral Values