The Promised Blessings of Virtue

Our ward has challenged each family to achieve the Virtue Value award.

The first written requirement is to write the promised blessings of being sexually clean and pure. Here is my response:

What are the promised blessings of a virtuous life?

  • Such a life can be summoned up with the constant presence, influence, and sanctification of the Holy Ghost.
  • It will allow me to have the influence of the Light of Christ in my mind and in my heart. This is the same power and influence that created the world.
  • It allows me the opportunity to know God and His Son according to passage found in John 17:3 as uttered by the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  • Without virtue there is no emotional intimacy with my wife or children.
  • Emotional intimacy is the gateway to physical intimacy.
  • Physical intimacy is God’s gift of pleasure to mankind and when appropriately conducted, the magnitude of pleasure transcends verbal and written description.
  • Virtue will allow me to operate in a space of trust with all people, especially my wife.
  • Trust is the foundation of faith and commitment.
  • Commitments with God are covenants that justify my actions and the Holy Spirit ratifies those actions with His sanctifying presence.

Published by

Richard Himmer

Author, PhD in Organizational Psychology.

2 thoughts on “The Promised Blessings of Virtue”

  1. As I read what you had beautifully written of some of the gifts of a virtuous life, it was clear that sexual purity is only ONE component of a “virtuous life.” I appreciated that you’ve enumerated some of the gifts associated with a “virtuous life.” This life-style includes much more than sexual purity. We have a 1930 Webster International Dictionary that defines virtue, in part, as including the following: valor (strength and courage to do what is right), excellence in thought and deed, capacity or power adequate for a given effect (i.e., “Jesus immediately knowing in Himself that VIRTUE had gone out of Him…” Mark 5:30), moral practice or action, conformity to the standard of right, moral excellence, integrity of character, uprightness of conduct, etc. Gordon B. Hinckley listed Ten Virtues that will heal our hearts and homes: Love, Honesty, Morality, Civility, Learning, Forgiveness, Mercy, Thrift and Industry, Gratitude, Optimism, and Faith (he authored a book by the same title: “Ten Virtues that will Heal our Hearts and Homes”). Yes, “a virtuous life” definitely includes a wide variety of foundational values to be practiced in our quest to “becoming” better, and it includes MUCH MORE than being sexually clean and pure. A “virtuous life” merits the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the Gifts of the Spirit to the degree that one is “virtuous,” as you clearly stated. Thank you.

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