D&C 4:6 (Virtue)

"Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence."

*Virtue*

(Webster) -

• 1 a: conformity to a standard of right : morality;
• b: a particular moral excellence;
• I love that- moral excellence!
• 2 plural : an order of angels — see celestial hierarchy;
• 3: a beneficial quality or power of a thing;
• 4: manly strength or courage : valor;
• 5: a commendable quality or trait : merit;
• 6: a capacity to act : potency;
• 7: chastity especially in a woman
• The Lord delights in the chastity of women.

(Topical Guide - "see also")

• Chastity
• Cleanliness
• Goodness
• Holiness
• Modesty
• Purity
• Sacred

(Scriptures)

• Proverbs 12:4 - a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband
• Proverbs 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
• Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• Moroni 9:9 - most precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue
• D&C 121:45 - Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

D&C 121:45 is one of my very favorite scriptures. My heart swells to imagine that I could stand in the presence of the Father in full confidence. Here He tells me how I can- "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly". There are so many times right now where I feel so weak and unworthy. I make so many mistakes! I am easily frustrated, angered, provoked, offended, and on and on and on... There isn't a single day where I don't end it on my knees, begging the Lord to forgive me of my trespasses that day. I often fall asleep, replaying the harsh words or impatience or sarcasm I poured out on my children or husband that day. Why is it, when I love them more than anything in this world, that I am often so hurtful and short-tempered with them??? It is often very discouraging but I must put my trust in Heavenly Father- in His promises to me that someday I can be perfect like He is. "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly..."

D&C 4:5 (Eye Single)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

*An eye single to the glory of God"

Psalms 25:15 - Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord...

Psalms 141:8 - But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust;leave not my soul destitute.

Matt. 6:22 - The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single [(JST) to the glory of God], thy whole body shall be full of light.

• single: GR healthy, sincere, without guile. TG Dedication

Morm. 8:15 - For none can have power to bring [the record] to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord.

Webster (Single):

• 5 a: frank , honest b: exclusively attentive 6: unbroken , undivided

Heavenly Father is asking us to have a sincere, undivided devotion to glorifying Him. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be distracted by the pleasures of the world or seek glory for ourselves. Our lives should be dedicated to bringing glory to God through our righteous actions. I love how Christ says in Matthew that if our eye is single, then our whole body will be full of light. If we are only seeking to glorify God, thereby losing ourselves in His service, ironically, we will be full of the light of Christ. The spirit will be with us. I can't imagine any other way for happiness. True and lasting happiness comes in and only through Jesus Christ.

D&C 4:5 (Love)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."


*Love*


(Topical Guide - "see also's")

• Affection
• (Webster) 1: a moderate feeling or emotion; 2: tender attachment : fondness
• Benevolence
• (Webster) 1: disposition to do good; 2 a: an act of kindness, b: a generous gift
• Brotherhood
• (Webster) 2 : fellowship , alliance; 3 : an association (as a labor union or monastic society) for a particular purpose
• Sisterhood
• (Webster) 3: the solidarity of women based on shared conditions, experiences, or concerns
• Charity
• the pure love of Christ, among so many other definitions
• Family, Love within
• Abraham loved Isaac; parents love their children
• Fellowshipping
• (Webster) a company of equals or friends : association
• Friendship
• God, Love of
• It is the love of God that brings us true happiness in this life. If we could but emulate that love, we would be doing well on the path to perfection.
• Grace
• It is through the grace (and/or love) of God that we are all saved.
• Kindness
• We should never be unkind to anybody, especially those that we claim to love.
• Marriage, Continuing Courtship in
• I found it so interesting that the Topical Guide has a section on the continuing courtship in marriage. Obviously, it is not just a popular idea but an important principle.
• Neighbor
• When Christ was asked what the greatest of all the commandments was, he said that it was to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. He then added quickly, that the second great commandment was to love thy neighbor as thyself. If we really put this into practice the world would be devoid of wars, divorces would be nonexistent, abuse of a spouse or loved one, in any shape or form, would never ever happen.

I often feel painfully inadequate as a mother. I am at a loss for discipline so many times. I don't always have the answers. I'm not sure many times which is the best route to take with my kids. Yet one thing I do know. I love my kids with all of my heart and soul. I guess that means that, despite all of my many shortcomings, I am qualified. :)

D&C 4:5 (Charity, cont'd)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

*Charity*

(Webster)

• 1: benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity;
• When we have c., we have a general sense of goodwill toward everybody we know, and even those that we don't know- all mankind!
• 2: generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering;
• C. entails being generous and helpful to others, especially to those that are poor or in need in other ways (depressed, friendless, etc).
• 3: lenient judgment of others
• This is one of my favorite definitions by Webster. When we are charitable, when we truly love others, we do not seek to pass critical judgement upon them. We seek only to help them and show kindness to them. There are times when judgement is necessary on our parts. However, we should never ever forget that judgement should always be done in love. We should also never forget the Savior's warning that the judgement with which we judge others will be the same standard of judgement by which we will be judged in the end.

D&C 4:5 (Charity)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

*Charity*

(Bible Dictionary)

The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds or benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive.

• 1 Cor. 8:1 -Knowledge puffeth up, but c. edifieth.
• 1 Cor. 13:1-3 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not c., I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling crystal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not c., I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,m and have not c., it profiteth me nothing.
• 1 Cor. 13:13 - And now abideth fiath, hope, c., these three; but the greatest of these is c.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Characteristics of Charity)

• suffereth long
• is kind
• envieth not
• vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up
• doth not behave itself unseemly
• seeketh not her own
• is not easily provoked
• thinketh no evil
• rejoiceth not in iniquity
• rejoiceth in truth
• beareth all things
• believeth all things
• hopeth all things
• endureth all things
• never faileth

It is easy to get a little overwhelmed for a self-proclaimed perfectionist like myself when I look at all of the descriptions of charity. Yet, instead of throwing up my hands in futility, I am choosing to instead be humble and recognize that with the Lord, I can do all things. I have so many weaknesses and shortcomings. I too often find fault with others. I gossip at times. I am easily offended, easily provoked. Sometimes I envy; sometimes I am prideful. However, I do have a few redeeming qualities as well. I feel like I am kind. I do not rejoice in iniquity and truth causes my heart to soar. I bear and suffer much, endure much, believe all things, and have hope in all things. My thoughts are not generally evil either. :) Seeketh not her own... that is a tricky one. As a mother, by the very nature of that calling, I spend the majority of my day in selfless tasks. Yet there are times when I most definitely seek "my own"- whether it be time to myself, my way of doing things, or picking what I want to do. I need to give even more fully of myself, mentally and emotionally- not just my time. I will pray for charity in every prayer this week.

D&C 4:5 (Hope)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

*Hope*

Webster: 1: to cherish a desire with anticipation ; 2 trust; 3: to desire with expectation of obtainment; 4: to expect with confidence

• Prov. 10:28 - h. of the righteous shall be gladness
• Hope is one of the keys of happiness!
• Prov. 13:12 - h. deferred maketh the heart sick
• Despair is the opposite of hope. When we defer hope, or despair, we become "heartsick"- depressed, downcast, downtrodden.
• Jer. 17:7 - Blessed is the man...whose h. the Lord is
• Rom. 4:18 - [Abraham] against h. believed in h.
• Rom. 5:2-5 - ...Rejoice in h. of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, h.: And h. maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
• These verses are rich in wisdom. We can rejoice in hope and "glory" in our trials! We are happy to have trials, as Paul of old, because trials bring patience. Patience brings experience. Experience then gives us hope because we know that things get better, that we can overcome hardships in our life.
• Rom. 8:24 - For we are saved by h.: but h. that is seen is not h.: for what a man seeth, why doeth he yet h. for?
• This seems to be one of the purposes of the veil. We have forgotten our premortal life with our Father that we may learn to trust in him or, in other words, to hope for the fulfillment of His promises to us.
• Rom. 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have h.
• Here is a tiny jewel of truth. The scriptures were written a long time ago- FOR OUR LEARNING. The scriptures, through our patience- or diligent study- will give us hope. I think this is because as we study the scriptures we learn the word of God, including His plan for us. As we learn that word, the Spirit bears witness to us that it is true. When we receive that witness, we then trust in the Lord's promises, or develop HOPE.
• Heb. 6:19 - Which h. we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast...
• In the tumultuous times in which we live, many are tossed about on the waves of uncertainty. Hope is the anchor of our soul that can keep us tied down, sure and steadfast, to the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Ether 12:4 - Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with a surety h. for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which h. cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
• When we are discouraged we can simply ask ourselves if we truly believe in God. If the answer is yes, we are promised that we can therefore hope for a better world than this, even a place at the right hand of God!
• Moro. 8:26 - Comforter filleth with h. and perfect love
• Hope is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Oftentimes, I get discouraged at the wickedness of the world. It seems that Satan is lurking in every corner. But when despair threatens to overwhelm me, I focus on my burning testimony that God lives, that He is in charge, and that He will conquer in the end. This testimony gives me the hope for the future that I need to keep pressing ever onward.

D&C 4:5 (Faith)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

*Faith*

(Bible Dictionary)

• to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true
• so many things we can't see- Christ, Heavenly Father, the Holy Ghost- yet I know they are there
• must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation
• salvation is granted to us under Christ's atoning sacrifice if we but believe in Him and have faith that as we live our lives according to His will, we will be saved in His kingdom
• to have confidence in something or someone
• It's interesting to look at it this way. Do I have confidence in my Savior? Do I have confidence that Joseph Smith truly saw God the Father and Jesus Christ? I guess when I say I know these things to be true, I am most certainly confident in the reality of the things I profess to believe.
• The Lord has revealed himself and his perfect character, possessing in their fulness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in him without reservation.
• One of my favorite scriptures has always been Proverbs 3:5 & 6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." I have always been painfully aware of my imperfections. I am prideful, selfish, rash, easily offended, and so much more. This keen awareness of my lowly state makes it so easy "to place confidence in him without reservation." I KNOW that Heavenly Father is perfect, He sees all, and He loves me! What better guide could I possibly have to help me maneuver this life and the many obstacles that Satan places in my path? I may THINK that I know what is best for myself, but Heavenly Father KNOWS what is best for me.
• kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith
• First, we gain our testimony by hearing others bear theirs. Second, once we have gained our own testimony, it is our responsibility to bear it to others, thereby spreading faith throughout the world.
• not produced by miracles
• Laman and Lemuel saw an angel. Immediately after the light had faded from that glorious vision, they began to complain once more. Sometimes I think it would be nice to see Christ; to feel of His love so close and to be reassured that I really can do this. Yet even without that blessing, I know that He is there and I don't have to see Him to know that.
• strong f. developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; i.e., comes by righteousness, although miracles often confirm one's f.
• Now obedience is where faith is truly nurtured. When we are obedient and receive the blessings from that obedience, our faith grows and our desire to be even more obedient increases. When we are blessed to be either a recipient or a witness of a miracle, our faith is validated.
• a principle of action and of power
• Action! We cannot have true faith without action. Faith is also the foundational power of the priesthood.
• by it one can command the elements and/or heal the sick, or influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants
• It is humbling to realize how frail my faith is when I realize its full potential. I feel like I have a great deal of faith until I realize that faith can even move mountains. Very humbling.
• by f. one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God
• It's interesting to think of faith as a requirement for forgiveness. I guess we would have to have faith in Christ's atonement if we are to truly be clean and forsake our sins.
• must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results
• One cannot have faith in a false prophet or false doctrine and expect to see miracles.
• F. in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel
• Faith is the foundation of our testimonies. It is the starting point. It is the key to all gospel knowledge and the gateway to the path that leads us back to our Father.
• more than belief, since true f. always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action
• This is where much of today's Christianity is lacking in truth. It is impossible to claim true faith without action. If I truly believe in something, I will act upon it.
• carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for
• I hope to one day stand before Heavenly Father and my Savior and be pronounced clean and worthy to live with them forever. Faith gives me the assurance that this desire will one day be a reality.
• a lack of f. leads to despair, which comes because of iniquity
• Even when we are saddened by the actions of others or discouraged by a wicked world, as long as we are righteous, we can hold tight to our faith and dispel despair.
• a gift
• We must continually pray for this gift.
• must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree
• Faith needs to grow. It is not just something we get and that is the end of it. We must be obedient and act, thereby continually increasing our faith.
• the effects of true f. in Jesus Christ include:
• (1) an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord
• This is a humbling thought. I feel like I am so weak and unworthy at times. There are moments when my weaknesses threaten to overwhelm me and drag me down once and for all. Yet when I look at it in this light, I do know that despite my weaknesses "the course of life [I am] pursuing is acceptable to the Lord". I am trying to be a good mother, a good wife, a good visiting teacher, a good YW leader. I am working on my scripture study, personal prayers, FHE, and temple attendance. I pay an honest tithe and attend church every Sunday. I yearn for spiritual experiences. Yes, I know that I am headed in the right direction. I am just grateful that I have a lifetime to get there.
• (2) a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life
• The Lord is anxious to bless us in this life, not just in the world to come. Happiness is possible right here and now.
• (3) an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come
• I know that Heavenly Father has the power to save me from my sins.
• these three effects mentioned involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge
• We must seek after personal revelation and spiritual knowledge. They will help us grow and keep us always on the right path.
• where there is true f. there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that he gives to his saints
• Again, true faith has great and powerful potential for mighty works, if we can but nurture it and allow it to grow.
• obstacles to f.: pride/seeking for glory of world, spiritual blindness, hardheartedness
• Yep, this is where my weaknesses shine through. I must continually seek to dispel my pride and forsake the glory of the world.