In the May 98 Ensign there is a talk by Pres. Hinckley "Living Worthy of the Girl you will someday Marry". An idea might be to listen to this talk (maybe the library has the video) and ask what does President Hinckley wants them to DO...

Using the first letters in the words:

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2 Nephi 30:10 - when I read "for the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people.... I thought back to all of the messages regarding modesty and dress standards. This is something that I've thought a lot about. To me there is only one standard - the Lord's standard and we know what it is because we are taught this when we make covenants in the temple. If we have not been though the temple, we can still learn what this is from those who have attended). I'm not trying to offend anyone and hope that I do not but the answer seems simple - we teach the YW the Lord's standard in preparation for the covenants they will make when they enter the temple. This is an important time in their lives - a time to "prepare" for greater blessings. We teach and then they are free to choose what they will do. Whether we are talking about the length of dress, shorts or swimsuits - we teach the Lord's standard.

When the For the Strength of the Youth pamphlet first came out I was a little disappointed that the guidelines for dress were not more clearly defined. When I was called as the Stake YW President I never in a million years thought this would be one of the issues I'd focus on... almost immediately my presidency was faced with the issue. After a lot of prayer, study, and pondering I've come to some conclusions that I'd like to share. They may be wrong - I hope not.

On page 1 of the pamphlet it says, "this pamphlet summarizes standards from the writings and teachings of Church leaders and from scriptures."...... (I think the word summarizes is important)

pg. 8 - Dress & Appearance - ....If you are not sure what's appropriate, ask for guidelines from your parents, advisers, and bishop."

Could one of the reasons specifics are not given is so that more intimate teaching may take place by someone who can lovingly guide and counsel them by showing where, when, and why prophets and apostles have made statements concerning a particular issue?

pg. l8 - .....you will feel and experience the power of the Spirit of the Lord, you will come to know the truth, and you will gain confidence in yourself and the Lord."...... There are several references to the Holy Ghost throughout the pamphlet. If we teach the young women and our children, the Holy Ghost will also be ready to bear witness to them of the truthfulness of those teachings and then they are free to choose. On page 4 it says, "We counsel you to choose....." and on pg. 3 - "He has also given you your agency - freedom of choice - "to see if [you] will do all things whatsoever [He] shall command".

pg. l9 - probably for me - the hardest at times to follow - "Joy and happiness come from living the way the Lord wants you to live.....Some of your friends or family may not live according to the Lord's counsel for his children (some members who have been through the temple may also not live according to the things they've been taught). He asks you not to judge them, but to love them, seek appropriate ways to serve them (for the YW - it's through a righteous example - not a self righteous example - but an example that reflects the Lord's teachings and counsel. I'm saying this more for myself than for anyone else °Ü°) and be a light showing his way to them......

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