LDS Church leaders cautioned young Mormon girls Saturday to avoid the world's temptations such as pornography, immodesty, premarital sex, tatoos, immorality, and drug abuse, while keeping the Sabbath holy, reading their scriptures and using the Holy Spirit as a guide.
"You young women can stand as a witness of God by nurturing a spirit of faith, love, peace, and testimony in your homes now," said Susan W. Tanner, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Young Women's organization, which includes all female members ages 12 to 18 worldwide. "[It will prepare] you to do the same when you establish your own future homes."
Tanner was one of four speakers at the annual Young Women's Meeting to more than 20,000 girls and their female leaders in the LDS Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City as well as hundreds of thousands more watching via satellite in their local Mormon chapels. This year's theme was: "Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works."
Tanner described some of the challenges her own children had faced: one would not participate in a cheer competition held on Sunday; others had refused to watch pornographic movies or view sexual graphic magazines, another refused to succumb to bad, crass, vulgar language in her work environment, and still another refused liquor that his friend had stolen out of his parents' locked cabinet.
"In these moments, they could have felt alone; but as they stood as witness, they felt the companionship and sustaining presence of the Holy Ghost," Tanner said. "They also were armed with blessings that come from obedience to God's commandments."
Elaine S. Dalton, first counselor in the Young Women's presidency, told the girls that they need to be strong enough to offer support to others.
"Your foundation of faith must be firmly centered on Jesus Christ," Dalton said. "You know that you are a daughter of God, that he knows you by name, that he hears your prayers, and that he will help you accomplish your earthly mission."
Mary N. Cook, Tanner's second counselor, compared Mormon girls to flowering water lilies who add a "serene beauty and sweet fragrance to otherwise muddy, stagnant ponds. The leaves of the water lily float on the water's surface, while a long, firm stalk anchors its position in the pond."
Cook told the girls that their freshness, purity and beauty provide goodness to their families and associates as long as Jesus Christ is their anchor.
"Strengthen your faith by following this pattern of prayer, study, and obedience to the commandments," Cook said. "Drive down stakes by deciding now what you will and will not do and then act on your plan."
The concluding speaker, Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the governing First Presidency of the LDS Church, told the girls to choose friends who will help them maintain their faith.
"It is by faith that you can lay hold upon every good thing," Eyring said. "Some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you and you will find it if you exercise faith."
