The Lord has said, “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly,” and He promises that your confidence will grow as you do this (Doctrine and Covenants 121:45).
The root of the word virtue means “strength,” and the origin of garnish means “equip or arm.” So when you let virtue garnish your thoughts, you’re arming yourself with strength from God—it’s like putting on battle armor!
There are a lot of benefits that come from living a virtuous life. Here are just a few:
- More strength and confidence.
- Friends who share your values and uplift you.
- Worthiness to enter the temple, and the ability to feel peace in your everyday life.
- Greater influence from the Holy Ghost and a closer relationship with Heavenly Father.
If you feel like you haven’t been virtuous, remember the blessings of Jesus Christ’s Atonement are available to everyone. Pray about how to access His Atonement in your life. Talk to your bishop or another trusted adult. All of us have room to grow and change!
Armed with Virtue
Notes
1. For more on this topic, see Gospel Topics, “Virtue,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org