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SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 20,000 young women filled the Conference Center Saturday evening as President Thomas S. Monson and Young Women leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke to them about courage and virtue during their annual meeting.
Through video and through the words of their prophet, the young women at the Conference Center and those watching by satellite around the world were asked to have courage not to judge, courage to be chaste and courage to stand for truth.
President Monson said, "There is little thought that young men and young women will remain morally clean and pure before marriage. Does this make immoral behavior acceptable? Absolutely not. The commandments of our Heavenly Father are not negotiable."
Pres. Monson told them that because of today's technology, they live in a glorious time, but that the challenges they face will take great faith to overcome.
The theme of this year's meeting came from 1 Timothy: "Be Thou an Example of the Believers."
Sister Ann M. Dibb, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, said, "Young women, ‘believers' must pray, speak kindly and be sincere."
Mary N. Cook, first counselor in the Young Women General Presidency said, "We should avoid inappropriate material on the Internet and on cell phones, as well as offensive music and suggestive dancing."
And Young Women General President Elaine S. Dalton said, "My question to each of you is, ‘If we don't stand for virtue, who will?'"
"I have received pictures from so many of you from California to Costa Rica who have made a commitment to remain virtuous and who are leading the world in a return to virtue," she said.
The Church's 179th Annual General Conference takes place next weekend. You can see Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon sessions on KSL 5 TV, and listen on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160 AM and KSL.com.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
