Guardians of Virtue

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     This past week was cool and rainy, locals here are grateful, the weatherman said that the recent storms had ended the drought (we didn’t know we were in a drought).  Unfortunately the BHS cheer team and others had come to soak up our famous California sunshine but instead spent cold, wet days at the beach and Disneyland.

      Ted finished interviewing 150 missionaries on Friday.  It takes almost two weeks to interview each missionary, by the time Ted is finished he feels exhausted.  It is a wonderful experience for him to meet individually with each Elder and Sister.  Most struggle in one way or another, some have low self esteem, others worry about family at home, many are new converts themselves who need their own testimonies strengthened.  Even the missionaries who are nearly perfect wonder if they are good enough.  Interviews are a great time to reassure and encourage our missionaries and to take care of serious concerns.  The interviews are meant to be about ten minutes each but often the needs require much more time.  Ted asks the missionary to offer a prayer to begin the interview – by the time he has heard the missionary pray he has insights into that missionary’s heart and well being.  As Ted follows the Spirit he is often surprised by the questions he is led to ask, but Heavenly Father knowing each of His children is able to lead the interview in a way that blesses each individual.

     While Ted was busy working so hard, Ben, Mari and I caught up on some cleaning and organizing in the mission home.  Saturday evening Mari and I were able to go to the Stake Center to watch the General Young Women’s broadcast, it was wonderful!  I loved what Sister Dalton had to say about being “guardians of virtue”.

  "Young women, in a world ever growing in moral pollution, tolerance of evil, exploitation of women and distortion of roles, you must stand guard of yourself, your family and all those with whom you associate. You must be guardians of virtue."

      Recently I read a news story online about foster parents who were not allowed to have foster children in their home because they believe that homosexuality is immoral.  Here is a small part of the article:   “In a landmark judgment, which will have a serious impact on the future of fostering and adoption in the UK, the High Court has suggested that Christians with traditional views on sexual ethics are unsuitable as foster carers, and that homosexual ‘rights’ trump freedom of conscience in the UK. The Judges stated that Christian beliefs on sexual ethics may be ‘inimical’ to children, and they implicitly upheld an Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) submission that children risk being ‘infected’ by Christian moral beliefs.

      After reading the news article I felt sick.  We certainly live in a world where guardians of virtue are needed!  Our message may seem old-fashioned and out dated but the Lord is clear in His expectations.  Sister Dalton also said, "As a guardian of virtue, you will protect, shield and defend moral purity because the power to create mortal life is a sacred and exalted power and must be safe-guarded until you are married.  Virtue is a requirement to have the companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost. You will need that guidance in order to successfully navigate the world in which you live."

    

     The message our missionaries share is desperately needed in the world we live in.  Thank you for praying for them and for us.



We love you all!

The Long Beach Buberts