Our prophet’s recent conference message focused on Doctrine and Covenants 121:45. It’s a scripture I’ve heard many times in my life, but as I pondered and studied the oft-quoted phrase “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly,” I couldn’t ignore the idea that I didn’t truly understand what it meant. Through study, I realized two ways I’ve misunderstood this verse.
1. Virtue Is Much More than Sexual Purity
Virtue has always been something I’ve struggled to define. Sometimes, it seemed to be a synonym for sexual purity, but in general, I understood virtue sort of as a collection of all other virtues (like honesty or chastity) rolled into one. A generic name for morality.
Wanting to understand it better, however, I started researching. Most dictionaries define virtue the way Preach My Gospel does, as “a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.” While not as articulate, my broad understanding of virtue was more or less correct, but I still felt like I was missing something.
So, I dug deeper.
The Root of Virtue
One study technique I love to use is looking up not only the definition of a word but its etymology, or the origins of where the word comes from. The word virtue comes from the Latin root virtus, which means strength or power.
When I considered certain scriptures that use the word virtue, a definition of strength or power made much more sense.
- “ … the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice” (”The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”).
- “And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (Luke 8:46).
- “ … therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5).
As I pondered how sometimes virtue meant strength or power and sometimes it meant a lifestyle of choosing the right, the Spirit corrected me. Virtue doesn’t mean two different things at different times. It means both things all the time. Virtue is the strength and power that comes from choosing to live according to the moral standards God has given.
That distinction has been a game-changer for me. I no longer see virtue as just a collection of Christlike attributes. Instead, it is the power that comes from cultivating those attributes.
In a conference address from three years ago, President Russell M. Nelson promised, “In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen.” And while I still think that could mean big miraculous events like the parting of the Red Sea, I can’t help but wonder now—what if the greatest manifestations of His power will be us? What if it’s the things we’re meant to do as Saints of virtue?
2. What It Really Means to “Garnish” Our Thoughts with Virtue
“Garnish” always felt like an odd word choice to me in Doctrine and Covenants 121:45. My understanding was that a garnish was something small and ornamental added to a plate of food. It’s not essential to have a garnish, but they do make things prettier. However, thinking of virtue as a sort of spiritual parsley that’s nice to have but not really essential didn’t feel right. Instead, I assumed it just meant, in a broad sense, to add virtue to your thoughts, to constantly try to think righteously. But I couldn’t help but feel like I was missing something again.
And I absolutely was.
Garnish, it turns out, comes from the Middle English word meaning to equip or arm. When I read that, my understanding of the phrase “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” finally clicked into place. Yes, we should strive to always think righteous thoughts, but I believe what the Lord is really telling us to do is to arm ourselves with the spiritual power that comes from thinking and acting righteously. Because virtue isn’t just something nice to strive for. It’s the whole armor of God, and it’s what we need to withstand the power of the destroyer. As His power increases, we have to increase ours as well.
President Nelson said, “Brothers and sisters, as the world grows more wicked, we need to grow increasingly pure. Our thoughts, words, and actions need to be unfailingly virtuous and filled with the pure love of Jesus Christ towards all men.” He also gave us this warning:
“We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that ‘great and dreadful day.’”
So, let’s arm ourselves with spiritual power. Let’s garnish our thoughts with virtue. Let’s live so that we “may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13) and so that when Christ comes again, we can stand in His presence with power, strength, and confidence.
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