I have the privilege of working with young women between the ages of twelve and eighteen. They are amazing and wise beyond their years. I wish I’d known what they seem to know already, especially when it comes to chastity.
These young women know that intimate relations should be saved for marriage and they are faithful in keeping this promise to themselves and to God. If you are feeling lost and not sure where or how to start feeling better, how to ‘get happy’, then I encourage you to consider these reasons Neal A. Maxwell, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormon Church) taught the youth of the Church in “What Is Real Love and Happiness?,” (New Era, Jun 1992, 4):
1. If you choose to save yourself for marriage you will be in harmony with the Lord. When you “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.” (D&C 121:45.)
2. You will discover and retain the blessing of deserved self-esteem. By understanding your own worth, you’ll be better able to do those things that bring happiness. You’ll be able to serve and give God’s love because you’ll feel it flowing through you. You’ll be able to love your neighbor because you will love yourself. “Let every man esteem his brother as himself” (D&C 38:24.)
3. You will find that you become more genuine and unique and will glory in your individuality. Elder Maxwell says “Sin … brings sameness! Sin shrinks us, reducing us to a bundle of addictive appetites.” The Book of Matthew in the New Testament says “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12.) False love, or that of the flesh will abound, but true love, the love that brings true joy and happiness will be hard to find. If love is what you crave, hold out for the real stuff.
4. You will be free from the heavy burden of guilt. “Despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moro. 10:22.) Often referred to as the “pit of despair”, guilt, shame and unhappiness are a terrible low from which to climb out of. Build yourself a bridge to pass over such pitfalls, and keep yourself clean and free from guilt.
5.Keeping yourself free from sin, you’ll keep your body free from harm. Today over 65 million Americans have acquired some form of sexually transmitted disease. (American Social Health Association, ashastd.org.)
6.In the words of Elder Maxwell:
“You will develop a personal wholeness and serenity, which will greatly bless you in both courtship and marriage and in all of your life. The one you choose to love will be respected by you as an individual and not merely as an object of physical attraction and gratification. Your relationship can be as deep, rich, and broad as eternity.”
Unlike many spiritual laws that have their reward in the eternities, the law of chastity promises many blessings in the here and now, not just in the future. The Book of Mormon describes what happened when a society of people covenanted to live clean lives: “And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God” (4 Ne: 1:16.)
Such Elder Maxwell said,
“The commandments, including the stern but sweet seventh commandment, are guardrails along the path, designed not only to keep us from misery but to lead us to happiness here and now, while preparing us for everlasting joy. After all, as the Prophet Joseph taught, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence.” This is why God’s plan is rightly called the “plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8.)
