Virtue Value for Young Men

In the training meeting for Young Men leaders in April 2009, President Dahlquist, told a personal story and the need for the young men as well as the young women to participate in the Young Women's new Value for Virtue. Here's what he said (it can be found on the church's website (lds.org) under the "serving in the church" - young men section):

Many of you have also been working on Duty to God along with your boys—not because you can earn the award, but to help you be better prepared to strengthen the young men you serve. Each of us in the Young Men general presidency and board has done the same. Let me tell you of an experience I recently had as I have been working on my priests Duty to God requirements. Not long ago, Sister Dahlquist and I had an assignment in Mexico with Sister Elaine Dalton and her husband, Steve.
Throughout Mexico Sister Dalton continued to speak about the new “Virtue Value” that had been added to the Young Women theme. As I listened, I thought, “Virtue is not gender-based, and young men of the Aaronic Priesthood should be as virtuous in their thoughts, words, and actions as the young women.” So when we returned home and Sister Dalton sent me a copy of the new Virtue Value insert to the Personal Progress program, I wrote in my priests Duty to God manual: “Accomplish each of the 4 Virtue Value Experiences and the Virtue Value Project.” I am pleased to report to you that I have accomplished each of these and recommend to you that you consider challenging your priests to accomplish each of these requirements as part of the “Spiritual Development” section of their Duty to God award. For, you see, virtue is already part of the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood, as we strive to help each young man be “worthy” to receive the ordinances of the temple and receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, serve an honorable mission, and serve worthily in priesthood offices and priesthood callings. It has been a blessing for me to accomplish each of these requirements, and I have a feeling it will be a blessing to all young men and young women as we work together to “flood the earth with virtue.”
“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth” (D&C 121:45–46). Never has there been a greater need for this blessing of virtue in the lives of the youth of Zion than now.

It's been a few years since I have worked with the young women and received my medallion, but after reading this I want to add the virtue value to my personal goals! When my sweet husband was trained at a General Conference with the young men board, he came home determined to accomplish the Duty to God award himself - just as the young women leaders are encouraged to do with Personal Progress. It was wonderful to see HIS progress as he accomplished the goals...perhaps the elders and high priests should set a goal to do it too! My favorite was doing his own laundry for a month! I think I will suggest that he and I do the Virtue Value for Personal Progress together. President Dahlquist said that "there has never been a greater need for this blessing of virtue in the lives of the youth of Zion than now" - I think there's never a greter need for virtue in ALL of our lives!