YWValues: Summary and Conclusion

Looking back on my posts this week, I realize that I have a particular ideal/agenda that underlies how I interpret doctrine. The key concept for me, as I think more and more about what kind of world Jesus might want us to have, is unity - what would undo the divisions between us and strengthen our connections and interdependence?

Each of the Young Women values contributes to a vision of a more unified world in very individual circles. They reduce contention and increase peace.

Choosing Faith means standing up and letting your name be counted among the saints. It means following the Savior's commandment to gather often. It means not being ashamed of the gospel of Christ. While these outward signs of our inward resolutions ostensibly divide the saints from those of different belief systems, it unifies the church socially to give support for individual weaknesses. Creating clear borders between "in" and "out" does not mean that we are or should be exclusive: we invite everyone to come in, and we constantly trouble the borders by maintaining strong, respectful relationships with people of all belief systems. If we can.

Understanding our Divine Nature as literal spirit children of a heavenly father forces us to see all men and women as our spiritual siblings, and to recognize their behaviors as legible. No human action is truly alien, and no human is beyond the reach of a Heavenly Father's love.

When we recognize our Individual Worth as the infinite price that was paid for us so that we could return to live with Heavenly Father, we can see that same debt mirrored in our brothers and sisters. Even when they harm us by their choices, we understand that our Savior payed for that, too. The Atonement is infinite, and so too is the worth of a soul, and the Atonement seeks to bind us all to Jesus Christ.

None of us acquires Knowledge from the air we breathe: we are dependent on the people who came before us for everything we understand. Every new discovery depends on hundreds of previous discoveries. We can add to the knowledge in the world or make something new out of it, but we cannot produce it ex nihilo. When we listen, when we keep our brains squishy, we not only acquire information, we connect with people who are willing to share what knowledge they have. Everyone is blessed.

By being Accountable for our own Choices - by making choices and accepting responsibility for them - we start to understand how our actions affect others, and how they affect us. We respect others' feelings and experiences, and change the way we behave to accommodate others' needs. We develop dependability, and accept interdependence, and when we are stronger, we can accept burdens we did not earn.

Strong and resourceful women take dependability a step further, and give generously of whatever resources they have to those who cannot or do not have anything to give in return. We work together to bring about great good without thoughts of glory, thanks, or reward. Where accountability and dependability rely on a balance between people - a tally of justices and reparations between siblings - Good Works (etc.) are given freely of the overflowing love and blessings we receive from our Heavenly Father.

When our inner identity and the image we project for others become disconnected, the possibility for interpersonal experience becomes limited. We can alienate others. Keeping our Integrity - our unified inner identity and our outer image - shows vulnerability and allows real connections between people. Everyone has walls, but when we walk our own ramparts we keep ourselves open to accord with those around us. We show them respect and trust, and have courage that God is our ally if they take the role of enemy.

A Virtuous woman brings light into the world by refining her spiritual sensibilities. She dedicates herself to understanding and obeying God's commandments, making and keeping covenants, and aligning herself as closely as possible to what she perceives as good, regardless of the world's favor. If she carefully avoids self-righteousness and unrighteous judgment, a virtuous woman lifts the people around her by becoming a conduit for blessings and inspiration.

I do not think unity is possible without these principles, and so I hope I continue to understand them better as I study, experience, and make choices.

I have lots of siblings. When we started growing up and moving out of our parents' house, my father always told us that he hoped we would stay friends with each-other. He wants us to get together and support each-other when he's too far away. And we're not very good at it, sometimes. There are fights and factions, hurt feelings and bad behavior. But when we are our best selves, we are close, and we are blessed by that closeness. From this, I hypothesize that only by following the principles of the gospel, encapsulated in these Young Women Values, can the human family achieve the unity that our Heavenly Father wants for us.