Elder Ulisses Soares recently spoke about the virtue of Temperance in his last General Conference address. If I am being honest, I don’t really think about temperance, but as I thought about it I am starting to realize how much we need it in our society today.
Elder Soares points out that this is a Christlike virtue, and that He lived it throughout His life.
I find it interesting that Temperance cannot be exercised alone. It’s like a seasoning that you put into your food: hence Elder Soares’s words “Adorned with the virtue of temperance.” Temperance seems like it is an extra ingredient to how we do other things.
For example, I can act or think passionately, but if I sprinkle in a little temperance, maybe I will be a little more thoughtful about how maybe I am going too far or forgetting something important, or even how I might be completely wrong.
The Doctrine and Covenants Section 58 verse 27 says we should be “anxiously engaged in a good cause....” I thought about this statement. It does not say anxiously engaged in the best cause or the perfect cause. Sometimes I look at the passionate way that people approach politics, social issues, or even what we should have for dinner, and their passion can be really persuasive. It can be hard to navigate. I think social and other media can really promote the anger and contention brought about because of these deep passions.
What if there were temperance, however? What if we all added a healthy amount of temperance in our passions and just settled down a little bit? Are our passionate beliefs about social issues more important than our true identity as sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters?I will close with a beautiful interaction from the Bible, in fact one of my most favorite interactions of all. It is when the resurrected Lord Jesus appeared to Mary at the sepulchre. Jesus spoke to her tenderly and I would say with temperance. She did not even know it was Him at first.
John 20
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
