This week I studied the talk, “Adorned with the Virtue of Temperance” by Ulisses Soares, and it was much needed. Just the other day, in my prayers, I expressed to Heavenly Father that I need some help loving His children as I am not finding it easy to enjoy my fellow earth dwellers as of late. I’ve been feeling annoyed, appalled, and impatient with many a human being.
-Temperance is an essential trait in becoming like Jesus Christ
-Temperance protects us against spiritual erosion
-Christ exhibited temperance in all aspects of His character
-Other attributes and virtues are harmonized and strengthened by temperance
Though I’ve heard the words “temperate” and “temperance” throughout my life, I have to confess, I didn’t actually know what they meant. Contextual clues placed me on the right path, but I figured it would do me some good to learn a little more about the meaning of temperance.
Temperance is essentially moderation in all things. It is voluntary self-restraint and emotional balance. A person who is temperate is able to avoid extremes and manage their desires and behaviors.
The apostle Paul taught that those who desire to be like the Savior should be “not selfwilled, not soon angry,... [and] no striker” (Titus 1:7). Elder Soares explained that:
- “Not selfwilled” means to refuse to act with arrogance or pride
- “Not soon angry” means to avoid the natural urge to be impatient or angry
- “No striker” means to reject aggressive or harsh behavior
(Oh, hey! Three things I struggle with. And now I have a new vocabulary term to describe my frustration with my fellow mortals. I am “soon angry!”)
Elder Soares said:
Oftentimes, the world exalts behaviors born of aggressiveness, arrogance, impatience, and excessiveness, often justifying such attitudes by the pressures of daily life and the inclination toward validation and popularity. When we turn our gaze away from the virtue of temperance and ignore the gentle and moderating influence of the Holy Spirit in our way of acting and speaking, we easily fall into the enemy’s trap, which inevitably leads us to utter words and adopt attitudes we will deeply regret, whether in our social, family, or even ecclesiastical relationships. The gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to exercise this virtue especially in times of challenge, for it is precisely on these occasions that the true character of an individual is revealed.
We definitely live in a world that expects us to showcase our anger and frustration, and I admit, there are times where I just want to explode at a person… and I have (and I always feel very foolish afterward). In times when I have exhibited temperance, I’ve had a much better outcome. I can’t think of a time when I have acted aggressively or impulsively and had a long-term positive result.
Temperance is known as one of the four cardinal virtues - cardinal meaning of high importance - in philosophical traditions. Some believe it to be the most important virtue. The other three are:
-Prudence: using wisdom and discernment. Being able to weigh consequences and make good decisions
-Justice: fairness, giving others their rightful due
-Fortitude: having courage, overcoming fear, being able to confront uncertainty and intimidation
Some believe these four are the virtues on which all other virtues hinge.
Elder Soares taught that “Temperance harmonizes and strengthens other Christlike attributes… humility, faith, hope, charity, and the pure love that flows from Him.”
As we moderate ourselves and act with spiritual wisdom, we build upon other virtues and practices that make us more like Jesus Christ. The scriptures are full of examples of Christ’s temperate actions. Elder Soares promised that if we strive to cultivate temperance, we will become, “better capable of restraining anger, nurturing patience, and treating others with tolerance, respect, and dignity, even when the winds of adversity blow freely.”
So I guess I need a dose of that.
