Clean--What a Wonderful Word…

There is a word that has within it some wonderful possibilities for safety, for self-respect, for personal peace, and the word is called “clean.” Clean hands, clean hearts, clean homes; clean water, clean air, clean clothes – clean minds, clean morals – clean – what a wonderful word!

The mind so often reflects the environment – and the cycle reverses itself, as environment reflects the mind. We can have a hopeful outlook in almost anything, if we commit ourselves to being clean.

“There is a beauty every girl has –” said David O. McKay, “a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a beauty all men love, a virtue that wins all men’s souls. That beauty is chastity. A beautiful, modest, chaste woman is creations’ masterpiece.” “Walt in the spirit,” said Paul, “and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, …” “Let our thoughts, words, dress and general deportment indicate our belief in the sanctity of the body, as the temple of God,” said Hugh B. Brown, “even as Paul declared it to be: ‘Wherefore … touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughter…'”

Evil isn’t clean. Evil keeps company with unclean minds, unclean morals, unclean attitudes, unclean atmosphere. That “cleanliness is next go godliness” is not just an old saying but a real fact to face: cleanliness of thought, of person, of dress, of speech. There is not only “the strength of being clean,” but peace and safety and self-respect.

Youth can reach the highest of the heights if youth will commit itself to being clean. “How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean.” Heaven help us to commit ourselves to cleanliness.