The Teachings of Rainbow

The lessons of our Order are founded upon the lessons of seven virtues; Love, Religion, Nature, Immortality, Fidelity, Patriotism, and Service; and the lessons of three principles; Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Through Love, we learn to show and give love in all its forms. We are reminded that we must love one another, despite faults or flaws. It teaches us to see the good in life, even in times of trouble or dismay. Even when someone leaves our lives, our love for them remains.

Through Religion, we learn the golden rule to “Do unto others as you would have them unto you.”  It reminds us that love and forgiveness allows us to find inner peace throughout our toils and tribulations. It also reminds us to be faithful and dutiful to a church.

Although the general teachings of the Order are based upon the Christian religion, mainly because its founder was a Christian Minister, we do not interpret this lesson as stating that Christianity is the only way. Our Order does not require any conversion to the Christian religion.

Through Nature, we learn to “stop and smell the roses,” and to marvel often at the beauty of our natural world. In the technological age, nature can get lost, and through this lesson we are reminded that the environment is not just a "cause," but an atmosphere from which we can gain inspiration. We must do our best to protect our environment so that we may continue to take lessons from it.

Through Immortality, we learn that that death is a part of life, and that we must each learn to grieve, cope, and move on after those we love pass away.

Through Fidelity, we learn to be honest and to uphold that honesty and trust as the most sacred bond between two people. It reminds us that, sometimes, our actions speak louder than our words, and through those actions, we are able to show that we are reliable and trustworthy.

Through Patriotism, we learn to be true to our country; not only through service in our country’s military, but also through upright citizenship. When we vote, serve in an elected office, participate in electoral campaigns, or work in public service, we aid our country and its foundation of values with pride and respect.

Through Service, we learn all of the seven virtues at once; we serve our Supreme Being and each other, we serve our country and ourselves, we serve our environment and our communities. It is through actions of service that set the cornerstone of our beloved Order, whether they are as small as helping our parents do chores at home or as large as volunteering at a hospital or community center. We are always reminded that it is of the utmost importance to do things for others, not just when it is convenient or organized by our Assemblies. Service must be an everyday part of our lives.

The principle of Faith teaches us to have faith in God, in each other, and in every righteous thing. We walk by faith, not by sight, and it is this principle that gives us strength through adversity and guides us through our lives.

The principle of Hope teaches us not to despair and never to give up, because something better is around the corner for each of us. With hope, we are able to accomplish those dreams and aspirations that seem to difficult to achieve. Hope allows us to stand undaunted through the difficult times and we learn never to doubt doing the right thing, no matter how difficult it may be.

The principle of Charity, like the virtue of Service, is the cornerstone of our Order. We are constantly reminded that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Through service and through charity, each member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is able to fully embrace the teachings of the Order.

Although a Rainbow Girl can only stay active through the age of 20, when they reach their majority, these lessons do not end there. As a majority member you can continue your service activities and support active Rainbow Girls in theirs.