It’s been thirteen years since he invited us to raise the bar on missionary service and preparation. Tonight he’s speaking to young single men in the Church either pre- or post- mission. It will be interesting to know what he says with this introduction.
Do you search the scriptures regularly, kneel in prayer daily, fast and give fast offerings, think deeply about the Savior in connection with the sacrament, attend your meetings? Are you honest, mentally and spiritually clean, careful with your time? Is there anything you need to change starting tonight? (That was 9 questions, not 3.)
Young single adults need to date and marry – please don’t delay.
Many of the problems you face will be advised by pursuing marriage {righteously and earnestly}.
Don’t text her. Speak to her. The surprise of hearing a human voice will shock her – perhaps into saying yes.
Tonight I speak to missionaries now serving, future missionaries, returned missionaries, and all young adult men in the Church. I pray you will understand and thoughtfully consider what I have to say to you as you journey through these exciting and exacting years of your life.
Videoconferencing is another way that helps us reach out to Church leaders and members who live far away from Church headquarters.
With that in mind, I would like those of you preparing to serve missions, those who have returned, and all of you young adults to spend a few minutes with me as though we were having a personal video chat right now. Please look at me for a few minutes as though you and I were the only ones in the room, wherever you are tonight.
… To that end, please ponder in your heart your answers to these questions:
- Do you search the scriptures regularly?
- Do you kneel in prayer to talk with your Heavenly Father each morning and each night?
- Do you fast and donate a fast offering each month—even if you are a poor, struggling student who can’t afford to donate much?
- Do you think deeply about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for you when you are asked to prepare, bless, pass, or partake of the sacrament?
- Do you attend your meetings and strive to keep the Sabbath day holy?
- Are you honest at home, school, church, and work?
- Are you mentally and spiritually clean? Do you avoid viewing pornography or looking at websites, magazines, movies, or apps, including Tinder and Snapchat photos, that would embarrass you if your parents, Church leaders, or the Savior Himself saw you?
- Are you careful with your time—avoiding inappropriate technology and social media, including video games, which can dull your spiritual sensitivity?
- Is there anything in your life you need to change and fix, beginning tonight?
Thank you for this short personal visit. I hope you answered each one of these questions honestly and thoughtfully. If you find yourself lacking in any of these simple principles, then I urge you to courageously repent and bring your life back in line with gospel standards of righteous discipleship.
Every person could be well served by honestly answering those questions weekly.
Whether you attend a Church school or not, whether you attend college or not, do not think that you are too busy to study the gospel. Seminary, institute, or religion classes will provide balance to your life and add to your secular education by giving you another opportunity to spend time studying the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets and apostles. There are four outstanding new courses that I would encourage every young adult to look into and to attend.
And don’t forget that classes and activities offered at your local institute or through your young single adult ward or stake will also be a place where you can be with other young men and young women and lift and inspire one another as you learn and grow spiritually and socialize together. Brethren, if you will set aside your cell phone and actually look around a little, you may even find your future companion at the institute.
Which leads me to another bit of counsel that I’m sure you knew was coming: You single adults need to date and marry. Please stop delaying! I know some of you fear family formation. However, if you marry the right person at the right time and in the right place, you need not fear. In fact, many problems you encounter will be avoided if you are “anxiously engaged” in righteous dating, courting, and marriage. Don’t text her! Use your own voice to introduce yourself to the righteous daughters of God who are all around you. To actually hear a human voice will shock her—perhaps into saying yes.
I’d like to be able to speak so forcefully.
Through the Atonement, the Redeemer took upon Himself our troubles, pains, and sins. The Savior of the world came to understand each of us individually by experiencing our dashed hopes, challenges, and tragedies through His suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross. He died as one final act of love for us and was buried in a new tomb on that fateful night.
On Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the dead—promising new life for each of us. The risen Lord then commissioned His disciples to teach everyone to have faith in Christ, repent of sin, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. Brethren, we know that God our Father and His Beloved Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and restored through him the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.
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