July 4 9, 2016 LDS Leaders Guide

Transcription

1 July 4 9, 2016 LDS Leaders Guide Page 1 of 78

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3 Preface This LDS Leaders Guide has been developed to provide Scouters with information to enhance their experience at the 2016 LDS Scout Encampment and provide supplement information to the 2016 Camp Alexander Program Guide, published by the Pikes Peak Council. This Leader s Guide covers all activities and events associated with the Encampment. We have organized this Guide into the following five major sections: 1. Activities and general information applicable to the overall Encampment Theme. This includes the theme, supporting Church talks, and special activities 2. Articles by Church Leaders concerning the 2016 Mutual Theme, which is also the Encampment Theme. 3. Scoutmaster s Minute. Selected quotations from Church leaders about Scouting, its purpose, and the relationship with the Church. This information is provided to assist Scout leaders in preparing individual campfire settings. We hope this Guide is of benefit to every Scout and Scout leader and will be referred to in the coming years as we continue on the Scouting trail. Questions or comments concerning the content of the Guide should be directed to jmason6030@earthlink. Joseph W. Mason Co-Chair & Editor 2016 LDS Encampment jmason6030@earthlink.net 2nd Edition Published: 13 March 2016 Updated Version 1.1 Page 3 of 78

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5 Welcoming Letter from Elder Brent Hillier TO THE SCOUTS AND SCOUTERS ATTENDING THE 2064 LDS SCOUT ENCAMPMENT As we enter the second century of Scouting in the Church, I am excited to welcome you to the 2016 LDS Scout Encampment at Camp Alexander. Your stake presidents and I have looked forward to this event as an opportunity for you to have a positive life changing experience. We are grateful for your preparation and dedication to make this a memorable time for rank advancement, the strengthening of special friendships, and coming to know how the values of Scouting complement the priesthood duties we have, and will have, as men of God. Press Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ is the theme of the Encampment. These words from 2 Nephi remind us of the challenge to follow the Savior s example and the consequences that follow our decisions whether good or ill. This is a powerful lesson for all of us, Scouts and Scouters alike. Evening programs will feature church and scout leaders who will share personal observations and life lessons which will inspire all who attend. Special flag ceremonies will also highlight the duties of all of us as citizens in this wonderful land. May each of you, Scouts and Scouters alike, come to know, understand, and carry out your divine mission here upon this earth. You are beloved sons of our Heavenly Father. He is mindful of you and He loves each one of you. His Son, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has made it possible for you to live in the Father's presence forever if you receive and keep His revealed covenants in mortality. God bless you as you work to receive these blessings in this life and in the life to come. Let this scouting experience aid in your personal preparation to do so. Sincerely your brother, and fellow Scouter, Elder Brent Hillier North America Central Area Seventy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Page 5 of 78

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7 2016 LDS Scout Encampment Key Committee Members Encampment Presiding Authority Elder Brent Hillier Area Seventy Host Stake President M. Jay Carroll Stake President, Colorado Spring East Stake Co-Encampment Chairman Joseph W. Mason Co-Encampment Chairman Daiko Abe Colorado Springs Stake Representatives Lou Lemesany Matthew Phillips Colorado Spring East Stake Representatives Mark Smith John Freeman Colorado Springs North Stake Representatives Chad Murdock Robbin Schellous Fountain Stake Representatives Karl Kelsch Larry Lewis Pikes Peak Council Camp Director Cameron Ackley Pikes Peak Council Camp Ranger Thomas Hopkins Page 7 of 78

8 Table of Contents Welcoming Letter from Elder Brent Hillier... 5 Key Committee Members... 7 Table of Contents... 8 I LDS Scout Encampment Theme Underlying Principles Objective of the LDS Encampment Leaders Guide Encampment Patch Encampment T-Shirts and Patches II. IN-PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS Introduction Key Dates Check-in Arrival Time at Camp Pre-in-Processing Meeting BSA Tour Permit LDS Church Activity Plan Swim Checks Payments Medical Forms Youth Protection Special Encampment Fireside Stake and Ward Priesthood Leader Visits Merit Badge Activity Special Evening Campfires Encampment T-Shirt Order Form III. ARTICLES ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT THEME How to Press Forward The Blessings of Pressing Forward Going Forward Page 8 of 78

9 Facing the Storms of Life God Wants You Back Decisions Determine Destiny (BYU, 6 November 2005) IV. Scoutmaster Minute Recent Statements About Scouting in the Church The Story of Scouting in the L.D.S. Church The Scout Law and Gospel Principles The Results of Scouting Why an LDS Scout Unit for LDS Boys? The Purpose for Outdoor Activities When is the Right Time to Act? Statements from Church Leaders First Presidency Letter, dated 28 September Young Men General Presidency Other General Authorities The Challenge of Scouting What Your Youth Should Do To Find Success In Life Page 9 of 78

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11 I LDS Scout Encampment Encampment Co-Chairman: Joseph W. Mason and Daiko Abe or Theme Press Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ is the theme for the Encampment. It is derived from the 2016 Mutual theme in 2 Nephi 31:20: Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life Underlying Principles Our objective in the Scout movement is to give such help as we can in bringing about God s Kingdom on earth by inculcating among youth the spirit and the daily practice in their lives of unselfish goodwill and cooperation. (Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Founder of Scouting) Young men need Scouting experiences to help in their personal growth and the service they will give in the Church and community. They need to be men of character in a world where eternal virtues are under assault and where Scouting and the Church face challenges because we honor those values. The examples of men of God found in the scriptures and modern day heroes can provide our young men with role models after which they can pattern their lives. The encampment will provide a unique opportunity to build testimonies and relationships with our Father in Heaven and His Son. To this end, under the direction of Elder Brent Hillier, Area Seventy, the LDS-BSA Relations Committee for the Pikes Peak Council will sponsor an LDS Encampment at Camp Alexander (near Lake George, Colorado) during the week of 4 9 July Youth of today are faced with monumental decisions. The world in which you live is not a play world or a Disney world. It is a very competitive world that will require the very best that you can bring to it, and it will reward you when your best efforts are put forth. President Thomas S. Monson Page 11 of 78

12 Objective of the LDS Encampment Leaders Guide The purpose of this Leaders Guide is to provide critical information to make your Encampment experience a memorable event and to supplement the 2016 Camp Alexander Program Guide with LDS Encampment activities and logistics. Encampment T-Shirts and Patches Each ward/stake is to provide an additional $10.00 fee per Encampment participant for the Encampment patch and t-shirt. These funds are to be made payable to the Colorado Springs East Stake. ATTN: President Chad Slaugh, 3865 Teakwood Place, Colorado Springs, Colorado Each ward will need to submit a completed order form (including in this Leaders Guide) preferably by Thursday, 7 April 2016 but not later than Friday, 15 April 2016 to Joseph W. Mason. Submissions may be made electronically to jmason6030@earthlink.net, if desired, or by postal mail to Joseph W. Mason, 6030 Little Johnny Drive, Colorado Springs, CO Each registered youth and adult should receive one Encampment t-shirt, ordered through his Scouting unit. The t-shirt will have the Church s 2016 theme logo screen printed on the back of the shirt with the Encampment patch screen printed over the left pocket area on the front of the shirt. Additional t-shirts may be pre-ordered at the same cost reflected on the order form. All funds must be made payable to the Colorado Springs East Stake as indicated above. Recommend personal or stakelevel orders be segregated, on a separate order form, from the troop order. This will help simplify the distribution process. By submitting a completed order form, the applicable ward/stake will be obligated and required to provide payment of funds to the Colorado Springs East Stake as noted above. Encampment Patch A specially designed patch has been created for those attending the LDS Encampment by a member of the Church living in Lucerne, Switzerland. to remind our youth of their obligation to remain steadfast. Each youth and adult attending the Encampment will be entitled to receive one patch. Additional patches may be pre-ordered at the time the ward submits its Encampment t-shirt and patch order (target date: 7 April 2016). If desired, multiple order forms may be submitted to separate personal orders, ward/stake leader orders, and the troop s order. Page 12 of 78

13 II. IN-PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS. Introduction Key Dates As we proceed toward the LDS Encampment, key dates which are critical to address and meet, if at all possible, are listed here and explained in more detail below in the LDS Leaders Guide. Date Location Activity Thur, 7 April 2016 Meadowland Stake Center Pre-In-Processing (See below) Thur, 7 Apr 2016 Meadowland Stake Center Order forms for Encampment t- shirts and patches Fri, 15 Apr 2016 (deadline) By Mail or Final order forms for t-shirts and patches Sun, 17 Apr 2016 Meadowland Stake Center Encampment Fireside Sat, 2 Jul 2016 (Not Later Than) TBD Complete Swim Checks Mon, 2 May 2016 Council Service Center ALL Payments Made Wed, 4 May 2016 On-line Check-in at Camp Alexander Mon, 4 Jul 2016 Camp Alexander Arriving for Encampment Check-in There will be NO in-processing on Sunday, 3 July 2016 for LDS sponsored Scouting units, by Church policy. Arrival Time at Camp Scout troops will be able to arrive at Camp Alexander not earlier than 6:30 a.m. on Monday, 4 July Pre-in-Processing Meeting To expedite the in-processing at Camp Alexander, we will be conducting a Pre-in-processing meeting on Thursday, 7 April 2016 at the Meadowland Stake Center beginning at 7:00 p.m. to handle all inprocessing requirements except for medical checks. This time period is during the Frontier District Roundtable meetings. In as much as the Scout s activity program will begin at 9:00 a.m. on 4 July 2016, all wards are expected to participate in this pre-in-processing meeting. to reduce the in-processing requirements at Camp Alexander and still complete the normal in-processing cited in the Camp Alexander Program Guide. Each ward/scouting unit will be required to provide, as a minimum, the following completed documents, which are available in the 2016 Camp Alexander Program Guide, unless otherwise indicated: 1. Approved BSA Tour Permit Page 13 of 78

14 2. Signed LDS Activity Travel Form (obtain from your stake leaders) 3. Scout Unit Roster 4. Emergency Contact List 5. Completed Swim Check Roster (See Swim Classification Procedures Form) 6. Leader Reference Form for any adult spending a night at Camp Alexander 7. Dietary Needs Form for each adult or youth requiring special meal accommodations 8. All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Program Participation and Hold-harmless Agreement Form, as applicable 9. Rafting Warning Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability Form, as applicable 10. Whitewater Rafting Expedition Form, as applicable 11. Unit Photo Order Form (optional), as applicable 12. Order forms and funds for the Encampment t-shirt and patch. Other documents that need to be available for review at the pre-in-processing event include: 1. Youth Protection Certificates for adults and youth 2. Proof of payment of Camp fees. Bring copies of your receipts or proof of payment from the Pikes Peak Council. BSA Tour Permit BSA Tour Permits are required to attend Camp Alexander. Be sure to bring a copy with you. LDS Church Activity Plan Each ward will need to prepare and submit a Church activity form for approval by their priesthood authorities. Swim Checks Scout Leaders must complete their troop s swim checks PRIOR to arriving at camp. Only under extenuating circumstances (i.e. enrollments due to late arrivals, etc.) are we anticipating completing swim checks at Camp Alexander. The boy s merit badge program begins at 9:00 a.m. on the day troops are checking in. Payments All camp fees must be paid in full not later than 1 May 2016 in order to register your Scouts for merit badge activities. No exceptions. Medical Forms By state law, medical form re-checks will occur at Camp Alexander on Monday, 4 July 2016 upon arrival at your assigned camp site. Each Scout must have his own medical forms completed using the NEW BSA Medical Forms. Copies of this form are available at Page 14 of 78

15 Also, Encampment participants under 18 are required to complete the Medical Addendum Form by the State of Colorado located at: Youth Protection Each Scout unit must have at least one adult who has completed the BSA Youth Protection training. Be sure to bring a copy of the applicable completed training certificate. Special Encampment Fireside. We have scheduled a special fireside on SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016, at 6:00 p.m. at the Meadowland Stake Center. The address is 4955 Meadowland Blvd, Colorado Springs, Colorado All adult Scout leaders attending the Encampment should plan to attend this fireside. Youth leaders for your Scout troops may attend also. Stake and Ward Priesthood Leader Visits In place of the traditional Family Night, stake and ward priesthood leaders are invited to attend the Encampment on FRIDAY, 8 JULY See the Camp Alexander Leader Guide for prices for the meal. Please note there will be a campfire during these visits which may tend to be pretty smoke filled. Your clothing may absorb some of the smoke smell. Please dress appropriately. Your dress will set the tone for your visit. Appropriate dress attire for your visit may include: 1. A Scout uniform (if you have one) You can never go wrong at a Scout camp with this attire. 2. Business casual 3. Camping casual Merit Badge Activity. Program and merit badge activities at Camp Alexander will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, 4 July 2016 Refer to the 2016 Camp Alexander Program Guide for more details. Special Evening Campfires Special campfires will be offered each evening of the Encampment. More details will be provided at the Encampment Fireside scheduled for Sunday, 17 April Special flag ceremonies during the Encampment will be announced at the Encampment Fireside on Sunday, 17 April The Camp Alexander Program Guide outlines the standard program offerings and can be found at the following URL: Page 15 of 78

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17 2016 LDS SCOUT ENCAMPMENT Encampment T-Shirt Order Form Name of Scout Leader: Scouting Unit: Address: Phone: 100% Cotton T-Shirt Encampment Patch Size Small Youth Medium Youth Quantity Price Per Item Extended Price Size Quantity 8.00 Encamp. Patch 8.00 Encamp. Patch Price Per Item Extended Price Large Youth 8.00 Encamp. Patch 2.00 Small Adult 8.00 Encamp. Patch 2.00 Medium Adult 8000 Encamp. Patch 2.00 Large Adult 8.00 Encamp. Patch 2.00 X-Large Adult 8.00 Encamp. Patch X-Large Adult Encamp. Patch X-Large Adult Encamp. Patch X-Large Adult Encamp. Patch 2.00 Total Price WHERE TO SEND THE ORDER FORM AND PAYMENT Total Price SEND ORDER FORM TO JOSEPH W. MASON MAKE PAYMENTS PAYABLE TO: Colorado Springs East Stake Page 17 of 78 SEND PAYMENTS TO President Chad Slaugh, 3865 Teakwood Place, Colorado Springs, CO

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19 III. ARTICLES ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT THEME The following articles provide additional support for the Encampment theme How to Press Forward, by Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ( The Blessings of Pressing Forward, by the Young Men General Presidency ( Going Forward, by the Young Women General Presidency ( Facing the Storms of Life, by Whitney Hinckley ( God Wants You Back, from The Greatest Generation of Young Adults, by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. April 2015 General Conference Report ( Decisions Determine Destiny, address by President Monson at Brigham Young University on 6 Nov 2005 ( Page 19 of 78

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21 How to Press Forward By Elder Neil L. Andersen of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Press forward implies something more than simply going forward. Press forward implies something more than simply going forward. Press implies something is preventing your advancement, and you must push through it. To go forward in this life, you must press temptations aside, press through obstacles, press the doubt and the fear under your feet, and embrace the divine qualities of faith, hope, and love. How do you press forward? Nephi answers, Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men (2 Nephi 31:20). Pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ means having faith in Him. It means making Him the central focus of your thoughts and actions. When it is He you are following, pressing forward is the ultimate adventure. Pressing forward means pushing away the temptations and cares of the world and keeping the commandments with exactness. If ye love me, Jesus said, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Nephi adds that with our steadfastness in Christ comes a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and all men. Hope smiles brightly before us. We find peace even in difficulties. Page 21 of 78

22 Discipleship allows us to see our true purposes on the earth. Those purposes center in helping our family, those we love, and those around us. They include building the kingdom of God, and as we do, we become who we should become. Nephi tells us that we must press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ. He tells us that with the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can speak with (and understand) the tongue of angels (see 2 Nephi 32:2 5). I know this voice. It is a voice we must continually be ready to hear. As you righteously press forward, Jesus Christ will lead you along (D&C 78:18) and you will know with even greater certainty of His reality and His love for you. As you press forward in faith, the Holy Ghost will tell you and show you those things that you should do (see 2 Nephi 32:5). Page 22 of 78

23 The Blessings of Pressing Forward By The Young Men General Presidency Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ (2 Nephi 31:20). Living as a faithful member of the Church brings amazing blessings. But that doesn t mean life won t occasionally be hard. Temptations, friends who are untrue, family challenges, you name it. A lot of things will try and pull you away from the covenant path. That s why this year s Mutual theme, press forward with a steadfastness in Christ ()2 Nephi 31:20), holds such a powerful message. When you press forward with steadfastness in Christ, staying true to your covenants, God can do marvelous things for you and through you. And He can help you feel hope, comfort, and peace at the same time. It s something the Prophet Joseph Smith knew very well. He was just 14 when he experienced the First Vision. As he knelt to pray in the Sacred Grove, he was attacked by an unseen force of such incredible power that it threatened to destroy him. Only by exerting all his power to call on God was he rescued and received the visit from the Father and the Son. Page 23 of 78

24 Later, when Joseph shared his experience, he was ridiculed by friends and local leaders (see Joseph Smith History 1:16-17, 21-26). That persecution never stopped and eventually took his life 24 years later. But Joseph pressed forward with hope, and he was happy to do so in the service of the Lord. As he remained steadfast in Christ and exercised faith to do what was right, God blessed and supported him. And He will do the same for you. So press forward. Commit to live the gospel. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the Savior. Have a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. [Feast] upon the word of Christ. Serve under the direction of the priesthood. Seek to be what God wants you to be. As you press forward, making and keeping covenants on the path to eternal life, we testify you will find happiness. Page 24 of 78

25 Going Forward By The Young Women General Presidency Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ (2 Nephi 31:20). Have you thought about where you are headed and where you want to end up? The Mutual theme for 2016 is 2 Nephi 31:20, and this one verse gives you seven points of counsel about your direction in life. In it you will discover the divinely commanded direction, action, attitude, learning, and promised reward for your effort. Let s look at some key words in this verse. To press forward implies that you are being required to make a real effort against some opposing force. We have to put forth energy to live the gospel because we are surrounded by a world of opposition to the commandments of God. Are you steadfast in Christ? Are you immovable in your loyalty to Him? If you abide in [Him] (see John 15:4) and follow His teachings, then you are truly steadfast and Page 25 of 78

26 blessings will surely come to you. Your hope and love of God and man increase as you understand and feel God s love personally. This understanding grows as you feast upon the words of Christ, that is, as you gratefully and purposefully apply the words of Christ to your personal life. And finally, you must endure! Does that sound dreary and grinding? Actually, to endure can mean to continue on with the good you are doing to be constant in your effort to press on. When you steadily stay on the gospel path, you are enduring. Is it worth it? YES! Our loving Father in Heaven wants us to come back to Him, to have eternal life with Him, because He knows that is where we will have true, lasting happiness and joy beyond what we can now imagine. That is why in 2 Nephi 31:20 He has spelled out so clearly and specifically what it takes to return to Him. We can do this with His help. He will always prepare the way for us to do what He commands. Page 26 of 78

27 Facing the Storms of Life By Whitney Hinckley When trials come, don t forget there is someone who can bring you peace. After a long day of teaching, Jesus Christ boarded a ship with His Apostles. They were going across the Sea of Galilee to teach the people on the other side. Christ was asleep when a storm came upon them. The Apostles began to fear the storm as they were tossed by the winds and water filled their boat. They awoke Jesus, crying, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (Mark 4:38). Christ arose and calmed the winds and waves with His power, saying Peace, be still (Mark 4:39). He turned to His Apostles and asked, Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25). Christ gently chastised them for being fearful and not remembering that He can calm the tossing seas during a storm. Page 27 of 78

28 I recently heard a friend say that life is a storm sometimes. How true that is! Life can be tempestuous, tossing us with winds of misfortune, grief, shame, or stress. In a hymn based on the experience on the Sea of Galilee, we sing: Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today. The depths of my sad heart are troubled. Oh, waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o er my sinking soul, And I perish! I perish! dear Master. Oh, hasten and take control! ( Master, the Tempest Is Raging, Hymns, no. 105) Do we call on Heavenly Father and His Son when the waters of anguish begin to fill our ship? Do we have the faith to trust in Christ? Christ not only calms the physical seas, but He can It s hard to remember there is someone who can bring peace also calm the seas within when we are being tossed so hard that we feel like we can our minds and souls. barely hang on. Sometimes in life we just try to outlast the storm, forgetting to call on the One who can calm it. Peace may not always come as it did that long-ago day on Galilee the storms and winds may not be replaced by perfect calm. Instead, when we hasten to call on the Master and allow Him to bear our burdens, our peace may come in small reminders of His love and care, giving us strength to get through the storm. Page 28 of 78

29 That is what happened to me one April. The end of another school year was fast approaching and with it came the cares, worries, and work I had experienced during the past nine months. I was exhausted, emotional, and lonely. I felt like I was being tossed by the storms of life. General Conference was coming up, and I looked forward to hearing the prophets of God speak to me, hoping to feel a calmness enter my sinking soul. A closing hymn brought great peace. As the choir sang the third verse, I felt the Spirit calm the seas inside me: Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.i ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, It is our faith in Christ s calming Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. power and our hastening to call for His help that allows Him to ( How Firm a Foundation, Hymns, no. 85) calm our hearts during life s storms. My storm may not have been as tempestuous as the storms others face, but it is not the velocity of the storm that makes our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ willing to help us. It is our faith in Christ s calming power and our hastening to call for His help that allows Him to calm our hearts during life s storms. Joy Can Be Ours My brothers and sisters, however dark conditions may seem in this world today, whatever the storms we are facing personally, in our homes and our families, this joy can be ours now. Our faith in Him and obedience to His commandments will bring a perfect brightness of hope [2 Nephi 31:20] and dispel the darkness and gloom of despair in these troubled times. The One who had power to calm the elements of earth has power to calm our souls, to give us Page 29 of 78

30 refuge from the storm (Robert D. Hales, Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy, Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 18). Page 30 of 78

31 God Wants You Back From Does life ever feel like a deep, dark forest? Imagine the deepest, darkest forest you can think of. We re talking centuries-old, gnarled trees covered in thick moss. All but the thinnest rays of sunlight would be blocked by the dense canopy of branches above. The forest floor would remain so hidden in such tangled undergrowth that there s no chance of seeing a trail. Can you picture it? Now pretend this foreboding forest stretches for miles on end and you need to find your way through alone without compass, guide, map, or trail. Does life ever feel like that? In particular, does your spiritual journey back to God ever feel like that? You Matter Page 31 of 78

32 The adversary wants you to believe that you re utterly unimportant. Invisible. Not worth anyone s time or attention, and certainly not worth anything to God. You re just another piece of brush hidden in a huge, dense, dark forest. Nothing could be further from the truth. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught, While we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, What is man in comparison to the glory of creation? God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God ( You Matter to Him, Ensign, Nov. 2011, 20). Everything! Can you imagine? Life s journey might feel at times like a walk through the darkness and tangles of dense woods, but you re never alone and you re certainly never without access to help. God is your Father. He loves you. He wants you back. He Gave Us Everything We Need Just ponder for a moment on all that God has given us. When you were baptized, you received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Each week in sacrament we hear the phrase that they may always have his Spirit to be with them (D&C 20:77; italics added). President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught, To always have the Spirit with us is to have the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives ( The Holy Ghost as Your Companion, Ensign, Nov. 2015, 104). When you leave the house each day, remember that promise! God has also given us prophets, apostles, and other leaders whose words blast through the false teachings of the world and inspire us with truth and hope. Think of the specific people God has placed in your life. Remember the countless times when somebody showed up exactly when you needed a helping hand or a kind word, comforting Page 32 of 78

33 you when you were down or making you laugh when laughter seemed impossible. Those tender mercies aren t coincidences. They re evidence of your Father helping you along the path back (see David A. Bednar, The Tender Mercies of the Lord, Ensign, May 2005, ). He has created a plan to bring you home and is willing to lead thee by the hand (D&C 112:10). Our job is to take His hand and press forward. What Is Our Part? Sometimes you may hear motivational speakers, athletic trainers, and advertisers try to pump you up by conjuring images of strapping on shoes, leaping out of bed before dawn, and tackling the world with nothing but our grit and determination. And certainly there will be times when digging down deep will be necessary to press forward through the challenges of life. However, notice that the 2016 Mutual theme doesn t just say press forward. Rather, we need to press forward with a steadfastness in Christ (2 Nephi 31:20). On our own we simply can t make it. It s only as we follow Christ, rely on Christ, and commit to Christ that we can find strength and success in our journey. One Step at a Time When we recognize all that God does to help us, when we understand how much He wants us to return to live with Him, and as we press forward and center our lives in Christ, we have all we need. We can successfully pass through the roughest stretches this life has to offer. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life (2 Nephi 31:20). If your journey ever feels like one wrong turn after another through dark and twisted trees, know now that the way through is always available to you. Simply turn to God, let Him lead you, and press orward. Page 33 of 78

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35 The Greatest Generation of Young Adults By Elder M. Russell Ballard Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles What we need now is the greatest generation of young adults in the history of the Church. We need your whole heart and soul. One of the great pleasures I enjoy as I travel throughout the world is the opportunity to meet and greet our missionaries. These great elders and sisters radiate the Light of Christ, and I am always inspired by their love for the Lord Jesus Christ and their devoted service to Him. Every time I shake hands with them and feel of their remarkable spirit and faith, I say to myself, These wonderful sons and daughters of ours are truly a miracle! During the October 2002 general priesthood meeting, I challenged bishops, parents, and prospective missionaries to raise the bar for full-time missionary service. I then said that what we need is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries. Page 35 of 78

36 We need your whole heart and soul. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate missionaries who know how to listen to and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. 1 In many ways the world today is more challenging than it was 13 years ago. Our young men and young women have many more distractions to sidetrack them in their preparations for both a mission and a future happy life. Technology has expanded, and almost everyone has access to handheld devices that can capture the attention of the human family of God for both great good and unconscionable ill. 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. In the early days of the Church, missionaries were interviewed by a General Authority before they went on their missions. These days you are interviewed to serve as missionaries by your bishops and stake presidents, and most of you will go through your entire lives without being interviewed by a General Authority. That is simply a reflection of the reality in a worldwide church of more than 15 million members. I know I speak for my brethren when I tell you that we wish it were possible for us to know all of you personally and to be able to tell you that we love you and that we support you. Fortunately the Lord has provided ways for us to reach out to you. For example, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve assigns every missionary to his or her mission. Although this is done without a traditional face-to-face interview, technology and revelation combine to provide an experience that is remarkably intimate and personal. Let me tell you how this happens. Your photograph comes up on a computer screen, together with key information provided by your bishop and stake president. When your picture appears, we look into your eyes and review your answers to the missionary recommendation questions. For that brief moment, it seems as if you are present and responding to us directly. Page 36 of 78

37 As we look at your photograph, we trust that you have cleared in every way the raised bar required today to be a faithful, successful missionary. Then, by the power of the Spirit of the Lord and under the direction of President Thomas S. Monson, we assign you to one of the Church s 406 worldwide missions. No, it isn t the same as a personal, face-to-face interview. But it s close. 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. For my part, I will imagine that I am looking into your eyes and listening carefully to your responses to a few questions that I believe will tell me a lot about the depth of your testimony and your devotion to God. If I may paraphrase what I said to missionaries 13 years ago, what we need now is the greatest generation of young adults in the history of the Church. We need your whole heart and soul. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate young adults who know how to listen and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit as you make your way through the daily trials and temptations of being a young, contemporary Latter-day Saint. In other words, it s time to raise the bar not only for missionaries but also for returned missionaries and for your entire generation. To that end, please ponder in your heart your answers to these questions: 1. Do you search the scriptures regularly? Page 37 of 78

38 2. Do you kneel in prayer to talk with your Heavenly Father each morning and each night? 3. 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? 4. 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? 5. Do you attend your meetings and strive to keep the Sabbath day holy? 6. Are you honest at home, school, church, and work? 7. 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? 8. Are you careful with your time avoiding inappropriate technology and social media, including video games, which can dull your spiritual sensitivity? 9. 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. Now, brethren, may I offer additional counsel that will help you get your testimony of the gospel deep in your hearts and your souls? Page 38 of 78

39 I remind you returned missionaries that your preparation for life and for a family should be continuous. RM doesn t mean retired Mormon! As a returned missionary, you should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [your] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness. 2 Please use the skills you learned on your mission to bless the lives of people around you every day. Do not shift your focus from serving others to focusing exclusively on school, work, or social activities. Instead, balance your life with spiritual experiences that remind and prepare you for continued, daily ministering to others. During your missions you learned the importance of visiting people in their homes. I would hope that all of our young adults, whether or not you served full-time missions, understand the importance of visiting with people who are lonely, sick, or discouraged not only as an assignment but also because of the genuine love you have for Heavenly Father and His children. Those of you in high school preparing for missions, I encourage you to participate in and graduate from seminary. You young adults should enroll in an institute of religion. 3 If you are attending a Church school, consistently include a class each semester in religious education. During this important season of preparation for a mission, eternal marriage, and life as an adult, you must continue to find ways to learn and grow and receive inspiration and guidance through the Holy Ghost. A careful, prayerful study of the gospel through seminary, institute, or religious education classes can assist you in that goal. 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. 4 Page 39 of 78

40 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. Now, brethren, I testify to you that the Lord Jesus Christ can help us fix anything that needs fixing in our lives through His atoning sacrifice. This evening, as we prepare to celebrate Easter Sunday tomorrow, please pause with me to remember the gift of Christ s Atonement. Remember that our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, know you best and love you the most. 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. 5 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 Page 40 of 78

41 God our Father and His Beloved Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and restored through him the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. Be strong, brethren. Keep the commandments of God. The Lord Jesus Christ promises that all things we desire to do in righteousness will be ours. Church leaders are counting on you. We need every one of you young adults to prepare to marry, to serve, and to lead in the days ahead, for which I humbly pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. References 1. M. Russell Ballard, The Greatest Generation of Missionaries, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, Doctrine and Covenants 58: See First Presidency letter, Apr. 21, See New Religion Classes to Be Offered at Church Universities and Institutes of Religion, lds.org/topics/education/new-religion-classes. 5. See Mosiah 3:5 13. Page 41 of 78

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43 Decisions Determine Destiny (BYU, 6 November 2005) President Thomas S. Monson, 1 st Counselor, First Presidency (speeches.byu.edu) You are a glorious group, even a chosen generation, assembled both here in the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University and in many other locations. It is an honor for me to be with you, and I want you to know that there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be this evening. I approach this assignment after earnest personal prayer. I seek your faith; I ask for your prayers. As I look at you assembled here and contemplate those of you who are assembled elsewhere, my thoughts turn to your parents. For many years it was my privilege nearly every week to attend stake conferences and to be in the home of a stake president or a counselor to a stake president. Sometimes, rather interesting things would occur. There were occasions when a tiny brother or sister, not knowing that Mother and Dad had given their bedroom and their bed to a General Authority, would creep in the bedroom early in the morning and think that he or she was crawling into bed with Mother and Father only to be amazed and confused to find that such was not the case. On one occasion many years ago, while visiting the Indianapolis Stake, I remember President Lowe, who was with Purdue University there, saying to me, Brother Monson, would you like to come out to my home and stay with us Saturday evening, or would you prefer to forego the 40-mile drive and stay here with my counselor in Indianapolis? I responded, Well, President Lowe, it s late at night, and, if it s all the same to you, I ll stay with your counselor here in Indianapolis. The next morning President Lowe greeted me at eight o clock and said, Brother Monson, you made an inspired decision. I asked, How s that? Well, he replied, we have a son away attending the university, and our anticipation was that we, of course, would have you occupy our bedroom on Saturday evening. But, unknown to us and totally unexpectedly, our son returned home from school at two in the morning, came in the front door, walked up the stairs to our bedroom, turned on the light, and yelled, Surprise! I m not certain who would have been more surprised on that occasion had I stayed with the stake president the student or me! I think it s rather a good thing we didn t find out. Well, my young friends, what a thrilling life awaits you! You may not be a John Cabot, sailing off into the blue with the king s patent to discover new lands, nor a Captain James Cook, whose voyages of discovery carried him to far away places with strange-sounding names. 1 But you can be explorers in 1 Words and music by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, Far Away Places, Page 43 of 78

44 spirit, with a mandate to make this world better by discovering improved ways of living and of doing things. The spirit of exploration, whether it be of the surface of the earth, the vastness of space, or the principles of living greatly, includes developing the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility. Many of you are familiar with the musical Fiddler on the Roof. It is a favorite of mine. One laughs as he observes the old-fashioned father of a Jewish family in Russia attempting to cope with the changing times brought forcibly home to him by his beautiful daughters. With abandon they sing, Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Tevye, the father, sings his reply with If I Were a Rich Man. Tears come to the viewer as he hears the beautiful strains of Sunrise, Sunset, and he seems to appreciate Tevye s love for his native village when the cast sings Anatevka. The gaiety of the dance, the rhythm of the music, and the excellence of the acting all fade in significance when Tevye speaks what to me becomes the message of the musical. He gathers his lovely daughters to his side, and, in the simplicity of his peasant surroundings, he counsels them as they ponder their future. Remember, cautions Tevye, in Anatevka we know who we are and what God expects us to become. As Latter-day Saints, we know who we are and what God expects us to become. Listen to the truth taught to us in the first book of Moses, called Genesis: God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them. [Genesis 1:26 28] Created in the image of God. We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound sense of strength and power. As Latter-day Saints, we know that we lived before we came to earth, that mortality is a probationary period wherein we might prove ourselves obedient to God s command and thus worthy of celestial glory. Yes, we know who we are and what God expects us to become. Such knowledge, however, does not ensure our success in reaching our goal of eternal life. During the last half century or so, there has been throughout the world a gradual but continual decline in many phases of life. We observe relationships without morality, science without humanity, knowledge without character, business without ethics, worship without sacrifice, pleasure without conscience, politics without principle, and wealth without works. Perhaps the renowned author Charles Dickens best described our day when he spoke of a period over two centuries ago. His classic A Tale of Two Cities begins: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us. This is your world. The future is in your hands. The outcome is up to you. The way to exaltation is not a freeway featuring unlimited vision, unrestricted speeds, and untested skills. Rather, it is known by Page 44 of 78