We have an obligation - a spiritual mandate - to manage our lives. King Benjamin in his great discourse counseled that all things are to be done "in wisdom and order." (Mosiah 4:27.) Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, admonished us similarly, "Let all things be done decently and in order." (I Cor. 14:40.) It is impossible to carry out either admonition if we don't use personal management in the things for which we are responsible.

      We manage a lot of different things - time; resources; responsibilities in our homes, at our work, in our Church assignments. Sometimes we manage to make mistakes; sometimes, unfortunately, we even let events manage us.The word manage has many definitions, according to the American Heritage dictionary. Some have positive connotations like "to direct or control the use of" or "to administer." But other definitions are negative: "to exert one's authority over" or to "contrive or arrange."

      However, what seems to most closely define the way we should manage our time, talents and resources is Webster's definition, "to handle or use wisely."

      In managing time, we all have the same number of hours in a day. But how we choose to spend those hours varies greatly. It depends on such things as what needs to be accomplished; our own attitudes, motivation and desires; and our physical abilities. But if how we are spending our time does not reinforce gospel values or fulfill some useful purpose, we need to re-evaluate what we are doing.

      Church leaders have emphasized that we spend time in daily prayer - in the morning, at night and with our families. They also have admonished us to spend time each day with the scriptures, reading and pondering. But many would rather squander three or four hours a night in front of the television than devote quality time to drawing closer to the Lord through prayer and the scriptures, or spending worthwhile time with a parent, spouse or child, or giving service to the Church or community.

      President Spencer W. Kimball said, "Jesus . . . taught us how important it is to use our time wisely. This does not mean there can never be any leisure, for there must be time for contemplation and for renewal, but there must be no waste of time. Wise time management is really the wise management of ourselves." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 482.)

      In managing our finances, we have been counseled to live within our own earnings, pay a full tithing, avoid excess debt, balance our wants with our needs, and make sound investments. The words of President Ezra Taft Benson are particularly appropriate as we face tight economic times: "Our affections are often too highly placed upon the paltry, perishable objects. Material treasures of earth are merely to provide us, as it were, room and board while we are here at school. It is for us to place gold, silver, houses, stocks, lands, cattle, and other earthly possessions in their proper places." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 475.)

      On managing our homes, we should use wisely the resources available to us. In addition to prayer and the scriptures, family home evening is essential - these are the rocks on which to build strong family members. Other necessities include good one-on-one communication, between husband and wife, between parents and children. Fathers and mothers need time together; they also need to spend daily time with each child.

      Finally, the secret of good management is evaluation. We need to make sure our time in this earthly probation is used wisely. President Kimball said, "Waste is unjustified, and especially the waste of time - limited as that commodity is in our days of probation. One must live, not only exist; he must do, not merely be; he must grow, not just vegetate." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 359.)

      We also need to make sure that in our homes, families and our lives there is wisdom, harmony and order. If our steps are somewhat shaky, perhaps it is not the straight and narrow path we're on. Perhaps it's a sidestreet that has diverted us from our course. Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate our course, reset our priorities and push ahead.

      Every pilot needs a navigator and as we steer a course in mortal life toward the goal of eternal life, we need to listen to our Navigator, the one who has pointed the way for us - even Jesus Christ.