President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged the youth of the Church to rise above sordid worldly elements that surround them to take their place as "this chosen generation."

President Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, commented in the Sunday morning session, "I have great confidence in our young people as a whole. I regard you as the finest generation in the history of the Church."He said seeing the youth of the Church reminds him of Apostle Peter's statement:

"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Pet. 2:9.)

"I know of no other statement which so aptly describes you, nor which sets before you a higher ideal by which to shape and guide your lives," he said.

However, he noted, some critics would have Latter-day Saint youth give up their values to "become part of the mainstream of America."

President Hinckley quoted a blue-ribbon commission studying today's American youth, who found that, "Never before has one generation of American teenagers been less healthy, less cared for or less prepared for life than their parents were at the same age. . . ."

This report noted that teen suicide has increased 300 percent since 1951, teen pregnancy 621 percent since 1940, teen homicide 232 percent since 1950, and that substance abuse claims increasingly younger victims with harder drugs.

President Hinckley said the report reached a shocking conclusion: "The challenges to the health and well-being of America's youth are not primarily rooted in illness or economics. The most basic cause of suffering . . . is profoundly self-destructive behavior. Drinking. Drugs. Violence. Promiscuity. A crisis of behavior and belief. A crisis of character."

"When I read those statements I said to myself, `If that is the mainstream of American youth, then I want to do all in my power to persuade and encourage our young people to stay away from it," emphasized President Hinckley.

While there are millions of young people in America and other countries who do live wholesome lives, many others suffer from "a sickness that comes of a loss of values, of an abandonment of moral absolutes," he said.

"The virus which has infected them comes of leaderless families, leaderless schools, leaderless communities. It comes of an attitude that says, `We will not teach moral values.' "

But, he queried, "If we deny the one sure source of moral truth, then from whence will it [moral truthT come?"

Despite present trends, President Hinckley affirmed: "This, I believe, is the greatest age in the history of the world. And you young people are part of it. . . . You and I are experiencing the profound and wonderful blessings of the dispensation of the fullness of times. In this day and time there has been restored to the earth all of the principles, powers, blessings and keys of all previous generations.

"By certain and clear and unequivocal revelation there has come knowledge of the living reality of God our Eternal Father, and His Beloved Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. . . .

"Truly, my dear young friends, you are a chosen generation. I hope you will never forget it. . . . I hope there will grow in your hearts an overpowering sense of gratitude to God who has made it possible for you to come upon the earth in this marvelous season of the world's history."

President Hinckley described the blessings of being part of the "royal priesthood" and "an holy nation" and a "peculiar people."

Regarding being a peculiar people, he observed: "Of course you are peculiar. If the world continues its present trend, and if you walk in obedience to the doctrines and principles of this Church, you may become even more peculiar in the eyes of others."

He encouraged young people to adhere to the values of divine origin they have been taught. "These basic, divinely given principles, laws, and commandments must constitute your value system. You cannot escape the consequences of their observance. Peace and happiness come from obedience while sadness and misery follow those who fail to observe these laws.

"Nor can you afford to idle away your time in long hours watching the frivolous and damaging programming of which much television is comprised. . . . You need to increase your education, to refine your skills, to hone your abilities so that you may fill responsibilities of consequence in society.

"Please know that we love you," he concluded. "We pray for you. As we look to the future we have peace in our hearts knowing that you will be prepared to carry forward the leadership of this great work of the Almighty."