In Oregon Sept. 14-15, President Gordon B. Hinckley expressed appreciation for the beauty of the Willamette Valley and its beautiful mountains covered with trees. And in this place of beauty, he cautioned the youth about the world and much going on in it that is "destructive in its nature and character."

President Hinckley visited the Willamette Valley for the Eugene Oregon Regional Conference, which got under way Saturday afternoon, Sept. 14, with a meeting for the leadership of the Eugene Oregon, Eugene Oregon West, Eugene Oregon Santa Clara and Roseburg Oregon stakes. The afternoon leadership meeting was held in the Eugene Oregon West Stake center, with 630 priesthood leaders in attendance. A missionary meeting was held that evening, with approximately 180 missionaries of the Oregon Eugene Mission attending. The conference continued Sunday as some 4,300 people gathered in the Lane County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall.Participating with President Hinckley in the conference were Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder C. Scott Grow, an area authority and member of the North America Northwest Area presidency. Also speaking at the conference were their wives, Sisters Marjorie Hinckley, Barbara Ballard and Rhonda Grow.

At the Sunday session, President Hinckley observed that the Willamette Valley is "a wonderful place to live. This is a good area in which you live and you are part of that goodness."

He directed much of his address to the young people in the congregation. Interspersed in his address was an expression of gratitude for the gospel and all it entails. "How grateful I am for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," he said. "How thankful I am for the testimony which I carry in my heart, as you carry in your hearts, that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He is our Father in very deed, that He is the Father of our spirits and that we are His children, and that we are accountable to Him for that which we do with our lives.

"How thankful I am for the testimony I have of the living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not a dim figure who lived long ago but is the living Savior and Redeemer of the world, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh, the Son of God who gave His life in an act of sacrifice and atonement which opens the way for eternal life for each of us. How thankful I am for the restoration of the gospel in this the most glorious age in the history of the world, the dispensation of the fulness of times. Somehow in the great mercy of the Lord, I and each of you have been partakers of these marvelous blessings."

To the young people, most of whom are in small numbers in their respective schools, President Hinckley said: "Thank you for your strength, your goodness, your courage . . . for hanging together." He encouraged their participation in seminary and institute, where they can mingle with those of their own society. "Look for your friends among members of the Church, band together and strengthen one another," he said. "And when the time of temptation comes you will have someone to lean on to bless you and give you strength when you need it."

He spoke of the importance of education for young people, and encouraged them to their train their hands and minds. "Make the best of your opportunity - do the very best you can. The work of the world is done by ordinary people who learn to work in an extraordinary way," he observed.

He counseled the youth to be clean in their thoughts and actions. "If you work at it, you can shut out those influences that will destroy you," he said. "Stay away from pornography. Do not rent videos of a sleazy nature. Do not go to shows that will tear down your principles," he cautioned. He spoke out strongly against profanity and vulgarity, and asked that the youth be clean in their dress and appearance.

"You reflect this Church in all you think, in all you say, and in all you do," President Hinckley told the youth. "Be loyal to the Church and kingdom of God." He referred to the Book of Mormon account of the sons of Helaman who were miraculously preserved by the hand of the Lord, even though some were wounded. Such preservation was ascribed, he said, "to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe - that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually." (See Alma 57:25-27.)

President Hinckley told the youth that they are "out there as the sons of Helaman in a world that is full of destructive influences. . . . But if you put your trust in the Almighty and follow the teachings of this Church and cling to it notwithstanding your wounds, you will be preserved and blessed and magnified and made happy."

Speaking of the world in which they live, President Hinckley told the youth, "You're in the midst of Babylon. The adversary comes with great destruction. Stand above it, you of the noble birthright. Stand above it."