Noting fondly the "spirit of aloha" among the Hawaiian people, President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled some 13,500 Church members from nine Oahu stakes on Feb. 18 to seek happiness and solutions to life's challenges by more fully living the gospel.

The president visited Laie Feb. 17-19 to conduct two Sunday regional conference sessions at the BYU-Hawaii Cannon Activities Center; instruct 1,700 priesthood leaders at a four-hour Saturday afternoon leadership session; meet with 100 missionaries Saturday night; visit the Polynesian Cultural Center; and greet leaders of the Catholic Church in Hawaii who have worked with local LDS leaders on a variety of legislative issues dealing with casino gambling, legalized prostitution and proposed same-gender marriages.Accompanying the prophet on his whirlwind weekend were his wife, Marjorie P. Hinckley; Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve and his daughter, Linda Mickle; and Elder Loren C. Dunn of the Seventy and president of the North America West Area, and his wife, Sharon.

Members attended one of two Sunday conference sessions according to their stakes, with overflow crowds on the grounds and in a nearby old gymnasium.

"The gospel is the answer to life's problems," President Hinckley told 7,133 members of five stakes in the morning session. "I think there isn't one [problem] that is not answered."

He discussed specific difficulties including financial hardship, depression, wayward children, domestic difficulties and others - suggesting antidotes for each from the standard works and other prophetic utterances.

While acknowledging significant individual and collective challenges faced by the Saints, President Hinckley encouraged them to be grateful for the privilege of living in this day and age. He reminded them of the great blessing of having the fullness of the gospel upon the earth, and of the tremendous advances in science, medicine and technology that have occurred within his own lifetime that enhance and bless lives.

Referring to Nephi's challenges, he pointed out that despite their difficulties he and his people "lived after the manner of happiness" (2 Ne. 5:27) as they were faithful. That theme runs throughout the Book of Mormon, he noted. "When they were obedient and followed the ways of the Lord, the people were happy. When they did not, they were miserable."

President Hinckley also referred to Rev. 3:15-16, which he had read earlier that morning in preparation for the day, and admonished Church members not to be lukewarm in the cause of truth. "Take a stand," he said. "Rally around with others in standing up for what is true and right."

He left his blessing upon the people that they would "walk in faithfulness before the Lord" and be blessed with the necessities of life and with increased love in their homes.

"You and I are all bound by one common thread, that is our witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, . . . that He lives and stands at the head of this Church."

He said he had but one wish for all of them: that they would return to their homes and in each household would, as Joshua of old, choose this day to serve the Lord. (Josh. 24:15.) Members and many of their guests left the morning meeting - which closed with a stirring choir rendition of "Come, Come, Ye Saints" - with strong expressions of love and affection for President Hinckley and his associates.

Following a brief lunch, the president's party went to the David O. McKay Foyer, a recently renovated reception/museum room with exhibits and murals that tell the story of the Church in the islands and the beginnings of what is now BYU Hawaii. The foyer functions as a visitors center and place to greet guests of BYU-Hawaii.

After a short stop there, it was back to the Cannon Center for the afternoon session, attended by 6,392 from four stakes. Like the earlier meeting, this one was conducted by Elder Dunn and included a spirited choir. In addition to President Hinckley, speakers at both sessions included Sister Hinckley, Elder Scott, Sister Mickle and Elder and Sister Dunn. Area Authority Donald L. Hallstrom spoke at the morning session.

Included in the afternoon gathering were many single and married university students, and both President Hinckley and Elder Scott directed their remarks toward them.

Elder Scott shared two experiences from his employment in earlier years where great pressure was exerted on him to compromise his standards. He was ridiculed for his convictions, but related how the words of the hymn "Do What is Right" came clearly into his mind. "Do what is right, let the consequence follow," he repeated. "The consequence will always be more strength, more happiness. . . . Don't be led from the path that brings happiness."

President Hinckley noted that "when it's all said and done, we are all students" who never should stop learning. He asked them if their university instructors would give them straight A's, since he intended to give them five "B's" and elaborated on each:

- Be grateful. "How thankful we ought to be for membership in this Church, which gives opportunity and vision and understanding of the great and eternal things of God. He loves those who express gratitude and thanks. No generation ever before has enjoyed the blessings which you enjoy. Be grateful for your blessings, my dear young friends."

- Be smart. "Take advantage of the opportunities you have. They will never come again. There will never be another time in your lives, never another season, like this. This is the time of your lives to acquire knowledge both secular and spiritual." Quoting from the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, President Hinckley added, "It is a mandate incumbent upon you to acquire knowledge and be diligent in the process. We ought to be the best educated people in the world with that kind of mandate. The reflection of this campus is felt across a vast part of the world - the islands of the sea, the Pacific Rim, wherever you come from. You're all a part of this great mosaic of nations which constitute this Church. Learn while you are here, and with all your learning partake of the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

- Be true. President Hinckley read a poignant letter from a woman whose husband had left her and their children due to infidelity. The woman eventually remarried and experienced much happiness, but the prophet spoke of the heartache of many caused by the man's disloyalty. "Be loyal one to another, you people who are married. Be true to one another; be true to your ideals; be true to the faith."

- Be clean. "The Lord has said, 'Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.' Be clean. Live lives that are compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Avoid pornography. You can't afford to let it stain your lives. You can't afford to become addicted to it as you will if you tamper with it. Stay away from it; avoid it. Avoid it like a plague. It is as a veritable flood sweeping over the earth and its effects are terrible. Stay away from it, my dear young friends."

- Be humble. "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers," quoted President Hinckley. (D&C 112:10.) "People ask me what is my favorite scripture. I tell them I have many, I don't know that I have one, but this is one of them. Pray, and there is a power that you can tap greater than any that you possess."

At the conclusion of the afternoon session, the Hinckleys and other leaders were sent away with an emotional rendition of "Aloha, Oe." The prophet had, throughout the weekend, expressed his strong love for the people of Hawaii and all of Asia, and those feelings surfaced as he, Sister Hinckley and the others departed.

"I was moved that he would choose to speak to the students and feel the aloha spirit of this place," said BYU-Hawaii Pres. Eric Shumway immediately after the conference. President Shumway and his wife, Carolyn, had four guests with them at the afternoon session who are not LDS. "We felt a spiritual electricity flowing between them and President Hinckley," she said. "It couldn't have been a better meeting."