President Gordon B. Hinckley invited young adults attending a Salt Lake Valley-wide institute fireside Jan. 21 to walk with him on "the path of faith" and to "stand for that which is right and true and good."

"The Church needs every one of you. It needs your strength. It needs your energy. It needs your enthusiasm. It needs your loyalty and devotion and faith," he said to the capacity audience packed into the Tabernacle and overflow areas on Temple Square.Michael Hinckley, president of Latter-day Saint Student Association located at the institute adjacent to the University of Utah and the prophet's grandson, conducted the meeting. The Salt Lake Institute Concert Choir provided music, and Amy Pearce, one of President Hinckley's granddaughters, introduced him as the featured speaker.

President Hinckley, accompanied by his wife, Sister Marjorie P. Hinckley, told the institute students that they represent a great generation in the history of the world and the greatest generation in the history of the Church.

"You are a very important part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How much stronger it is because of you. And how much better are your lives because of it," he said, explaining that he has tremendous enthusiasm for the work of the Church.

President Hinckley told the young adults that no one has a more compelling responsibility to "move forward the work of the Lord" than they do. "You are young. You have energy. You have convictions in your hearts," he said after noting that the Church has taken root in more than 150 nations, territories and political entities.

Making reference to a recent interview with Mike Wallace, senior correspondent for CBS's "60 Minutes," President Hinckley said he was asked to explain the growth of the Church in many parts of the world.

"I replied to this effect: `This work stands as an anchor of stability, an anchor of values, in a world whose values are shifting. We stand for something. Our values find their roots in the teachings of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are unchanging.' "

President Hinckley then challenged the members of the Tabernacle congregation to be faithful to their values.

"Regardless of your way of doing things in the past, I offer you a challenge this night to square your lives with the teachings of the gospel, to look upon this Church with love and respect and appreciation as the mother of your faith, to live your life as an example of what the gospel of Jesus Christ will do in bringing happiness to an individual," President Hinckley said.

He added that this will not be easy, acknowledging the exploitation of sex and violence on television, videotapes, magazines, long-distance telephone services and the Internet.

"My plea to you, my dear associates in this work, is to distance yourselves from these things. You can turn the dial on the TV set. You can shun like a plague the renting or acquisition of videotapes designed to titillate and lead you into regrettable paths. Only the producer profits from such things. The buyer or the renter never does."

President Hinckley continued, saying several LDS students told "60 Minutes" reporters that while it is easy to turn down a cigarette or refuse a beer, knowing where to draw the line on sex is a different matter.

"My dear young friends, it is all a matter of self-discipline. Of course you know what is right and wrong. You have been trained from your childhood in these matters," he said. "When you find yourself slipping in the direction of that which you know is wrong, it may be difficult to stop and turn around. But it can be done."

He stated further that "any young man who asks for sexual favors from a young woman. . . is saying in the strongest terms that he does not love her. Such an expression is one of lust and not of love."

President Hinckley emphasized that the only place a child should be born is within the bonds of marriage. "Marriage is ordained of God, marriage between a man and a woman. It is the institution under which He designed that children should come into the world. . . . Whether a relationship be heterosexual, homosexual, or whatever, any such relationship outside the bonds of marriage is totally at odds with the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

He also told the audience to never resort to swearing or using filthy language, which "only advertise the poverty of their vocabularies and a glaring paucity in their powers of expression."

"Cultivate the art of conversation. It is a tremendous asset. For me, there is nothing more delightful than to listen in on the conversation of a group of bright and happy young people such as you. Their dialogue is witty. It is scintillating. It sparkles and is punctuated by laughing, even when dealing with serious subjects," he said. "But, I repeat, it is not necessary in conversation to profane the name of Deity or to use salty or salacious language of any kind."

President Hinckley said other behaviors can impede progress as a Latter-day Saint - one of which is being critical of the Church.

"You are bright and able and educated young men and women. You have been taught to think critically, to explore, to consider various sides of every question. This is all good. But you can do so without looking for flaws in the Church or in its leaders. Keep balance in your studies," he cautioned.

President Hinckley said there are and always will be a few critics who wear out their lives trying to find fault with the Church.

"I regret the manner in which they are wasting their time. My heart reaches out to them, and I wish I could persuade them to change their ways, to alter their outlook, and to come back to the Church and apply their talents to the building of the kingdom. . . .

"I suppose they are enjoying their day in the sun, but their sun will set and they will not be remembered for good," he added.

He urged the students to be thoughtful, in a positive and affirmative way, concerning the work of the Lord. This work, he explained, has not been moved forward by critics; it has been moved forward by men and women of faith, who have done their part in expanding it.

"The Church is the great reservoir of eternal truth from which we can constantly drink. It is the preserver of standards, the teacher of values," he said. "Latch onto those values. Bind them to you hearts, let them become the lodestar of your lives to guide you as you move forward in the world of which you will become an important part."

Although President Hinckley has several favorite scriptures, he said the one he has particular love for is D&C 50:23-24: "And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."

"Never kid yourselves that happiness can come of darkness or evil or sin," he concluded. "Know that happiness comes of following the way the Lord has marked for us. And so I say again, walk with me the path of faith."