Speaking in the priesthood session of the October 1989 general conference, Elder Robert L. Backman of the Presidency of the Seventy directed his remarks to young men of the Church.

He quoted 3 Ne. 27:19, in which the Lord declared: "And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end." (3 Ne. 27:19.)Elder Backman challenged the youth to be clean, worthy, strong and happy. He offered four-pronged advice to help youth withstand "the fiery darts of the wicked

oneT" (D&C 27:17), to resist temptation, and walk uprightly before the Lord:

"First - be patient. Don't be too anxious to grow up. Bask in the pleasure of anticipating what it will be like to be an adult. Remember, you are only young once, and you are going to be old for a long time. . . .

"Second - focus on your eternal destiny. The Lord has promised the faithful, `All that my Father hath shall be given unto him.' (D&C 84:38.) Think what that means to you as a son of God.

"Set limits to your actions - bounds you will not pass - far from the line which separates good from evil. Be prepared for the experiences that lie ahead. Plan in advance how you will face temptations - weigh the consequences, now and forever. . . .

"Third - stand by your convictions. Take control of your life. It is your body - the clothing of your spirit - you are dealing with. Don't become a slave to your appetites or passions. Be mature enough to have the spirit control your body. Self-control is vital when you are resisting what you know is wrong, especially when a friend insists. This self-control comes with practice, so it's important to build your inner strength. Constantly remind yourself that you are a son of God with great things to do.

"Fourth - repent. Some of us are held back in our development by mistakes we have made, sins we have committed, regrets that we let weigh on our consciences until they burden us down to the breaking point. . . .

"Our loving Father in Heaven is only interested in what you are going to do with your future, conditioned on your repentance from your past sins. . . . The second principle of the gospel is repentance, that beautiful saving principle without which all of us imperfect people would be lost. The Lord has made the promise: `Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' (Isa. 1:18.)

"Isn't that a glorious promise? And it is conditioned only on your repentance. Though the roadway may be long and difficult, though the pain and sorrow may be acute, though the Church may have to take loving action to balance justice and mercy, the repentance process can cleanse your soul, and you can walk in the light of the Holy Spirit again - the transgression forgiven, the soul purified and sanctified.

"You know the steps! Don't delay. Forget the past - except to use it to build a better life. Begin now to be worthy of the eternal blessings God has promised the faithful and the true."