He spoke as the president of the Church. He related scripture as the president of the Church.

But as President Gordon B. Hinckley addressed the institute students at Southern Utah University, whom he described as "the best generation this Church has ever had," he also spoke as their friend.About 3,500 students - some who said they didn't sleep the night before because of anticipation, and others who rose early to get prime seating - gathered Feb. 11 at the Centrum on the SUU campus to hear President Hinckley answer questions about life and the gospel.

In the process, he taught them doctrine, expounded the scriptures and shared his insights, all while lacing his comments with humor. He was accompanied by his wife, Marjorie.

"University students," mused President Hinckley after looking over five generalized questions submitted by the institute students for the prophet to answer, "aren't concerned with the great theological questions of the Church.

"They are concerned with marriage. They are concerned with going on a mission. They are concerned with their future lives. They are thinking about themselves, in a very serious way. I guess that's very important that you think about yourselves and what you are going to do."

The five questions dealt with: recognizing the promptings of the Spirit; the prophet's feelings of how young women should consider their choices of missions, careers and marriage; gaining forgiveness; his counsel to the young adults of today; and, dealing with the challenges of a polluted world.

"When all is said and done," he said, speaking from his experience of working with the Holy Ghost, "it is the feeling we have in our heart. That is the test."

He read Moroni 7:13-17 and showed how those things "that persuade us to do good, to rise and stand tall, to do the right thing, . . . to be kind and generous, that lead us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds . . . are of the Spirit of God.

"If it is dark, sinister, ugly, . . . then it is of the adversary," he continued. "The Lord isn't going to spell out [what you should do]. If you are living the right way, you will know what the spirit is saying."

He also shared one of his "great and favorite scriptures." He read D&C 50:24: "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." Putting the scripture into context he said, "This speaks of our eternal growth."

Concerning young women and their choices of marriage, missions and careers, President Hinckley said, "If you feel you have to go on a mission, if that is the desire of your heart, then go. But you do not have to go to live an honorable life in this Church. Your lives will be perfectly acceptable to the Church . . . without that experience.

"If you have an opportunity for marriage, if you desire to be married, if you are old enough to be married, you better get married. But if your marriage prospects are dim," he said wryly, "just keep trying."

Concerning education and careers, he said, "We believe in education. We have a mandate from the Lord to educate ourselves. If you find yourself in circumstances where you need

an educationT, it will be a tremendous help to you."

Speaking about forgiveness of sin, President Hinckley was both frank and friendly. "If you've done something grievous, talk to your bishop," he said. "But you can't carry it in your heart all the time. There is forgiveness for you out there. Our Father in Heaven loves you. . . . He has great concern for you. Put it behind you. If you do what is right, things will work out for you."

To help students understand their place in history, President Hinckley recounted the accomplishments of the pioneers who settled in a land they had never seen before, and grew crops where none had been harvested before, in soil that had never been plowed before.

"Yours is an inheritance of faith," he said. "You are beneficiaries of the great foundation which they laid."

Then, offering a glimpse into his feelings as president of the Church, he said, "I can't get over Brigham Young. I occupy the chair that he once sat in, as it were. I can scarcely believe what he did. He brought thousands into the Salt Lake Valley. He had to have seen it in vision. He had to have a prophetic mantle resting on his shoulders."

President Hinckley then offered his concern over the growing evil in the world. "It is full of filth," he said.

After touching on the major points of a lengthy article about pornography in a recent major news magazine, he said, while raising his voice in a tone of urgency, "Stay away from [pornography]. You don't need it, . . . it will destroy you.

"You live in a world of the greatest filth that has ever been known. Stand tall. Live the gospel. Carry on."

He said the importance of the Church in the students' lives will be what they make of it. "And if you are not a part of it because of your way of doing things, it will move on nevertheless, and leave you behind. Be faithful. Be true. Be active."