President Thomas S. Monson counseled Brigham Young University students pertaining to making "choices with eternal consequences" during tumultuous times in their lives.

President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke at BYU's weekly devotional assembly Tuesday morning, March 10, in the Marriott Center. That afternoon, he dedicated the Eyring Science Center. (Please see article on page 3.) President Monson's wife, Frances, accompanied him to Provo.President Monson assured the students that they are not left unaided in their decisions, however small or large they may be.

"It has been said that history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives," he noted. "In reality, decisions determine destiny. That is why it is worthwhile to look ahead, to set a course, to be at least partly ready when the moment of decision comes."

He said that he has in his office a print of the Savior painted by Heinrich Hofmann. "I have tried to pattern my life after the Master," President Monson said. "Whenever I have had a difficult decision to make, I have always looked at that picture and asked myself, `What would He do?' Then I try to do it."

The Book of Mormon, he said, gives the counsel, "Cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." (2 Ne. 10:23.)

"You, in the flower of youth, follow the path of truth," he said. "Your decisions are many, and the major ones are not dissimilar to those of your classmates." He then presented a checklist showing a few decisions young people face:

1. "Shall I serve a full-time mission?" President Monson said that all young men who are physically and mentally capable are encouraged to respond to the call to serve. "Worthiness is a prerequisite," he said. "Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men."

He added, "You approach missionary service after a lifetime of preparation. Primary, Sunday school, seminary and sacrament meeting all help us to prepare, to say nothing of family home evening, family and personal prayer, and gospel study."

2. "What shall I study to prepare me for my life's work?" President Monson recommended that students pursue subjects that they really love and that will remunerate them sufficiently to provide a livelihood for their families. "This applies to the young men but should apply also to you young women, for you never know when circumstances may dictate that you be the provider for your family," he said.

"One could say, `I love to study about basket weaving.' I would reply that the employment niche for some fields is small or the field is overcrowded. Let such be a hobby. Determine what you earnestly want to do and how to qualify. Study with skill. Labor to learn. Strive for excellence in your chosen field. One cannot rest content with mediocrity when excellence is within his grasp. Examine the credentials to be acquired and then put forth your best thinking, your constant study, and your earnest prayers to guide your quest. Study widely to be well rounded, and then focus on your specific goal.

"Beyond academia, let us prepare to be noble fathers, understanding mothers, and children worthy of our Heavenly Father's blessings. Let us be all our parents hope we are and who God knows we can become."

3. "Whom shall I marry?" To this question, President Monson said, "In a way, the answer is within you. Other questions will help you quantify your answer. Be balanced in your life. Take time to study, but don't neglect the student ward activities. Learn to be a participant and not an observer only. Become acquainted with other students. Date those individuals who share your eternal goals as well as your daily standards of conduct. Don't settle for less than a temple marriage. You are on a personal journey which did not begin here on earth, nor does it end with death. Pursue the path which leads to perfection, walking hand in hand with your eternal companion, seeing eye to eye and feeling heart to heart. Be your best self, and others will tend to follow your example and respect your values."

President Monson encouraged the students to pray about their decisions, to confide in and seek counsel from their parents and bishops. He said that sometimes a sincere youth will ask him, "If Jesus visited you today, what questions would you ask Him?" President Monson said his reply is simple: "I would ask no question; I would listen to Him."

4. "How shall I serve?" President Monson counseled the students: "Regardless of how busy you are, irrespective of the burdens you carry or the troubles that beset you, step up to serve. You may be the answer to another's prayer. `When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.' (Mosiah 2:17.) We learn to do by doing; we learn to serve by serving. Remember the Chinese proverb: `I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.' Inspiration for your service can come from the invitation observed as one enters your campus: `Enter to learn; go forth to serve.' "

He said that BYU students' acts of service are legendary and well publicized. However, he added, there are many acts of service given freely through quiet love and tender care that are not publicized. As an example, he told of a visit he and Sister Monson made last year to Olive Davies, widow of the first stake president in Toronto. At her hospital bedside, they found Sister Davies' grandson who had spent most of the summer away from his university studies so he might serve his grandmother's needs.

Before concluding his address, President Monson spoke of a visit he and Sister Monson made recently to Utah Valley Hospital to see Harold Allen, who had served in the Canadian Mission when President Monson presided there from 1959-62. Brother Allen is seriously ill with cancer.

He explained that Brother Allen had operated a service station in Monticello, Utah, before he entered the mission field, 12 years older than most of the missionaries. He said that a 19-year-old companion described Elder Allen as the best and most dedicated missionary, one who arose early and was always ready to go forth and serve.

"His father left the family when Elder Allen was only 5 or 6 years of age," President Monson said. "Since his mother was an invalid, he was raised by his grandmother and two aunts. When he was 17, his mother passed away. After graduating from high school, he served for a time in the army. When he returned home, he became the sole support of his two aunts, but his great desire was to serve a mission. Determined to go, he worked very hard for many years to save the money. He saved enough money to have a home built for his aunts, as well as providing a two-year supply of food for them so that they would be taken care of while he served. He also saved all the money necessary for his mission. I feel honored to have had him serve in the Canadian Mission.

"As we concluded our visit at the hospital, a priesthood blessing was provided. To keep from weeping, I touched his hand and asked, `Harold, what do you think of the temple under construction in Monticello?' He replied softly, `Well, President, I love Monticello, and there is no place I would rather be than there at the time the temple is dedicated. President, I'll be there - if not in person, then surely in spirit.'

"Quietly, but knowingly, I assured him, `Yes, Elder Allen, you will be there.' "

To the student assembly, President Monson added, "May we `be there' in the Celestial Kingdom of our God and hear from Him the greeting, `Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' " (Matt. 25:21.)

- The full text of President Monson's address is available on the Church News Web site: (www.ldschurchnews.com).