President Thomas S. Monson repeated an incident his son, Clark, told during a religion class years ago at BYU to illustrate that "today determines tomorrow."

In the class, Clark recalled that he and his father were pheasant hunting near Malad, Idaho. At noon, President Monson suggested that the two unload their guns and kneel down to pray. The prayer was for Elder Richard L. Evans, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, who was gravely ill at the time. By pre-arrangement, all of the members of the Twelve, wherever they might be at the time, were to kneel in united prayer for Elder Evans."I well remember the occasion, but I never dreamed a son was watching, was learning, was building his own testimony," said President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, at the Saturday evening priesthood session.

Leaders of Aaronic Priesthood young men have "an awesome responsibility" to guide them on the "priesthood trail," he said.

"Bishops and bishops' counselors, will you undertake a study of the activity levels of each Aaronic Priesthood young man and outline your own plan to ensure the progress and activity of each one?"

Saying that youth need less criticism and more models to follow, President Monson added that advisers to the Aaronic Priesthood quorums are teachers and models for the young men. "Do you know the gospel?" he asked them. "Have you prepared the lesson? Do you know each boy and prayerfully determine how you might reach his mind and heart and help fashion his future?"

He shared a personal experience as a teachers quorum president, when the bishopric member who had responsibility for the quorum presidency invited them to his home for leadership training. They obliged on condition he invite his wife to serve some of the meat pies for which she was famous. After being taught and inspired, and after enjoying the meat pies, they talked the couple into joining them in a game of Monopoly.

"I don't remember who won the Monopoly game, but I have never forgotten the lessons learned that night in Church government and the administration of a priesthood quorum," he reflected.

Young men between ages 12 and 17 are in a time of preparation and spiritual growth, he noted, citing the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood, which are to help each person who is ordained to do the following:

- Become converted to the gospel . . . and live by its teachings.

- Magnify priesthood callings and fulfill the responsibilities of his priesthood office.

- Give meaningful service.

- Prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and temple ordinances.

- Commit to, prepare for, and serve an honorable full-time mission.

- Prepare to become a worthy husband and father.

"Serving throughout the world," President Monson said, "is a great missionary force going about doing good. Missionaries teach truth. They dispel darkness. They spread joy. They bring precious souls to Christ.

In 1926, he said, two mis

sionaries serving in Germany, Elders Alfred Lippold and Parker Thomas, were walking to a conference in Dresden, basically "without purse or scrip," although they had to carry a small amount of money to prevent being arrested as vagabonds.

Along the way, they called at a home where they met a mother with eight children. Her husband had deserted the home and left his family penniless. She said, "If you travel without purse or scrip, then you must be hungry. Sit down." She gave each of them a big slice of bread with plum jam on it. They blessed it, and in the blessing, asked the Lord to give the woman what she needed.

After they had departed and walked a mile, Elder Thomas said, "I must go back," which he did without explanation. On his return, he said, "In our prayer we asked that the woman be given what she needed. I had what she needed - a 20 dollar bill. It was in my pocket, and I went back to give it to her. It would have burned a hole in my pocket."

President Monson also told of Odeen Manning, an ophthalmologist who, with his wife, spent three months in the Cook Islands many years ago, where he gave free eye care to a total of 284 patients. Later, President Monson met the Mannings on a cruise ship.

"Heaven was close as Dr. Manning and I embraced," he said, "and thanks were expressed for his service - not only to those who were blind and now could see, but also to our Lord and Savior, who declared, `Great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea.' "

Declaring that Jesus Christ is a teacher of truth, the Exemplar of the perfect life, the Great Physician and the literal Savior of the World, President Monson enjoined: "Let each of us learn of Him, believe in Him, trust in Him, follow Him, obey Him. By so doing, we can become like Him."