PROVO, UTAH — " A midst the confusion of our age, the conflicts of conscience and the turmoil of daily living, an abiding faith becomes an anchor in our lives," President Thomas S. Monson declared Feb. 7.

The first counselor in the First Presidency addressed more than 18,000 gathered for the Church Educational System fireside in the Marriott Center at BYU. Thousands more college-age young adults participated in the fireside via satellite at several hundred meetinghouses in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

President Monson was accompanied by his wife, Frances. Also present were Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Seventy and president of BYU and his wife, Marilyn.

In his address, President Monson spoke of today's changing world, how technology has altered almost every vocation, and of coping with those changes. "In today's world some young people don't know who they are and what they can be or even want to be. They are afraid, but they don't know of what. They are angry, but they don't know at whom. They are rejected, and they don't know why."

Speaking of the intense competition in the workplace of tomorrow, he quoted D&C 38:30: "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

"Fear is a deadly enemy of progress," he said. "Our journey into the future will not be a smooth highway which stretches from here to eternity. Rather, there will be forks and turnings in the road, to say nothing of the unanticipated bumps. Pray daily to a loving Heavenly Father who wants you to succeed in life."

Encouraging perseverance, President Monson quoted from the New Testament and Book of Mormon: "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong" (Eccl. 9:11), but is achieved by those who "endure unto the end." (1 Ne. 13:37.)

Often, the way is rugged and the course strenuous, President Monson said as he related the account of John Helander from Goteborg, Sweden. He described how John, who had physical handicaps that made it difficult for him to coordinate his motions, took part in a foot race, although he didn't have a chance to win. He described how John continued to run long after all the other contestants had crossed the finish line. When the young man — stumbling, falling, exhausted but victorious — finally finished the race, the spectators stood and cheered.

"Each one of us is a runner in the race of life," President Monson said. "Comforting is the fact that there are many runners. Reassuring is the knowledge that our Eternal Scorekeeper is understanding. Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone, for our Heavenly Father will never forsake us."

President Monson counseled, "Let us shed any thought of failure. Let us discard any habit or trait that may hinder. Let us seek; let us obtain the prize prepared for all — even exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God. . . .

"He who conquered death and atoned for the sins of the world, even Jesus Christ, invited each of us to follow His divine example. 'Follow me' (Matt. 4:19) was His kind instruction. Come "learn of me" (Matt. 11:29) was His personal invitation to the learning that lasts beyond life and which endures through eternity.

"Where money, rather than morality, dictates one's actions, one is inclined away from God. Turning away from God brings broken covenants, shattered dreams, crushed hopes and wrecked lives. Such a quagmire of quicksand, I plead with you to avoid. You are of a noble birthright. Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is your goal.

"Such a goal is not achieved in one glorious attempt; rather, it is the result of a lifetime of righteousness, an accumulation of wise choices — even a constancy of purpose."

He related the fable of Pharaoh who asked Euclid the mathematician to teach him geometry. When Pharaoh complained that the learning process was too slow for him, Euclid replied, "Your majesty, there is no royal road to geometry."

President Monson added, "There is no royal road to salvation and exaltation. There is no royal road to success in any endeavor." He said that the Book of Mormon, Alma 17:1-3, provides a road map for a safe journey.

He told of the Savior's parable about building on a firm foundation. (Matt. 7:24-27.) From latter-day revelation, he quoted: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (D&C 88:119.)

President Monson spoke of a survey in selected wards and stakes in which a significant fact was discovered: Those whose friends married in the temple usually married in the temple, while those whose friends did not marry in the temple usually did not marry in the temple. "The influence of one's friends appeared to be a more dominant factor than parental urging, classroom instruction or proximity to a temple," he observed.

"We tend to become like those whom we admire," President Monson continued. "Just as in Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic account, The Great Stone Face, we adopt the mannerisms, the attitudes — even the conduct of those whom we admire, and they are usually our friends. Do not associate with those who are planning for temporary convenience, shallow goals or narrow ambition; rather, associate with those who are striving for those things that matter most — even eternal objectives. . . .

"This is your day of decision. Think, ponder and pray about the decisions in your life. Very few are trivial. Most of them have far-reaching consequences. One has said, 'The door of history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives.' "

President Monson encouraged the young adults to not take counsel from their fears when discouraged. "Let us look outward into the lives of those who need our help and look upward for the direction to provide such help," he said.

He spoke of the late James Womack, who, during World War II, lost both hands and one arm, as well as most of his eyesight and part of his hearing. "Nobody had wanted to let him enter law school when he returned, yet he finished third in his class at Louisiana State University," President Monson said.

When Elder Spencer W. Kimball called him as a stake patriarch, Brother Womack said, " 'Brother Kimball, it is my understanding that a patriarch is to place his hands on the head of the person he blesses. As you can see, I have no hands to place on the head of anyone.' "

President Monson said that Elder Kimball sat in a chair and asked Brother Womack to see if the stumps of his arms could reach the top of his head. They did. Despite his initial doubts, Brother Womack was able to serve as a patriarch. "Remember," said President Monson, "whom God calls, God qualifies."

Concluding his address, President Monson said, "Tonight, I include one and all who comprise the audience for this fireside . . . in a sincere prayer that we may: