PROVO, Utah — "Live to have no regrets," Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve counseled college-age young adults Sept. 12.

"Think of what the words of the song 'Do What Is Right' mean in your life," he said. "May the doctrinal message it contains be as helpful to you as it has been to me."

Speaking at a Church Educational System Fireside, Elder Scott addressed a congregation of more than 18,000 in the BYU Marriott Center — as well as thousands of young adults participating in the fireside via satellite at more than 600 locations in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Also in attendance were Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve and commissioner of Church education, and his wife, Kathleen, and Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Seventy and BYU president, and his wife, Marilyn.

During his address, Elder Scott told the young adults that as a whole they are better prepared and are more valiant in confronting the challenges of the world in their determination to obey the Master than any other generation in the history of the Church.

"The challenges you face are also more numerous and more intensely focused. Yet never was there a more exciting, stimulating, potentially productive time to live on the earth."

Elder Scott explained that there are two potent influences that constantly surround members of the Church: trust and deceit.

To illustrate trust, Elder Scott asked several students as well as Elder Eyring to join him at the podium. He explained that he was going to request they do something that would appear harmful, but if they trusted him nothing undesirable would occur. "If you follow my instructions carefully, I promise you that nothing unpleasant will happen to you. You have my promise," he said. "But please follow carefully the instructions I give you or I cannot be responsible."

He instructed the group to gather in a circle and hold hands. He then asked Elder Eyring and one student to wrap exposed wires from an electrical cord connected to a light bulb around their fingers. Elder Eyring and the students — now connected directly, or by holding the hands of another, to what could carry an electric current — were asked if they wanted to leave the circle. When no one left, Elder Scott plugged the cord into an electric socket. The light came on but nothing happened to the students.

Elder Scott cautioned the young adults to never try the experiment; since he did not want to harm the trusting students the cord they were holding did not carry electricity.

The second demonstration, to illustrate deceit, was introduced by Elder Scott as an effort of mind over matter. A block of wood was placed on a table and the apostle explained that he would cause it to move "with the sheer force of mental power." It moved slightly, then fell over. Elder Scott explained that the experiment illustrated deceit, noting that he does not have power of mind over matter. The wood fell with the aid of a radio controlled device in its interior, he explained.

"While we have had some fun, these examples I have shared were not intended for entertainment," he said. "They are to provide a hook in your mind where you can securely tie eternal principles that will help you identify, choose and fulfill correct decisions so as to receive the blessings the Lord wants you to obtain."

The first example, Elder Scott explained, embodies the many challenges of life. "I asked a group of trusting youth to do something their own experience would indicate would bring them difficulty. . . . They trusted me and because of that trust we were able to carry out the illustration."

Elder Scott noted, however, that on another occasion he tried the experiment only to notice a young woman, asked to hold the bare wire, had moved her fingers down the cable until it reached the insulation.

"She did not trust me. I was greatly disappointed," he said. "Yet this is an example of how some in the world today meet challenges. They want to have it both ways. They want to appear to be doing the right things, but they also want to earn the friendship of those that are not.

"Do not play games with the Lord. When you trust Him fully, He is able to bless you richly. He knows what is best for you. Sometimes a very clever person can deceive a human being, but none of us can do that with the Lord."

Elder Scott then spoke of the mind over matter experiment, based on deceit. "Did that remind you of so many things you see in the world around you?" he questioned. "One who follows that pattern of deceit tries to appear to have influence and capabilities that He does not possess. Satan is the epitome of this model of life. . . . Satan can have no influence over a righteous individual unless that person yields to temptation or allows fear to overcome faith."

Elder Scott promised the young adults that as they trust in the Lord, are obedient to His commandments, and follow the direction of the Spirit, they will recognize deceit.

He then cautioned them against sin.

"Unless you have already done so, make this decision now, 'I will live to have no regrets,' " he said. "I cannot tell you how immensely important it is for your life here on earth and throughout eternity to be able to say, regarding those serious sins of immorality that could be committed on earth, 'I have no regrets; I have not participated.' "

While through the process of repentance sins can be totally forgiven, "there must remain a disturbing memory when those boundaries have been crossed, even when the full forgiveness has been given by the Savior," he explained. "How much more serenely pleasant it is to live never having done those things."

Concluding, Elder Scott testified that a life without regrets can bring immense joy, peace and tranquility.

"There are many ways to be motivated to do good in life," he said. "Perhaps setting goals is one that helps you. . . . You may have discovered that an even stronger motivating force to do right is to study, ponder and distill truths from the doctrine of the Church as the very foundation of your life. Doctrine, understood and applied, is a mighty, sustaining, supporting force when we have determined to do what is right. I have found another extremely potent motivating influence. I am sure many of you have discovered it — the love of a cherished, eternal companion and a compelling desire not to disappoint her. . . .

"Yet there is another even more significant motivating influence than these. It is the profound love of Father in Heaven and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost. This divine Godhead is the very foundation of all we can experience and enjoy for good. It is our Father's plan of happiness that provides the way. It is the love of our Savior for us and His capacities earned from His willing Atonement that give us the power to grow and overcome mistakes. It is the direction, through the Holy Ghost, that leads us to make the right choices and warn us of dangers in our path. These, my dear friends, provide the basis upon which you can build a secure life."