Drawing a lesson from his Depression-era youth, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said at the priesthood session Saturday evening that priesthood bearers need to learn how to "grow into" their responsibilities.

Elder Wirthlin said his hard-working parents made every penny stretch, and they often gave him clothes or other items that were too large for him. When he protested, his mother would say, "Be grateful for what you have, Joseph," and "Don't worry, you'll grow into them."

"I want to tell you young men," Elder Wirthlin said, "that the Lord has His eye upon you. He loves you. He knows you. He knows your triumphs and your trials, your success and your heartaches.

"He knows that at times you may look at the challenges you face and may think they're too big to handle. He is, however, willing and ready to help you as you grow into the men you are to become."

He gave five principles for bearers of the Aaronic Priesthood that if lived and incorporated into their lives would assure happiness and peace despite any trials and temptations:

• Place Heavenly Father first in your life. As literal sons of Heavenly Father, "you have inherited the potential to be like Him," Elder Wirthlin said. "Remember, it is God's work and glory to bring to pass your immortality and eternal life. . . . Because your Heavenly Father is perfect, you can have complete faith in Him. You can trust Him. You can keep His commandments by continually striving to do so."

• Come unto Christ and follow Him as your Savior and Redeemer.

  He challenged the young men to read something in the scriptures every day for the rest of their lives. "Few things you do will bring you greater dividends," he assured them.

  He also counseled young men to learn of the Savior and His atonement, adding, "The more you understand the Atonement and what it means, the less likely you will be to fall prey to the temptations of the adversary."

• Nurture the companionship of the Holy Ghost. He warned: "The failure to live a clean and chaste life deadens the promptings of the Spirit. Take your thoughts to higher levels than the vulgar and immoral. Avoid objectionable television shows and movies, evil Internet sites and all forms of entertainment that portray or encourage immorality and violence."

• Love and revere Joseph Smith as the great prophet of the Restoration. "As you learn more about the Prophet Joseph, you will learn that through him the fulness of the everlasting gospel was restored, including the keys of the priesthood," Elder Wirthlin remarked.

• Love, follow and be loyal to God's living prophet. "In mortality, only one man at a time holds and exercises all of the priesthood keys; today, that man is President Gordon B. Hinckley," Elder Wirthlin said. "Follow the teachings of our modern-day prophet. He is inspired of the Lord to teach us those things that are necessary for us to live happily and righteously."