The coming of a new century and a new millennium has generated tremendous excitement, jubilation, and anticipation.

But, unfortunately, some of that exuberance has been muted by a problem that has been given the unusual title of Y2K. What is Y2K, and why has it caused such a stir?

When computers were in their early stages of development, in order to save space on punched cards and magnetic tapes, the years were shortened to the last two digits, such as "66" for 1966. Even the most modern computers of recent years have perpetuated that system, which now threatens to turn time back to 1900 when the year 2000 dawns. Thus the Year 00, 2000 or the Y2K terminology.

That simple, space-saving shortcut has now caused billions of dollars to be spent, has caused frustrating hours and hours of corrections, and has created great uncertainties in our computer-driven world about what systems might crash on or after January 1, 2000.

Many are asking why those who had the intellectual capacity to create computers didn't foresee the problems that could occur with a new century. There is probably no legitimate answer, only the stark reality that the problem exists and vast resources have been and are still necessary to fix the problem.

How like our personal lives is this dilemma. Years ago we never dreamed that some habit or characteristic we had in our lives, which could easily have been corrected then, would now dominate what we do and often be too hard to correct.

For instance, for some that first cigarette, often taken on a youthful teenage dare, has become a habit that seems almost impossible to overcome. Without correction, cancer, emphysema, or heart problems can often result.

Those first snickering glances at a pornographic magazine somehow created a desire for more and more and, indulged in, has ruined marriages, caused spousal or child abuse and created immorality of immense proportions.

Just one sip of this popular beer won't hurt you, it was said long ago. It did taste a little different, but it made you feel like one of the group, and so one more was all right, and one more after that, and soon social drinking became acceptable. Unfortunately, for some that turned into alcoholism with its results of lost employment or sorrow and remorse for actions that occurred under its influence

It seemed only right to retaliate when someone became angry at you over some circumstance that could easily have been resolved without hate or bitterness. But anger seemed the only course, and soon it became a way of life to react with rage or an uncontrolled temper when anything was upsetting. Now restraint is difficult, self-control is virtually gone, and others live in fear of your abusive words or actions.

Y2K and its problems will eventually be resolved. Computers will run smoothly and programmers will make certain that future problems don't result from today's inattention.

But will our lives be better in the next century? Do we have the courage to stop doing what is wrong and start doing what is right?

Of course we do. With faith and determination, and the help of a loving Heavenly Father, "all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23.)

Now is the time to decide. Now is the turning of measured time that gives us the incentive to purge our lives of improper things and enhance the good things so that we will be better than we have ever been before.

At the October 1999 general conference President Gordon B. Hinckley gave us this wise counsel:

"We stand on the summit of the ages, awed by a great and solemn sense of history. This is the last and final dispensation toward which all in the past has pointed. I bear testimony and witness of the reality and truth of these things. I pray that every one of us may sense the awesome wonder of it all as we look forward shortly to the passing of a century and the death of a millennium.

"Let the old year go. Let the new year come. Let another century pass. Let a new one take its place. Say goodbye to a millennium. Greet the beginning of another thousand years.

"And so we shall go forward on a continuing path of growth and progress and enlargement, touching for good the lives of people everywhere for as long as the earth shall stand." (Ensign, November, 1999, p. 74.)

Whatever our shortcomings or challenges may be, now is the time to put them aside and make our lives Y2K compliant.