PROVO, Utah — Church members have a "remarkable message" of startling truth that is needed in the world today, said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Ballard joined President Gordon B. Hinckley and other Church leaders Jan. 19 at the Pleasant Grove Regional Conference at BYU's Marriott Center. The task of sharing the gospel is given to all — but Elder Ballard emphasized his conference words were particularly directed to young men approaching the age to serve a full-time mission.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

Future missionaries must study and appreciate the gospel's message, then learn how to share it with others in clear and simple terms, Elder Ballard said. The young men of the Church must also make the effort now to learn the history of Heavenly Father's children and the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. Inner strength and the ability to resist the dangerous things of the world will be needed while young men prepare to serve missions.

Elder Ballard spoke of his own mission call to the British Isles more than 50 years ago. Prior to the call, Elder Ballard had served as president of his high school seminary but said he had not been as attentive as he should have. He arrived in the mission lacking in gospel knowledge.

The day Elder Ballard met his mission president he and the other new missionaries were taken to London's Hyde Park, a popular gathering place where people would speak on political and religious issues. To his surprise and dismay, Elder Ballard was asked by his new president to preach.

"I stood up on the stand and said everything I knew about baptism in less than a minute," Elder Ballard said, recalling his embarrassment.

Elder Ballard said he got down on his knees that night and resolved with the Lord that he would never again be in a position where he could not teach and defend the position of the Church.

Elder John H. Groberg

And what is the Church's position? he asked. "The gospel of Jesus Christ has been placed on earth for the salvation of the sons and daughters of God. Our Father loves us. We are His children."

The Lord has tried time and again to give us His truths, Elder Ballard said. There have been many apostasies and restorations recorded in the days of Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses.

"Then the Lord, loving His children with His supreme love, sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ," Elder Ballard said. Still, many rejected Christ's message. The Lord was crucified and most of His apostles were martyred.

Young people, he added, also need to know of the contributions of reformers such as Martin Luther "who did what they could to bring religious freedom and religious thought back to the world, opening the way for enough religious freedom that God could speak to a boy in a grove of trees in 1820."

Study the life of Joseph Smith and gain an appreciation of his successors, including President Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder Ballard counseled.

"It's a great message that we have: the gospel again has been restored to the Earth."

President Rex D. Pinegar

Young men need to step away from the urge to just go along with the world, he added.

"Do not allow yourselves to just drift along," Elder Ballard said. "Take hold of the gospel now in your lives."

The Church leader also admonished young people to stay away from evil, dangerous things on the Internet, sexual mischief and anything that would dull their preparation to play a role in the spreading of the gospel.

In his conference remarks, Elder John H. Groberg of the Seventy said the test of life is choosing to follow God or the dictates of man.

"The will of God is to be modest, to be soft spoken, to be kind and helpful," Elder Groberg said. "Too much of the world expresses itself in extreme styles, strident sounds, putting down other people and making a mockery of those who may be weak or different."

Earth life is not intended to be easy, he added. It is a test that must be prepared for. Members can start by following the words of the scriptures and the designated servants. Then they can put their heart and soul into teaching the truths of the gospel of Christ.

"The greatest joy comes from knowing you have done your duty. You have responded to the spirit that is within you. You have testified to others," Elder Groberg said.

Jesus gave His all for His people. Members can also give their all and one day return to God saying they have worked hard, testified and put forth a full effort, he added.

President Rex D. Pinegar, an emeritus General Authority and president of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple, said President Hinckley has said the temple forms a bridge "between the world we live in and the world we're going to."

"We want you to come and experience the joy of those two worlds together — to see how they blend as one through the gospel of Jesus Christ," President Pinegar said. "Our Savior really brings these worlds together through the work of the temple."

E-mail: jswensen@desnews.com