'Much is expected of you'
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Speaking during a Church Educational System fireside March 2, Elder Donald L. Staheli asked college-age young adults if the road they are now traveling is leading them to achieve their full God-given potential.
"As the finest generation this Church has produced, much is expected of you," said Elder Staheli of the Seventy.
More than 18,000 young adults gathered in the BYU Marriott Center for the address, which was broadcast live via satellite to an estimated 150,000 in 77 countries. The fireside, translated into 29 languages, will also be made available on videotape to institute students around the world.
"Keep the fire of your testimony burning brightly through faith, prayer, scripture study and the spiritual blessings that come from obedience to the Lord's commandments," Elder Staheli told the worldwide congregation.
During his address, he also told the young adults to take responsibility for who they are and who they want to become; stay focused and use their time wisely; have the courage to be different than those in the world around them; and lose themselves in service to others.
"As you do these things the Lord will bless and strengthen you so that you may move forward in magnifying the talents and opportunities He has given you."
Future happiness, he said, will depend in large part on the habits, choices and commitments made over the next few years.
"The challenge lies in the question, 'Is the road you are now traveling and the present conduct of your life leading you to achieve your full God-given potential?' 'If you were to make no changes in the present course of your life, would you be happy with who you are and what you have become five years from now?' "
Elder Staheli said while many are commended for pursuing an education and striving to live the commandments, some are still working on a vision for their future and the action plans that they need to achieve their full potential.
"One of the greatest tragedies of our time is that so many people live so far below their potential," Elder Staheli said. "Each of us can and should do more to meet the Lord's expectations of us."
Elder Staheli then spoke to the young adults about ways they can take and keep control of their lives. He urged them to develop a strong personal testimony.
"I assume most of you have a basic testimony of the gospel," he said. "Yet, I would suspect that many of you are being challenged by the things of the world with which you deal every day."
Elder Staheli said a testimony is like a muscle. "As we nourish and exercise and use it, it develops and becomes stronger. When we fail to do so, it atrophies and becomes weak.
"Our testimonies grow with faith, prayer, scripture study and obedience to the commandments. The daily exercise and nurturing of these principles is key to a strong and resilient testimony and commitment to the gospel principles."
Living to be worthy of the Spirit and then responding to its promptings is another important milestone in temporal and eternal progress, he said. "To be worthy of the Spirit embodies the bottom line of obedient righteous living. To truly accomplish this is the quest of a lifetime."
Quoting President Ezra Taft Benson, Elder Staheli said, "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power."
Every person probably has irritants that will inhibit their progress, he said. "And some may be struggling with a number of serious irritants that have become roadblocks to enjoying the quiet whisperings of the Spirit. . . . As you are able to conquer and overcome your personal irritants to obedience, you will feel God endowing you with the power of the Spirit to resist the inappropriate things that the world and Satan would have you enjoy."
Elder Staheli also offered four simple principles that can lead to temporal and spiritual success.
Take responsibility for who you are and what you want to become. "Many of you are well on your way with your education and the early stages of your careers," he said. "We commend you. For those of you who are still pursuing your formal education, complete your degree or vocational training no matter the intellectual or financial struggles you may be encountering along the way. For those of you who may not have had the opportunity for advanced education or have dropped out of school for various reasons, think carefully about where you are. Remember, education is the key to the door of opportunity."
Stay focused and use your time wisely. One of life's challenges, he said, is to stay focused and stay on course.
"I am convinced that distractions and discouragement are some of Satan's most effective tools," Elder Staheli said. "He gets us involved in wasting our time and resources in things that lead us away from improving our lives and developing our talents. He blurs our focus by diverting our attention."
Have courage to be different than those in the world around you. Elder Staheli said one of the greatest challenges for all is to learn how to live in the world without participating in all that it offers. "Worldly standards are like fashions. They are frequently changing and testing the levels of acceptability for that which provides new excitement, pleasure, and a lure for the daring."
Lose yourself in service to another. "In closing, I want to ask you for a special favor that will bring you joy and happiness as you lose yourself in service to another," he said. "Former President of the United States George Bush said, 'Any definition of a successful life must include service to others.' "
Elder Staheli counseled: "Each of you here tonight must know of one or more of your friends or acquaintances who are struggling with some of the principles we have been discussing. Some are discouraged and some have even lost hope. Others have been disappointed or faced daunting challenges that they were unable to understand or handle emotionally. The end result, for whatever reason, is the loss of faith and testimony in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They have become less active or inactive."
Elder Staheli asked each young adult to join with youth leaders, priesthood leaders and institute teachers and directors to help another return to the gospel.
"What greater service could each of you render than reaching out to someone you know who needs a helping hand to return to full fellowship in the gospel of Jesus Christ."
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