Pres. Monson at CES fireside: 'Great expectations' in the race of life
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Quoting from one of his favorite authors, President Thomas S. Monson spoke of "great expectations" held for LDS college-age young adults and offered hints that will help them make preparations to succeed in the race of life.
Speaking during a Church Educational System satellite broadcast originating Sunday evening, Jan. 11, in the Marriott Center on BYU's Provo, Utah, campus, President Monson related the story of a Charles Dickens character known as Pip in the novel Great Expectations.
An orphan, Pip desired to be a scholar and a gentleman, but seemed doomed to failure until a London lawyer informed him that an unknown benefactor had bequeathed a fortune to him. Then the lawyer put his arm around Pip and said, "My boy, you have great expectations."
President Monson told the CES congregation, "Today, as I contemplate who you are and what you are, who you may become and what you may become, I say to you, as that lawyer said to Pip, you have great expectations — not as the result of an unknown benefactor, but as the result of a known benefactor — even our Heavenly Father — and great things are expected of you.
"Many of you here tonight are close to completing your formal education; others of you have additional periods of academic preparation ahead. Each is in what could be called the race of life, which goes to him who endures to the end (see Ecclesiastes 9:11).
"The race of life is so important, the prize so valued, that great emphasis must necessarily be placed on adequate and thorough preparation."
President Monson spoke of various periods of preparation: pre-mortal preparation, childhood preparation, academic preparation and spiritual preparation.
He told the young adults that the period of their preparation did not begin when they first entered college or university classes — it began before they came to mortality, when all lived as spirit children of Heavenly Father. He quoted from Abraham 3:22-26, which tells something of that existence, and promises that those who keep their first estate "shall be added upon," and they who keep their second estate "shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever."
The young adults, he said, have now entered another great preparation period in order that they might qualify for the race of life — academic preparation.
President Monson spoke of having taught at the university level many years ago. He noted that some students seemed to know where they were going and applied themselves by working toward achieving their objectives and goals. However, others could not have cared less. "They seemed to be drifting on a sea of chance, with waves of failure threatening to engulf them. First they became lazy, then discouraged, then indifferent; and then they became dropouts."
He emphasized, "In your pursuit of excellence, real effort is required."
Greater than academic preparation, President Monson declared, is the matter of spiritual preparation.
"We must acquire for ourselves a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which testimony will be an anchor to our soul."
Regarding a desire to find truth during an uncertain period of life, President Monson spoke of the answer to Joseph Smith's prayer: He saw the Father and the Son, and the Father commanded Joseph to hear the Son (see Joseph Smith 1:10-13). "Joseph listened, Joseph learned. His question had been answered," President Monson testified.
The pathway leading to truth is well marked by Heavenly Father, said President Monson. "We must first have a desire to know for ourselves. We must study. We must pray. We must do the will of the Father. And then we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it.
"Remember that doubt and faith cannot exist in the mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other. Whereas doubt destroys, faith fulfills. An attitude of faith brings one closer to God and to His purposes."
President Monson counseled those whose preparatory period at school closes and who now embark on "the great race of life." He suggested some helpful hints that will assist them to achieve their great expectations:
First, avoid the pitfalls in the track. "Avoid the detours which will deprive you of your celestial reward. You can recognize them if you will. They may be labeled, 'Just this once won't matter,' or, 'My parents are so old-fashioned.' "
He cautioned against bad habits and said, "Our Heavenly Father has counseled us to seek after 'anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.' Permissiveness, immorality and the power of peer pressure cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings and shattered dreams."
Saying that whatever one reads, listens to or watches makes an impression on the individual, he admonished, "Avoid any semblance of pornography. It is dangerous and addictive. If you continue to view pornography, your spirit will become desensitized and your conscience will erode.
"Don't be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what's being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father's standards. In short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don't see it, don't read it, don't participate."
Second, beware of the flashy start and the fade-out finish. He said he likes the simple wisdom found in a poem by an unknown author:
Stick to your task till it sticks to you.
Beginners are many, but enders are few.
Honor, power, place and praise
Will come, in time, to the one who stays.
Stick to your task till it sticks to you.
Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;
For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile
Will come life's victories, after a while.
"Formula W is interesting: 'Work will win when wishy-washy wishing won't.' An attitude of work results in the capacity to make continuous effort toward the accomplishment of a given goal. ...
"The happy life is not ushered in at any age to the sound of drums and trumpets. It grows upon us year by year, little by little, until at last we realize that we have it. It is achieved by a body of work done so well that we can lift our heads with assurance and look the world in the eye."
Third, help others in their race of life. "Remember that when you help another up a mountain, you are a little nearer the top yourself. . . . An attitude of love characterized the mission of the Master. He gave sight to the blind, legs to the lame, and life to the dead. Perhaps when we face our Maker, we will not be asked, 'How many positions did you hold,' but rather, 'How many people did you help?' In reality, you can never love the Lord until you serve Him by serving His people."
Fourth and finally, seek the help of the Lord. "Souls are precious — your soul and my soul. Our Heavenly Father Himself has said so.
"Remember that we do not run alone in this great race of life; we are entitled to the help of the Lord. To the Hebrews the Apostle Paul urged: 'Lay aside . . . sin. . . , let us run with patience the race . . . set before us, Looking [for an example] unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.'
"Before we can take Him as our companion, before we can follow Him as our guide, we must find Him." President Monson quoted New Testament verses declaring that "the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20) and "there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).
"The invitation of the Lord is directed to each of us: 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him' (Revelation 3:20).
"Oh, my young brothers and sisters, make room for the Lord in your homes and in your hearts, and He will be your companion. He will be by your side. He will teach you the way of truth. With His help, and with the preparation about which we have spoken, you can go forward in this race of life and achieve your great expectations. Then, at the conclusion of it all, you will be able to say, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith' (2 Timothy 4:7).
"By so doing, the blessings of heaven will attend. He who notes the sparrow's fall will, in His own way, acknowledge our service."
In conclusion, President Monson expressed his love for the young adults: "You are a choice generation with great expectations. May our Heavenly Father ever guide and bless you, and may you strive always to achieve those great expectations."
