- Far from being anxious to condemn, our Heavenly Father and our Savior seek our happiness and plead with us to repent, knowing full well that “wickedness never was [and never will be] happiness.”
He says that part of having the knowledge of the gospel is the desire to share that truth with others since we know the decision to accept the gospel has eternal implications.
- We who have received a knowledge of the great plan of happiness—and its implementing commandments—should feel a desire to share that knowledge since it makes all the difference here and in eternity
He reminds us that parents play a crucial role in leading their families in righteousness when they have received the knowledge and testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.
- A crucial element of the parental duty to warn is to paint not only the demoralizing consequences of sin but also the joy of walking in obedience to the commandments.
Elder Christofferson shares that our understanding of the gospel reaches far beyond the fads and ideas of today. The gospel is an anchor in the winds of the ever changing world.
- How much better it is to have the unchanging law of God by which we may act to choose our destiny rather than being hostage to the unpredictable rules and wrath of the social media mob. How much better it is to know the truth than to be “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” How much better to repent and rise to the gospel standard than to pretend there is no right or wrong and languish in sin and regret.
Finally, he shares that the Lord is relying on us. The Lord will strengthen us as we live the way that He has instructed us to live.
- We trust that especially you of the rising generation, youth and young adults on whom the Lord must rely for the success of His work in future years, will sustain the teachings of the gospel and the standards of the Church in public as well as in private. Do not abandon those who would welcome truth to floundering and failing in ignorance. Do not succumb to false notions of tolerance or to fear—fear of inconvenience, disapproval, or even suffering.
President Hinckley once spoke about what draws people in the world to the church. He said that the church was an anchor in the winds and the waves of an ever changing world. People want stability in their lives and the church provides clear direction about how we should live our lives. How grateful I am to have clear guidance on the various issues of our day and time. The church leads us down a path of safety from the things of the world that would destroy our spiritual light. We can find peace and assurance that we are doing things that will bring us closer to the Savior when we are following the teachings of our modern day prophets and apostles.