Tonight I feel especially blessed to speak as a bishop
to the young men, holders of the Aaronic Priesthood,
gathered from around the world for this
general priesthood meeting.
I share with you narrative from the Book of Mormon
describing Helaman and his 2,000 stripling soldiers.
This scripture will provide insight into the character of
those ancient young men and inspiration for you,
latter-day young men.
I quote a favorite scripture: "And they were all young men,
and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also
for strength and activity; but behold, this [is] not
all--they were men who were true at all times." Courage,
strength, activity, and truth--what admirable traits!
I would like to focus on the first trait that describes
them: "valiant for courage." To me, this describes the
conviction of these young men to courageously do what is
right, or as Alma describes, "to stand as witnesses of God
at all times ... and in all places."
The 2,000 stripling soldiers had countless moments to
demonstrate their courage.
Each of you will also have defining moments in your life
requiring courage.
A friend of mine, John, shared with me one of those moments
in his life.
Some years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious
Japanese university.
He would be part of the international student program
with many other top students from around the world.
Some enrolled with the hope to deepen their understanding of
the culture and language, others viewed it as a
stepping-stone to an eventual profession and employment in
Japan, but all had left home to study in a foreign country.
Soon after John's arrival, word of a party to be held on
the rooftop of a private residence spread among the
foreign student population.
That evening, John and two friends made their way to the
advertised address.
Following an elevator ride to the top floor of the building,
John and his friends navigated the single narrow stairway
leading to the rooftop and began
mingling with the others.
As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed.
The noise, music volume, and alcohol amplified, as did
John's uneasiness.
Then suddenly someone began organizing the students into a
large circle with the intent of sharing marijuana
cigarettes.
John grimaced and quickly informed the two friends that
it was time to leave.
Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, "John, this is
easy--we'll just stand in the circle, and when it is our
turn, we'll just pass it along rather than smoke it.
That way we won't have to embarrass ourselves in front
of everyone by leaving."
This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound right.
He knew he had to announce his intention and act.
In a moment he mustered his courage and told them that
they could do as they wished, but he was leaving.
One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other
reluctantly followed John down the stairs
to board the elevator.
Much to their surprise, when the elevator doors opened,
Japanese police officers poured out and hurried to
ascend the stairs to the rooftop.
John and his friend boarded the elevator and departed.
When the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the
students quickly threw the illegal drugs off the roof so
they wouldn't be caught.
After securing the stairway, however, the officers lined up
everyone on the roof and asked each student
to extend both hands.
The officers then walked down the line, carefully smelling
each student's thumbs and index fingers.
All who had held the marijuana, whether they had
smoked it or not, were presumed guilty,
and there were huge consequences.
Almost without exception, the students who had remained on
the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities.
And those convicted of a crime were likely
deported from Japan.
Dreams of an education, years of preparation, and the
possibility of future employment in Japan were
dashed in a moment.
Now let me tell you what happened
to these three friends.
The friend who stayed on the roof was expelled from the
university in Japan, which he had worked so hard to be
accepted, and was required to return home.
The friend who left the party that night with John finished
school in Japan and went on to earn degrees from two top-tier
universities in the United States.
His career took him back to Asia, where he has enjoyed
immense professional success.
He remains grateful to this day for
John's courageous example.
As for John, the consequences in his life have been
immeasurable.
His time in Japan that year led him to a happy marriage
and subsequent birth of two sons.
He has been a very successful businessman and recently
became a professor at a Japanese university.
Imagine how different his life would have been had he not had
the courage to leave the party on that
important evening in Japan.
Young men, there will be times when you, like John, will have
to demonstrate your righteous courage in plain view of your
peers, the consequence of which may be ridicule and
embarrassment.
Additionally, in your world, skirmishes with the adversary
will also be fought on a silent, solitary battlefield
in front of a screen.
Technology with its substantial benefits also
brings challenges not faced by generations before you.
A recent national survey found that today's teens are not
only tempted at alarming levels each day in schools but
also in cyberspace.
It revealed that teens who are exposed to images of drinking
or drug use on social network sites were three to four times
more likely to use them.
Commenting on the survey, a former U.S. cabinet secretary
stated (quote): "This year's survey reveals a new kind of
potent peer pressure--digital peer pressure.
Digital peer pressure moves beyond a child's friends and
... kids they hang out with.
It invades the home and a child's bedroom via the
Internet." (Close quote.)
The demonstration of righteous courage will often be as
subtle as to click or not to click.
Missionaries are taught from Preach My Gospel, "What you
choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe
no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue."
Be courageous!
Be strong!
"Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved."
Young men, I promise the Lord will empower you.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power."
He will reward you for your courage and righteous
behavior--with happiness and joy.
Such courage will be a byproduct of your faith in
Jesus Christ and His Atonement, your prayers, and
obedience to commandments.
President N. Eldon Tanner stated: "One young boy on the
school [grounds]
can wield a mighty influence for good.
One young man on the football team, or the campus, or among
his fellow workers can, by living the gospel, honoring
[the]
priesthood, and taking a stand for the right, do untold good.
Often you will experience much criticism and ridicule even by
those who believe as you do, even though they may respect
you for doing right.
But remember that the Savior himself was tormented,
ridiculed, spat upon, and finally crucified because he
would not waver in his conviction.
Have you ever stopped to think what would have happened had
he weakened and said, 'Oh, what's the use?' and abandoned
his mission?
Do we want to be quitters, or do we want to be valiant
servants in spite of all the opposition
and evil in the world?
Let us have the courage to stand up and be counted as
true, devoted followers of Christ." (Close quote.) I
invite you to qualify yourselves as did the 2,000
stripling soldiers by being valiant in courage as worthy
priesthood holders.
Remember, what you do, where you go, and what you see will
shape who you become.
Who do you want to become?
Become a worthy deacon, a worthy
teacher, a worthy priest.
Set a goal to be worthy to enter the temple now and to be
worthy to receive your next ordinance at the proper age
and ultimately to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.
This is a pathway of righteousness which invites
divine assistance.
The Lord stated, "In the ordinances thereof, the power
of godliness is manifest." Parents, priesthood leaders,
and prophetic priorities found in your Duty to God and For
the Strength of Youth pamphlets will guide
you along the way.
President Monson recently counseled: "To make
[decisions]
wisely, courage is needed--the courage to say no, the courage
to say yes. ...
I plead with you to make a determination ...
right now, not to deviate from the path which will lead to
our goal: eternal life with our Father in Heaven." (Close
quote.)
Just as the 2,000 soldiers responded to the battle cry of
their leader, Helaman, and marshaled their valiant
courage, you too can do the same by following your
prophet-leader, President Thomas S. Monson.
My young Aaronic Priesthood holders, in closing I offer my
testimony of God the Father and Jesus Christ and the words
of Joseph Smith: "Brethren, shall we not go on
in so great a cause?
Go forward and not backward.
Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!"
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.