Pres Eyring conducts.
Choir sings: “Rise Up Oh Men of God”
Invocation: Bruce A. Carlson of the Seventy
Choir sings a medley of primary missionary songs.
Elder Cook
Share some counsel about decisions and choices. Charlie Brown comic strip. High fly ball hit to Lucy. Lucy would be a hero if she caught the ball. Lucy dropped the ball. Charlie Brown threw his glove to the ground. Lucy: “how do you expect me to catch the ball when I am worried about our country’s foreign policy?”
Lucy’s reasons were rationalizations. Decisions determine destiny. Rise above rationalizations regarding our decisions. Refuse the evil and choose the good.
Follow commandments, keep covenants. Don’t allow rationalizations to interfere with temple marriage. Young people say they want to marry in the temple but don’t date a temple worthy person. Some people don’t date at all.
I talked to a young man who said he wanted to go on a mission, but his conduct was not preparing him for going on a mission. He had not learned to work hard. Was not serious about school or seminary. He had not read the BoM. He thought that just showing up for his mission would be enough.
We need to show moderation, balance and wisdom. Use of the internet. Can be used to do missionary outreach, family history. Potential for good is enormous, but can also pornography and can perpetuate foolishness. Endless loops of triviality.
Distractions are everywhere. Live in a world that is literally in commotion. Careful use of social media. We spend part of our time pretending to be happier than we are. Noise, contention on the internet.
One wise father says, “will this make you a better person?”
Concerned about foolishness and being obsessed about every new thing. Basic values have eroded. Apostle Paul pointed out that the Athenians were interested in “some new thing.”
Remember good, better, best. Can be distractions from the important things. His father worried about too much sports in Elder Cook’s life. Elder Cook told a story about a negative experience with the Stanford football coach. Decided not to play college sports.
The internet, sports are not bad. But people need to use better discipline. Should be consistent with our goals. This life is the time to prepare to meet God. There is a seriousness of purpose that must undergird our approach to life.
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