From Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone and his book “The Millennial Generation”. . .’Leading Today’s Youth into the Future’:
Several years ago I read about a baccalaureate address given at a major university in America. The speaker suggested that the students take two minutes and consider the deepest convictions of their lives. His address was published in Vital Speeches. I have thought about how most of the students in that particular class would have likely answered the question: “I want a husband or wife who loves me, a family, a nice home, a good job, a good reputation, and plenty of recreation time with my family.” Of course, the specifics for each student would vary according to such characteristics of religion, wealth, talents, and the like.
I would like to alter this speaker’s request slightly. If you want to have an insightful and generally faith-building response, ask your youth to respond sincerely to this question, whether it be in sacrament meeting, quorum meeting, seminary or other class, or family home evening: “Tell me in a minute or two the deepest convictions of your life; the things you know more surely than anything else in the world.”
At a regional Priesthood meeting I invited President John Galanos, president of the Melbourne Australia Stake, to come to the pulpit and stand by me. Then I asked him to respond to the above request. A wonderful thing happened. He attempted to speak, a deep, sweep of emotions swept over this wonderful leader. Tears glistened, and he stood deeply moved, unable to utter a word. As I watched, I thought about Ammon’s tender feelings: “Behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God” (Alma 26:11).
After a minute or two, President Galanos gestured, lifting both hands up in a physical suggestion that the response that came to his mind was so sweet and powerful that words were not available, nor could he bring his emotions sufficiently under control to respond. I said to the priesthood leaders present, “We have and eloquent, wonderful, spiritual witness of what President Galanos is thinking!”
Generally for those who have a personal witness of this work and have studied the gospel plan, the response goes something like this: “I know more than anything else I know in this world that there is a God in Heaven, that Jesus is literally, physically, the Only Begotten Son of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a living prophet, apostle, revelator, and seer of God. As much as I know anything, I have a conviction that there are sealing powers on earth and that my wife and I, and our children have been sealed for eternity. There is a conviction in my soul, uncompromising, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church on this earth. I know that the Atonement and Redemption of Christ is an absolute fact and that he is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Prayers are answered by a loving Father, and justice and mercy can and will be extended to all who qualify.
Is it any wonder that President Galanos had a difficult time in responding to my request?
As you ask young men and women to sincerely respond, you will learn a great deal about the depth of their testimonies. Quite often I ask persons whom I’m interviewing for restorations of blessings to respond to this request. Very often like President Galanos, when they try to describe their feelings for the Savior and his atonement, they are overcome with emotion.
Stake presidents and bishops would be wise to cover this issue with young men who have been called on missions. Most will be deeply humbled and a few will say, “I want to learn while I am on my mission. I want to improve myself and work hard. I would like to be a good companion, and I would like to have a good mission.” Of course, these are all worthy desires, but they lack the depth of knowledge needed to be fully motivated by faith in Christ, which is the supreme motivator.
Generally, almost everyone I put the request to starts this starts out with “I know there is a God in heaven who loves me.” Isn’t that marvelous, that most latter-day Saints have that witness and that knowledge?
Job declared,” I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skins destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself and not another; though my reins be consumed with in me” (Job 19:25-27).
. . . . Youth need to be around people who have deep convictions. Our convictions direct our lives away from things that are destructive, away from voices that cry out against leaders, the Church, or the doctrine. Having firm convictions about the living God, the atoning Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost will keep us holding firmly to the Iron rod of God.
Elder Stirling W. Sill quoted a poem that our youth need to understand:
It was such a little little sin and such a great big day
That I thought the hours would swallow it or blow it away.
But the hours passed so quickly by and the wind died out somehow
And sin that was a weakling then is a hungry giant now.
(Leadership, [Salt Lake City:Book craft, 1958], p.3)
Those whose convictions are slippery or not firmly in place are in jeopardy because they will have a tendency to compromise some teachings or principles. Firm convictions bring firm commitment. If you rereading this book, you are probably working in some way with youth. It behooves you to respond to this crucial request: “In a minute or two, describe the deepest convictions of you life—the things that you know more than anything else in the world.” When our convictions are deep enough, God will entrust us to work with his precious youth to brine them safely through.~~From Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone and his book “The Millennial Generation”. . .’Leading Today’s Youth into the Future’: (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book; 1999), p.37-40
