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Show Young women charged to become 'the real guardians of moralit A major portion of the Sunday morning address given by Elder David B. Haight of the Council of the Twelve was He said that young women have the obligation to set the proper example for the young men they date. Help our young men stay morally clean that they might be worthy and prepared to serve the Lord as missionaries, he said. You too have a duty to serve the Lord and to honor womanhood according to our Church beliefs and not the worlds. One of your most important obligations is to be and remain clean and pure. directed toward the young women in the Church. Saying that President Spencer W. Kiihball has requested every worthy young man to prepare himself to go on a mission, Elder Haight stressed that young women have a key role in their pre-missi- training. It is sad and disappointing to see the names of young men in many wards not able to take advantage of the divine direction: Send forth the ciders of my church into the nations which are afar off; the islands of the sea; . . . unto foreign lands; call upon all the Gentiles, nations, first and then . . the Jews. (D&C Young women, he said, ... should refrain from early dating or going steady. Avoid at all cost the familiarity trap, he said. Instead of spending time in a lovers lane, why not develop your minds and personalities. You both have talents to develop and share. Some of our choice young men have been caught up in the ways of a heavily commercialized society, he said. Elder Haight said that some young men cant go on missions because they are not worthy. Young couples on dates know in advance what too much time together or too late at night can lead to. Avoid such dangers. Proper judgment in retrospect is so clear. There is a lurking power of emotion that can override intellect. ... . 133:8) He challenged the young women who associate with and date young priesthood bearers to become real guardians of their morality. Please do not underestimate your role, he said. I am aware that the total responsibility is not your s. However, on a date you can set the proper atmosphere and encourage your companion to honor the commandments of God and respect the laws. In fact, you can emphasize the Mormon ideals of womanhood in all its honor and glory. I know our Lord expects it to be so. He said that the young ladies have a profound influence on the young men. Young men wear the clothes they think you like. Their hair will be cut to please you. Do you know that in many instances beards and long hair actually affect the personality of a young man and influence his actions? Are you aware that fashions and styles are promoted because someone has a product to sell? You need not dress in the fashion of the world. The day will come when the world will dress after the way of the Church. He reminded the young women that the young men they date are in training for missions and hold the priesthood. The young man you may be with probably is a priest, he said. He is not just another young man. He is in training. He is going on a mission. You can be a great blessing to him. You. a young lady he admires, can help him avoid serious pitfalls. Our young men 16, 17, 18 are growing, maturing, learning, and forming habits. They have ideals and and special persons they admire. You may be such a person. Permissiveness never duced greatness. pro- faces peer into Tabernacle door, hoping to be allowed to come inside. Tiny Missionary aid is needed In her letter, a mother explained that her family had decided to earn some money for the missionaries for Christmas instead of spending it on heartfelt thanks and a special invitation marked the Sunday morning address of Elder A. Theodore Tuttle of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy. The last time I spoke from this pulpit, he said, I explained a special need to help local missionaries from some of the missions in South America. In the midst of these countries the annual income averages less than 10 percent of what it is here. I explained that these young people had already sacrificed much, and that they would need additional financial help from those of us who could easily share. I didnt really appeal for funds, I outlined a A need. This is my first opportunity, he continued, to express thanks to so many for helping these missionaries. Elder Tuttle described some of the unique contributions that were made. A generous check from a lady who just wanted to do my part. She was 95 and blind. teenager sent $2 and noted that if every member did the A other things. They stacked wood, raked leaves, gave piano lessons and one boy even contributed the money he received for a lost tooth. He also loosened two additional teeth and came up with another 50 cents. Aside from some concern about a possible toothless boy, Elder Tuttle said lightly, I commend you all. Elder A. Theodore Tuttle . . . "delay retirement" same, over six million dollars would be collected. The stories continued. A father of eight boys, under; standing the disappointment he would experience if lack of funds kept one of his sons from a mission, sent a little something. , , , ... Gratefully, he continued, the need still exists. In fact its growing daily. Elder Tuttle said the Church, over the past year, has experienced a 37 percent increase in local missionaries. He then went on to explain another need that is fast developing due to the increase of missionary activities. Last year, he said, more than 140,000 converts joined the Church. With so many converts the little branches grow rapidly. New leaders are called to positions of leadership early. They are able but inexperi enced in Church procedures and administration. These new leaders, as well as old ones need to be taught how to organize the Church correctly. Then Elder Tuttle explained that the job of training new leaders was too big for Regional Representatives or mission presidents because of the many demands on their schedules and the big areas they must cover. He suggested that mature couples, those in good health and who have married children, consider going on missions to fulfill roles of training and helping new leaders. He outlined who they might contact if they have a desire to serve. Such a call, he said, will delay your retirement, take you off the golf course, and away from your mobile home. It will place you face to face with real challenges that require deep spirituality, earnest prayer, and the exercise of great faith. Elder Tuttle concluded his talk noting that the field is white and ready for the harvest. WEEK ENDING OCTOBERS, 197Z CHURCH 15 |