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Show p Guide Youth, Leaders Told resident Harold B. Lee, who presided at and conducted the Sunday morning session of June conference, underscored for the Priesthood MIA leaders the importance of strong Latter-da- y Saint homes. We have said again and again, and I repeat it now, that the most important work we will ever do will be within the walls of our own home. Give the child love in the home and the homes will give our auxiliaries children who can feel the lessons of love of God and man taught in the church, he teld them. President Lee spoke briefly in closing the session. He declared to those present that the teachings and programs presented during the conference were divinely inspired. The church President noted the Lords admonition that men offend God when they do not acknowledge His hand in all things," then he continued: I choose not to offend God by claiming that all this has come by the will of man. I confess with all my soul that these things are the Lords and they have come through righteousness, through prayer and through great need. He spoke of the need youth often express to have parents and church leaders show love for them and for each other. President Lee told of one stake president whose later life was shaped by the Jove for the fa nily that his father had shown in the home, and then the church leader reiterated the importance of that love. The experience of love in ones early youth enables him to develop the ability to feel within the feelings, the urges that create the attitudes that result in a truly religious life. It is these feelings that supfor good works,. ply. He noted that the Lora has prepared, thousands of leaders, officers and teach- ers to teach the revelations setting forth the purpose of life o.i earth, mans relationship to God, the importance of temple marriage and the way to prepare for salvation. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ it is our responsibility as youth and adults to remember who we are and to act accordingly, to live worthy of the gospel which we have embraced and the knowledge which we have, and through our words and deeds help others to realize and understand their relationship to God and what will bring the greatest joy and happiness here, and exaltation and: eternal life, he said. President Tanner called on parents and ctiu'ch officials to join hands in our youth to meet and helping to reject and overcome the great evils so prevalent in tht world today." Warning against ministers who preach that the traditional gospel is outdated and he continreligion must be relevant, ued: d If you can take with you now as you go back to your homes, you leaders of youth and young adults and the church membership, a feeling of love that we have just demonstrated, you will have set the stage for great and mighty things are conference of priesthood MIA. that will make this church more wonderful and more influential than it has ever been before in all the world, President Lee added. President N. Eldon Tanner, first counselor in the First Presidency, had opened the session by congratulating those who had helped make June conference a success. Where else in all the world could you find such a activity engaged in the building of good citizens, in helping to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, and furthering the work of the Lord? he commented. President Tanner then reviewed the history of mans coming to earth and the plan that has been prepared to enable men to return to their Heavenly Father. He pointed out that Satan and his forces are constantly engaged in trying to destroy mankind. On the other hand, God the Father from the beginning has warned us, instructed us and given us the plan of life and salvation by revelation and by prophecy, he said. Let Us always remember that we are spirit children of God, and that God is interested in us and stands ready to answer our prayers and wants us to succeed. President Tanner affirmed that God has prepared the way for men to succeed in eternity, and that He blesses them in many ways. Among these blessings is the provision for a living prophet on earth to be Gods mouthpiece. Photo bv W. Cldudell Johnson Music of Tabernacle Choir added We again emphasize that God never changes and that the teachings of Jesus Christ are the same yesterday, today and forever, and that His name is the only name under heaven by which man may be saved. He quoted a letter from Cherry Boone, daughter of singer Pat Boone: Members of my generation are drowning hopelessly in the barrage of ideologies. Somebodys got to take the initiative and provide them with the help they so desperately need! ' Then he read a college newsmans farewell editorial, in which the young man wrote of being unable to muster loyalty to any giant abstraction like Democracy, God, America, Freedom and Religion. What a sad and startling situation, President Tanner commented. What a warning it is for parents, officers and teachers to encourage all to do as the Savior said, Come follow me. Let the gospel be the center of your life, and not the peripheral. Listen to the promptings of the Spirit. Follow the words of the Prophet. Pray and stay close to the Lord. Be alwavs worthy of His presence. President Marion G. Romney, second counselor in the First Presidency, was the concluding scheduled speaker at the Sunday session. He congratulated on their callings as leaders of youth, and told them they man their posts in perilous times. We live in one of the most critical periods of all time. The great struggle for the souls of men waged by the powers of evil against truth and righteousness is reaching a climax, he commented. President Romney recalled the Lords warnings that His judgments would come upon the world when it is ripe in iniquity and cautioned that that time is fast approaching. He quoted extensively from the Lords Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants warning men to repent, and also read verses 35 and 36 of Section 1: For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion." And also the Lord shall have power to solemnity, sweetness of Sunday session of June conference. Continued on page WEEK ENDING JUNE 30, 1973 CHURCH -3 11 |
