For the Strength of Youth

[Talk at a Youth Standards Evening - January 2007]

The standards that we are given to live by in the church, especially as youth are amazing. Most of us who have grown up in the church may take them for granted, but I hope by the end of mine and my husbands talks you may begin to understand how amazing they are not just for now, not even just until your our age - but how important they are for all of this life and the next.

It is by our standards, especially those of the Word of Wisdom and sexual purity that we stand out from those aroiund us. It is often these things that I get asked about by my non-member friends. My Dad joined the church because of the standards that the young people of the church live by. There was a girl he knew, not my Mum, who was a member of the church. He asked her on a date, and she said that would be lovely, could he pick her up from church after a meeting she was attending. That meeting happened to be a Youth Standards Night, I guess much like this one tonight. My Dad arrived a little early, crept in at the back and heard about the standards that they were expected to live by. He was amazed by these standards and wanted to know more about the Church. I'm so glad that he did.

In the 'For the Strength of Youth' pamphlet the first principle mentioned is 'Agency and Accountability'. We are free to make choices, and we need to take responsibility for thise choices. I was reading a bopok this week about time, and how well we use it. One of the things that stuck out to me was that one barristers opinion was thaht thise people who live in the now and don't think of the future are often those who commit crime. He said that many people may see something nice, and want to take it, but it's only those who don't think about the consequences who do take it. We are so lucky in the church to be told time and time again about the importance of our choices. Every decision that we make decides our future. Some decisions are important, but all of them make an impact. We are also all aware, that if we have chosen wrong, we can repent and change, but this is not the same as choosing right in the first place. For example, someone who has smoked may repent and stop, but this will not remove tar from their lungs.

I'd like to briefly talk about how living the standards from the 'For the Strength of Youth' have really helped me in my life. While at school, as I mentioned before people would notice that I was different by the standards that I lived, this would provide missionary opportunities for me, as well as moments for me to re-affirn the decision I had made for myself, but the benefits of those decisions maybe didn't seem applicable at that time. Others around me were making different choices and having fun, there didn't seem to be too many consequences right there and then.

The time when living these standards seemed to really make a difference was when I arrived at University. I lived in a house of 18, we were all new to University life and out in the world on our own. I remember the first day, everyone was so kind that first day, we all wanted to make friends. There was a lot of getting drunk for a lot of people, some had not preeviously been heavy drinkers, but wanted to fit in with those around them. It was sad to see that a couple of the people who lived in my house that first year, abused their bodies, missed lectures and weren't back for the second year. This doesn't pnly happen to people who are not members of our church. It is at this point when we leave home that we really need to be determined in our beliefs.

Having already been dteremined to live these standards before I went to University made a big difference in my life. Having the opportunity to mingle with other Young Adults with the same standards was also of great importance. I am so glad that I was able to choose to be with good friends that would enjoy good activities with me. We always had a lot of fun, but it was always very different to the kind of fun my university friends were having.

By choosing good friends, and hopefully becoming one, I found Andrew. One of the biggest blessings in my life is being sealed to Andrew. He is a wonderful person, and my best friend - because of the good friends that I'd had through my life I knew what kind of person I was looking for in a husband. I also knew that if I wanted to be that persons wife, I'd have to be that kind of person myself. Because we both lived these standards we were given the privilege to be sealed in the Temple, which is one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

If you were able to see me fully you would probably notice that I am quite pregnant at the monment. My doctor recently asked me if I would mind coming by and meeting with some of his first year medical students. This was actually really fun. There was 4 of them, and they asked me all kinds of questions about myself and how my pregnancy was effecting my life. Among the many questions they asked were ones to do with how hard it was for me to give up alcohol or smoking and whether I had to cut back on drinking tea and coffee. It was great to be able to answer that I had never smoked and didn't drink any of those drinks. They were amazed, and so was I when I realised how important living those standards were, not only for me, but for my baby. Many people get pregnant, and then really want to give these things up, but when it's a habit, and our lives revolve around them, people find it really difficult. This is something that had never really thought about before. I am so glad that I made the decision a long time ago to live the Word of Wisdom. I have been trying to improve my living it, by eating healthier too, but at least there is not too many things I have needed to change.

Looking forward to our baby being born I've been reading books about how babies and young children learn. It is interesting to note that we learn most and easiest at a young age. Parents all over the world want their children to be happy, kind, modest - but the greatest teacher os example. The higher mine and Andrew's standards are the higher our childrens will be.

I am so thankful for the Gospel in my life. The teachings of the Church have helped me more than I can even know. I love my Saviour and all He has given us. I say these things in the name of my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.