My dear brothers and sisters, I am so excited to be with you amazing and beautiful young people at BYU-Idaho. I enjoy looking into your bright, radiant faces. You are wonderful children of our Heavenly Father dedicated to the Lord’s work and building a better world during your lifetime.
I assume that many of you have served missions for the Lord Jesus Christ and many more are still preparing to go.
The year 2020 is with us, and we celebrate together the anniversary of the First Vision. For the Church and for all of us, this is a time of celebration and spiritual experiences. The prayer of a young man changed in a miraculous way the world 200 years ago.
I remember the time when I was a young teenager living in Frankfurt, Germany, and praying for a miracle for our family. My dad was terribly ill and about to die. How much I hoped that something would happen to turn our life into a happier path. Despite my heartfelt prayers, he died—way too young we felt. Now we were a one-parent family, a widowed mother with two daughters, 12 and 9 years old. The situation looked bleak and hopeless for us. Even our Lutheran religion was of no great help.
But then one day, a miracle happened, and all things changed to the positive, almost overnight. Two young missionaries rang the doorbell at our apartment. Reluctantly, we let them in. They brought us the Book of Mormon. They taught us the plan of salvation and what it could mean for our lives. They helped us to develop a love for the holy temple, despite the fact that there was actually no temple in Europe at that time. A few years after our baptism, we were sealed in the first temple outside the U.S., the Swiss temple, for time and all eternity. We became an eternal family, including my father, even across the gate of death. All this came about because two young people wanted to serve a mission, serve God and His children. This modern-day miracle happened because these young people loved God and His children and were willing to sacrifice some of their conveniences for this great cause.
How grateful I am for missionaries serving today all around the world, bringing the same wonderful blessings to all who desire to hear the message of a living Christ and that families may be forever. I am grateful for you who are modern disciples of the Savior. I am grateful for temples, like the one you have in convenient walking distance. My dear young friends, enjoy the temple and its promises. Enjoy and cherish the privilege of being at this great school. Enjoy the opportunities of friendship in this environment. Enjoy and be grateful that some of these friendships may turn out to become eternal companionships. It can happen. It happened to me.
When the missionaries took us to church in Frankfurt, Germany, I met a young man who appeared to have an obvious interest in me. He always tried to be close to me. He even influenced the sacrament table seating so he could pass the sacrament to me.
It took me quite a few years to realize that he was the man I wanted to be with for the rest of my life and beyond. He had finished a major part of his education and had spent two years far away from Germany to become a fighter pilot in the Air Force. He was quite insistent in his courting, and a true gentleman. He is still very much the same in this regard.
We married and soon had two children, a girl and a boy. When they grew up, they married, like us, in the Swiss temple. Now we have six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They are our treasure at the end of the rainbow. We love them and they love us. Some of them have already served missions.
All these blessings came into our lives because two missionaries had the desire and the courage to serve. These blessings came to us because temples are a central part in our conversion stories. They came about because the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ is back on earth again.
These blessings are ours because 200 years ago, young Joseph Smith had the faith and courage to pray and then listen to the voice from on High. And the restoration of the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ began. The authority to seal on earth which is sealed in Heaven was restored. Prophets and apostles are with us again to serve God and His children. And the Restoration continues on.
Of this I bear witness to you with all my heart and soul.
I sustain and love President Nelson and the Twelve.
Well, actually, one apostle is my favorite. I love him especially. He is the love of my life and will be forever.
He is with us tonight. He will teach you. Listen to the voice of the Spirit and know what you need to do in your young lives. Follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost tonight and always.
I love and admire you all. You are magnificent. You are more than enough in the eyes of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that you can feel this too. May God bless you now and always!
With love and gratitude for each and every one of you, and in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
It is a great pleasure to be with you! One of the great blessings of Harriet’s and my life is to be among the members of the Church and to feel the enthusiasm and commitment they have for living as disciples of Jesus Christ. I have certainly felt that today. Your hope, faith, and desire to do good lift my spirits and inspire me. I am overwhelmed with the impression that I am among a people of goodness and light.
When Heavenly Father looks upon us, His children, He sees us for who we truly are. He knows everything about us—our fears, despair, and our loneliness. He also knows and rejoices in our faith, righteous desires, and triumphs. He celebrates the times we have overcome obstacles—whether those be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. But mostly, He knows our infinite potential. He sees the best version of us, the glorious person we have the potential to become.
As children of the most creative being in the universe, we are all different and unique creations. Because of that, we each have a specific personality. Words that might reach one may not reach another. Some may need a stern voice—a voice of warning. Some may need the opposite—an arm around the shoulder and the loving voice of a kind friend offering hope and the promise of a brighter day.
I don’t know what voice you need to hear today. But God does. And I pray that the words I speak to you will be delivered by His Spirit in the way you need to hear them.
Memento Mori
In ancient Rome, the people of that great city would sometimes participate in a great celebration called triumphus or “Roman Triumph.” Generals who had experienced great success on the field of battle would return to Rome to participate in a ceremonial procession that would wind through the streets displaying the spoils of war and honoring those who had fought.
This parade would last all day—sometimes longer. The highlight of the parade was the return of the conquering hero who entered the city riding in a gold- and ivory-decorated chariot.
A servant stood behind the general. It was his job to hold a golden crown above the great warrior’s head and, throughout the day, whisper in his ears the words “Memento mori.”
Those two words translate to: “Remember, you are mortal.”
These words served as a humbling reminder that, no matter how exalted and honored the great general felt on that day, he would eventually cease breathing the air of this earth. Life would depart from his body, and he would return to dust.
You might think that this was a strange practice and, perhaps, it was. But it is instructive. It reminds us of something we all know. We live on borrowed time and, no matter our health, status, wealth, or fame in this life, we are merely pilgrims on an eternal road.
You are young and perhaps you rarely contemplate how fragile and fleeting your life is.
The older I get, the more I understand and cherish the words of Lehi’s son Jacob, who wrote, “Our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream.” [1] Oh, how I sympathize with his words in a way that I don’t suppose I could have when I was your age.
Prophets through the ages have cautioned about failing to understand how temporary our sojourn on this earth is. They urge us to consider what will happen after we leave this life and to prepare ourselves today for life beyond the grave.
But their message is not always harsh or cautionary. The prophets of the Most High also have proclaimed the hopeful message that death is not the end.
Death is not the opposite of life. Death is the opposite of birth.
And instead of being at opposite ends of a line, our lives are like an eternal circle where birth leads to death which ushers us into a new sphere of existence.
In the great timeline of eternity the reminder to contemplate the phrase “Memento mori”—“Remember, you are mortal”—are words that will help us to remember that “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. . . . [Therefore,] do not procrastinate the day of your repentance.” [2]
Each day of our existence is a precious gift from our loving Heavenly Father. What better time than now to choose to become the person we were designed to become?
This is good advice not only for us individually but to all of us collectively as well.
As the Days of Noah
In the days prior to His crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples wanted to know when the end of the world would come and how they would recognize the signs of His coming.
After listing many of the great events, tribulations, and sorrows that would befall the world in the last days, the Savior uttered this interesting phrase: “As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that [Noah] entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” [3]
This is a lesson and a warning for our day, as it was in ancient times. Yes, we can trust that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will happen as promised. But even with acknowledging this promise, many set their hearts on the pleasures of this world. This preoccupation with the things of the world hardens hearts to the things of the Spirit. Many, therefore, focus on accumulating the approval, fame, power, and possessions that seem so alluring, instead of gathering all matters of knowledge temporal and spiritual and building up treasures that will not rust or can be stolen by thieves. [4]
God has granted us freedom to choose the path. You are free to choose. You are free to become.
The good news is that many choice spirit children of God will choose God’s way—and pursue the path of light.
I rejoice with you who have made that courageous and wise choice.
Because of that choice, God’s mighty hand will be over you. He will guide your steps. And, one day, you will with certainty know the true worth of your decision to walk in faith and believe in that God that gave you life.
My heart overflows with gratitude because of you. You are the hope of Israel, the future of this Church and the kingdom of Almighty God. I embrace you warmly as brothers, sisters, and beloved friends.
We are in this together—fellow pilgrims who have embarked on the great journey of mortality. I want to assure you that our Heavenly Father knows of your faith and goodness. He watches over you. And He loves you with infinite love and compassion.
The pilgrim’s journey, however, is not always a smooth one. There are always bends in the road, unwanted surprises. Difficult challenges await at every turn.
The Art of Becoming
One of the greatest challenges we face is weathering the criticism, scorn, and even ridicule of those who have rejected the way. In the transcendent dream of the Tree of Life, the great prophets Lehi and Nephi learned that seekers of light will always be opposed in this mortal realm by those who attack, jeer, and attempt to discourage them.
Since the world began, this has always been the case. In our day of anonymous social media, that challenge is certainly more unique if not greater than at any other time in history. In Lehi’s dream, opposition came from those who inhabited a large and spacious building and shouted from across the way. Today, that opposition comes not from across a river but face to face—in our homes, living rooms, desktops, and smartphones. The criticism comes to us not muffled and from far away, but in “Dolby surround sound,” piped in through high-tech speakers and earbuds. The volume is loud, clear, personal, challenging, and in-your-face.
We can understand the opposition that Noah faced when it seemed the entire world was against him. And yet he endured, working hard, walking in faith, a just man who found “grace in the eyes of the Lord.” [5] He is an example worthy of our study and emulation. We hope that what was written of Noah could be said of us, that we did “according to all that God commanded.” [6]
And that leads me to another important message I want to impress upon you today.
One of the common objections we often hear about choosing to walk as disciples of Christ goes something like, “Why would you belong to an organization that has so many rules? Why would you choose to limit your freedom in that way?”
And that is a good question.
When the world speaks of freedom today, it is often in the context of freedom from rules. “Wherever there are lists of limitations,” they say, “there is diminished freedom.”
But is there a better and wiser way to consider this?
True freedom is not measured so much by what is prohibited. It is measured by our choices that lead us to who we can and will become.
Allow me to offer an example: when I chose to become a pilot, I also chose a long list of constraints.
To become the person I wanted to become, I knew that there would be many, many things I would have to do and an equally long list of things I would not allow myself to do. For example, I knew that I would have to once and for all learn English—in spite of the fact I was certain my mouth was not made to speak English.
I would have to go to school. I would have to approach my studies not with a casual attitude but with focus and concentration. I would need to sacrifice hundreds of hours of entertainment for the work that would prepare me for the occupation I had chosen.
I adapted my life as a young person a great deal to reach my goal. But I will tell you that the first time I climbed into the cockpit of a jet fighter and took it up into the air, I knew that my efforts—all the constraints I had chosen for myself—were well worth the effort.
The same applies to you.
You, also, have the priceless blessing to choose who you wish to become.
Just know that every choice brings with it its own set of constraints, restrictions, and consequences.
If you desire to become a medical doctor, you immediately accept the constraints that allow you to achieve that dream.
If you wish to become a pianist, teacher, mechanic, mother, father, artist, engineer, actor, computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, fireman, or attorney—all noble choices—you take upon yourself restrictions that will limit future choices. They each require certain adaptations of life; some may call them sacrifices. You give up the currency of your life composed of time and effort in order to become the person you want to become.
The very act of making choices of who you want to become requires setting aside other choices you might have made. But you do it willingly because the goal is greater than the sacrifice.
This is the same thing that happens with followers of Jesus Christ. We desire to become something more than who we currently are. But in order to reach that goal, we accept certain restrictions. We accept them freely because it is necessary to do so in order to reach that greater goal.
The Importance of Noble Goals
The woman who desires to become a respected archaeologist understands that it will require a great deal of study, field work in the hot sun, losing sleep, aching muscles, countless hours of intense concentration—these are necessary constraints that will allow her to become who she wants to become.
But when the goal is great, the sacrifice pales in significance.
Do you think that being a son or daughter of God and entering His kingdom in triumph is any different?
That is the greatest goal of all.
In our quest to become our best selves, we willingly take upon ourselves certain constraints. These constraints are sometimes called commandments. But these commandments are not burdensome—they are delights, for they are the very things that guide us from our current state into the person of glory we wish to become.
We all have the precious choice to choose to become the person we wish to become.
Hopefully, the choices we make are worthy goals. But, sometimes, we set our sights too low and pursue choices that lead us to become less than our potential.
When I was three years old, I lived in a house in Czechoslovakia that had a balcony guarded by a handrail. I remember looking at this barrier and the thought ran through my mind, “I’ll bet I could fit my head between the vertical rails.”
The more I thought about it, the more curious I became. It looked like I could do it. And there it was, beckoning me to try.
So, I pushed my head into the space, pressed harder, and voila! My head slid beyond the barrier and through the rails. I had done it! I had reached my goal!
But my elation in having accomplished this task soon evaporated when I tried to extract my head from the space.
I was stuck.
My ears were too big and, try as I might, I could not escape the trap. I was hopelessly stuck.
As embarrassing as it is to confess, the story is instructive. Sticking my head through the bannister was not the noblest of goals. I saw the barrier and wondered if I could get past it.
I was free to try it and so I did.
The consequences of that action, however, limited my subsequent freedom in an embarrassing and difficult way.
Have any of you done something like this?
You are all far too bright, I’m sure, to duplicate this particular example of poor judgment. But haven’t we all done things at times without thinking? Testing barriers? Out of curiosity? Just because we could?
A great secret of wisdom is pursuing noble and righteous goals and working to become the persons we wish to become. That is also the great secret of freedom.
We are free to become! You are free to become!
We Can Become
I hope that I have impressed upon you a lesson or two that will help you in your own journey.
Will you remember the following?
First, time is short.
Second, don’t get discouraged.
Third, understand that when you choose to become the person you want to be, you freely and joyfully take the constraints that come along with that choice. They are not burdens. Accept them willingly and happily, for they are the path that leads to the destination you desire and the person you wish to become.
As you follow our beloved Savior, your faith will grow. Your confidence will wax strong.
And, one day, you will surely know that your efforts were worth the journey.
You can do this.
Believe.
Choose to follow the Savior.
Embark on or continue with renewed faith the grand adventure of discipleship.
Don’t allow discouragement to deter you from your path.
Love others. Lift them. Lend those around you your strength and compassion. Share with them the story of your journey.
Draw near to your Heavenly Father and He will draw near to you.
It is my witness that, as you choose to walk in the light, the influence of heaven will rest upon you. The Spirit of God will support and guide you. His grace will attend you. You will discover your potential how to successfully live your life, build an eternal family, serve God and His children, and while working daily on these important matters, discover your wonderful potential to be happy. Along the way, you will encounter His peace, joy, and confidence which will lead you to your own eventual triumph in this mortal life and in the kingdoms of glory in worlds to come.
Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] Jacob 7:26.
[2] Alma 34:32–34.
[3] Matthew 24:37–39.
[4]See Matthew 6:20.
[5] Genesis 6:8.
[6] Genesis 6:22.