"O Be Wise"
Brent H. Nielson
December 15, 2021
I am delighted to be with you today. It is a wonderful time of year, and I begin by wishing you a very merry Christmas. We are grateful today to celebrate your graduation. This is an important event in your journey that eventually takes you back to your heavenly home. It is no small achievement to graduate from a university, and we join with your parents, spouses, children, professors, and colleagues in congratulating you. As you consider the many milestones that you will reach, this will always be a very significant day in your life. I hope to share some thoughts that will be beneficial as you leave today to continue your journey in an engaging and ever-changing world.
I am a baby boomer. That may not mean much to you, but the baby boomers are a generation of 76 million babies born in the United States between 1946 and 1964. I am right in the middle of that baby-boomer generation. We are called baby boomers because our parents, who are commonly referred to as the “greatest generation,” returned from World War II and began having children at a rate that has not been matched since. I must say that the bar was set very high for us when we learned that our parents’ generation was known as the “greatest generation.” It is difficult to beat “greatest.” Because this baby-boomer generation is getting older, I often see memes and other social-media posts where your generation’s comments about my generation are expressed by exclaiming, “Okay boomer!”[1] Here are a few examples of those memes that your generation uses to make fun of my generation.
Interestingly, when I graduated from BYU as a baby boomer, there were surveys and studies that labeled our baby-boomer generation. Those studies indicated that we were part of a drug culture, a sexual revolution, and an anti-government movement. I remember reading those studies and thinking that my life did not reflect any of those labels. It is interesting to learn that today, as current studies are conducted on the baby-boomer generation, we actually were not as bad as everyone thought we were and our generation is now looked upon as having a strong work ethic, being self-assured, resourceful, team-oriented, and disciplined.[2]
I share that with you because, in spite of how the news media labeled those baby-boomers who were faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the labels did not stick. Latter-day Saint baby boomers knew that they were children of a loving Heavenly Father. They knew that His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior. After graduating from college, they moved forward with faith, no labels, and stayed close to Jesus Christ, His gospel, His Church, and His prophets and apostles.
As you know, your generation is referred to as “Gen Z.” Social scientists and the media are now labeling you and your generation, just as they did me and my generation. One study identified some very specific characteristics for your generation, which include addiction to technology; financial insecurity; extreme sensitivity; lack of motivation or laziness; drug, alcohol, and sex addiction; and lack of moral values.[3] It is especially important for you to know that your generation is considered the least interested in religion of all previous generations.[4]
As a General Authority Seventy, I had the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of the Missionary Department from 2015 until 2020. During that time, I had the privilege of meeting many of you and learning about your generation as you served full-time missions. I have to tell you that my experience with you is just the opposite of how your generation is labeled in the media. I could give you hundreds of examples to demonstrate that you do not match the labels, but I will share just one. As COVID-19 began to spread across the earth, we had 67,000 missionaries serving worldwide. Thirty-one thousand were laboring outside their home countries. We began to move those missionaries to their home countries. Because of the uncertainty of the virus, those returning to North America were given the opportunity to either continue their missions immediately in their home country or wait a year and resume serving in their originally assigned mission. We thought that a majority would be interested in the honorable choice of postponing a return to the field because of the uncertainty of the virus. But we were wrong. Almost 90 percent of the missionaries returning home wanted to be reassigned immediately. They were not intimidated by the virus, and they exercised faith in difficult circumstances. In addition, these missionaries who were reassigned worked almost exclusively from their apartments using only social media to find and teach. They baptized over 125,000 people with virtually all of the missions in the world locked down. It was incredible to see. This is not the Gen Z generation that I read about in the media. You are disciples of Jesus Christ and belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You exemplify that wonderful Primary song, “I know who I am. I know God’s plan. I’ll follow Him in faith.”[5]
As you leave this university today, just as with my generation, it will be critical for you to ignore all the labels society wants to place upon you. You know that you are a child of God. You know that He loves you and has an incredible future in mind for you. But as you begin this next step in your eternal journey, please remember that you must choose to stay on the covenant path to return to your Heavenly Father and His Son. This decision to follow the Savior is the key to your happiness and eternal joy. As you leave here today, do so with your hand firmly grasping the iron rod, which includes the holy scriptures, the teachings of living prophets and apostles, and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Be faithful to the covenants that you have made. Reject the Gen Z labels and embrace God’s plan for you.
As you continue your journey through mortality, I share with you a concern that has affected both baby boomers and Gen Z. In a world dominated by social media, we seem to be easily swayed by those who spread doubt and confusion about God and His plan for us. Social media today have become a source of uncivil and unreliable discourse. Those who desire to destroy your faith in all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy”[6]do so by deceptively casting doubt upon your most sacred beliefs. There has never been a more vivid portrayal of the great and spacious building from Lehi’s vision of the tree of life than the mocking voices on the internet today. May I share with you an experience I had that has helped me ignore the large and spacious building and maintain my faith and testimony?
I spent 30 years of my adult life as a trial lawyer. Prior to my call as a General Authority, I tried hundreds of cases; most to judges and some to juries. In a courtroom, it is the ultimate goal of both the judge and the jury to find truth. The lawyers, as advocates for their clients, attempt to persuade the judge or the jury that the truth favors their client’s position.
I will never forget my first jury trial. It was a simple car-accident case. I represented the plaintiff, the person who brought the case to the court. In this case, it was my burden to show that my client was not responsible for the accident and had been injured by the other driver. I felt confident about my case because I had an eyewitness who fully agreed with my client’s version of the facts. I called the eyewitness to the stand, and he recited the facts just as I hoped he would. The defense lawyer in this case was a seasoned, experienced trial lawyer who taught me a very important lesson. This lawyer did not attempt to change the testimony of my eyewitness. He actually did not attempt to prove anything. He simply cast doubt as to what my eyewitness claimed to have seen. I learned that day that casting doubt is a subtle skill. The opposing lawyer asked the eyewitness questions like this: Do you wear glasses? Did you have your glasses on that day? Was it sunny that day? Were you wearing sunglasses? How far away from the accident were you? How can you be sure? How fast was the plaintiff driving? How can you be sure? How fast was the defendant driving? How can you be sure? Could it be that your view of the accident was blocked by another vehicle? How old are you? Have you ever testified in court before? Those last two questions are very subtle, making the witness and jury think he is either too old or too young to testify and that he cannot be credible because he has never testified in court before even though most people have never testified in court before. The questions of doubt went on and on. By the time the other attorney completed his cross examination, the jury appeared to have doubts about the testimony of my eyewitness. This experienced defense lawyer did not prove anything. He simply cast enough doubt in the minds of the jury that they began to question what my eyewitness had seen and heard. I had to work hard to help the jury see that my witness was indeed credible, dependable, and accurate in his testimony.
As a trial lawyer, I quickly learned how to identify the tactics that distract others from seeing or recognizing truth. As I became more experienced as a trial lawyer, I often told the jury that opposing counsel was like a magician who holds one hand high in the air to distract your attention from what is really happening with the other hand. With his other hand he is pulling a rabbit or pigeon or long scarf from his sleeve. The magician is hoping that your attention will be drawn away from the truth and that you will be seduced by the magic they are selling.
In the Book of Mormon, we learn of an anti-Christ who prided himself as a sophisticated, intelligent member of society. His name was Korihor. He was successful in leading people away from God. You can read about him in Alma chapter 30. If Korihor lived today, he would post on TikTok, and he would create podcasts that cast doubt.
As you read what he said and did, you will notice that it was never his intent to prove anything or to find truth; he simply cast doubt. Let me share with you the subtle doubt he used to cause a faith crisis among the members of the Church in the Book of Mormon: “Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.”[7] Do you detect his mocking tone? “How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see.”[8] Are you feeling foolish already for believing in Christ? “[T]herefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ. Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind.”[9] Are you ready to leave the Church? No one wants to be accused of having a frenzied mind. “[A]nd this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.”[10] Can you hear him causing you to feel you have been deceived? He is in that large and spacious building mocking you. Please note that Korihor has not proven anything. He is simply mocking the beliefs of the members and casting doubt. And yet he led many members astray. They were distracted by the magic trick because their attention was diverted from the truth, and they removed their hand from the iron rod because they were embarrassed.[11] Who wants to be accused of having a frenzied mind or being deranged?
Interestingly, Korihor met Alma the Younger. This is so fascinating to me because Alma the Younger used to be like Korhior. Alma had already experienced a life away from Jesus Christ. He had previously led many from the truth by casting doubt.
In this meeting between Korihor and Alma, Korihor met his match. Alma knew Korihor’s tricks because Alma had used them himself.
At first, Korihor attempted to cast doubt on Alma’s testimony. Listen to what Korihor said to Alma, “[Y]e do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe.”[12] By the way, Korihor later acknowledged that he had been deceived by Satan and that Satan had taught him what he should say to cast doubt upon the plan of God. You see, Lehi teaches us that “[the devil] seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” [13] Korihor was struck dumb, and Mormon declares at the end of Alma chapter 30, “And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.” [14]
In the year 2021, many like Korihor live again on the internet. Like Korihor, these modern-day anti-Christs delight in watching your Gen Z generation, [take down slide] especially those who have strong testimonies of God and Jesus Christ, stumble and fall by the wayside. Like Korihor, these individuals will not be supported by the devil at the last day and will be left to themselves—alone and miserable.
When the Savior sent His Apostles to preach and minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, He warned them, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” [15] His Apostles needed to be wise because they would be confronted by many who would cast doubt on their testimonies and cast doubt on their words. Can I just say that the Savior was serious about this? As you leave today, you need to be wise. Carefully analyze the methods of deception being used.
In the April 2021 general conference, President Nelson said to us, “[C]hoose to believe in Jesus Christ…. Study with the desire to believe rather than with the hope that you can find a flaw in the fabric of a prophet’s life or a discrepancy in the scriptures. Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters. Allow the Lord to lead you on your journey of spiritual discovery.” [16]
President Nelson also gave us this important warning: “Anything that opposes Christ or His doctrine will interrupt our joy. That includes the philosophies of men, so abundant online and in the blogosphere, which do exactly what Korihor did.” [17]
Jacob in the Book of Mormon makes it very simple when he says, “O be wise; what can I say more?" [18] You now have a degree from a university. Use it! Be smart! Don’t let those who mock you from the large and spacious building divert your attention from what you know is true. Ignore them by holding firm to the iron rod and partaking of the “most sweet” [19] and “desirable”[20]fruit from the Tree of Life.
I share a warning with you that social media are full of people who mock and point their fingers at the “peaceable followers of Jesus Christ" [21] and attempt to cast doubt on the religious beliefs of others. Those who cast doubt and try to lead you astray laugh among themselves when they see firm believers like you begin to wander into the fog of doubt and unbelief. Be smart.
Today, I join Alma as he spoke to Korihor in bearing testimony to you, the Gen Z generation: “The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God, yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”[22]
If you want long-lasting joy in your life, you need to ignore the labels being placed upon this Gen Z generation. You need to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and His gospel, even when it is not popular to do so.
I bear my witness that there is a God in Heaven. Everything around us testifies of Him. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and our Redeemer. You know that, and I know that. May you be aware that those who cause you to doubt will eventually abandon you—something the Savior will never do. It is their goal to lead you away just as they have been led away—to become miserable. May this Gen Z generation be wise and stand firm in your testimonies. I love the description that the Lord gives of you in Doctrine and Covenants section 45 as He speaks of our day. “But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved.”[23] May you be one of those disciples. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] See “https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2019/10/30/20939156/ok-boomer-generation-z-baby-boomers-millennial-t-shirts.”
[2] See “8 Important Characteristics of Baby Boomers eLearning Professionals Should Know,” elearningindustry.com/8-important-characteristics-baby-boomers-elearning-professionals-know.
[3] See “The Biggest Problem Gen Z & Millennials Say They Are Facing in 2021,” ypulse.com/article/2021/07/06/the-biggest-problem-gen-z-millennials-say-they-are-facing-in-2021/.
[4] See “In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace,” pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/.
[5] “The Church of Jesus Christ,” Children’s Songbook, 77.
[6] Articles of Faith 1:12
[7] Alma 30:14.
[8] Alma 30:15.
[9] Alma 30:15–16.
[10] Alma 30:16.
[11] 1 Nephi 8:28.
[12] Alma 30:48.
[13] 2 Nephi 2:27.
[14] Alma 30:60.
[15] Matthew 10:16.
[16] Russell M. Nelson, “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” Liahona, May 2021, 103.
[17] Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign, November 2016, 84.
[18]Jacob 6:12.
[19] 1 Nephi 8:11.
[20]1 Nephi 8:12.
[21] Moroni 7:3
[22] Alma 30:44.
[23] Doctrine and Covenants 45:32.