Students were encouraged to be brave in defending truth and righteousness in a devotional given by Elder Walter F. Gonzalez on Tuesday.

Gonzalez is a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and presides over Church affairs in the southern states.

He said students will face important decisions in their lives that require courage.

“You are at a point where you are making decisions that require you to be brave and bold,” he said. “Your decisions are being recorded in your book of beginnings, in your stories without end.”

He said gaining a good education can help in making such decisions.

“You are so blessed with the opportunity to get an education both of secular and spiritual things,” Gonzalez said. “Such an education should lead you to be brave in making key decisions. It is inevitable that sooner or later you will be in the minority, and you will be strengthened by what you have learned.”

He spoke of courage and bravery in breaking the chains of sin.

He illustrated this principle by sharing the story of Alma the Younger and his battle for righteousness.

“He was brave enough to focus in his heart on Jesus Christ, his redeemer,” he said.  “He looked up to Christ and not down on the chains.”

Gonzalez said with the help of the Savior, anyone can break the chains.

“You can break whichever chain is holding you back,” he said. “The Savior is there with his arms of mercy wide open to succor us in our efforts to break our chains.”

He also said it is important to defend truth and righteousness regardless of the situation.

“Defend the principle of truth and righteousness, even if you are the only one doing it,” he said.
He also said it is important to stand for truth and righteousness even if no one is watching. 
Gonzalez told of Joseph’s courage when Potiphar’s wife tempted him.

Joseph gave two sources of courage: trust and love for the Savior.

“Every time we fail to stand for truth and righteousness we are betraying someone’s trust,” Gonzalez said. “Also, Joseph could not sin against God.  A love of God is linked to our refusal to sin against him.”

He said service is an area that often requires bravery and boldness.

College is a wonderful time, Gonzalez said, but students often find themselves consumed with their own agendas.

He said as an antidote, be brave and serve.