By Neal Chamberlain
Recent prophetic teachings requiring optimism were given to students by Elder Richard G. Hinckley Tuesday.
'Everything we do in this Church requires optimism,' Elder Hinckley said.
Temple work, tithing, unnecessary debt, forgiveness to others, the family, and personal testimonies were the focus of Elder Hinckley''s talk. He said President Gordon B. Hinckley has spoken of these prophetic priorities in recent speeches and writings.
'These are but a few of the priorities of our current prophet,' Elder Hinckley said. 'I encourage you to pay close attention to them.'
Elder Hinckley said students should look to the prophet as an example of optimism. The dangers and pitfalls of our time are overcome by the encouragement and guidance of modern-day prophets.
'They teach; they cajole; they encourage; they warn; they build; they move forward boldly in the best of ways even in the worst of times,' Elder Hinckley said, 'and they continue to look forward with faith, even in the most calamitous .'
Elder Hinckley encouraged students to be careful with their finances. He told the story of the 1953 Plymouth he learned to drive on while his peers were driving the newest, V-8 speedsters.
'It had no radio, no air conditioning, no power windows, no power brakes, no power steering, no power seats, no power,' Elder Hinckley said.
But his father was quick to remind him that while it was only a flat-head six, it was paid for. Elder Hinckley said he remembers watching when his father wrote out the check for $1684 to pay for the car up front.
'You don''t need the finest car or truck, the latest iPod, a big flat-screen television, or the latest laptop to be productive and happy,' Elder Hinckley said. 'You will be happy when you can comfortably meet your obligations, and put a roof over your head and feed your families.'
Elder Hinckley said forgiveness is one of the greatest virtues on earth, but is also one many are unwilling to develop. It is difficult but necessary to forgive and repair the fractures within our relationships, he said.
'Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way,' Elder Hinckley said.
Personal testimony was another prophetic priority Elder Hinckley said students need to work on. He said personal struggles with points of doctrine or practices of the Church are often difficult for some young members to accept and live by. But this is no reason to give up.
'I say, so what? That''s ok. You''re still young. Be patient, but be persistent,' Elder Hinckley said. 'But don''t throw away the jewels you do have in the meantime.'