Alluding to the "faith in every footstep" slogan of this year's Pioneer Sesquicentennial, President James E. Faust declared, "Faith in every future footstep will fulfill prophetic vision concerning the glorious destiny of this Church."
Speaking at the priesthood session Saturday evening, President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, declared there never has been a more marvelous time in the history of the Church."More temples are under construction and being planned than ever before. As an important first step in this future pioneering, President Hinckley has broken ground for a great new hall to be built close to the temple in Salt Lake City. From there the word of the Lord in general conference will be spoken to more of God's children, both in the hall and by satellite or other electronic means."
President Faust said he was speaking with special emphasis to young priesthood bearers who "will take this church into the future," who "do not follow the ways of the world by engaging in unwholesome activities or wearing strange clothes and ornaments." He took as his text the Savior's words, "Be not afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36.)
"Believing requires action," he declared with a gesture of emphasis. "If you prepare to walk down the path of life, you can be rewarded beyond your dreams and expectations. But to achieve this, you must work very hard, save, be wise and be alert. You must learn to deny yourselves of worldly gratification. You must be faithful in paying tithes; you must keep the Word of Wisdom; you must be free from other addictions. You must be chaste and morally clean in every respect. You should accept and be faithful in all of the calls that come to you. Steadiness and toil will serve you better than brilliance."
Action is inhibited by fear, he said, acknowledging that young people have concerns about measuring up and finding their place in life. "You more often recognize your inadequacies rather than your strengths."
He then counseled: "If you take each challenge one step at a time, with faith in every footstep, your strength and understanding will increase. You cannot forsee all of the turns and twists ahead. My counsel to you is to follow the direction of the Savior of the world: `Be not afraid, only believe.' "
Believing includes faith and trust in the Savior and the principles of the gospel, he explained, and having total confidence that the Church leaders are the Lord's servants and receive inspiration to direct the affairs of the Church.
Believing also involves good works, he said. "This means that we do not trifle with sacred things. Families in this day and time should not only avoid evil but avoid the very appearance of evil. To combat these influences, families must have family prayer, family home evening and family scripture study."
He warned against the corrosive influence of pornography, immorality, dishonesty, disrespect, abuse and violence, adding, "If we are not careful, it will shake our spiritual moorings."
Speaking to brethren who are "a little older," he recalled the words of President J. Reuben Clark, a counselor in the First Presidency of earlier times, who, while in his 80s, used to say from the Tabernacle pulpit, "Brethren, I hope I can remain faithful to the end."
"Over my lifetime," President Faust said, "I have seen some of the most choice, capable and righteous of men stumble and fall. They have been true and faithful for many years and then get caught in a web of stupidity and foolishness which has brought great shame to themselves and betrayed the trust of their innocent families, leaving their loved ones a legacy of sorrow and hurt."
All, young and old, must constantly guard against the enticements of Satan, he said.
Quoting D&C 84:33-38, he promised priesthood brethren transcendent blessings as they live righteously.
"If we believe and are faithful, we are promised all that the Father has. If we receive all that the Father has, there is nothing more for us to receive in this life or the life to come."
