"We cannot be scruffs," President Gordon B. Hinckley said in his amiable style during a regional conference on Sunday, April 20. "We must live above the cheap and tawdry things of the world."
President Hinckley concluded a fast-paced, three-state whirlwind tour that included dedications and speeches in Illinois and Nebraska by addressing nearly 4,300 members of the Church in the Winnemucca, Ely, Elko East and Elko West stakes in Nevada.Accompanying President Hinckley were Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Patricia; and Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy and first counselor in the North America Southwest Area Presidency and his wife, Jeanine.
"We have been back in Nauvoo," he began, recounting the dedication of a historic memorial park at the end of Parley Street. "I think few of us really appreciate the marvelous legacy which we have. We come of a people who paid a great price for that which they have given us."
"As I contemplate our heritage, I just feel within myself a great challenge to do, at least something a little extraordinary."
President Hinckley then turned his attention to the youth. "I hope you are all earning A's [in school]," he said. "I want to give you some B's."
He counseled the youth to:
"Be smart" by becoming educated. "Don't give up your education for some automobile or something that you want today. If it involves sacrifice, make that sacrifice.
"Be true," he said, encouraging them to be like the "marvelous and wonderful and bold people who did great and significant things" before them.
"Be humble," he continued. "There is no place for arrogance . . . false pride . . . egotism in your lives.
"Be clean," he said. "There is too much of good to be done in the world [than] to spend your time on that sleazy rubbish which will only tear you down and destroy you.
"Be prayerful," he counseled. "Get on your knees and talk with the Lord and He will hear and answer your prayers."
