The gate of history turns on small hinges, declared President Thomas S. Monson, "and so do people's lives. The choices we make determine our destiny.
"Joshua of old declared, 'Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
On Sunday morning, President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke of the "awesome and vital journey when we left the spirit world and entered this often challenging stage called mortality. We brought with us that great gift from God — our agency. . . . The scriptures tell us that we are free to act for ourselves, 'to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.' "
In his address, President Monson, who spoke warmly, but without equivocation, offered a "simple yet far-reaching formula to guide you in the choices of life:
• "Fill your minds with truth.
• "Fill your hearts with love.
• "Fill your lives with service."
Speaking of "a guide to help us choose the right and avoid dangerous detours," President Monson described a "lovely print of the Savior, painted by Heinrich Hofmann," which hangs on the wall of his office. "I love the painting, which I have had since I was a 22-year-old bishop and which I have taken with me wherever I have been assigned to labor. I have tried to pattern my life after the Master. Whenever I have a difficult decision to make, I have looked at the picture and asked myself, 'What would He do?' Then I try to do it. We can never go wrong when we choose to follow the Savior.
"Some choices may seem more important than others, but no choice is insignificant," he continued, relating how some years ago he held in his hand a Triple Combination that had been a gift from President Harold B. Lee to his daughter, Maureen. On the flyleaf page was a message, including the words, "That you may have a constant measure by which to judge between truth and the errors of man's philosophies. . . , I give you this sacred book to read frequently and cherish throughout your life."
As members of the Church, President Monson explained, "our goal is to obtain celestial glory."
He then related the account in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland when Alice is confronted by the Cheshire cat, of whom she asks, "Which path shall I take?"
"That depends where you want to go," the cat answers. "If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn't matter which path you take."
President Monson said: "Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go. It does matter which way we go, for the path we follow in this life surely leads to the path we will follow in the next.
"Each of us should remember that he or she is a son or daughter of God, endowed with faith, gifted with courage and guided by prayer. Our eternal destiny is before us. . . .
"At times many of us let that enemy of achievement — even the culprit 'self-defeat' — dwarf our aspiration, smother our dreams, cloud our vision and impair our lives. The enemy's voice whispers in our ears, 'You can't do it.' 'You're too young.' 'You're too old.' 'You're nobody.' This is when we remember that we are created in the image of God. Reflection on this truth provides a profound sense of strength and power."
After quoting from President David O. McKay, "The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul," President Monson said: "The boy prophet Joseph Smith sought heavenly help by entering a grove which then became sacred. Do we need similar strength? Does each need to seek his or her own Sacred Grove? A place where communication between God and man can go forth unimpeded, uninterrupted and undisturbed is such a grove."
President Monson spoke of Simon Peter, "a man of faith" whom the Savior did not select from the "throng of the self-righteous who were found regularly in the synagogue. Rather, He called him from among the fishermen of Capernaum."
Having received his call, a doubting, disbelieving, unschooled, untrained, impetuous Simon did not find the way of the Lord a highway of ease nor a path free from pain. "He was to hear the rebuke, 'O thou of little faith.' Yet when the Master asked him, 'Whom say ye that I am?' Peter answered, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'
"Simon, man of doubt, had become Peter, apostle of faith. Peter made his choice," President Monson declared.
So did the apostle Paul, who was Saul the persecutor who become Paul the proselyter, he added.
"Acts of selfless service are performed daily by countless members of the Church. There are many which are freely given, with no fanfare or boasting, but rather through quiet love and tender care. Let me share with you the example of one who made such a simple yet profound choice to serve."
President Monson then related how a few years ago, he and Sister Frances Monson were in the city of Toronto, where he once served as mission president. Olive Davies, the wife of the first stake president in Toronto, was gravely ill and in a hospital. "I attempted to comfort Sister Davies, but she had present with her the comfort she longed to have. A stalwart grandson sat silently next to his grandmother. I learned he had spent most of the summer away from his university studies, that he might serve his grandmother's needs. I said to him, 'Shawn, you will never regret your decision. Your grandmother feels your are heaven sent, an answer to her prayers.'
"He replied, 'I chose to come because I love her and know this is what my Heavenly Father would have me do.' "
President Monson continued: "Olive Davies has passed on to her reward, there to meet her faithful husband and together continue an eternal journey. In a grandson's heart there will ever remain those words, 'Choose the right when a choice is placed before you. In the right the Holy Spirit guides.'
"Such are foundation stones in building one's personal temple."
