Latter-day Saints were encouraged to pursue an education and become followers of Christ during the first day of the 176th Semiannual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President Gordon B. Hinckley told LDS males 12 and older during the evening priesthood session of a "troubling trend" in the United States that shows women are becoming more educated than men. Nearly 73 percent of young women graduate from high school, compared to 65 percent of young men, he said.
Despite that, President Hinckley said at a conference for the women of the church last week that LDS women are obligated to get all the education they can in order to become self-reliant and enlarge their lives.
Now the men must come up to par, he said.
"Rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities," President Hinckley said. "Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being 'equally yoked.' That applies, I think, to the matter of education."'
Speakers throughout Saturday's sessions, convened in the Conference Center and transmitted live via satellite to more than 80 nations worldwide, urged Latter-day Saints to become disciples of Christ and come to a knowledge of the saving power of the Atonement.
Adopting Christ as a personal anchor will assure safety and success in the challenges of life, said Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve. But despite one's best efforts to obey, everyone will still fall short. It is only through the grace of God that his children can be saved, he said.
"Let the Savior be your lead in life. He will safely lead you over the most difficult obstacles of life. His laws are absolutely secure anchors of protection that dispel fear and assure success in an otherwise dangerous world."
President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, said that disciples of Christ will feel comfort in times of sorrow, peace of conscience and joy in service.
A true disciple of Christ stands as a witness of God at all times, President Faust said, addressing the conference from a chair on the dais. He asked Latter-day Saints to forsake the pursuit of worldly things, follow the commandments and build up the church throughout the world.
"One true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that (Christ's) ways have become our ways," President Faust said. "Through our discipleship we are able to receive the spiritual strength that we need to deal with the challenges of life."
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve urged those who suffer from problems and afflictions to come unto Christ and let the power of his Atonement heal them.
He said Jesus healed every sickness and affliction, mental or physical, and can make his people whole. Latter-day Saints should seek out a priesthood blessing and they will receive help according to the will of the Lord, Elder Oaks promised. "If your faith and prayers and the power of the priesthood do not heal you from an affliction, the power of the Atonement will surely give you the strength to bear the burden."
Seeking to maintain balance in life and developing patience were also focal points for Saturday's speakers.
Sometimes those who submerge themselves in service to the church go too far and their lives become unbalanced, according to Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve. By focusing too much time and energy in service to the church, family relationships and employment performance can suffer.
"This is not healthy, spiritually or otherwise," Elder Ballard said. "While there may be times when our church callings require more intense effort and unusual focus, we need to strive to keep things in proper balance. We should never allow our service to replace the attention needed by other important priorities in our lives."
He urged members to thoughtfully allocate their time, income and energy, all the while focusing on the individual needs of those they serve. But service should not be about the numbers. Elder Ballard said the most important thing is "whether or not the individual people — ministered to one at a time just as the Savior did — have been lifted and encouraged and ultimately changed."
No matter how many responsibilities they carry, Latter-day Saints should always have patience, said Elder Robert C. Oaks of the Presidency of the Seventy. Signs of impatience can be found everywhere, from road rage on the highway to flared tempers while waiting in a slow-moving line at the grocery store.
The perfect example of patience is Jesus Christ, he said. "We can only grow in faith if we are willing to wait patiently for God's purposes and patterns to unfold in our lives, on his timetable."
Building up a personal testimony of the gospel was encouraged by Elders Robert D. Hales and Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
The key to receiving a testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel is to read the scriptures, said Elder Hales. The scriptures teach people who they are; what they can become; the commandments, laws, ordinances and covenants they must live by to obtain eternal life; and how they must live in order to return to Heavenly Father with honor, he said.
"As with the voices from the dust, the prophets of God cry out to us on the earth today — take hold of the scriptures! Cling to them, walk by them and rejoice in them. They are the power of God unto salvation that lead us back to our Savior, Jesus Christ."
Elder Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve said a testimony of Christ and the restored gospel "is the most powerful motivating force in our lives."
A testimony of Christ helps in learning God's plan. It gives assurance about the goodness of God, the Atonement and prophets. A testimony is "feelings of our heart and mind rather than an accumulation of logical, sterile facts. It is a gift of the Spirit, a witness from the Holy Ghost that certain concepts are true."
"Casual study is not enough," Elder Uchtdorf said. "We have to get in on the action ourselves, and that means learning and then doing God's will."
