Saying they are the youngest members of "a royal army," Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve directed his priesthood session remarks to Aaronic Priesthood holders "venturing forth upon the battlefield of life."
"Although you do not remember it, you enlisted in this great cause with a single decision, made long ago in our pre-mortal existence," Elder Hales said. "There, in the grand council in heaven, you decided to obey the will of your Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Remember this: You are a son of God who decided to follow the Savior when it mattered most, and that makes you a great man indeed."
How they bear their priesthood now will prepare them to make the most important decisions in the future, Elder Hales told the young men in the congregation. "These decisions include receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, going to the temple, serving a mission, getting an education, selecting an occupation, and choosing a companion and being sealed for time and all eternity in the temple."
All of those decisions are made within a busy and relatively short period when a young man is in his 20s, Elder Hales said, a period he called "the decade of decision."
Drawing upon his experience in training to be a jet fighter pilot, Elder Hales said: "In the decade ahead your time for preparation will be limited. As Aaronic priesthood bearers, it is important that you prepare now. You must develop your own pre-conditioned responses for the important decisions you will be making in the next decade of your life. You must know what to do and when to do it when each decision presents itself. Remember that making no decision at all could be just as deadly as making the wrong decision. Many of the decisions you make, or don't make, will have eternal consequences."
Elder Hales admonished young men that now is the time to become a disciple of Christ, prepare to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion, become worthy of an eternal companion, prepare for a mission, prepare for education and an occupation, obey, use time properly and safeguard their birthright.
