Write a speech
Duration: 2 minutes
Topic: Hope for tomorrow
Answers
Answer:
My brothers and sisters, I feel almost as if I should look in the coffin to see if I am there. I am grateful for Brother Haycock’s kindness. I assure you it was overdone.
I congratulate you young students who have the good fortune to be students at this great university. I am grateful that several of our grandchildren are with you. It is sixty-eight years this month since I came to enroll at Brigham Young University—these have been interesting years. Our family was among the refugees fleeing from the civil war in Mexico, having left all our worldly possessions behind. I was just seventeen. My uncle, Carl Eyring, had invited me to come and live with them and go to Brigham Young University.
The two years I spent here made a lasting impression on my life, and I developed and ever-increasing love and appreciation for this great school. I hope you appreciate the uniqueness of the Church-sponsored institution, my young friends, and realize that the major reason for its existence is to help you, its students, to develop a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as to receive an education that will prepare you to be successful men and women in your life’s work.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have taken upon us his name, with a commitment to keep his commandments. He set the perfect example for us in his earthly life and has given us a pattern for living that can assure us a useful, happy, productive life here. We realize this is the purpose of our earth life in preparation for life eternal. When Christ was here in mortality He was asked by the Pharisees, “Which is the first and great commandment?” His answer, as you remember, was,
Thou shalt love thy Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. [Matt. 22:37–40]
As we look about us at the lack of love of God or of fellowmen in the world today, we realize that failing to keep these commandments has brought the world into the state of war and contention in which we find it. What can we as individuals do about this situation? Our responsibility begins with ourselves. Can we look in the mirror at ourselves and see reflected one who has accomplished self-mastery? Are we honestly able to look to the welfare of our neighbors and to be as concerned about them as we are about ourselves?
The primary concern of each of us is to put our own lives in order. We are accountable primarily to ourselves for what happens to us in our lives. The source of real happiness comes from within. We are responsible for our success or failure. And the most fundamental need of every human being is to be loved and needed. This then fosters a feeling of self-worth. Hopefully each of us makes a firm commitment at the beginning of each day that this day will be a happy, successful experience. We must know that the source of our success and happiness comes from within. We are responsible for our choices.
Our free agency is our most priceless possession. Remember that the Prophet Joseph said, “We teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.” In the scriptures we read,
There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven . . . , upon which all blessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. [D&C 130:20–21]
It is important, then, that we keep always in mind that while free agency is a law of heaven, it is equally certain that we must take the consequences of our free choices. Therein lies the importance of seeking divine guidance in the use of our free agency so that we may always choose the right. As we make all of our decisions, our question ought to be: “What will be the result of my choice?”
You young people are the hope of tomorrow. You are here on earth at a time when the forces of evil are bombarding you with false standards as well as an enlightened age when the knowledge of technology has never been so sophisticated. You are being bombarded with false voices that cry, “Marriage is not necessary. Anything that comes naturally, that gives you satisfaction, is acceptable. Lie a little, steal a little, take advantage of your neighbors if it will bring you profit. Do your own thing.” Close your mind and heart to the voices of evil. Take a long look at the future. Life is eternal. You are your own constant companion through everyday of life and throughout all eternity. You cannot escape yourself. You could make choices that might give you a thrill for the moment, but what will be the lasting result? We are spirit children of heavenly parents and have great potential. We all can communicate directly with Heavenly Father, and He is just as close as we will let Him be.
Explanation: