“In God’s plan we can have it all, but not in the sequence the world seems to dictate.”
President Dallin H. and Sister Kristen M. Oaks talked to young adults and high school seniors about various topics in a worldwide devotional on Sunday.
President Oaks invited the audience to know the truth and to stand firm to it, even when the world does not accept it.
Young Adults: Importance of Marriage and Family
President Oaks explained that leaders in the Church are concerned about the recent changes to the definition marriage in the United States.
According to a chart displayed in the devotional, the percentage of American adults ever married has had an eight to nine percent decrease from 1990 to 2020.
Within the Church, the average age of first marriages has gone up. In 1970, men would get married around the age of 23. In 2020, the average was 28. For women, the average age in 1970 was 21. In 2020, it rose to 26.
“When marriages are intentionally delayed for a significant period, opportunities are lost and blessings are postponed,” President Oaks said.
He explained that postponing marriage delays the personal growth that happens within relationships. People delay the opportunity to learn more about true sacrifice and humility. Aside from learning experiences, it prevents more children from having the opportunity to be born into gospel-centered homes.
“Life becomes better as our marriage becomes connected to something greater than ourselves,” Sister Oaks said in the devotional.
Sister Oaks explained that she didn’t marry until she was in her 50s. She told unmarried members of the audience to not think they are doing something wrong if they haven’t yet married. Sheencouraged them to “stop waiting and start preparing” for marriage.
President Oaks acknowledged that there are certain concerns that young married couples have pertaining to having children in a bad economy.
“Go forward with faith and do the best you can,” President Oaks said.
He went forth and reminded young adults about the sacrifice of the early pioneers who came to bring spiritual safety to their descendants.
“I urge you not to leave spiritual safety and family to obtain material possessions,” he said.
High School Seniors: Who Are You?
After talking to the young adults, President Oaks took the last couple of minutes to talk directly to high school students — specifically those who are about to graduate.
“Your peers are afflicted by anxiety, vulnerable to drugs, addicted to social media and seeking counseling in record numbers,” President Oaks said.
President Oaks reminded the youth that those within the Church of Jesus Christ are different in the sense that they know who they are: children of God.
He encouraged high school seniors to look at the For the Strength of Youth manual and remember the covenants made at baptism.
He later shared the story of a girl who sent him a letter which talked about how members of the Church act as if they aren’t part of the Church on social media and accept things against God’s law, such as gender fluidity.
President Oaks said that it’s easy to judge oneself and others on whether people are following the law or not.
He placed an emphasis on loving one’s neighbor and following the commandments. He said that the first and second commandments are not followed when people don’t respect identity changes.
President Oaks continued by explaining that members should respect the decisions of such people without agreeing with what they are doing. He went into detail and reminded the youth to recall the talk given at the 2022 Worldwide Devotional with President Russell M. Nelson. In this devotional, President Nelson talked about labels and how many of them will “divide and restrict the way people think about themselves and each other.”
President and Sister Oaks ended their remarks by reminding everyone to look for God, to find the truth and to stand firm to it.
“I invite you to look to God and live,” Sister Oaks said. “Look to the words spoken tonight, the words of our prophet, the scriptures, the plan of salvation and your patriarchal blessings. Pray and the Lord will be with you.”