President Russell M. Nelson Speaks to Millennials about Being Happy
Contributed By Marianne Holman Prescott, Church News staff writer
President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, greet young adults after a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
Article Highlights
- Happiness and meaning come from avoiding distraction and temptation.
- Prayer, service, and carefully studying God’s laws will help you follow Jesus Christ.
- Know who you really are and follow God’s plan for your life.
“When you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same.” —President Russell M. Nelson
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Happiness and meaning come from avoiding distraction and temptation, President Russell M. Nelson told a group of young adults in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area on Saturday, February 17.
Hundreds of young adults, seated in four separate Las Vegas meetinghouses, gathered to hear from the Church President and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson.
President Nelson spoke to the group about three topics: finding personal identity, learning to have purpose in this life, and mastering divine laws.
“Your ultimate safety in this life lies in never taking the first enticing step toward going where you should not go and doing what you should not do,” he said, according to a release on MormonNewsroom.org
Recognizing that as mortals, all have appetites necessary for survival, President Nelson warned listeners of the adversary’s tactics.
“These appetites are absolutely essential for the perpetuation of life,” he said. “So, what does the adversary do? He attacks us through our appetites. He tempts us to eat things we should not eat, to drink things we should not drink, and to love as we should not love.”
Because of that, it is important for each person to understand his or her divine identity and purpose in life.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks to young adults during a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
Sister Wendy W. Nelson speaks during a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
“One of the most important things you need to learn in life is to know who you really are,” he said.
To do that, people can look to their forebears—parents, grandparents, and others on their genealogical lines—for understanding. Most important, each person must come to know his or her divine identity.
“When you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same,” President Nelson said, according to the release.
As a heart surgeon, President Nelson learned that—in both science and religion—divine laws are discoverable, predictable, dependable, and repeatable. Using the example that laws of science govern a beating heart and laws of religion govern revelation, President Nelson said, “The more of God’s laws you know—and more importantly, live—the more effective your righteous leadership will be.”
It is through prayer, service, and carefully studying God’s laws that a person is able to follow Jesus Christ.
Sister Nelson shared a message about the “ride that you were born to take.”
“It’s time that we stop comparing ourselves to others. … When you let the Lord know that you are serious about doing exactly what you came to earth to do, watch what happens. He may change many things dramatically. So hang on for the ride of your life, the ride that you were born to take.”
Sister Nelson shared a story of how she, at age 24, after receiving inspiration while listening to general conference, called off an engagement.
“One size really can fit all who are here tonight,” she said. “Whatever is said over the pulpit can fit each one of you perfectly because the Holy Ghost will tailor-make whatever is said to fit you. I don’t know what you need to hear, but the Lord does.”
Young adults gather in Las Vegas, Nevada, to hear President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, speak during a devotional on February 18.
Young adults watch as President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, enter the chapel prior to a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 17.
Young adults listen to President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, speak during a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
Young adults listen to President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, speak during a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks to young adults during a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
A young adult listens to President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy W. Nelson, speak during a devotional held in Las Vegas on February 18.
