Being a youth in Kansas City is a challenge every day. In my school there are five youth that are members of the Church. I have friends that respect my values, but I have some other friends that will kind of make fun of our religion. I know my standards. I have standards. A lot of kids at school don't have standards. My life is definitely different because I'm a member of the Church. Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors. Prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple. Then go to the temple and stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinance of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. I just thought, "We need to go to the temple. This is important." I talked to the bishop, and I talked to the other youth. And we just set it up. We decided that we would go every week on Wednesdays. That was really a blessing in my life. After being in the world, it's refreshing to just sit in the temple and feel the Spirit. It's very peaceful. It's not loud or crowded, and you're not rushed. Any temple work you do in the temple is time well spent. But receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received. Taking a family name to the temple, it brings a different joy knowing that you're helping someone in your family. Yesterday at the temple, I felt the Spirit stronger than ever because--I hadn't taken family names to the temple until yesterday. And when I took them to the temple, I could feel that they were there; they were there, and they were so happy that I was doing it. My father passed away when I was 15 years old. The one thing that gave me comfort, though, was that I knew that I would be able to see him again through the ordinances of the temple. It's made me realize the importance of family history, because I've lost a parent, so I know it's like to lose something. So I don't want anyone to lose what they value a lot just because of what time period they were born in. They're waiting for us to do their work. I'm not great at it. I don't do it every day. But it's special to me because it's my family, and it's my responsibility to get their work done. I love the way my family is, and I want other people to have that same opportunity. I really know that the ordinances we do in there really do last forever. We are doing eternal work. We are doing the Lord's work. It has changed me.

Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer and faith, determination and diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way.