News Release

Elder Watson Counsels Youth to ‘Prepare Yourselves to Make a Difference’

Elder F. Michael Watson, a member of the Seventy, and Pacific Area Presidency counselled Latter-day Saint youth recently about the value of work. The youth and young adults came from across Auckland to the Pah Road, Mt Roskill Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to learn about career pathways open to them.

During Elder Watson's remarks he gave the following scenario whereby a bank credits an individual's account each morning with $86,400.

"It carries over no balance from day to day," he said. "Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day."

He noted that each of us has such a bank account. "Its name is TIME," he said.

"If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. You must live in the present on today's deposits and make the most of today."

The following examples were used to establish the value of a person's time:

1. To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
2. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask the person who missed the train.
3. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
4. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Elder Watson continued: "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift – cherish it. This has a bearing in each of our lives. We are being tested, we are being tried. Today we are basking in the lap of luxury, the like of which we've never seen before in the history of the world. Prepare yourselves well to make a difference. Learn well the profession you choose."

Elder Watson gave similar suggestions to a group assembled at the Manurewa Stake Centre located near the New Zealand Missionary Training Centre in Manukau the following week.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates an Employment Resource Centre in Auckland, part of its worldwide emphasis to assist youth and adults to prepare and qualify for employment opportunities.

The Church's Newsroom website states that: "Employment resource service centers located throughout the world provide opportunities to those who are unemployed or who desire to learn job skills. The centers are available to those of all faiths, not just members of the Church." Read more here.

Last year the Church launched a website that helps connect job-seekers with employers.

Read more about the Church's employment resources and gospel principles regarding self-reliance.

 

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