Youth
Jubilee in New York City, Part 5
Singing
Praises at Radio City Music Hall
A
Photo Essay
By
Scot and Maurine Proctor
click
photos to enlarge
After
the Jubilee celebration, the youth stayed for a box
dinner and then a fireside geared especially for them.
Among the speakers were Elder Hales and President Hinckley
who sought to rally the youth to see themselves as standard
bearers.
“Do
not look back on your life and say, ‘why did I do that?’
said Elder Hales. “Remember
that a good friend makes it easier to live the gospel.
They will never have you choose between their way and
the Lord’s way.”
He
added, “The saddest words of tongue or pen are those
that say, ‘it might have been.’”
Teasing
a little, President Hinckley said, “I didn’t know I’d
make it this long because I run on batteries. I have
a pace maker. I wear glasses. I carry a cane and I
have batteries in my ears. But I’m going to make it
at least to my 94th birthday which is next
week.”
(When
everyone clapped, he said, “You shouldn’t clap during
a church meeting.”)
President
Hinckley told the youth, “How fortunate you ought to
feel that you are a part of this great season of the
history of the world.” He told them that it was a marvelous
opportunity to be partakers of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
and added, “We have a tremendous responsibility.”
He
said, tell yourself “I will make a difference because of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. I wish everyone would look
at themselves and say this. You can make a difference.
You never have to be ashamed to be a part of the gospel
of Jesus Christ.”
“Do
I know this is the work of the Lord? I certainly do.
I’ve borne testimony of this on every continent. The
more I’ve traveled and seen people, the more grateful
I feel for this wonderful gospel.”
President
Hinckley spoke of the Lord saying, “He is my Father
and your Father. He will listen to me and he will listen
to you. He answers our prayers, not always as we wish,
but the time will come when we will see he has answered
in wisdom.
“The
conversation that took place in a grove here in New
York was as real and personal as mine is with you tonight.”
Were
the youth rallied to be better and do better? Certainly. Was the temple celebrated by those who would be
its inheritors? Oh yes. And certainly things in New
York had come full circle—from Joseph Smith’s transcendent
vision in a solitary grove in New York to a temple built
in the bustling streets of New York. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from rolling
forth.
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Youth Jubilee in New York City
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