Our First Presidency Message for the month of April comes from our new prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and is entitled, “Treasure of Eternal Value.” He begins his address by telling us of his boyhood, when he enjoyed reading the book “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson. He also saw adventure movies with lost treasure and listened to radio programs that featured buried gold. All these things were appealing to a young boy.
But later, he heard of a different kind of treasure, one spoken of by the Savior in the Sermon on the Mount, a treasure in Heaven that moths could not corrupt and that could not be stolen by thieves. This was not a reward of gold or silver, but rather, riches that will bring us joy forever.
President Monson then provides us with our own treasure map to find these riches for ourselves.
First, we must learn from the past. As we look to our heritage, we will find forebears who showed tremendous faith and courage in their lives. We have the opportunity to take those good examples and build on them in our own lives.
Second, we must prepare for the future. We must have goals that will keep us moving forward. We must be prepared for the things life will bring our way.
And, we must live in the present. We can’t spend time wishing for tomorrow or dwelling in the past. We must take the opportunities that exist for us today and make the most of them. We shouldn’t wait for special occasions to enjoy life—we should make every day a special occasion.
He closes his address by encouraging us not to delay. So many opportunities await us; we should not put them off a single moment.
Our roadmap is now in place – Learn from the past. Prepare for the future. Live in the present. And we will have the focus we need to gain that eternal treasure.
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