“Purify Your Thoughts” | H. Burke Peterson | 1983

Just as we must purify polluted water before use, to be receptive of the Spirit we must constantly purify our thoughts from the filth of the world. Read the speech here: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/h-burk... Learn more about the author: https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/h-b... More BYU Speeches here: https://speeches.byu.edu/ Subscribe to BYU Speeches:    / byuspeeches   Follow BYU Speeches: Podcasts: https://speeches.byu.edu/podcasts/ Facebook:   / byuspeeches   Instagram:   / byuspeeches   Twitter:   / byuspeeches   Pinterest:   / byuspeeches   © Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. "As President Holland mentioned our neighborhood association in Bountiful, a thought went through my mind. You know how great he is; I’m not sure you know how great his wife Pat is. Picture with me for the moment the street where the Hollands lived and we live in Bountiful. It is up against the mountains and crosses one of the canyons where it goes down and then up. Also picture me jogging about 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning. I see two forms in front of me. As I get closer, I see that they are a man and a woman. As I get closer still, I see that the woman is pushing the man up the hill. Soon I am close enough to hear him say, “But Pat, I’d rather go back and sleep. I don’t want to be healthy.” She is saying, “Come on, Jeff, I know you can do it.” And so she pushes him up the hill. It really was almost that way. They are great friends and it is good to be here with them and with you. Respect for BYU I have a great respect for Brigham Young University. I didn’t attend school here. In the day when I wanted to be an engineer, BYU didn’t have an engineering school. At least they didn’t have one with the reputation that it has now, and so I didn’t attend. We have four daughters who have gone to school here, and I assume a fifth one will when she finishes up at Ricks. My wife also attended here. I have great respect for you. I have been in enough places in the Church throughout the world in the last eleven and a half years to know that from the ranks of this institution have come and will come some of the great leaders of the Church, of communities, of government, of business, and–I suppose more importantly–many of the solid families of the Church. I think your opportunities are unlimited. I think the opportunities that you have are bounded only by what you may impose, by either your willingness or unwillingness to pay the price of success. Signs of the Times We live in a day like no other. Those of you who review the scriptures know that the signs of the times are around us, and the prophecies of men of old have unfolded or are unfolding. These are the days preceding the Second Coming of the Master. I’ve made some observations of my own as a member of the Bishopric, involved in things for which we have responsibility. For instance, a sign of the times, if you will: In the decade of the seventies, 1970–80, somewhere in the world the Church built about 2,000 chapels. That’s in a ten-year period. During 1981 and 1982 following that decade, we built somewhere in the world almost 2,000 chapels in two years. And we have more than 1,000 in some process right now. You’ve read of the temples that have been dedicated, four already this year, one this week, the Tahitian Temple; the first of December, another one in Mexico City. I suppose that next year there will be five or six temples dedicated somewhere in the world. As you know, the great work of the Millennium is the work that will be done in temples. It seems to me that there is a preparation going on. There are many wonderful things happening, but there is also something I would like to address this morning that I hope will have your attention. This is also a time of danger. This is a time to be careful, as you have never been careful before. It is a time to be on guard. Because this is the time, as I read the scriptures, referred to when “men’s hearts shall fail them” (Luke 21:26; D&C 45:26; 88:91). This is a time when even the very elect will be deceived. This is a time when some will not have the courage to stand for what is right. This is a time when there will be a complacency and taking for granted of many gospel principles. This is a time when many–I suppose some among your number–will pick and choose the commandments they will keep, and others they will put aside for the moment. This is the time when Satan is unusually cunning and effective. I think he entraps many, many of us here today, without our knowing it. It is a time of trial. I have learned that trials come to children and teenagers and university students and parents, prophets, and apostles. I weep inside as I watch the trials of President Kimball. Trials are a part of everyone’s life. The Ladder of Faith and Testimony..."