I really loved President Oak’s talk. It was really good, really helpful. And it really is about loving God and loving His children.

Sister Oaks and I are thrilled to express our love to you and address you.

These are stressful times for all of us, but the gospel of Jesus Christ gives us ample reason to be of good cheer.

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ provides unique access to the truth about our loving Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation for His children.

Marriage is central to the purpose of mortal life and what follows. That power of creation is one of the most precious gifts we have in mortal life. But central to that gift is the law of chastity, the commandment that our powers of procreation be expressed only within marriage between a man and a woman.

That commandment is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Marriage is a gift, but it gives us the opportunity and incentive to begin a journey of growing with one another.

We learn to sacrifice and serve as we can in few other ways. Because I married at age 53, I know how the wait for a worthy companion feels.

Dating and even not dating can be very stressful.

Now I address some issues that are also of concern for the well-loved high school students in our audience. Nationwide your peers are afflicted by anxiety, vulnerable to drugs,

addicted to social media, and seeking counseling in record numbers.

You are affected by these influences, but for you, the good news outweighs all of that.

You know you are children of God, a uniquely divine heritage.

God loves you. He is a powerful mentor and He has promised to help you if you but seek Him in the way He has taught.

I have personally referred to our continually trying to “balance the dual commandments of love and law,” end of quote,

But I now believe that goal to be better expressed as trying to live both of these commandments in a more complete way.

Anyone who does not treat individuals who face gender identity challenges with love and dignity is not aligned with the teachings of the first and second great commandments. Thus on the subject of God’s law,

we need to remember that God has revealed again and again that He created male and female.

And on the subject of our duty to love our neighbor, we need to remember that God has commanded us to love even those who do not keep all of the commandments.

If you or a family member or a friend is struggling with these issues of confusion of identity,

I urge you to apply both the law of the gospel and the love and mercy of our Savior and Redeemer,

who will help and guide you if you patiently walk in His paths.

A related and more familiar issue is the feeling of being romantically attracted to persons of the same gender.

Of course, if not acted upon, such attractions are not sins.

But how do we deal with such feelings in us or in others?

My first advice is to remember that whatever our own variations in the diversity of our Father in Heaven’s creations, He loves all of us and His perfect plan of happiness has a place for all.

We show our love for Him by keeping His commandments, including love for His children. Adding to the personal power that comes with keeping covenants, is our Savior’s wonderful teaching that in the midst of the challenges of mortal life,

we should be of good cheer.

All we have said here can bring blessings to our lives.

I invite you to look to God and live. Look to the word spoken tonight, the words of our prophet, the scriptures, the plan of salvation, and your patriarchal blessings. Pray and the Lord will be with you.

In all our concerns, as we work through all our challenges, remember, our Father’s plan is a plan of happiness.