“Stay in the Lifeboat,” For the Strength of Youth, Apr. 2022.
Stay in the Lifeboat
When the world tips, like the Titanic did, some people start looking for a lifeboat. Jesus Christ and His Church are the lifeboat.
Illustrations by Melissa Manwill
“This is a lousy time to be young,” one teenager said to me. “It feels like the world is falling apart.”
“We have definitely faced some challenges,” I responded. “But think about it like this: The world is the Titanic , and the Church is the lifeboat! This is actually a great time for you to be young! You are in the lifeboat—the perfect place to reach out and help others.”
When the Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage in 1912, people said it was an unsinkable ship. However, when it hit an iceberg in the middle of the north Atlantic Ocean, it began to sink. The captain told everyone to get to the lifeboats, but they were convinced they were on an unsinkable ship. Most passengers saw no need to get on the lifeboat—until the Titanic tilted dangerously to one side. Then everyone wanted to get on a lifeboat. 1
But by then, it was too late.
In 2019 some people proclaimed, “Nothing can stop the world economy. Unemployment rates across the globe are lower than ever.” Then along came a virus we can’t even see, and it tipped the world. Not only did millions of people become ill and many die, but also many lost jobs and fear was everywhere. During the pandemic, many people came to realize how Jesus Christ and His Church are a lifeboat.
Believe in God
A recent international study showed that more young people are declaring themselves atheists than ever before. These people think that belief in God doesn’t make a difference when it comes to being a good, moral, and ethical person. 2
Here’s the challenge: God has given us the freedom to believe in Him or not, but it’s not correct to say it doesn’t make a difference. Our belief in God affects how we see ourselves and how we see and treat others. Studies show that in times of trouble and crisis, believers make it through much better than nonbelievers. 3
Value Organized Religion
Many believe in God but not organized religion. They say, “I’m spiritual, not religious.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught that spirituality might be all we would need if we lived alone on a mountaintop, but we live in families, communities, and societies. 4 It’s easy to sit alone on a mountaintop and say, “I love everyone.” With no one else around, you never have to put that spiritual belief into practice. We need the norms and standards of religion to help us bring ideals like “love everyone” right down to the reality of the moment when someone is being unlovable. That is what the Church of Jesus Christ helps us do.
Some people say they see no need for organized religion, and yet they demand organized schools, cities, stores, and hospitals. They see the benefit of going to a hospital where the work and the workers are organized and there are rules and expectations for everyone. We see the same benefit in an organized Church.
Help Others Find the Lifeboat
When the world tips, like the Titanic did, some people start looking for a lifeboat. Jesus Christ and His Church are the lifeboat. This is a great time to be a young person because you can make a difference! You are in a wonderful position to help others find what they have been missing before it is too late. Don’t go back to the Titanic. Stay in the lifeboat where you can find safety, strength, and the opportunity to help others join you.