Over a four-year period, President Ezra Taft Benson has addressed every different age group and family role in the Church. Young men, young women, mothers, fathers, single adult men, single adult women, children, and elderly members of the Church-each group has received counsel most appropriate for them.
Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice collects all of these talks. In this volume, President Benson discusses the problems, needs, responsibilities, goals, and faith of each group. Much of what he says pinpoints eternal values in contrast to society's conflicting standards.
To young men, he says, "Not only should a mission be regarded as a priesthood duty, but every young man should look forward to this experience with great joy and anticipation. What a privilege-what a sacred privilege-to serve the Lord full time for two years with all your heart, might, mind, and strength."
To young women: "The Book of Mormon will change your life. It will fortify you against the evils of our day. It will bring a spirituality into your life that no other book will. It will be the most important book you will read in preparation for life's challenges."
To mothers: "Knowing of your divine role to bear and rear children and bring them back to Him, how will you accomplish this in the Lord's way? I say the 'Lord's way,' because it is different from the world's way. The Lord clearly defined the roles of mothers and fathers in providing for and rearing a righteous posterity."
To fathers: "Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time. . . . But a father's calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity."
To single adult men: "Do not be caught up in materialism, one of the real plagues of our generation-that is, acquiring things, fast-paced living, and securing career success in the single state. Honorable marriage is more important than wealth, position, and status. As husband and wife, you can achieve your life's goals together."
To single adult women: "We see you as a vital part of the mainstream body of the Church. We pray that the emphasis we naturally place on families will not make you feel less needed or less valuable to the Lord or to His Church. The sacred bonds of Church membership go far beyond marital status, age, or present circumstance."
To children: "Heavenly Father wants you to . . . pray to Him every day. He wants to help you because He loves you, and He will help you if you pray to Him and ask Him for His help. In your prayers, also thank Him for your blessings. Thank Him for sending our oldest brother, Jesus Christ, into the world."
To the elderly: "The Lord knows and loves the elderly among His people. . . . Upon them He has bestowed many of His greatest responsibilities. In various dispensations He has guided His people through prophets who were in their advancing years. He has needed the wisdom and experience of age, the inspired direction from those with long years of proven faithfulness to His gospel."
