A Marked Generation

Here are some of the greatest quotes and hymns about the youth.

For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted away into apostasy, but ours will not...God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God...Make no mistake about it--you are a marked genteration.There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time, as there is for us. Never before on the face of thisearth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized. Now is the great day of the devils among us. Now is also the great day of the Lord's power, with the greatest number of priesthood holders on the earth and the showdown is fast approaching.(Ensign, April 1987, p. 73.)
--Ezra Taft Benson

I want to talk to you young people frankly and honestly. I presume you know that we love you. As leaders of the Church, there isn't anything in this world that is right for you that we wouldn't do. We have great confidence in you. You are not just ordinary toung men and women. You are choice spirits, many of you having been held in reserve for almost 6,000 years to come forth in this day, at this time, when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest. (New Era. June 1986)
--Ezra Taft Benson

It is not difficult to understand why the great God in heaven has reserved these special spirits for the final work of the kingdom prior to his millennial reign...This generation will face trials and troubles that will exceed those of their pioneer forbears. Our generation has had periods of respite from the foe. The future generation will have little or none...This is a choosen generation...I believe today's youth of the Church will lead the youth of the world through the most trying time in history. (Ensign, November 1987, pp. 27-29)
-- Vaughn J. Featherstone
"True to the Faith"
Shall the youth of Zion falter,
In defending truth and right?
While the enemy assaileth,
Shall we shrink or shun the fight? No!

(Chorus)

While we know the pow'rs of darkness,
Seek to thwart the work of God,
Shall the children of the promise,
Cease to grasp the iron rod? No!

(Chorus)

We will work out our salvation;
We will cleave unto the truth;
We will watch and pray and labor,
With the fervent zeal of youth. Yes!

(Chorus)

We will strive to be found worthy,
Of the kingdom of our Lord,
With the faithful ones redeemed,
Who have loved and kept his word. Yes!

CHORUS
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God's command, soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.
(Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hymn #254. By Evan Stephens)

"Carry On"
Firm as the mountains around us,
Stalwart and brave we stand,
On the rock our fathers planted,
For us in this goodly land--
The rock of honor and virtue,
Of faith in the living God.
They raised his banner triumphant,
Over the desert sod.

(Chorus)

We'll build on the rock they planted,
A palace to the King.
Into its shinning corridors,
Our songs of praise we'll bring,
For the heritage they left us,
Not of gold or of worldly wealth,
But a blessing everlasting,
Of love and joy and health.

CHORUS
And we hear the desert singing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Hills and vales and mountains ringing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Holding aloft our colors,
We march in the glorious dawn.
O youth of a noble birth-right,
Carry on, carry on, Carry on!
(Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hymn #255. By Ruth May Fox)

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