In our world, there have risen brilliant stars in drama, music, literature, sculpture, painting, science, and all the fields of excellence. For long years I have had a vision of members of the Church greatly increasing their already strong positions of excellence till the eyes of all the world will be upon us.

I begin by posing several questions, meant for self-reflection: What kind of personal narrative are you writing for your life? Is the path you describe in your story straight? Does your story end where it began, at your heavenly home? Is there an exemplar in your story—and is it the Savior Jesus Christ? I testify that the Savior is “the author and finisher of our faith." Will you invite Him to be the author and finisher of your story?

When I was a young man, my home was on Long Island about 30 miles from New York City. We had woods around us, and we enjoyed nature. My father had a large yard with hedges, rock gardens, fish pool, vegetable garden, lawns, and trees. They all required regular care. There were always chores, like cutting the lawn in the summer and raking leaves in the autumn. I thought we worked pretty hard taking care of our yard, but it was nothing like my father’s boyhood on the sugar beet farm in Burton, Idaho.