"I love youth. I rejoice when they grow up clean and stalwart and tall. I sorrow with them when they have misfortunes and remorse and troubles. . . . I believe you young people are wholesome and basically good and sound; but you . . . are traveling oceans that to you are at least partially uncharted, where great disasters can come unless warnings are heeded."

These are the words of Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Kimball Speaks Out has been adapted from a popular series of articles in the New Era magazine; some of the material has previously appeared in other books by this beloved prophet, seer, and revelator. In this volume he gives warning and timely counsel on nine subjects to help young people find their way during this crucial phase of their journey through life.

On morality: "The small indiscretion seems powerless compared to the sturdy body, the strong mind, the sweet spirit of youth. . . . But soon the strong has become weak, the master the slave, spiritual growth curtailed. But if the first unrighteous act is never given root, the tree will grow to beautiful maturity, and the youthful life will grow toward God, our Father."

On testimony: "Mere passive acceptance of the doctrines will not give the testimony; . . . it will come only through an all-out effort to live [the] commandments."

On being a missionary: "Each of us is responsible to bear witness of the gospel truths that we have been given. We all have relatives, neighbors, friends, and fellow workmen, and it is our responsibility to pass the truths of the gospel on to them."

On service to others: "When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we also put our own problems in a fresher perspective. . . . By losing ourselves, we find ourselves!"

On profanity: "The Lord has told us that we are accountable for indecent language. Indecency that is designed to impress will only depress the hearers as well as the person who utters the indecency."

On personal journals: "I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families . . . through the generations."

On tithing: "To fail to meet this obligation in full is to deny ourselves the promises and to omit a weighty matter. It is a transgression, not an inconsequential oversight.

On administration to the sick: "Let not the skeptic disturb your faith in miraculous healings. They are numerous. They are sacred. . . . They are a reality."