Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles expressed his concern that too many students are leaving life's experiences to chance without sufficiently planning and preparing.

"If you want a real example of planning I want you to turn to the scriptures," Perry said.

He said if students follow Christ's example of careful planning, they might be motivated to spend more time devoting themselves to planning what they want to accomplish in their own mortal experience.

"As we follow the history of man's sojourn on earth, you must be impressed with how carefully the Lord has planned for His children during the time that they would have this mortal experience," Perry said.

Elder Perry went on to explain that the Lord has instructed His children with His gospel plan through different periods of time called dispensations.

"As we review the dispensations of time, a special lesson seems to be included in each one of us that we can apply to our ultimate destiny," Perry said.

Elder Perry said the first dispensation begins with Adam. Adam and Eve were told not to partake of the fruit of the tree of good and evil. They did partake of it and were then subject to mortality.

"The fall was not a disaster; it wasn't a mistake or an accident. It was a deliberate part of the Lord's plan of salvation...without obtaining the bitter, we'd never be able to have the sweet," Perry said.

He said students should include in their own life plan a pattern of constant and regular communication with Heavenly Father to receive instruction.

Elder Perry said the second dispensation is the dispensation of Enoch. The third dispensation is the dispensation of Noah. The second and third teach mankind to choose good over evil.

"The gift of agency is like fire; if properly controlled it becomes the agency of life, but if improperly used, becomes the agency of death," Perry said. "To choose right brings exaltation. We literally become sons and daughters of God and enjoy the fullness of his kingdom. Our agency, if improperly used, will deny us of all the blessings of exaltation."

The fourth dispensation Elder Perry referred to was the dispensation of Abraham. From this dispensation, mankind learns to keep covenants made with the Lord. As part of this, Elder Perry said students should be worthy to hold a temple recommend.

Elder Perry said Moses was the next dispensation. He said Moses was taught leadership. Elder Perry said leadership requires balance. He outlined four priorities President Hinckley gave to balance time most effectively. These priorities include making time for family, fathers should provide for family, service and making personal time to prepare.

Elder Perry said the greatest dispensation of all is the Meridian of Time. He also said that the Savior teaches that "Ye are the light of the world" in Matthew chapter 5 and students should share that light. This dispensation has the promise of the gift of eternal life.

This is the dispensation of the fullness of times, Elder Perry said.

"Our generation, the generation of the fullness of times, has the benefit of all previous dispensations on which we can build our lives as we understand God's dealings with His children here on earth," Perry said.

He said students should plan to excel and strive for perfection. He said his hope is that students will spend more time looking internally and seeking salvation under the guidance of the Lord's great plan.

Elder Perry referred to students choosing a major. Students can visit the BYU Career and Learning Information Center at 2590 WSC to receive guidance in choosing a major and making other educational decisions.

Copyright Brigham Young University 31 Oct 2007