I trust the Lord will be with me and bless me as I address you. In the Third Epistle of John, the fourth verse, are these words:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth  3 Jn. 1:4

The greatest gift that can come to a boy, as I review the humble experiences of my own life, is that he may have good guidance, that he may sense a faith in God, and enjoy the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and hold worthily the Holy Priesthood.

The other evening a lad came to our home. He was accompanying a high priest. They were our ward teachers. The high priest said as he addressed us, "Brother Kirkham, we have a little message for you from our bishop concerning our religion." The message was given. We felt the spirit of it. It was simple and sincere. I thanked them, then the high priest turned to the boy of fourteen, a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood, and said, "John, you say a prayer for Brother Kirkham and his family." We were appreciative and listened, for we know that we have no greater joy than to know that we walk in truth.

Coming down on the elevator in our office building the other day, a young man recognized me and he said, "This is my mother, Brother Kirkham. I'm just back from my mission. She has worked continuously for me while I've been away. She has kept me. She saw that my check came every month to pay my expenses. Now, Lord being willing, Mother is going on a mission. I will pay her way." The greatest gift that comes to us in early life is to be guided in simple truths, and to do the will of our Heavenly Father. As President McKay said to us this morning, "We are concerned with those simple, vital things that help us." That boy you meet tonight or tomorrow morning or the next day and what you say to him and do for him is all-important.

I know a boy in Iowa who one day was plowing in an open field. He did not know at the time that a very distinguished gentleman was passing by, but the man said, "The furrow in that open field was plowed so straight that I had to stop. Did you plow the first furrow in this field?" "Yes," said he. "They did not peg it off for you?" "No, sir." Then my friend said to the boy, "You'll plow many straight things in life. Good-bye."

Several years went by. My friend came again to Iowa. He was met by a gentleman, this time in a fine automobile. "Do you remember being in these parts about twelve years ago?" "Yes, I have a note here in my book of a straight furrow plowed in an open field by a boy." "Well," said the man, "I don't want you to say anything to these people about this incident, but I am the mayor of this city. I want to say to you, I was behind that plow. I was that boy. You journeyed on over the hill that day on your way. What you said as we chatted about 'The straight furrow' has lingered with me through these years. I wanted you to know that those few words have given me encouragement ever since that day."

We philosophize; we delve into great truths—these things enrich our lives, but it is still the simple things that are effective. We "have no greater joy than to hear that our children walk in truth"  3 Jn. 1:4

May God bless us that this joy may ever be ours and that we may ever appreciate the sacred words of the Lord as given in the Holy Scriptures and with courage and simplicity live the truth, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.