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This devotional address entitled In the World was given on January 4th of 1981 by L. Tom Perry, then a member of the quorum of the 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I'm delighted to be back with you again to begin a new year.

I think I've had this privilege three out of the last four years of being here to begin a new year.

Doesn't seem possible.

Another one has passed.

Where did it go?

They seem to go by so rapidly as we have opportunity to grow in our life and experience life in this exciting time in which we live. Tonight I'd like to talk to you about a subject that I think we need in the church.

I think we need to be reminded of it.

I think we need to prepare ourselves more all of the time for our responsibilities

in the world in which we live. The Savior once

said, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not

of the world, I have chosen you out of the world.

From the teachings of the Savior, we have adopted the common saying in the church

to be in the world, but not of the world.

The phrase has two distinct parts, the first being in, and the second being not of.

Too often I think we use them together and think of them as justification to remain somewhat detached,

somewhat removed from the world. I would like to separate this phrase tonight

and give emphasis only to the part of being in the world. It is far better to view them separately,

equally important, admonitions. Of course, we must stay

free from the sins and materialism of the world around us. But is it not equally important

...