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This devotional address entitled, Serious About the Things to Be Done, was given on April

11th of 1978 by Max L. Pinnaker, then president of the missionary training center of the Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

My dear brothers and sisters, I'm thankful for this opportunity this morning.

I'm also humbled by this awesome responsibility of occupying your time.

Considering who you are and how precious time is,

I feel like the man who prayed,

please, dear God, make my words today sweet and tender,

for tomorrow I may have to eat them.

I've entitled my remarks today,

serious about the things to be done.

And I certainly intend to be serious,

but I must share something with you

before we get too serious.

I want you to know how great and magnanimous President Dallin Oaks is.

Under any circumstances, this great soul is willing to lend a helping hand.

With the recent storms and the construction going on at the LTM,

we had some damage to one of the buildings.

President Oaks, as usual, responded to our plea for help,

and I later received this note from him,

...