Latter-day Saints were encouraged to pursue an education and become followers of Christ during the first day of the 176th Semiannual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Gordon B. Hinckley told LDS males 12 and older during the evening priesthood session of a "troubling trend" in the United States that shows women are becoming more educated than men. Nearly 73 percent of young women graduate from high school, compared to 65 percent of young men, he said.

Despite that, President Hinckley said at a conference for the women of the church last week that LDS women are obligated to get all the education they can in order to become self-reliant and enlarge their lives.

Now the men must come up to par, he said.

"Rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities," President Hinckley said. "Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being 'equally yoked.' That applies, I think, to the matter of education."'

Speakers throughout Saturday's sessions, convened in the Conference Center and transmitted live via satellite to more than 80 nations worldwide, urged Latter-day Saints to become disciples of Christ and come to a knowledge of the saving power of the Atonement.

Adopting Christ as a personal anchor will assure safety and success in the challenges of life, said Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve. But despite one's best efforts to obey, everyone will still fall short. It is only through the grace of God that his children can be saved, he said.

"Let the Savior be your lead in life. He will safely lead you over the most difficult obstacles of life. His laws are absolutely secure anchors of protection that dispel fear and assure success in an otherwise dangerous world."

President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, said that disciples of Christ will feel comfort in times of sorrow, peace of conscience and joy in service.

A true disciple of Christ stands as a witness of God at all times, President Faust said, addressing the conference from a chair on the dais. He asked Latter-day Saints to forsake the pursuit of worldly things, follow the commandments and build up the church throughout the world.

"One true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that (Christ's) ways have become our ways," President Faust said. "Through our discipleship we are able to receive the spiritual strength that we need to deal with the challenges of life."