PROVO — When he taught a college course years ago, President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints noticed some students who worked hard to achieve their goals.

"Others," he said Sunday night during a fireside broadcast for college-age church members around the world, "were drifting on a sea of chance with the waves of failure threatening to engulf them. First they became lazy, then discouraged, then indifferent, then they dropped out."

Referring to the classic Charles Dickens tale, President Monson said he has "Great Expectations" for young adult church members, and he provided advice to those completing their educations, encouraging them to prepare academically and spiritually for the rest of their lives. School is critical, said President Monson, who earned two business degrees and became a business executive at the Deseret News, because the modern human resources director wants to know more than whether someone will work hard. He or she asks potential employees about degrees and computer experience and the contributions an applicant can make to the firm.

"Learn the lessons which will help you meet the challenges of this changing world in which we live," he told an audience of 17,926 people at the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University. Thousands more watched the Church Educational System broadcast via satellite at church locations in North, Central and South America and around the world on BYU-TV, BYU-International and lds.org. The CES serves 150,000 institute students between the ages of 18 and 30 at more than 500 locations, most near college campuses.

Spiritually, college-age members must acquire testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ to anchor their souls, President Monson said. Christ also prepared the way for larger accomplishments.

"He is the author of your great expectations," President Monson said.

Success, he said, will come to those who "learn by the experience of others to stand firm for principles, to broaden your interests, to be understanding of the rights of others to sail the same sea and to be reminded of the discharge of your duties."

He provided four pieces of advice for those concluding their educations.

First, avoid pitfalls and detours like peer pressure and temptation. Second, persevere. "Beware of the flashy start and the fadeout finish," he said. Third, help others in their race of life. Fourth, seek the Lord's help.