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The 92-year-old man next in line to lead the LDS Church invited millions of young Mormons on Thursday to tune in to his worldwide address this Sunday, but, first, he gave them a homework assignment.

In a video message on Twitter, Russell M. Nelson, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, urged single LDS adults, ages 18 to 30, to read from a book that Mormons view as divine decrees to LDS leaders.

"To prepare [for this weekend's sermon]," Nelson said, "I invite you to read Doctrine & Covenants, Section 84, verses 43 to 45."

That passage, touted as a revelation given to church founder Joseph Smith in 1832, says the following:

"And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

Between now and Sunday, Nelson wants his intended audience to "consider what you are doing to 'live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God' and "ponder this in your hearts."

Nelson's talk will be live-streamed at lds.org Sunday at 6 p.m. MST from the Marriott Center at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University in Provo.

A year ago, the longtime LDS apostle made headlines during a similar address, from BYU-Hawaii, when he declared that a hotly disputed church policy — branding gay Mormon couples as "apostates" and barring their children from baptism until they turn 18 — reflected the "will of the Lord" and came via direct revelation to Thomas S. Monson, current president of the 15.6 million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Prophets see ahead. They see the harrowing dangers the adversary has placed, or will yet place, in our path," Nelson said at the time. "Prophets also foresee the grand possibilities and privileges awaiting those who listen with the intent to obey.

" ... You may not always understand every declaration of a living prophet," he added. "But when you know a prophet is a prophet, you can approach the Lord in humility and faith and ask for your own witness about whatever his prophet has proclaimed."

Nelson's Twitter message offers at least a hint at his topic this time around.

David Noyce