Ogden » Mormon President Thomas S. Monson, a former sailor, used a nautical image Friday as he urged more than 3,800 Weber State University graduates to choose attitudes that lead to happiness.

"You can't direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails," Monson told the graduates and thousands of their family members and friends at WSU's Dee Events Center.

Monson, regarded as prophet, seer and revelator of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saluted the graduates -- "That's a U.S. Navy salute," he explained -- and likened their challenges to those explorers John Cabot and Captain James Cook faced.

"You ... can be explorers in spirit with a mandate to make this world better," said Monson, whose speech conveyed wisdom from famous people including evangelical Christian pastor Charles Swindoll, Eleanor Roosevelt and Vince Lombardi.

Monson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before earning a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Utah. It was his first time as commencement speaker at WSU, and the university's 135th commencement.

Monson challenged graduates to seek the abundant life, and he gave his recipe: Pay attention to the ABCs of attitude, belief and courage.

People can choose misery or contentment, he said. "We cannot change our past or how people act in a certain way. The only thing we can do is change our attitude.

"B is for belief "in yourself, in those around you and in a set of principles," he said. "Be honest with yourself. Be honest with others. Be honest with God."

Courage, he said, becomes a virtue when it is rooted not in grandiosity but in a determination to "live decently.

"Remember your ABCs as you journey through life," said Monson. "Then you will have courage to face whatever challenge may come your way. Then the abundant life will be yours."

Graduate Matthew Warner evoked laughter when he alluded to the tough economy facing graduates.

"Each of us may find ourselves sitting at home with much more time than we know what to do with," he said.

But Warner, who was awarded a master's degree in business, said graduates need only remember that they know how to rise to the occasion.

"We are all achievers. We have chosen to get up and do something with our dreams," he said.

WSU awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities degree to Monson and to three women: Leola Davidson, a retired nursing professor who was in the hospital and unable to attend; community activist and volunteer Nancy L. Davidson; and former music professor and community activist Carol Hurst.