Generation after generation of children grow into young manhood and young womanhood to face challenges that have always faced youth. Fear or insecurity occasioned by situations new to them, rebellion against the customs and rules of past generations, social adjustments of many kinds —these are some of their problems. In college, heavy schedules of study, periodic examinations, human relationships in closely interrelated groups, social conformity, the spell of dynamic, brilliant teachers, and so forth, add their particular challenges.

Can Christian Science help young people face these challenges and solve their problems? Yes, for it starts with the fact that man is the son of God endowed with dominion, a fact that Christ Jesus constantly stressed. The acceptance of this dominion makes victory over temptation and fear, over loneliness and failure, a demonstrable experience.

Another valuable help which Christian Science provides is its teaching that man's intelligence is not based upon a limited mortal mind I.Q., or intelligence quotient, but upon divine Mind, the only Mind, the ever-present, unlimited divine Mind of which man is the individualized and perfect expression. Accepting this teaching of Christian Science makes the Apostle Paul's statement, "We have the mind of Christ" (I Cor. 2:16) demonstrable.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes of Mind's government of man in these words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 128): "The term Science, properly understood, refers only to the laws of God and to His government of the universe, inclusive of man. From this it follows that business men and cultured scholars have found that Christian Science enhances their endurance and mental powers, enlarges their perception of character, gives them acuteness and comprehensiveness and an ability to exceed their ordinary capacity."

A few lines farther on Mrs. Eddy adds: "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity."

Nothing can belittle or alter the nature of God's sons and daughters, made in His likeness. The understanding of this truth enables young men and women, regardless of human background, to express intelligence, courage, purpose, and ability and to prove that nothing can thwart the expression of these qualities of spiritual being.

One of the important things Christian Science will do for them is to destroy fear. It teaches that there is no place or reason for fear, since God, good, fills all space. "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Tim. 1:7). Christian Science teaches us to cherish in consciousness the true picture of man rather than an imperfect, mortal, distorted model. Mrs. Eddy says, "Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite" (Science and Health, p. 407).

Throughout the Christian Science movement has gone this challenge: to accept the fundamental precept of the oneness and allness of God. Compromise with evil then becomes inadmissible. The world needs devoted, dedicated, enthusiastic advocates of right.

Man is not the product of heredity or of environment. He is not undisciplined and afraid. He is not a ship tossed helplessly on a sea of uncontrollable forces. God has given him dominion, and Christian Science reveals the scientific way of demonstrating this dominion, through which young men and young women can prove themselves masters of their era, not victims of it. Willing and eager to try out their own wings in search of happiness and success, they can do so intelligently, confidently, and in accordance with the highest standards of morality and right by relying on the one Mind; they can do so unselfishly for the good of all rather than selfishly for their own aggrandizement.

Temptation is no respecter of persons or of age. Familiar passages in Revelation sound the warning and foretell the reward: "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.... He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. ...And I will give him the morning star" (2:7,26,28). What is it that must be overcome? The temptation to believe in a power or an attraction apart from God, good.

Sin always brings suffering. But the overcoming of sin or of the temptation to sin brings peace of mind and peace of body beyond words to express. Probably no man had more reason to yield to temptation than Daniel. In the reign of Darius, Daniel was made chief of three presidents in the kingdom. The princes under him, jealous of his position, prevailed upon the king to establish a royal statute that everyone in all his realm should pray to him alone. The penalty for disobedience was to be cast into a lions' den. Daniel could have given token obedience, perhaps; but he continued to pray to God. And as a result he was cast into the lions' den.

In the morning, when the king went to the den of lions, Daniel was found to be with "no manner of hurt...upon him, because he believed in his God" (Dan. 6: 23). Whereupon the king not only honored Daniel but caused a manifesto to be written and sent throughout his whole kingdom, telling his people of the power of God. Unswervingly Daniel served God; yet he served the king also, served him so honestly, so loyally, so efficiently that he was trusted with the important affairs of the kingdom.

To young men and women at universities or embarked upon careers comes the opportunity to serve God. In so doing, they, like Daniel, can also serve their fellowmen. Like Daniel, they too can bless and be blessed. Steadfast devotion to Principle is the only answer to every challenge that life presents. And it never fails. Is it difficult to do right? To remain steadfast to Principle? Perhaps; but the reward is tremendous. To him that overcometh temptation, "will I give power over the nations," the promise reads, power over every challenge that daily living presents.