Many years ago there was a young man in my stake who was an icon to me
and others, named Dave. Dave was popular, handsome, athletic, and more
importantly, good. Dave was a light in a sometimes dark high school environment.
Dave was two years older than I was so I didn’t know him very well, and he didn’t even know me at the time, but I looked up to him. Here is one of the principles that Dave taught me and others without ever knowing he was teaching it. Dave was faithful, spiritual, fun and still very social. Dave loved his friends and the people of the school. Dave would often attend the school parties, but when he went he was noticeably different.
Dave was bold and fearless and never seemed to care about peer pressure.
Dave would go to occasional parties to socialize and spend time with his
classmates, teammates, and friends. At most parties everyone seemed to be
drinking and carrying alcohol in their hands. Dave, too, was at these parties
carrying something in his hand. What Dave carried around, though, showed who he was and what he stood for. Dave carried around a small cardboard six-pack of orange crush. He wanted everyone to see that he was in the crowd, but not like the crowd. Dave’s presence was life changing for many who were tempted to heed to peer pressure. Dave absolutely loved the fruit of the tree and all around him people were in awe of how delicious the fruit must have been to Dave as they watched him enjoy it. Dave learned at an early age “it is far better to follow the Creator than the crowd.”  I am grateful for a number of “Dave’s" in my life who have stood with power while others have watched.