PROVO — Like the ugly duckling in the Hans Christian Andersen story, young adults should become aware of who they really are, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf told them during a Church Educational System fireside Sunday evening.

President Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the speaker at the fireside originating in the Marriott Center on the Brigham Young University campus. Besides the several thousand college-aged young adults attending there, many more participated via the Internet and satellite broadcast in Church meetinghouses and other locations throughout the world.

After telling the story of the ugly duckling who ultimately realized he had grown into a beautiful swan, President Uchtdorf told his listeners, "Discovering who we really are is part of this great adventure called life."

To help them make the discovery, he gave answers to some of the questions members in their age group have asked him.

"I'm unhappy and depressed. Sometimes it seems like the world would be a better place if I weren't in it. Why should I go on living?"

President Uchtdorf acknowledged that severe depression and thoughts of suicide are serious matters and those who suffer those things, or know someone who is suffering, should see that help is sought from professionals and Church leaders.

But he reminded the young adults that God's purpose for them is that they should have joy in life.

He said, "It is my earnest prayer that the knowledge of who you are and what you may become will fill your souls with the peaceable love of God and that this will ignite within you a happiness worthy of your true heritage, for in truth you are princes and princesses, kings and queens."

"I'm so lonely. Will I ever find my soul mate?"

President Uchtdorf said, "I know this may be a disappointment for some of you, but I don't believe there is only one right person for you."

The important thing, he continued, is to avoid looking for perfection, but to find someone to marry and then join together in working together to build a strong marriage.

He told those despairing about ever finding an eternal companion to not give up.

To the men he said, "The secret to finding the girl of your dreams is to get to know many of them. Then, when you fall in love and it feels right, ask her to marry you. If she says no, you continue to search and to pray until finally you will arrive with that young woman at the altar of the temple."