President Uchtdorf conducts.
Choir sings, “Saints, Behold How Great Jehovah”
Choir sings, “Secret Prayer.”
Elder Oaks
THIS IS A MUST-READ TALK IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE RECENT CONTROVERSY REGARDING WOMEN AND THE PRIESTHOOD. THESE NOTES ARE NOT COMPLETE. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE TALK CAREFULLY ON-LINE.
We do not step down when we are released from a calling, we do not step up when we are called. Our attitude toward the calling is the issue. Nursery is equally honorable.
Keys and authority of the priesthood. Broadcast so all members can see this talk. Priesthood power blesses all of us. Priesthood keys direct women and men. Priesthood authority pertain to women as well as men.
Priesthood is the power of God delegated to man so man can act on the Earth for the salvation of the human family. It is the power by which the Earth was created. The priesthood is the power by which we will be resurrected and proceed to eternal life.
Priesthood keys are the authority to direct, control and govern the use of the priesthood on the Earth. Every act is done under the authorization of the person holding the keys.
Keys both enlarge and limit. Certain people are given the authority of the priesthood. A person who holds the priesthood cannot give authority to another unless authorized by the person who holds the keys. A priesthood holder cannot administer the Sacrament in his own home without authorization from the one who holds the keys.
Keys held by the temple president allow sisters in the temple to perform priesthood acts. Jesus Christ determines what keys are given to mortals. We think that all were given to Joseph Smith. The keys of this dispensation were given to Joseph Smith. There are other priesthood keys not given to man on the Earth, including the keys of creation and resurrection.
The first presidency has the power to make many decisions. These authorities exercise all of the keys given to men in this dispensation, but they are not free to change the divine pattern that only men will hold the priesthood.
How does this apply to women? Joseph Fielding Smith said, “while the sisters have not been given the priesthood…this does not mean the Lord has not given them authority…they have authority (in the temple) to do great and wonderful things.”
Women have been given authority. The RS has been given power and authority to do a great many things. Church work done in the temple and wards and branches is done under those who hold priesthood keys. RS is not just a class, but something they belong to, a divinely established appendage.
When a woman is set apart to preach the Gospel, she is given priesthood authority to preach the Gospel. Same with women who receive a calling.
A person who has authority or calling should forget about their “rights” and concentrate on their “responsibilities.”
The Lord has directed that only men will only be ordained to the priesthood. The power cannot be exercised without the companionship of one of God’s daughters. Marriage is a partnership. A full partnership. Women and men are equal with different responsibilities.
Blessings of the priesthood. These are available to men and women on the same terms. The gift of the Holy Ghost and the blessings of the temples are examples. Women are equal to and different than men. Men and women are both endowed with the same power, which is priesthood power.
Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy
Information on Elder Hallstrom: https://www.lds.org/church/leader/donald-l-hallstrom
New technology is great, but has little value if people are not willing to receive the word and act on it. Must be willing to act, willing to change.
Don’t say, “that’s just the way I am.” We meet in Priesthood because who we are is not who we can become. We all have the ability to change.
Your challenges are not insurmountable. Told the story of an Indian man who overcome incredible obstacles to become a missionary and advance in the Gospel. The Gospel helped him change.
1)We must be priesthood men, whether young men or older men, showing spiritual maturity. Need to see the priesthood as a sacred act.
2)We need to serve. Must magnify our calling by serving others, including wives and children, our callings.
3)We need to be worthy. Commonly accepted practices in the world choke our ability to advance in the priesthood. “See that you do all things in worthiness.”
Elder Randall L. Ridd, of the young men’s presidency
More choices mean more opportunities. More potential to do good and…evil.
God trusts you to successful discern among all the choices available. Young men are growing up with one of the greatest tools for good in the history of man, the internet. Choice means accountability. The very best and the very worst are available.
The internet records your desires. As you surf the internet, you leave tracks, what you communicate, where you have been, and the things that interest you. Your cyber book of life. The internet will give you more and more of what you seek. It is easy to engage in worthy pursuits, but the opposite is also true.
Satan is trying to trap you with addictive behavior. Four principles:
1)know who you are. (He told a very touching story about a young man who gained a glimpse of the pre mortal existence and saw who he really was, a follower of Christ. It changed his life.)
2)plug into the source of power. Words of the prophets.
3)Owning a smart thing does not make you smart. Don’t do dumb things with your smartphone.
4)The Lord provides technology to accomplish His purposes.
Choir, “Rejoice, the Lord is King.”
Elder Uchtdorf
Story of Rip Van Winkle. Slept for 20 years. Missed the American Revolution. Are you sleeping through the Restoration of the Gospel?
The Restoration is ongoing. We are living through it now. These events will culminate in the glorious Second Coming. Ancient prophets yearned to see our day. How will we contribute to this time?
Reasons people do not participate in the Restoration.
1)Selfishness. What is in it for me? Contrary to the spirit to build God’s kingdom. The remedy is to come to Christ.
2)Addiction. Some addictions start slowly. Then they become consuming addictions. Pornography, alcohol, gambling, virtual reality. Satan has many tools to rob us of our divine potential. Listen to the voices of family, friends, and the prophets and the Savior to avoid addiction. If you have an addiction, seek help. The Lord will not give up on you.
3)Competing priorities. People get so busy that we feel like a cart pulled by many animals straining in a different direction. Hobbies, sports, community or political issues — they may be good and honorable, but are they leaving us time for our highest priorities?
Elder Eyring
Heroes. Joe Dimaggio became his hero when he was young. We will copy our heroes. For Elder Eyring, he observed his father as the branch president, and his father became his hero. Elder Eyring grew up in Princeton, NJ.
The other hero was a US Marine, came to meetings wearing his Marine uniform. Wartime. Taught him how to play basketball.
Each person with the priesthood is a model for others. You are a lighted candle. You can be a great model, average or a bad model. It matters to the Lord which you choose. “You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
Three characteristics of heroes:
1)Pattern of pray.
2)Habit of service.
3)Rockhard decision to be honest.
President Monson
We live in a world where moral values have been tossed aside, where sin and temptations surround us. Many influences tear down what is decent. Impose a secular society. Decisions are constantly before us that can determine our destiny. Need the courage to say no when we should, the courage to do the right thing because it’s right.
We will have the courage to defend what we believe? We can help ourselves in our desire to do that which is right when we are in places where our thoughts are influenced for good.
If you ever find yourself in the place where you shouldn’t ought to be, get out!
The real tests of courage are inner tests, like when remaining faithful when nobody is looking, standing alone when you are misunderstood. Do the right thing, defend beliefs when you may be ridiculed.
During WWII, one man always prayed even if he were jeered at. Another example of another youth who was clean and wearing a shirt in Sacrament meeting, but people saw him after the meeting smoking a cigarette and looking scruffy.
Brethren, are you the same person during Sacrament meeting and after Sacrament meeting.
Just be the same person in the dark that you are in the light.
Told the story of Parley Pratt and Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail.
It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his roots in the shifting sands of popular opinion.
Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval.
Let everyman learn his duty, to act in the office to which he is appointed, in all diligence. Then we will be a royal priesthood.
Choir sings, “Abide With Me”