Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well
Few men that have lived on earth have had the priesthood. Do we feel what a privilege it is? Faith and obedience are the keys to having power in the priesthood.
Healing, counciling, and consoling are things that come through the priesthood.
Are your private personal thoughts conducive to the spirit? Do you watch what comes into your mind and body?
He asked many more questions that were very probing about our lives.
He counseled that husband and wife should be equal partners. He asked bishops and stake presidents if they gave the same credence to the words of wives and they do to husbands when they counsel with a couple that are having marital struggles.
He said that women are to be respectful of her body and cultivate her mind. Many women in the church feel depressed that they are not doing enough. Husbands and sons should show frequent gratitude for our wives and mothers.
He stated that one should not have to lose their priesthood to more fully appreciate it.
Elder Jay E. Jensen - Seventy
Arms of Safety
Alma 34: 16
16 And thus amercy can satisfy the demands of bjustice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of cjustice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal dplan of eredemption.
He quoted President Boyd K. Packer, "For some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life. When we are racked or harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burdened with grief, He can heal us. While we do not fully understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, we can experience “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” (“The Touch of the Master’s Hand”, Ensign May 2001)
Elder James J. Hamula - Seventy
Winning the War against Evil
Revelation 12
7 And there was awar in heaven: bMichael and his cangels fought against the dragon; and the ddragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in aheaven.
Isa. 14: 12
12 How art thou afallen from bheaven, O cLucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the dnations!
He quoted President Boyd K Packer, "Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds in wickedness and depravity that which surrounds us now." (An Evening with President Boyd K. Packer: The One Pure Defense)
A good shield for today's world is soberness. The scriptures talk of the value of young men that are sober. To here a still small voice, you must also be still and not have a life filled with noise.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - 2nd Councilor First Presidency
Lift Where You Stand
He shared a story about moving a large piano. One of the brother in the group after many failed attempts to move the piano gave this suggestion, "Stand close together and lift where you stand." The same is true for moving the Lord's kingdom forward.
When we stand to be judged will he look at our positions in the world or the Church and overlook the way we have dealt with our wives and children and how we cared for those we had responsibility over through our home teaching assignments.
He shared the story of the stone cutter on the Salt Lake Temple that lost his leg and still walked every week 22 miles to and from the temple site from his home.
Recognition is rarely an indication of the value of our service. None of the 2000+ stripling warriors are named in the scriptures. When we care more about the kingdom of God than our own prestige we can accomplish so much more.
He said that we know the countless stories of President Monson taking care of people. It would be great if he could take care of everyone in the Church, but that is not his responsibility.
It is all of the priesthood's responsibility.
We cannot and should not lift a piano alone.
President Henry B. Eyring - 1st Counselor in the First Presidency
O Ye That Embark
Our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give.
2 Kings 6:15–17
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
President Thomas S. Monson - Prophet
To Learn, to Do, to Be
He talked of economic problems, jobs lost, businesses failing, and investments being in jeopardy. He encouraged us to make sure that our home teaching families are not going hungry. He also encouraged us to be prudent and to be wise in the use of our funds.
Ezek. 36: 26
26 A anew bheart also will I cgive you, and a new dspirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony eheart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Learn what we should learn. Do what we should do. Be what we should be.
Philip. 3: 13
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
President Monson shared this:
President Stephen L Richards, who served as a counselor to President David O. McKay, declared, "The Priesthood is usually simply defined as 'the power of God delegated to man.' " He continues: "This definition, I think, is accurate. But for practical purposes I like to define the Priesthood in terms of service, and I frequently call it 'the perfect plan of service.' . . . It is an instrument of service . . . and the man who fails to use it is apt to lose it, for we are plainly told by revelation that he who neglects it 'shall not be counted worthy to stand.' "
President Monson stated regarding the priesthood, "The man who fails to use it stands at risk to lose it."
"When one becomes a holder of the priesthood, he becomes an agent of the Lord. He should think of his calling as though he were on the Lord’s errand." (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places (1974), 255.)
The Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.
3 Ne. 27: 27
27 And know ye that aye shall be bjudges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what cmanner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even das I am.
What type of man was He? He was the good shepherd. He served others. He took care of others.
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