From the Conference Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake
City, we bring you the general priesthood session
of the 187th Annual General Conference
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Music for this session is provided by a priesthood choir
comprised of young single adults from stakes
in Holladay and Murray, Utah.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor
in the First Presidency of the Church,
will conduct this session.
Our dear brethren, we welcome you
to the priesthood session of the 187th Annual General
Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
President Thomas S. Monson has asked
me to conduct this session.
These services are being relayed by satellite transmission
to priesthood holders in many locations throughout the world.
The music for this session will be
provided by a priesthood choir comprised
of young single adults from stakes
in Holladay and Murray, Utah, under the direction of Brett
Taylor, with Andrew Unsworth at the organ.
The choir will open this meeting by singing
"Rise Up, O Men of God."
The invocation will then be offered by Elder Vern P.
Stanfill of the Seventy, after which the choir will sing
"Jesus, Once of Humble Birth."
[MUSIC PLAYING - "RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD"]
Our Heavenly Father, we, Thy sons,
gather ourselves across the globe
with gratitude in our hearts.
We are grateful for a prophet of God, even Thomas S. Monson.
We are grateful for his service and his consecrated life.
We are grateful, Heavenly Father,
to sit at the feet of prophets, seers, and revelators.
We pray that Thou might bless them.
Heavenly Father, this evening we pray
that as we listen, that we might learn,
that our hearts might be open, that they might be touched
by the Spirit, that we might understand and comprehend all
that Thou wouldst have us know.
We pray that our hearts will be changed,
that we might use this opportunity
to commit to minister to others and to lift others up.
We are grateful unto Thee for Thy Son
and ask that Thou might help us to remember Him always.
And this we say in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "JESUS, ONCE OF HUMBLE BIRTH"]
Thank you, choir.
It will now be our privilege and blessing
to hear from our beloved prophet, President Thomas S.
Monson.
He will be followed by Elder David A.
Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Bishop Gerald Causse, Presiding Bishop of the Church,
will then address us.
President Monson.
My dear brethren, I am honored by the privilege
to address you in this worldwide gathering of faithful holders
of the priesthood of God.
This evening I reference a topic about which
I have spoken before.
The prophet Mormon outlined one of the key characteristics
of the Savior and which is to be emulated by His disciples.
Said he:
"And if a man be meek and lowly in heart,
and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost
that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs
have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing;
wherefore he must needs have charity.
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not,
and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked.
...
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity,
ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.
Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all,
for all things must fail--
"But charity is the pure love of Christ,
and it endureth forever; and whoso
is found possessed of it at the last day,
it shall be well with him."
Brethren, we do not honor the priesthood of God
if we are not kind to others.
My dear friend and associate Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
was truly a kind man.
Said he:
"Kindness is the essence of a celestial life.
Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others.
Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions
at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.
"Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome
of kindness and compassion."
The scriptures teach us that the righteous exercise
of the priesthood is dependent upon our living
the principles of kindness, charity, and love.
In the Doctrine and Covenants we read:
"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained
by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, ...
by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge,
which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy,
and without guile."
Brethren, let us examine our lives
and determine to follow the Savior's example by being
kind, loving, and charitable.
As we do so, we will be in a better position
to call down the powers of heaven
for ourselves, for our families, and for our fellow travelers
in this sometimes difficult journey
back to our heavenly home.
I so pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, amen.
President Monson, we are thrilled to hear your voice
and to receive your instruction.
We love you, we sustain you, and we ever pray for you.
Brethren, I now pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost
as we consider together principles pertaining
to the great work of preaching the gospel to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
Every year tens of thousands of young men and young women,
and many senior couples, eagerly anticipate
receiving a special letter from Salt Lake City.
The content of the letter affects forever
the person to whom it is addressed,
as well as family members and a great number of other people.
Upon arrival, the envelope may be opened neatly and patiently
or ripped apart excitedly and with great haste.
Reading this special letter is an experience
never to be forgotten.
The letter is signed by the President
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
and the first two sentences read as follows: "You are hereby
called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You are assigned to labor in the [such-and-such] Mission."
Please note that the first sentence is a call
to serve as a full-time missionary in the Lord's
restored Church.
The second sentence indicates an assignment
to labor in a specific place and mission.
The important distinction expressed
in these two sentences is essential for all of us
to understand.
In the culture of the Church, we often
talk of being called to serve in a country such as Argentina,
Poland, Korea, or the United States.
But a missionary is not called to a place;
rather, he or she is called to serve.
As the Lord declared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829,
"If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work."
Each mission call and assignment,
or a later reassignment, is the result of revelation
through the Lord's servants.
A call to the work comes from God
through the President of the Church.
An assignment to one of the more than 400 missions presently
operating around the world comes from God
through a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
acting with the authorization of the Lord's living prophet.
The spiritual gifts of prophecy and revelation
attend all mission calls and assignments.
Section 80 of the Doctrine and Covenants
is a record of a mission call to Stephen Burnett extended
by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1832.
Studying this call to Brother Burnett
can help us to (1) understand more
clearly the distinction between being "called to the work"
as a missionary and "assigned to labor" in a particular place
and (2) appreciate more completely our individual
and divinely appointed responsibility
to proclaim the gospel.
Verse 1 of this section is a call to serve:
"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Stephen
Burnett: Go ye, go ye into the world
and preach the gospel to every creature that cometh
under the sound of your voice."
Interestingly, verse 2 informs Brother Burnett
about his assigned missionary companion:
"And inasmuch as you desire a companion,
I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith."
Verse 3 indicates where these two missionaries are to labor:
"Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel,
whether to the north or to the south,
to the east or to the west, it mattereth not,
for ye cannot go amiss."
Now, brethren, I do not believe the phrase "it mattereth not"
as used by the Lord in this scripture
suggests that He does not care where His servants labor.
In fact, He cares deeply.
But because the work of preaching the gospel
is the Lord's work, He inspires, guides, and directs
His authorized servants.
As missionaries strive to be ever more worthy and capable
instruments in His hands and do their best to fulfill
faithfully their duties, then with His help they "cannot go
amiss"--wherever they serve.
Perhaps one of the lessons the Savior is teaching us
in this revelation is that an assignment
to labor in a specific place is essential and important
but secondary to the call to the work.
The next verse highlights important qualifications
for all missionaries: "Therefore,
declare the things which ye have heard,
and verily believe, and know to be true."
The final verse reminds Brother Burnett and all of us
from whom a call to serve truly comes: "Behold, this
is the will of him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even
Jesus Christ.
Amen."
Some of you may be asking yourselves
why I have chosen to discuss in a priesthood session
of general conference this seemingly obvious distinction
between being called to the work and assigned to labor.
My answer to this question is quite straightforward:
my experience has taught me that these principles are not
well understood by many members of the Church.
The single greatest reason for addressing this matter
is what I have learned over time about the concern, the worry,
and even the guilt felt by many missionaries who
for various reasons were reassigned
to a different field of labor during their time of service.
Such reassignments sometimes are necessary because of events
and circumstances such as physical accidents
and injuries, delays and challenges in obtaining
visas, political instability, creating and staffing
new missions, or simply the evolving and ever-changing
needs around the world in the work of proclaiming the gospel.
When a missionary is reassigned to a different field of labor,
the process is precisely the same
as for the initial assignment.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve
seek inspiration and guidance in making all such reassignments.
I recently spoke with a faithful man
who shared with me the deepest feelings of his heart.
In a meeting, I had just explained the difference
between being called to the work and assigned to labor.
This good brother shook my hand and with tears in his eyes
said to me, "The things you helped me learn today
have lifted a burden from my shoulders
that I have carried for more than 30 years.
As a young missionary, my initial assignment
was to a field of labor in South America.
But I was unable to obtain a visa,
so my assignment was changed to the United States.
All these years I have wondered why
I was unable to serve in the place to which I
had been called.
Now I know I was called to the work and not to a place.
I cannot tell you how much this understanding has helped me."
My heart ached for this good man.
As I have taught these basic principles
throughout the world, countless individuals
have expressed privately to me the same sentiment
as the man I just described.
I am addressing this subject today
because not a single member of this Church
should carry an unnecessary burden of misunderstanding,
uncertainty, anguish, or guilt about an assignment to labor.
"Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel,
whether to the north or to the south,
to the east or to the west, it mattereth not,
for ye cannot go amiss."
As you ponder the words of this scripture and open your heart,
I hope and I pray you will invite the Holy Ghost
to carry deep into your soul the understanding, the healing,
and the restoring you may need.
One additional reason I have felt
impressed to discuss this topic is my personal experience
assigning missionaries over many years.
For all of the members of the Twelve,
nothing affirms the reality of ongoing latter-day revelation
more powerfully than seeking to discern the Lord's will as we
fulfill our responsibility to assign missionaries
to their respective fields of labor.
I witness the Savior knows and is mindful of each of us,
"one by one" and name by name.
I now want to briefly discuss a fundamental
but frequently overlooked aspect of preparing for a call
to the work.
Three interrelated words define a pattern
of preparation and progression for sons of God:
priesthood, temple, mission.
Sometimes as parents, friends, and Church members,
we focus so extensively upon missionary preparation
for young men that we may neglect to a degree
the other vital steps along the covenant pathway
that must be fulfilled before beginning
full-time missionary service.
Working as a missionary certainly
is one but not the only important building block
in the process of creating a strong foundation
for a lifetime of spiritual growth and service.
Priesthood and temple blessings, both of which precede
arriving in an assigned field of labor,
also are necessary to fortify and strengthen us spiritually
throughout our entire lives.
Young men, as you fulfill your duties in and honor
the Aaronic, or lesser, Priesthood,
you are preparing to receive and magnify
the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek,
or higher, Priesthood.
Personal worthiness is the single most important
requirement for receiving the higher priesthood.
A lifetime of selfless priesthood
service lies before you.
Prepare now by frequently rendering meaningful service.
Please learn to love being and remaining worthy.
Be worthy.
Stay worthy.
After receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and a call to serve,
a young man can be armed with power
through the covenants and ordinances of the holy temple.
Going to the temple and having the spirit of the temple
go through you precedes effective service
as a full-time missionary.
Personal worthiness is the single most important
requirement for receiving the blessings
of the temple for you young men and for all members
of the Church.
As you live in accordance with gospel standards,
you can enter the house of the Lord
and participate in sacred ordinances
throughout your teenage years.
Your love for and understanding of temple ordinances
will strengthen and bless you throughout your life.
Please learn to love being and remaining worthy.
Be worthy.
Stay worthy.
Many young men and young women already
hold a current limited-use temple recommend.
As Aaronic Priesthood holders, you
are finding your own family names
and performing baptisms and confirmations for your family
members in the temple.
Maintaining your temple recommend
demonstrates your worthiness, and serving others
in the temple is an important part of preparing
for the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Young men, each of you is a missionary now.
All around you, every day, are friends and neighbors
"who are only kept from the truth
because they know not where to find it."
As you are directed by the Spirit,
you can share a thought, an invitation, a text
or tweet that will introduce your friends to the truths
of the restored gospel.
You need not and should not wait for your official call
to become anxiously engaged in missionary work.
As priesthood, temple, and mission blessings are gathered
"together in one ... in Christ" and synergistically interact
in the heart, mind, and soul of a young missionary,
he can qualify for the work.
His capacity is increased to fulfill the responsibility
to represent authoritatively the Lord Jesus Christ.
The spiritually potent combination
of honoring priesthood and temple covenants,
receiving "the power of godliness"
through priesthood ordinances, serving selflessly,
and proclaiming the everlasting gospel to God's children
enables a young man to become "firm
and steadfast in the faith" and "rooted
and built up in [Christ]."
In our homes and at church, we should give balanced emphasis
to all three elements of the Lord's pattern of preparation
and progression for faithful sons of God:
priesthood, temple, mission.
All three require us to love being and remaining worthy.
Be worthy.
Stay worthy.
My beloved brethren, I promise the spiritual gift
of revelation will attend your call
to the work of proclaiming the gospel and your assignment
to a specific field or fields of labor.
As you diligently prepare now through selfless priesthood
and temple service, your witness of the Lord's living reality
will be strengthened.
Love for Him and His work will fill your heart.
As you learn to love being worthy,
you will become a mighty instrument
in the hands of the Lord to bless and serve many people.
Joyfully, I witness that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved
Son, Jesus Christ, live.
To be engaged in Their service is
one of the greatest blessings we can ever receive.
I so testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
When I was 30 years old, I began working
for a retail group in France.
One day the company president, a good man of another faith,
called me into his office.
His question startled me: "I just
learned you are a priest in your church.
Is that true?"
I replied, "Yes, that is correct.
I hold the priesthood."
Visibly intrigued by my response,
he further inquired, "But did you study
at a theological seminary?"
"Of course," I answered, "between the ages of 14 and 18,
and I studied seminary lessons nearly every day!"
He almost fell off his chair.
To my great surprise, several weeks later
he called me back to his office to offer me a managing director
position in one of the group's companies.
I was astonished and expressed my concern
that I was too young and inexperienced to hold such
an important responsibility.
With a benevolent smile, he said, "That may be true,
but it doesn't matter.
I know your principles, and I know what
you've learned in your Church.
I need you."
He was right about what I had learned in the Church.
The years that followed were challenging,
and I don't know if I could have had
any success without the experience I acquired
by serving in the Church from the time I was a young man.
I had the blessing of growing up in a small branch.
Because our numbers were few, the youth
were called upon to actively participate
in all aspects of the branch.
I was very busy and loved feeling useful.
On Sundays I officiated at the sacrament table,
served in my priesthood quorum, and functioned
in various other callings.
During the week I often accompanied
my father and other adult priesthood holders
as we home taught members, comforted the sick
and afflicted, and helped those in need.
No one seemed to think I was too young to serve or even to lead.
For me, it all seemed normal and natural.
The service I rendered during those teenage years
helped me build my testimony and anchor my life in the gospel.
I was surrounded by good and compassionate men who
were committed to using their priesthood
to bless the lives of others.
I wanted to be like them.
In serving with them, much more than I realized at the time,
I learned to be a leader in the Church and also in the world.
We have many young men attending or tuning in to this meeting
tonight who hold the Aaronic Priesthood.
As I look out at this audience, I see many of you sitting next
to mature men, perhaps your fathers, your grandfathers,
your older brothers, or your priesthood leaders--all holders
of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
They love you, and in large part,
they came here tonight to be with you.
This gathering of generations offers a marvelous vision
of the unity and brotherhood that exist between the two
priesthoods of God.
Even though they are vested with different missions
and authority, the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek
Priesthood are inseparable partners
in the work of salvation.
They go hand in hand and have great need of each other.
The perfect model of the close relationship
that exists between the two priesthoods
is found in the interaction between Jesus
and John the Baptist.
Can one possibly imagine John the Baptist without Jesus?
What would the Savior's mission have
been like without the preparatory work performed
by John?
John the Baptist was given one of the most noble missions
to ever exist: "to prepare the way of the Lord,"
to baptize Him with water, and to make ready
a people to receive Him.
This "just ... and ... holy [man],"
who had been ordained to the lesser priesthood,
was perfectly aware of both the importance and the limits
of his mission and his authority.
People flocked to John to hear him and be baptized by him.
He was honored and revered in his own right as a man of God.
But when Jesus appeared, John humbly deferred to One greater
than himself and declared, "I baptize with water:
but there standeth one among you, ...
who coming after me is preferred before me,
whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose."
For His part, Jesus the Christ, the Only Begotten
of the Father, who held the higher priesthood,
humbly recognized the authority of John.
Of him the Savior said, "Among them that
are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John
the Baptist."
Just think of what would take place in our priesthood quorums
if the relationships between the holders of the two priesthoods
were inspired by the pattern established by Jesus and John
the Baptist.
My young brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood,
like John, your role is to "prepare the way"
for the great work of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
You are doing this in many different ways.
You administer the ordinances of baptism and of the sacrament.
You help prepare a people for the Lord by preaching
the gospel, by ""[visiting] the house of each member,"
and by ""[watching] over the church."
You provide assistance to the poor and needy
by collecting fast offerings, and you participate
in taking care of Church meetinghouses
and other temporal resources.
Your role is important, needful, and sacred.
My adult brethren, whether you are fathers, bishops, Young Men
advisers, or simply holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood,
you can follow the Savior's example
by turning to your brothers who hold the lesser priesthood
and inviting them to labor with you.
In reality, this invitation comes from the Lord Himself.
He said, "Therefore, take with you
those who are ordained unto the lesser priesthood,
and send them before you to make appointments,
and to prepare the way, and to fill appointments
that you yourselves are not able to fill."
As you invite your younger brothers to "prepare the way,"
you help them recognize and honor the sacred authority
they hold.
By doing so, you help them prepare their own way
as they prepare for the day that they receive and exercise
the higher priesthood.
Allow me to share the true story of Alex,
a quiet, thoughtful, and bright young priest.
One Sunday, Alex's bishop found him alone
in a classroom in a state of great distress.
The young man explained how painfully difficult
it was for him to attend Church without his father, who was not
a member.
Then he tearfully said it would probably
be better for him to leave the Church.
With genuine concern for this young man,
the bishop immediately mobilized the ward council to help Alex.
His plan was simple: to keep Alex active
and help him develop a heartfelt testimony of the gospel,
they needed to "surround him with good people
and give him important things to do."
Quickly the priesthood brethren and all the ward members
rallied around Alex and expressed their affection
and support.
The high priests group leader, a man of great faith and love,
was chosen to be his home teaching companion.
Members of the bishopric took him under their wings
and made him their closest associate.
The bishop said: "We kept Alex busy.
He ushered at weddings, ushered at funerals,
assisted me at graveside dedications,
baptized several new members, ordained young men to Aaronic
Priesthood offices, taught youth lessons, taught
with the missionaries, unlocked the building for conferences,
and locked up the building late at night after conferences.
He did service projects, accompanied me on visits
to elderly members in hospices, gave talks
in sacrament meeting, administered the sacrament
to the sick in hospitals or in their homes,
and became one of only a very small handful of people
that I could totally rely on as bishop."
Little by little, Alex changed.
His faith in the Lord increased.
He gained confidence in himself and in the power
of the priesthood that he held.
The bishop concluded: "Alex has been and will always
be one of my greatest blessings in my time as bishop.
What a privilege it has been to associate with him.
I genuinely believe that no young man has ever
gone into the mission field more prepared
by his priesthood service."
My dear bishops, included in your ordination
and setting apart as bishop of your ward,
you have the sacred calling to serve
as president of the Aaronic Priesthood
and of the priests quorum.
I am aware of the heavy burdens you carry,
but you should make your duty toward these young men
one of your highest priorities.
You cannot neglect it or delegate your role in this
responsibility to others.
I invite you to reflect upon each of the young Aaronic
Priesthood holders in your ward.
Not one of them should ever feel left out or useless.
Is there a young man whom you and other priesthood brethren
could help?
Invite him to serve alongside you.
Too often we try to entertain our young men
and relegate them to a spectator role
when their faith and love for the gospel
can be best developed by magnifying their priesthood.
By actively participating in the work of salvation,
they will be connected with heaven
and they will gain awareness of their divine potential.
The Aaronic Priesthood is more than just an age group,
a teaching or activity program, or even
a term to designate the young men of the Church.
It is power and authority to participate in the great work
of saving souls--both the souls of those young men who hold it
and the souls of those they serve.
Let us put the Aaronic Priesthood
in its rightful place, a choice place, and a place of service,
preparation, and accomplishment for all
the young men of the Church.
My dear brethren of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, I invite you to strengthen
the essential link that unites the two priesthoods of God.
Empower your Aaronic Priesthood youth
to prepare the way before you.
Tell them with confidence, "I need you."
To you young holders of the Aaronic Priesthood,
I pray that as you serve with your older brethren,
you will hear the voice of the Lord
telling you: "Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things.
Behold thou wast sent forth, even as John,
to prepare the way before me."
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The congregation will now join the choir
in singing "Redeemer of Israel."
It will then be my privilege to address you.
Following my remarks, we will be pleased to hear
from President Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First
Presidency.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "REDEEMER OF ISRAEL"]
My dear brothers, dear friends, how grateful
I am to be with you in this inspiring
worldwide priesthood meeting.
President Monson, thank you for your message
and for your blessing.
We will always take to heart your words of direction,
counsel, and wisdom.
We love and sustain you, and we always pray for you.
You are indeed the Lord's prophet.
You are our President.
We sustain, we love you.
Almost two decades ago, the Madrid Spain Temple
was dedicated and began its service
as a sacred house of the Lord.
Harriet and I remember it well because I
was serving in the Europe Area Presidency at the time.
Along with many others, we spent countless hours
attending to the details of planning
and organizing the events leading up to the dedication.
As the date of the dedication approached,
I noticed that I had not yet received an invitation
to attend.
This was a bit unexpected.
After all, in my responsibility as the Area President,
I had been greatly involved in this temple project
and felt a small amount of ownership for it.
I asked Harriet if she had seen an invitation.
She had not.
Days passed, and my anxiety increased.
I wondered if our invitation had gotten lost--perhaps it was
buried between the cushions of our sofa.
Maybe it had been mixed up with junk mail and thrown away.
The neighbors had an inquisitive cat,
and I even began to look suspiciously at him.
[LAUGHTER]
Finally I was forced to accept the fact:
I had not been invited.
But how was that possible?
Had I done something to offend?
Did someone just assume it was too far for us to travel?
Had I been forgotten?
Eventually, I realized that this line of thinking
led to a place in which I did not wish to take up residence.
Harriet and I reminded ourselves that the temple dedication
was not about us.
It wasn't about who deserved to be invited or who did not.
And it wasn't about our feelings or our sense of entitlement.
It was about dedicating a holy edifice, a temple of the Most
High God.
It was a day of rejoicing for the members
of the Church in Spain.
Had I been invited to attend, I would have done so gladly.
But if I were not invited, my joy
would not be any less profound.
Harriet and I would rejoice with our friends,
our beloved brothers and sisters, from afar.
We would praise God for this wonderful blessing
just as enthusiastically from our home in Frankfurt
as we would from Madrid.
Among the Twelve whom Jesus called and ordained
were two brothers, James and John.
Do you remember the nickname He gave them?
Sons of Thunder.
You don't get a nickname like that
without an intriguing backstory.
[LAUGHTER]
Unfortunately, the scriptures don't provide much explanation
about the nickname's origin.
However, we do get brief glimpses
into the character of James and John.
These were the same brothers who suggested calling down
fire from heaven on a village in Samaria
over not being invited into town.
[LAUGHTER]
James and John were fishermen--probably a little
rough around the edges, but I guess they knew a lot about
the elements of nature.
Certainly, they were men of action.
On one occasion, as the Savior prepared to make His final
journey to Jerusalem, James and John approached Him with
a special request--one perhaps worthy of their nickname.
"We want you to do for us whatever we ask," they said.
Well, I can imagine Jesus smiling at them as He
responded, "What do you want?"
"Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand,
and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory."
The Savior now challenged them to think a little more deeply
about what they were asking and said, "To sit at my right hand
and on my left hand is not mine to give;
but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared."
In other words, you can't get honor in the kingdom of heaven
by campaigning for it.
Nor can you "power-lunch" your way to eternal glory.
When the other ten Apostles heard about this request
from the Sons of Thunder, they weren't especially happy.
Jesus knew His time was short, and seeing contention
among those who would carry on His work
must have troubled Him.
He talked to the Twelve about the nature of power
and how it affects those who seek and hold it.
"The people of influence in the world," He said,
"use their position of authority to exercise power over others."
I can almost see the Savior, looking with infinite love
into the faces of those faithful and believing disciples.
I can almost hear His pleading voice:
"This is not the way it shall be among you.
Instead, whosoever will be great among you,
shall be your minister: And whosoever of you
will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."
In God's kingdom, greatness and leadership means seeing others
as they truly are--as God sees them--and then reaching out
and ministering to them.
It means rejoicing with those who are happy,
weeping with those who grieve, lifting up those in distress,
and loving our neighbor as Christ loves us.
The Savior loves all of God's children,
regardless of their socioeconomic circumstance,
their race, religion, language, their political orientation,
nationality, or any other grouping.
And so should we!
God's greatest reward goes to those
who serve without expectation of reward.
It goes to those who serve without fanfare, those
who quietly go about seeking ways to help others,
those who minister to others simply because they love God
and God's children.
Shortly after my call as a new General Authority,
I had the privilege to accompany President James E. Faust
for a stake reorganization.
As I drove the car to our assignment
in beautiful southern Utah, President Faust
was kind enough to use the time to instruct and teach me.
One lesson I will never forget.
Said he, "The members of the Church
are gracious to the General Authorities.
They will treat you kindly and say nice things about you."
Then he briefly paused and said, "Dieter, always
be thankful for this, but don't you ever inhale it."
This important lesson about Church service
applies to every priesthood holder
in every quorum of the Church.
It applies to all of us in this Church.
When President J. Reuben Clark counseled
those called to positions of authority in the Church,
he would tell them not to forget rule number six.
Inevitably, the person would ask, "What is rule number six?"
He replied, "Don't take yourself so darn seriously."
Of course, this led to a follow-up question: "What
are the other five rules?"
With a twinkle in his eye, President Clark would say,
"There aren't any."
To be effective Church leaders, we
must learn this critical lesson: leadership in the Church
is not so much about directing others
as it is about our willingness to be directed by God.
As Saints of the Most High God, we
are to "remember in all things the poor
and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that [does]
not these things, the same is not my disciple."
Opportunities to go about doing good and to serve others
are limitless.
We can find them in our communities,
in our wards and branches, and certainly in our homes.
In addition, every member of the Church
is given specific formal opportunities to serve.
We refer to these opportunities as "callings"--a term that
should remind us of who it is that calls us to serve.
And Elder Bednar gave a wonderful message today
about how that relates especially
to our young men and young women who
are going to serve as missionaries of the Lord.
If we approach our callings as opportunities
to serve God and minister to others with faith and humility,
every act of service will be a step
on the path of discipleship.
In this way, God not only builds up His Church
but also builds up His servants.
The Church is designed to help us
become true and faithful disciples
of Christ, good and noble sons and daughters of God.
This happens not just when we go to meetings and listen to talks
but when we get outside ourselves and serve.
This is how we become "great" in the kingdom of God.
We accept callings with grace, humility, and gratitude.
When we are released from these callings,
we accept the change with the same grace, same humility,
and same gratitude.
In the eyes of God there is no calling
in the kingdom that is more important than another.
Our service--whether great or small--refines our spirits,
opens the windows of heaven, and releases God's blessings not
only upon those we serve but upon us as well.
When we reach out to others, we can know with humble confidence
that God acknowledges our service
with approval and approbation.
He smiles upon us as we offer these heartfelt acts
of compassion, especially acts that are
unseen and unnoticed by others.
Each time we give of ourselves to others,
we take a step closer to becoming
good and true disciples of the One who gave His all for us:
our Savior.
During the 150th anniversary of the pioneers' arrival
in the Salt Lake Valley, Brother Myron Richins
was serving as a stake president in Henefer, Utah.
The celebration included a reenactment of the pioneers'
passage through his town.
President Richins was heavily involved
with the plans for the celebration,
and he attended many meetings with General Authorities
and others to discuss the events.
He was fully engaged.
Just before the actual celebration,
President Richins's stake was reorganized,
and he was released as president.
On a subsequent Sunday, he was attending his ward priesthood
meeting when the leaders asked for volunteers
to help with the celebration.
President Richins, along with others, raised his hand
and was given instructions to dress in work clothes
and to bring his truck and a shovel.
Finally, the morning of the big event
came, and President Richins reported to volunteer duty.
Only a few weeks before, he had been an influential contributor
to the planning and supervision of this major event.
On that day, however, his job was
to follow the horses in the parade and clean up after them.
[LAUGHTER]
President Richins did so gladly and joyfully.
He understood that one kind of service is not above another.
He knew and put into practice the words of the Savior:
"He that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Sometimes, like the Sons of Thunder,
we desire positions of prominence.
We strive for recognition.
We seek to lead and to make a memorable contribution.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to serve the Lord,
but when we seek to gain influence in the Church
for our own sake--in order to receive the praise
and admiration of men--we have our reward.
When we "inhale" the praise of others,
that praise will be our compensation.
What is the most important calling in the Church?
It is the one you currently have.
No matter how humble or prominent it may seem to be,
the calling you have right now is
the one that will allow you not only to lift others,
but also to become the man of God you were created to be.
My dear friends and brethren in the priesthood,
lift where you stand!
Paul taught the Philippians, "Instead
of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you
should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more
important than yourself."
Seeking honor and celebrity in the Church
at the expense of true and humble service towards others
is the trade of Esau.
We may receive an earthly reward,
but it comes at great cost--the loss of heavenly approbation.
Let us follow the example of our Savior, who
was meek and lowly, who sought not the praise of men but to do
the will of His Father.
Let us serve others humbly--with energy, with gratitude,
and with honor.
Even though our acts of service may
seem lowly, modest, or of little value,
those who reach out in kindness and compassion to others
will one day know the value of their service
by the eternal and blessed grace of Almighty God.
My dear brethren, dear friends, may we
meditate upon, understand, and live this paramount lesson
of Church leadership and priesthood governance:
"He that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
This is my prayer and blessing in the sacred name
of our Master, our Redeemer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
My beloved brethren of the priesthood, my purpose
today is both to reassure you and to invigorate you
in your priesthood service.
In some ways, it is similar to the purpose
I imagine the Savior had when He met a rich young man who
asked, "What good thing shall I do,
that I may have eternal life?"
Perhaps you have come to this conference,
as this young man went to the Savior,
wondering whether your service has been acceptable.
And at the same time, you may sense that there is more
to do--perhaps much more!
I pray that I may be able to convey the Lord's loving
approval of what you have already done, while also
offering an encouraging glimpse of what you may, with His help,
yet achieve as a holder of His holy priesthood.
The rich young man was asked to sell everything he had
and follow the Savior; your future progress
may not require that, but it will
require a measure of sacrifice.
Either way, I hope my message does not cause you to ""[go]
away sorrowful" as the young man did.
Rather, I trust that you will "go on your way rejoicing"
because you want to improve and you think you can.
Even so, it's natural to feel some inadequacy
when we consider what the Lord has called us to do.
In fact, if you told me that you feel perfectly
capable of fulfilling your priesthood duties,
I might worry that you do not understand them.
On the other hand, if you told me
that you feel like giving up because the task is too
far beyond your abilities, then I would want
to help you understand how the Lord magnifies and strengthens
the holders of His priesthood to do things
they never could have done alone.
This is just as true for me in my calling
as it is for you in yours.
None of us can do the work of the priesthood
and do it well relying solely on our own wisdom and talents.
That is because this is not our work--it is the Lord's.
So the only way to succeed is to rely on Him,
whether you are a newly called deacon trusted with the task
to bring a measure of spiritual power
to the ordinance of the sacrament,
or a young home teacher assigned by the Lord to love
and minister to a family you don't know
and who seems not to want your love or your ministering,
or a father who knows you are to preside over
your home in righteousness, but perhaps you're
unsure how to do it, and time seems to be running out
because those children are growing up quickly
and the world seems so harsh and hostile.
So if you feel a little overwhelmed,
take that as a good sign.
It indicates that you can sense the magnitude of the trust God
has placed in you.
It means that you have some small understanding of what
the priesthood really is.
There are very few people in the world
who have that understanding.
Even those who can recite a reasonable definition
may not truly understand it.
There are some scriptures that, through the power
of the Spirit, may take to you a deepened sense of awe regarding
the holy priesthood.
Here are some of those scriptures:
"The power and authority of the ...
Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold
the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church--
"To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries
of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens
opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly
and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion
and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator
of the new covenant.
"The power and authority of the ...
Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys
of the ministering of angels."
"In the ordinances [of the priesthood],
the power of godliness is manifest.
...
"For without this no man can see the face of God,
even the Father, and live."
"This high priesthood [is] after the order of [God's] Son, which
order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words,
being without beginning of days or end
of years, being prepared from all eternity to all eternity,
according to his foreknowledge of all things."
"Every one being ordained after this order and calling
should have power, by faith, to break mountains,
to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out
of their course;
"To put at defiance the armies of nations,
to divide the earth, to break every band,
to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according
to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities
and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God
which was from before the foundation of the world."
One way to respond to such awe-inspiring descriptions
of the power of the priesthood is
to assume that they do not apply to us.
Another way to respond is with soul-searching questions,
asked in our own hearts, such as these: Have I
ever felt that the heavens have been opened to me?
Would anyone use the phrase "ministering of angels"
to describe my priesthood service?
Do I bring the "power of godliness"
into the lives of those I serve?
Have I ever broken a mountain, defied an army,
broken someone's bands, or subdued worldly powers--even
if only figuratively--in order to accomplish God's will?
Such introspection always brings a feeling
that we could be doing more in the service of the Lord.
I hope it also brings you a feeling that you want to do
more--a longing to participate more fully
in the Lord's miraculous work.
Such feelings are the first step toward becoming the kind of men
that priesthood service is meant to produce.
The next step is described in an interaction
between Jehovah and Enoch.
We know Enoch as a mighty prophet
who established Zion in the midst of great wickedness.
But before he was a mighty prophet,
Enoch saw himself as "but a lad, ... slow of speech,"
and hated by all the people.
Listen to the words the Lord used to encourage Enoch.
They are also His words to you who
are called to minister to others as a priesthood holder:
"And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth
and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee.
Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled,
and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands,
and I will do as seemeth me good.
...
"Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I
justify; and the mountains shall flee before you,
and the rivers shall turn from their course;
and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you;
therefore walk with me."
Brethren, our ordination to the priesthood
is an invitation from the Lord to walk with Him.
And what does it mean to walk with the Lord?
It means to do what He does, to serve the way He serves.
He sacrificed His own comforts to bless those in need,
so that's what we try to do.
He seemed to take particular notice of people
who were overlooked and even shunned by society,
so we should try to do that too.
He testified boldly yet lovingly of the true doctrine
He received from His Father, even if it was unpopular,
and so must we.
He said to all, "Come unto me," and we say to all,
"Come unto Him."
As priesthood holders, we are His representatives.
We act not for ourselves but for Him.
We speak not our words but His.
The people we serve come to know Him
better because of our service.
As soon as we accept the Lord's invitation, "Walk with me,"
the nature of our priesthood service changes.
It becomes all at once higher and nobler but also
more achievable because we know that we are not alone.
I felt this most powerfully when President Thomas S.
Monson laid his hands on my head nine years ago
and blessed me as I began my service in my current calling.
In that blessing, he recited these words of the Savior:
"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also,
for I will go before your face.
I will be on your right hand and on your left,
and my Spirit shall be in your hearts,
and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
I have relied upon that promise many times,
and I have seen it fulfilled in many ways
throughout my 72 years of priesthood service.
It happened when I was a new Aaronic Priesthood
holder with an assignment to pass the sacrament.
Terrified that I would make a mistake,
I went outside the chapel before the meeting
started and prayed in desperation
that God would help me.
An answer came.
I felt that the Lord was with me.
I felt His confidence in me, and so I felt confidence in my part
in His work.
It happened again while I was serving as a bishop.
I received a phone call from a woman
who had made a serious mistake and now faced
a difficult, life-changing decision.
As I visited with her, I felt I knew the answer to her problem,
but I also felt strongly that I should not give it to her--and
tell her she needed to obtain it for herself.
My words to her were "I believe God will tell you what
to do if you would ask Him."
She later reported that she did ask Him and He did tell her.
On another occasion, a phone call
came when I was a bishop, this time from the police.
I was told that a drunk driver had crashed his car
into the lobby of a bank.
When the bewildered driver saw the security guard
with his weapon brandished, he cried, "Don't shoot!
I'm a Mormon!"
[LAUGHTER]
The inebriated driver was discovered
to be a member of my ward, baptized only recently.
As I waited to speak to him in my bishop's office,
I planned what I would say to make him feel remorseful
for the way he had broken his covenants
and embarrassed the Church.
But as I sat looking at him, I heard a voice in my mind
say, just as clearly as if someone were speaking to me,
"I'm going to let you see him as I see him."
And then, for a brief moment, his whole appearance
changed to me.
I saw not a dazed young man but a bright, noble son of God.
I suddenly felt the Lord's love for him.
That vision changed our conversation.
It also changed me.
I learned important lessons from these experiences
walking with the Lord in doing His work.
I would like to share with you three of them.
The first is that God notices and will support even
the newest and youngest deacon.
They need never feel--you need never feel that you are too
small or too insignificant for Him to take notice of you
and the service you are giving in His name.
The second lesson is that the Lord's work is not just
to solve problems; it is to build people.
So as you walk with Him in priesthood service,
you may find that sometimes what seems
like the most efficient solution is not
the Lord's preferred solution because it does not
allow people to grow.
If you listen, He will teach you His ways.
Remember that God's work and glory is not simply
to run an effective organization;
it is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life
of man."
This is, after all, why He gives His priesthood authority
to flawed mortals like you and me
and invites us to participate in His work.
Our progress is His work!
Now the third lesson: Walking with the Savior
in priesthood service will change
the way you look at others.
He will teach you to see them through His eyes, which
means seeing past an outward appearance and into the heart.
This is how the Savior was able to see Simon
not as an impulsive fisherman but as Peter,
the rock-solid future leader of His Church.
This is how He was able to see Zacchaeus
not as the corrupt tax collector others saw,
but as an honest, upright son of Abraham.
If you walk with the Savior long enough,
you will learn to see everyone as a child of God
with limitless potential, regardless of what
his or her past may have been.
And if you continue walking with the Savior,
you will develop another gift He has--the ability to help people
see that potential in themselves and so to repent.
My dear brethren of the priesthood, in many ways,
we are like the two disciples who walked the road to Emmaus
on that first Easter Sunday.
It was Resurrection morning, but they were not yet sure
there was a resurrection or what resurrection even meant.
They "trusted that [Jesus of Nazareth]
should have redeemed Israel," but they were "slow of heart
to believe" everything the scriptures taught
about resurrection.
As they walked along and tried to reason it out together,
"Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."
I testify that when we walk the path of priesthood service,
the Savior Jesus Christ goes with us,
for it is His path, His way.
His light goes before us, and His angels are round about us.
We may lack a full understanding of what the priesthood is
or how to exercise it as He does.
But if we pay close attention to those moments
when our hearts "burn within us," our eyes can be opened,
and we will see His hand in our lives and in our service.
I testify that we come to know Him best by working with Him
and serving Him in the great work of bringing salvation
to God's children.
"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served,
and who is a stranger [to] him, and is far from the thoughts
and intents of his heart?"
Jesus Christ is our Master.
This is His Church.
It is His priesthood which we hold.
May we each choose to walk with Him
and to recognize how He walks with us.
I give you my solemn witness that Jesus is the Christ,
our resurrected Lord.
I bear you my testimony that the priesthood
He has trusted us with is the power
to speak and to act in His name.
We are children of a loving Heavenly Father, who
answers our prayers and sends the Holy Ghost
to strengthen us in every priesthood responsibility we
are blessed to receive.
Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son.
He received the keys of the priesthood, which
have been passed on to President Thomas S. Monson, who
exercises them today.
I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Thank you, brethren.
Thank you, President Monson.
Dear brethren, friends, we are grateful for your attendance
this evening.
We likewise thank the priesthood choir
for the inspiring music they have provided and acknowledge
all those who have assisted in preparing for these proceedings
in any way.
The choir will close this meeting
by singing "Hope of Israel."
The benediction will then be offered by Elder Carlos A.
Godoy of the Seventy.
[MUSIC PLAYING - "HOPE OF ISRAEL"]
Our dear Heavenly Father, we come before Thee
at the end of this priesthood session
with gratitude in our hearts.
We thank Thee, Father, for the privilege to be in this meeting
and to be taught and guided by our leaders.
We thank Thee for the privilege to be
gathered as priesthood holders of Thy Church.
And we pray for our leaders.
We pray for the First Presidency.
We pray for the members of the Twelve, the Presidents
of the Seventies.
And we especially pray, Father, for our beloved prophet,
Thomas S. Monson.
We love him very much.
Father, as we leave this meeting,
we pray that Thy Spirit will remain with us.
We pray that we can apply--we will be able to apply
the teachings and counsels that we received.
We pray that we'll be able to be more kind, loving,
and charitable.
We ask Thy help so we can do better.
We want to be better.
Please help us to help those that are waiting
for our service and waiting for our--for our love.
We love Thee, Father, and we love our Savior, Jesus Christ.
And we express this love, and we do so
in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.