Power in the Priesthood - Talk in Church May 18, 2014

I spoke in church today.  I think it went okay and I certainly enjoyed the opportunity.  It has been over two years since I last spoke.  That was the Stake Conference talk back in March of 2012, Storms of Life.  It's on here back in the archives.  Anyway, I enjoyed it.  The folks came and sat with the kids who seemed to do quite well.  I'm sure it was nice for the kids.  I am grateful for the gospel in my life and for the blessings that we receive in our family as we strive to do what is right.  Life is not easy, far from it, but we are strengthened as we do the very best that we can do.  I know that the Lord is mindful of us and our needs.  Anyway, here is a copy of the talk if you are at all interested.  

Power in the Priesthood

I.                    Open – The Accordion

Gary Larsen entertained us for years with his classic cartoon, The Farside.  I have a few favorites that pop into my mind every now and again.  One in particular I thought of this week is of a split screen where on top the character is greeted at the Pearly Gates and handed a harp.  The caption reads “Welcome to Heaven, here is your harp”.  In the bottom portion of the cartoon the character is in a fire filled location and the devil is there to greet him with “Welcome to (you know, the other place), here’s your accordion”.

When Shawn asked me to speak today he informed me that is was Sister Simmermans farewell talk and there would also be a youth speaker.  He wasn’t certain how much time they would take.  There would either be a lot of time or very little.  He said I would need to be prepared for either, I would be an accordion speaker.  True story.  So, you’ve heard from the harps, I am the accordion, bear with me.  I’ll do my best to not drag the meeting down. 

II.                  Work, Work, Work

When I thought about Sister Simmerman entering the mission field I thought back to my own mission.  Surprisingly, it was 21 years and 19 days ago that I entered the MTC.  I thought about one of my favorite quotes that we recited often on mission about work.  President Ezra Taft Benson said:  “One of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for [he will have] all [his] time and talents and interest … centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988, p. 200.)

III.                Power in the Priesthood

I was asked to speak today about Power in the Priesthood.  In the Priesthood Session of April conference Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke of the Priesthood.  He shared the following:

        President Joseph F. Smith described the priesthood as “the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family.”  Other leaders have taught us that the priesthood “is the consummate power on this earth.  It is the power by which the earth was created.”  The scriptures teach that “this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also” (Moses 6:7).  Thus, the priesthood is the power by which we will be resurrected and proceed to eternal life.

Priesthood is the Power of God.  It is the power by which all things are and were created.  It is the power that will bring us safely home.  So power in the Priesthood is essentially power in the Power of God. 

IV.                How do we obtain Power in the Power of God?

How do we obtain power in the Priesthood or power in the Power of God?  Work, work, work.  That’s the secret.  Living the gospel of Jesus Christ requires effort. 

Scripture and Prayer

Randall L. Ridd of the Young Men General Presidency also spoke in the Priesthood session of conference.  One of the great lines from his talk was “Owning a smart phone does not make you smart, but using it wisely can”.  Brother Ridd said:

Right in the palm of your hand you have the wisdom of the ages – more importantly, the words of the prophets, from Old Testament days to President Thomas S. Monson.   But if you don’t regularly recharge your cell phone, it is useless, and you feel lost and out of touch.  You wouldn’t think of going a single day without charging your battery.

 As important as it is to leave home every day with a full charge on your cell phone, it is far more important to be fully charged spiritually. Every time you plug in your phone, use it as a reminder to ask yourself if you have plugged in to the most important source of spiritual power – prayer and scripture study, which will charge you with inspiration through the Holy Ghost.  It will help you know the mind and will of the Lord to make the small but important daily choices that determine your direction.  Many of us immediately stop whatever we are doing to read a text message – should we not place even more importance on messages from the Lord?  Neglecting to connect to this power should be unthinkable to us.   

Words of the Prophets and Church Leaders

Every morning before school we gather as a family and have our morning prayer before Natalie leaves for the bus.  With the boys out of bed I take the opportunity to put my smart phone to good use and turn on conference.  The other day we started on our third round of April conference and during Elder Holland’s talk Jack walked into the room with me.  It was the story of the missionary getting hit by mashed potatoes.  Jack was smiling.  I asked what he was smiling about.  “I’m just so happy I got to hear this story again”.  There is power when we fill our homes with the words and the stories of our Prophets and church leaders. 

The Temple

The Temple is a great source of power to each of us.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks shared in his talk on the Priesthood that “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which is priesthood power.  … Access to the power and the blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children.”

Family Home Evening

Sometimes Family Home Evening can like we are walking though the very depths of the place where they hand out accordions.  I testify to you that as we endure through some of those painful gatherings we are blessed with power for our obedience.  I still recall Family Home Evening lessons from my youth that helped me to gain a testimony and a desire to do what is right. 

Serving Others  

This week we had a great opportunity to serve others and to serve with our brothers and sisters.  The storm last week left a little bit of a mess and cleaning tree branches from the streets was a big task.  I was strengthened as I worked along side many of you and am grateful for these opportunities to serve. 

The primary answers are sources of strength that increase our power in the Priesthood.  They help us to draw nearer to God and arm us with power over the adversary.   

V.               Courage

I recently had a conversation with Natalie when she told me that choosing the right can be hard.  There is a lot of pressure from peers and sometimes fellow members of the church to support things that are contrary to the teachings of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the Priesthood session of conference our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson spoke of this and the need for courage.

        We live in a world where moral values have, in great measure, been tossed aside, where sin is flagrantly on display, and where temptations to stray from the strait and narrow path surround us.  We are faced with persistent pressures and insidious influences tearing down what is decent and attempting to substitute the shallow philosophies and practices of a secular society.

        Because of these and other challenges, decisions are constantly before us which can determine our destiny.  In order for us to make the correct decisions, courage is needed – the courage to say no when we should, the courage to say yes when that is appropriate, the courage to do the right thing because it is right.

        Inasmuch as the trend in society today is rapidly moving away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, we will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which we believe.  Will we have the courage to do so?

They That Be with Us

Youth, things that you face are challenging and it can be hard to stand for truth and right.  Though you may feel alone, know that you are not alone when you are on the Lords side.  I love the lesson taught to the servant of the man of God in 2 Kings 6. 

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?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 

17  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see.  And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.    

VI.                Close:

Each of us is blessed by the Priesthood.  As we follow the Lord and his Prophets, as we have the courage to choose the right even when it is hard, we will be blessed with power in that priesthood.  Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.