As the children in sacrament meeting happily sang the
Primary song "Love Is Spoken Here,"
everyone smiled with approval.
A courageous mother raising five children listened
attentively to the second verse: "Mine is a home where
ev'ry hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood pow'r."
Sadly she thought, "My children have never known such
a home."
My message, to this faithful woman and to all, is that we
can live every hour blessed by the strength of priesthood
power, whatever our circumstance.
We sometimes overly associate the power of the priesthood
with men in the Church.
The priesthood is the power and authority of God given for
the salvation and blessing of all men, women, and children.
A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into
the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or
the warmth it brings.
The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely
greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift.
To receive the blessings, power, and promises of the
priesthood in this life and the next is one of the great
opportunities and responsibilities of mortality.
As we are worthy, the ordinances of the priesthood
enrich our lives on earth and prepare us for the magnificent
promises of the world ahead.
The Lord said, "In the ordinances ..., the power of
godliness is manifest."
There are special blessings from God for every worthy
person who is baptized, receives the Holy Ghost, and
regularly partakes of the sacrament.
The temple brings added light and strength, along with the
promise of eternal life.
All of the ordinances invite us to increase our faith in
Jesus Christ and to make and keep covenants with God.
As we keep these sacred covenants, we receive
priesthood power and blessings.
Do we not feel this power of the priesthood in our own
lives and see it among the covenant-keeping members of
the Church?
We see it in new converts as they step from the waters of
baptism feeling forgiven and clean.
We see our children and youth more sensitive to the
promptings and guidance of the Holy Ghost.
We see the ordinances of the temple becoming a beacon of
strength and light for righteous men and
women across the world.
This past month I watched a young couple draw enormous
strength from the sealing promises of the temple as
their precious baby boy was born but lived only one week.
Through the ordinances of the priesthood, this young couple
and all of us receive comfort, strength, protection, peace,
and eternal promises.
Some may sincerely ask the question, "If the power and
blessings of the priesthood are available to all, why are
the ordinances of the priesthood administered by
men?" When an angel asked Nephi, "Knowest thou the
condescension of God?" Nephi answered honestly, "I know
that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know
the meaning of all things."
When we speak of the priesthood, there are many
things we do know.
We know that God loves all His children and is no respecter
of persons.
"He denieth none that come unto him, ... male [or]
female; ... and all are alike unto God."
As surely as we know that God's love is alike for His
sons and daughters, we also note that He did not create
men and women exactly the same.
We know that gender is an essential characteristic of
both mortal and eternal identity and purpose.
Sacred responsibilities are given to each gender.
We know that from the beginning the Lord established
how His priesthood would be administered.
The priesthood was first given to Adam.
Noah, Abraham, and Moses all administered priesthood
ordinances.
Jesus Christ is the great high priest.
He called Apostles.
"Ye have not chosen me," He said, "but I have chosen you,
and ordained you."
In our day, John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John
restored the priesthood to the earth through the Prophet
Joseph Smith.
This is the way our Father in Heaven has administered His
priesthood.
We know that the power of the holy priesthood does not work
independently of faith, the Holy Ghost,
and spiritual gifts.
The scriptures caution: "Deny not the gifts of God,
for they are many.
...
And there are different ways that these gifts are
administered; but it is the same God who worketh [them]
all."
We know that worthiness is central to performing and
receiving priesthood ordinances.
Sister Linda K. Burton has said, "Righteousness is the
qualifier ... to invite priesthood power into our
lives." For example, consider the plague of pornography
sweeping across the world.
It is bondage, just as Elder Cook just said.
The Lord's standard of worthiness gives no allowance
for pornography for those officiating in the ordinances
of the priesthood.
The Savior said: "Repent of your ... secret abominations."
"The light of the body is the eye.
...
If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
darkness." "[For]
whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Unworthily administering or passing the sacrament,
blessing the sick, or participating in other
priesthood ordinances is, as Elder David A. Bednar has
said, taking the name of God in vain.
If one is unworthy, he should withdraw from officiating in
priesthood ordinances and prayerfully approach his
bishop as a first step in repenting and returning to the
commandments.
Another thing we know is that there is an abundance of
priesthood blessings in families where a righteous
mother and father are united in guiding their children.
But we also know that God eagerly provides these same
blessings to those in many other situations.
A mother, carrying the weight of providing both spiritually
and temporally for her family, sensitively explained that
calling her home teachers to bless one of her children
requires her humility.
But she insightfully added that it requires no more
humility than that of her home teachers as they prepare to
bless her child.
We know that the keys of the priesthood, held by members of
the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles,
direct the work of the Lord upon the earth.
Specific priesthood keys are conferred upon stake
presidents and bishops for their geographic
responsibilities, and they call men and women by
revelation who are sustained and set apart to exercise
delegated authority to teach and administer.
While there are many things we do know about the priesthood,
seeing through the lens of mortality does not always give
us a complete understanding of the workings of God.
But His gentle reminder, "My thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," reassures us
that with time and eternal perspective, we will see
things as they really are and understand His perfect love.
We all willingly serve.
Sometimes we feel underwhelmed with our calling and wish we
were asked to do more.
Other times we are grateful when it is
time for our release.
We do not determine the callings we receive.
I learned this lesson early in my marriage.
Kathy and I were living in Florida.
One Sunday a counselor in the stake presidency explained to
me that they felt impressed to call Kathy as an early-morning
seminary teacher.
"How will we do it?" I asked.
"We have small children.
Seminary begins at 5:00 a.m., and I am the ward Young Men
president." The counselor smiled and said, "It'll be OK,
Brother Andersen.
We will call her, and we will release you." And
that is what happened.
Sincerely asking for and listening to the thoughts and
concerns voiced by women is vital in life, in marriage,
and in building the kingdom of God.
Twenty years ago in general conference, Elder M. Russell
Ballard related a conversation he had with the general
president of the Relief Society.
There was a question raised about strengthening the
worthiness of youth preparing to serve missions.
Sister Elaine Jack said with a smile, "You know, Elder
Ballard, the [women]
of the Church may have some good suggestions ... if they
[are]
asked.
After all ... we are their mothers!"
President Thomas S. Monson has a lifelong history of asking
for and responding to the concerns of women.
The woman who has influenced him the most is
Sister Frances Monson.
We miss her very much.
Also, just this past Thursday, President Monson reminded the
General Authorities how much he learned as a bishop from
the 84 widows of his ward.
They greatly influenced his service and his entire life.
Not surprisingly, before President Monson's prayerful
decision about the age change for missionary service, there
were many discussions with the Relief Society, Young Women,
and Primary general presidencies.
Bishops, as you follow the example of President Monson,
you will feel even more abundantly the guiding hand of
the Lord blessing your sacred work.
We lived in Brazil for several years.
Soon after arriving, I met Adelson Parrella, who was
serving as a Seventy, and his brother Adilson, who was
serving in our stake presidency.
Later I met their brother Adalton, serving as a stake
president in Florianopolis, and another brother, Adelmo,
serving as a bishop.
I was impressed by the faith of these brothers, and I asked
about their parents.
The family was baptized in Santos, Brazil, 42 years ago.
Adilson Parrella said, "At first, Father seemed very
excited about joining the Church.
However, he soon became less active and asked our mother
not to attend church." Adilson told me that his mother sewed
clothing for the neighbors to pay for her children's bus
fare to church.
The four little boys walked together over a mile to
another town, boarded the bus for 45 minutes, and then
walked another 20 minutes to the chapel.
Although unable to go to church with her children,
Sister Parrella read the scriptures with her sons and
daughters, taught them the gospel, and prayed with them.
Their humble home was filled with the rich blessings of
priesthood power.
The little boys grew up, served missions, were
educated, and married in the temple.
The blessings of the priesthood filled their homes.
Years later, as a single sister, Vany Parrella entered
the temple for her own endowment and, later still,
served three missions in Brazil.
Now 84 years old, her faith continues to bless the
generations that have followed her.
The power of God's holy priesthood is found in The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I testify, as you worthily participate in the ordinances
of the priesthood, the Lord will give you greater
strength, peace, and eternal perspective.
Whatever your situation, your home will be blessed by the
strength of priesthood power, and those close to you will
more fully desire these blessings for themselves.
As men and women, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters
of God, we move forward together.
This is our opportunity, our
responsibility, and our blessing.
This is our destiny--to prepare the kingdom of God for
the return of the Savior.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.