missionmtcpriesthoodtalk ( ** )

This Sacrament meeting talk was delivered to missionaries in our branches at the Missionary Training Center on numerous occasions:

I would like to discuss 6 essential elements of the priesthood :

1/ Keys

• Must understand that an important part of the apostasy and the falling away was that not just the priesthood, but the keys of the priesthood were lost and removed.  The exercise of priesthood authority in the Church is governed by those who hold priesthood keys.  Those who hold keys have the right to preside over and direct the church within an assigned area, or in the case of the prophet, the entire church.  The apostles of the Lord held the keys after the Savior was crucified.  They had received those keys from Him, but, as the Book of Mormon states over and over, the people of their day, both in Israel and in the world in general, fought against these priesthood brethren.  They rejected them, their doctrine, their authority, their organization.  Most of them were martyred for the cause.  The Lord had no choice but to withdraw His power, His priesthood, His keys!
• But the keys have been restored.  John the Baptist stated, as he ordained Joseph and Oliver, “Upon you my fellow servants, In the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of baptism by immersion, and the remission of sin.  Although we don’t have the specific words that Peter, James, and John used when they conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood, we can be sure that keys were restored.  Section 84 states that the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood administers the gospel and holds the keys of the mysteries of God, even the keys of the knowledge of God.  From Moses Joseph and Oliver received the keys of the gathering of Israel, and from Elijah the keys of this dispensation.
• The keys are operative today.  President Bradford, President Martino, your mission presidents, President Monson.  The keys allow revelation, inspiration, guidance.  Never run by votes or debate or synods or argument.

2/ Always used to bless the lives of others

• Never used to further the status or career or reputation of the priesthood holder.  The priesthood is meant to bless others.  The priesthood should always look “outward”, never inward.  Nothing of selfishness, showmanship, status, or sensationalism in priesthood work.
• How many times did Jesus exercise his priesthood in a glorious miracle, and then instruct the recipient to “tell no man”.  Lepers, blind, etc….   An wonderful example of this principle occurred as Jesus, his apostles and Jairus approached the home of Jairus where his daughter was nigh unto death.  A group had assembled at the home and told Jesus and Jairus not to waste their time, the little girl was dead.  Jesus informed them that “she is not dead, but sleepeth.”  They mocked him, scorned him, berated him.  If ever there was a time when it would have been tempting to use the priesthood to prove a point, show someone up, this perhaps was it.  But this was not the Savior’s way, it was not the proper priesthood way.  He quietly cleared the house, allowing only the parents and P,J,J to stay.  He raised the little one from death, and charged the parents to tell no man what was done.  Jesus left quietly.  He didn’t march out of the house with the now alert and alive young girl, putting his priesthood and power on display, and shaming his detractors.  The priesthood was used to bless lives, not to prove points.
• Parley P. Pratt faced a similar situation while on a mission to Canada.  He was confronted by a hostile group who had brought a woman with a limp, useless arm.  They said, “You claim to be an apostle of Christ.  Prove it, then.  Heal this woman!”  Parley said, “It is an evil and adulterous generation that seeks for a sign.  My priesthood will not be used in that manner.”  While they continued to berate him, he quietly led the woman away, and asked her if she had faith in his calling and in his priesthood.  She acknowledged that she did, and he blessed her.  She was immediately healed.  Parley quietly went his way, leaving this woman to announce the miracle.  Again, appropriately, the priesthood was used to bless others, not to satisfy curiosity, to lift, not to flaunt authority.

3/ Always ready – always worthy

• Priesthood holders are expected to live above reproach, always being ready to exercise their priesthood in behalf of others.  Not only is it an expectation, but it is a mandate.  The Lord has said, “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord”  “whoso is faithful unto the obtaining of these two priesthoods, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.”  That must describe us – that must be our daily preparation.  Faithful, magnifying, sanctifying, renewing.
• Matthew Cowley, young missionary, asked to bless and give a name to a Maori baby boy.  By the way, he was born blind.  Restore his sight during the blessing.  But Matthew Cowley had explicit faith, not in himself, but in the Lord.  He knew he was worthy, and he knew the Lord would be participating in this blessing, and he stood ready to exercise his priesthood in whatever way he was directed.  He was prompted to restore sight, and the boy enjoyed marvelous vision the rest of his life. Always ready, always worthy.  Occurred in Porirua, New Zealand, where our mission home was located, not by coincidence.
• Von J. Featherstone, hard day at work, tired exhausted.  Met at the door by his wife, daughter was gravely ill, needed a blessing.  Give me a few minutes – showered, changed his clothes, white shirt, tie, suit coat, prayer, pleading with the Lord to help him as he exercised his priesthood in behalf of his sweet daughter.  Went back downstairs, now I am ready to bless our daughter.  Always ready, always worthy.

4/ Priesthood is an avenue to officially invite God’s will to be done

• Elder Bednar has stressed the point that we are instruments in the Lord’s hands.  The Lord directs the outcome of priesthood service.  Not every blessing with raise the dead, heal the sick, prevent sadness or sorrow or tragedy.  Were that the case, agency would be ignored or overridden.  Elder Bednar reminds us that we often talk of faith to be healed, but he asks, “Do you have the faith to NOT be healed”.  Would we then shake our fist at the heavens, begin to place blame, deny the faith.  THY WILL BE DONE must be an essential desire and understanding whenever the priesthood is exercised.  President Kimball reminded all of us that the priesthood is not to be used to enforce our will or desire.  He stated that perhaps aggressive priesthood holders would have prevented Abinadi being burned at the stake, Jesus having to suffer the incomprehensible pain in Gethsemane, Joseph and Oliver being slain in Carthage jail.  Our vision is so limited and constrained, whereas the Lord’s view is eternal and infinite.  Oftentimes our greatest growth comes out of sorrows or illness or discouragement.

5/ Priesthood principles

• Section 121 carefully, precisely, beautifully illustrates and enumerates the Christ-like principles that must govern the righteous and appropriate use of the priesthood.  “No power or authority can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, but by persuasion, longsuffering, gentleness, and meekness, and by love unfeigned, by kindness and pure knowledge.  Can we imagine how wonderful church government and daily interactions would be if we used these guiding principles as Christ did? What are the opposites: force and demands, urgency and haste, “in your face”, pride and arrogance, hypocrisy and selfishness.
• The Lord actually names three situations where a priesthood holder can actually negate his authority and power –  cover sin, vain ambitions, gratify our pride, exercise control or unrighteous dominion — AMEN to priesthood or authority of that man.
• Homes, as missionary companions, leaders, husbands, wives

6/ Conclusion

• • President Martino pointed out many ways that the Lord reached out to others during the last 24 hours of his mortal life, in essence using his priesthood power and authority to bless lives, even as the pain of Gethsemane and agony of Golgotha stared him in the face.  1)  instituted the sacrament  2) washed the feet of his apostles  3) submitted his will to the will of the Father in Gethsemane  4) healed a severed ear  5) gave a wonderful sermon to Peter  6) assured that John would care for his mother even while he hung on the cross  7) pled with the Father to forgive the soldiers who were responsible for his crucifixion  8) consoled a thief on the cross   What an example of patience, long suffering gentleness and meekness and love unfeigned.