Conducting: Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Opening Hymn: Saints Behold How Great Jehovah (28)
Dallin H. Oaks (Quorum of the Twelve)
There is no up or down in the service of the Lord. Only forward and backward.
A greater desire to better understand the Priesthood.
Priesthood power blesses all of us.
Priesthood keys and authority bless women and men.
It is the power by which the earth was created.
It is the power by which we will be resurrected and proceed to eternal life.
Keys are the authority God has given to direct the Church.
The function of Priesthood keys enlarges and limits.
With exception of female temple workers, ordinances are administered to by those holding a Priesthood office.
There are other Priesthood keys not given to man on the earth (ex. Creation, Resurrection.)
Women have been given authority-Joseph Fielding Smith
The work the Relief Society does is by divine authority.
Relief Society is not just a class for women – a divine appendage to the Priesthood.
Female missionaries are given Priesthood authority to administer a Priesthood function.
Forget about your rights and focus on your responsibilities.
Qualification is a matter of fulfilling responsibilities.
Men are not the Priesthood. Men hold the Priesthood.
Priesthood cannot be exercised without the companionship of one of His daughters.
Women’s duties are as eternally important as the Priesthood itself.
Marriage is a full partnership.
Women and men are equal in the Church and family with different responsibilities.
Blessings are equally available to both men and women under the same terms.
Men and women are both endowed with Priesthood power in the temple.
Donald L. Hallstrom (Presidency of the Seventy)
Receive the word and then follow it.
We must be willing to act. Willing to change (real intent).
Do not give up your ability to change by saying “that’s just the way I am.”
Who we are is not who we can become.
Jesus Christ’s Atonement gives us the ability to change.
The gospel should change us permanently.
We need to be Priesthood men showing spiritual maturity.
“When I became a man I put off childish things.”
Receiving the Priesthood should mean something sacred to us.
We need to serve others.
Our calling is magnified by serving others.
“If thou lovest me, thou shalt serve me.”
We need to be worthy.
We need to wake up to how commonly accepted practices can choke our Priesthood.
“See that ye do all things in worthiness.”
If any sins prevent our worthiness we need to change.
The invitation to come unto Christ both requires and expects change through the Atonement we can change.
Randall L. Ridd (Young Men’s Presidency)
Never before in history have individuals had so many choices.
The internet is one of the greatest tools in the history of man.
Pros and cons to the internet.
Who does your heart desire?
Every thought, word, and deed has an effect on the human body.
The internet records your desires (cyber book of life).
What we insistently desire over time is what we will become.
If you are not proactive in educating your desires, the world will do it for you.
Use your agency.
Develop the ability to see beyond the moment.
Your choices determine whether technology will empower or enslave you.
Knowing who you really are makes decisions easier.
Remember who you really are (children of God).
Plug in to the Source of power (spiritual power – prayer and scripture study).
Be fully charged spiritually. Use your cell phone as a visual reminder.
Place more importance on messages of the Lord over text messages.
Smart phones do not make you smart.
Do not do dumb things with smart phones.
Be where you are when you are there.
Don’t be on your phone away from conversations you should be involved in.
If you chose two rabbits you won’t catch either one.
The divine use of technology is to hasten the work of salvation.
The internet allows us to influence the world without borders.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf (First Presidency)
Are you sleeping through the Restoration? (Reference to Rip van Winkle)
The Restoration is an ongoing process.
This is one of the most remarkable periods of the world’s history.
Will we be able to say we gave our all, or that we just watched.
Those who are selfish have attitudes contrary to those required to build God’s kingdom.
Naturally we all have a desire of recognition.
The remedy is to deny yourself and follow Christ.
Lose yourself in the service of God.
Acts of kindness can change hearts and lives.
Those who serve others will not sleep through the Restoration.
Addictions become habits.
Binding chains of addictions can have many forms.
We are not meant to be shackled to the earth in straight jackets of our own making.
Addictions are easier to prevent than cure.
Listen to the loving warning of trusted family, friends, Christ, etc.
The best defense of addiction is never to start.
For those addicted there is help. Breaking free is possible.
The Lord will not give up on you.
Keep trying. Don’t give up. Don’t lose faith.
He will make you free.
Always keep far away from habits that cause addiction.
Remember highest priorities.
Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and all thy mind.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Demonstrate love through word and deed.
Those who live up to these principles will not sleep through the Restoration.
Do not give a half-hearted effort.
Atonement of Christ can heal and rescue mankind.
Shake off the chains with which ye are bound.
We are laying the foundation of a good work, even laying the foundation for the return of the Savior.
Henry B. Eyring (First Presidency)
When we choose heroes we begin to copy, consciously or unconsciously, what we admire most in them.
Each of us will be a model of a Priesthood man.
We became a lighted candle on a candlestick.
You can be a great, average, or bad model.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)
Pray often and with real intent.
When you pray you will know that you’re a child of God.
Give unselfish service.
Don’t seek recognition. Just give service.
Pray to God. Thank Him. Ask Him to know who to serve.
No service is greater than to help those chose to qualify for eternal life.
We can make a difference.
Help each other rise to the opportunity.
As you give your whole heart to this work he will magnify you.
Thomas S. Monson (President)
A common thread binds all of us together.
We live in a world where moral values have been tossed aside.
Decisions are constantly before us that can determine our destiny.
Have courage to do the right thing because it’s right.
Will we have the courage to defend what we believe?
Participate in activities where our thoughts are influenced for good and where the Spirit of the Lord will be comfortable.
If you ever find yourself where you shouldn’t be – Get out!
Every courage has few witnesses – Robert Lewis Stevenson
The real tests of courage are quiet, inner tests.
Courage is doing the right thing even when we are afraid to defend our beliefs.
Are you the same person wherever you are in whatever you’re doing?
Be the same person in the dark that you are in the light.
Not all acts of courage bring spectacular or immediate results, but they do bring peace of mind.
Hold strong and fast to that which we know is right.
Courage, not comprimise, brings the smile of God’s approval.
We can find comfort in the words of the Lord.
May we declare as Paul “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…”
Let every man learn his duty and to act…
Closing Hymn: Abide With Me (166)
The Latter-day Life 