May we be worthy recipients of the divine power of the priesthood we bear. May it bless our lives and may we use it to bless the lives of others.

1. subject yourself to the innuendo and
By President Thomas S. Monson outright filth which are so often found
there. The lyrics in much of today’s
Priesthood Power
music fall in the same category. The
profanity so prevalent around us today
would never have been tolerated in
the not-too-distant past. Sadly, the
Lord’s name is taken in vain over and
May we be worthy recipients of the divine power of the over again. Recall with me the com-
mandment—one of the ten—which
priesthood we bear. May it bless our lives and may we the Lord revealed to Moses on Mount
use it to bless the lives of others. Sinai: “Thou shalt not take the name of
the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh
I
his name in vain.” 2 I am sorry that any
prayed and studied long about what of heaven cannot be controlled nor of us is subjected to profane language,
I might say tonight. I wish not to handled only upon the principles of and I plead with you not to use it. I
offend anyone. I thought, “What are righteousness. implore you not to say or to do any-
the challenges we have? What do I “That they may be conferred upon thing of which you cannot be proud.
deal with every day that causes me to us, it is true; but when we undertake to Stay completely away from pornog-
weep sometimes late into the night?” cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, raphy. Do not allow yourself to view it,
I thought that I would try to address a our vain ambition, or to exercise con- ever. It has proven to be an addiction
few of those challenges tonight. Some trol or dominion or compulsion upon which is more than difficult to over-
will apply to the young men. Some the souls of the children of men, in any come. Avoid alcohol and tobacco or
will apply to those who are middle degree of unrighteousness, behold, any other drugs, also addictions which
aged. Some will apply to those who the heavens withdraw themselves; the you would be hard pressed to conquer.
are a little bit above middle age. We Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when What will protect you from the sin
don’t talk about old age. it is withdrawn, Amen to the priest- and evil around you? I maintain that a
And so I simply want to begin by hood or the authority of that man.” 1 strong testimony of our Savior and of
declaring, it has been good for us to Brethren, that is the definitive word His gospel will help see you through
be together this evening. We’ve heard of the Lord concerning His divine to safety. If you have not read the Book
wonderful and timely messages con- authority. We cannot be in doubt as to of Mormon, read it. I will not ask for a
cerning the priesthood of God. I, with the obligation this places upon each show of hands. If you do so prayerfully
you, have been uplifted and inspired. of us who bear the priesthood of God. and with a sincere desire to know the
Tonight I wish to address matters We have come to the earth in truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its
which have been much on my mind troubled times. The moral compass of truth to you. If it is true—and it is —
of late and which I have felt impressed the masses has gradually shifted to an then Joseph Smith was a prophet who
to share with you. In one way or “almost anything goes” position. saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus
another, they all relate to the per- I’ve lived long enough to have wit- Christ. The Church is true. If you do
sonal worthiness required to receive nessed much of the metamorphosis of not already have a testimony of these
and exercise the sacred power of the society’s morals. Where once the stan- things, do that which is necessary to
priesthood which we hold. dards of the Church and the standards obtain one. It is essential for you to
May I begin by reciting to you of society were mostly compatible, have your own testimony, for the testi-
from section 121 of the Doctrine and now there is a wide chasm between monies of others will carry you only so
Covenants: us, and it’s growing ever wider. far. Once obtained, a testimony needs
“The rights of the priesthood Many movies and television shows to be kept vital and alive through
are inseparably connected with the portray behavior which is in direct obedience to the commandments of
powers of heaven, and . . . the powers opposition to the laws of God. Do not God and through regular prayer and
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2. scripture study. Attend church. You This is not a new situation. Much sacrifice and to make difficult decisions.
young men, attend seminary or insti- has been said concerning this matter Perhaps you are afraid of making the
tute if such is available to you. by past Presidents of the Church. I wrong choice. To this I say that you
Should there be anything amiss share with you just one or two exam- need to exercise faith. Find someone
in your life, there is open to you a ples of their counsel. with whom you can be compatible.
way out. Cease any unrighteousness. Said President Harold B. Lee, “We Realize that you will not be able to
Talk with your bishop. Whatever are not doing our duty as holders of anticipate every challenge which
the problem, it can be worked out the priesthood when we go beyond may arise, but be assured that almost
through proper repentance. You can the marriageable age and withhold anything can be worked out if you are
become clean once again. Said the ourselves from an honorable marriage resourceful and if you are committed to
Lord, speaking of those who repent, to these lovely women.” 6 making your marriage work.
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they President Gordon B. Hinckley said Perhaps you are having a little too
shall be as white as snow,” 3 “and I, the this: “My heart reaches out to . . . our much fun being single, taking extrava-
Lord, remember them no more.” 4 single sisters, who long for marriage gant vacations, buying expensive cars
The Savior of mankind described and cannot seem to find it. . . . I have and toys, and just generally enjoying
Himself as being in the world but far less sympathy for the young men, the carefree life with your friends. I’ve
not of the world.5 We also can be in who under the customs of our society, encountered groups of you running
the world but not of the world as we have the prerogative to take the ini- around together, and I admit that I’ve
reject false concepts and false teach- tiative in these matters but in so many wondered why you aren’t out with the
ings and remain true to that which cases fail to do so.” 7 young ladies.
God has commanded. I realize there are many reasons Brethren, there is a point at which
Now, I have thought a lot lately why you may be hesitating to take that it’s time to think seriously about mar-
about you young men who are of an step of getting married. If you are con- riage and to seek a companion with
age to marry but who have not yet cerned about providing financially for a whom you want to spend eternity. If
felt to do so. I see lovely young ladies wife and family, may I assure you that you choose wisely and if you are com-
who desire to be married and to raise there is no shame in a couple having to mitted to the success of your marriage,
families, and yet their opportunities scrimp and save. It is generally during there is nothing in this life which will
are limited because so many young these challenging times that you will bring you greater happiness.
men are postponing marriage. grow closer together as you learn to When you marry, brethren, you will
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3. wish to marry in the house of the Lord. Choose a companion carefully and Many years ago in the ward over
For you who hold the priesthood, there prayerfully; and when you are mar- which I presided as the bishop, there
should be no other option. Be careful ried, be fiercely loyal one to another. lived a couple who often had very
lest you destroy your eligibility to be so Priceless advice comes from a small serious, heated disagreements. I mean
married. You can keep your courtship framed plaque I once saw in the home real disagreements. Each of the two was
within proper bounds while still having of an uncle and aunt. It read, “Choose certain of his or her position. Neither
a wonderful time. your love; love your choice.” There one would yield to the other. When
Now, brethren, I turn to another is great wisdom in those few words. they weren’t arguing, they maintained
subject about which I feel impressed Commitment in marriage is absolutely what I would call an uneasy truce.
to address you. In the three years since essential. One morning at 2:00 a.m. I had a
I was sustained as President of the Your wife is your equal. In marriage telephone call from the couple. They
Church, I believe the saddest and most neither partner is superior nor inferior wanted to talk to me, and they wanted
discouraging responsibility I have each to the other. You walk side by side as to talk right then. I dragged myself
week is the handling of cancellations a son and a daughter of God. She is from bed, dressed, and went to their
of sealings. Each one was preceded not to be demeaned or insulted but home. They sat on opposite sides of
by a joyous marriage in the house of should be respected and loved. Said the room, not speaking to each other.
the Lord, where a loving couple was President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Any The wife communicated with her hus-
beginning a new life together and man in this Church who . . . exercises band by talking to me. He replied to
looking forward to spending the rest unrighteous dominion over [his wife] her by talking to me. I thought, “How
of eternity with each other. And then is unworthy to hold the priesthood. in the world are we going to get this
months and years go by, and for one Though he may have been ordained, couple together?”
reason or another, love dies. It may be the heavens will withdraw, the Spirit I prayed for inspiration, and the
the result of financial problems, lack of of the Lord will be grieved, and it will thought came to me to ask them a
communication, uncontrolled tempers, be amen to the authority of the priest- question. I said, “How long has it been
interference from in-laws, entangle- hood of that man.” 8 since you have been to the temple
ment in sin. There are any number of President Howard W. Hunter said and witnessed a temple sealing?” They
reasons. In most cases divorce does not this about marriage: “Being happily admitted it had been a very long time.
have to be the outcome. and successfully married is generally They were otherwise worthy people
The vast majority of requests for can- not so much a matter of marrying the who held temple recommends and
cellations of sealings come from women right person as it is being the right per- who went to the temple and did ordi-
who tried desperately to make a go of son.” I like that. “The conscious effort nance work for others.
the marriage but who, in the final analy- to do one’s part fully is the greatest I said to them, “Will you come
sis, could not overcome the problems. element contributing to success.” 9 with me to the temple on Wednesday
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4. morning at 8:00? We will witness a
sealing ceremony there.”
In unison they asked, “Whose
ceremony?”
I responded, “I don’t know. It will
be for whoever is getting married that
morning.”
On the following Wednesday
at the appointed hour, we met at
the Salt Lake Temple. The three of
us went into one of the beautiful
sealing rooms, not knowing a soul
in the room except Elder ElRay L. We left the temple that day, and no men and boys holding the priesthood.
Christiansen, then an Assistant to the one ever knew who we were or why The gift of the priesthood is price-
Quorum of the Twelve, a General we had come, but my friends were less. It carries with it the authority to act
Authority position which existed holding hands as they walked out the as God’s servants, to administer to the
at that time. Elder Christiansen was front door. Their differences had been sick, to bless our families, and to bless
scheduled to perform a sealing cere- set aside. I had not had to say one others as well. Its authority can reach
mony for a bride and groom in that word. You see, they remembered their beyond the veil of death, on into the
very room that morning. I am confi- own wedding day and the covenants eternities. There is nothing else to com-
dent the bride and her family thought, they had made in the house of God. pare with it in all this world. Safeguard
“These must be friends of the groom” They were committed to beginning it, treasure it, live worthy of it.10
and that the groom’s family thought, again and trying harder this time My beloved brethren, may righ-
“These must be friends of the bride.” around. teousness guide our every step as
My couple were seated on a little If any of you are having difficulty in we journey through life. Today and
bench with about a full two feet your marriage, I urge you to do all that always, may we be worthy recipients
(0.6 m) of space between them. you can to make whatever repairs are of the divine power of the priesthood
Elder Christiansen began by provid- necessary, that you might be as happy we bear. May it bless our lives and
ing counsel to the couple who were as you were when your marriage started may we use it to bless the lives of oth-
being married, and he did so in a out. We who are married in the house ers, as did He who lived and died for
beautiful fashion. He mentioned how of the Lord do so for time and for all us—even Jesus Christ, our Lord and
a husband should love his wife, how eternity, and then we must put forth the Savior. This is my prayer in His sacred
he should treat her with respect and necessary effort to make it so. I realize name, His holy name, amen. ◼
courtesy, honoring her as the heart of that there are situations where marriages NOTES
the home. Then he talked to the bride cannot be saved, but I feel strongly 1. Doctrine and Covenants 121:36–37.
about how she should honor her hus- that for the most part they can be and 2. Exodus 20:7.
3. Isaiah 1:18.
band as the head of the home and be should be. Do not let your marriage get 4. Doctrine and Covenants 58:42.
of support to him in every way. to the point where it is in jeopardy. 5. See John 17:14; Doctrine and Covenants
I noticed that as Elder Christiansen President Hinckley taught that it is 49:5.
6. “President Harold B. Lee’s General
spoke to the bride and the groom, my up to each of us who hold the priest- Priesthood Address,” ­Ensign, Jan. 1974,
couple moved a little closer together. hood of God to discipline ourselves so 100.
Soon they were seated right next to one that we stand above the ways of the 7. Gordon B. Hinckley, “What God Hath
Joined Together,” ­Ensign, May 1991, 71.
another. What pleased me is that they world. It is essential that we be hon- 8. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness
had both moved at about the same rate. orable and decent men. Our actions to Exercise the Priesthood,” ­Liahona, July
By the end of the ceremony, my couple must be above reproach. 2002, 60; ­Ensign, May 2002, 54.
9. The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed.
were sitting as close to each other as The words we speak, the way we Clyde J. Williams (1997), 130.
though they were the newlyweds. Each treat others, and the way we live our 0. See Gordon B. Hinckley, ­Liahona, July
1
was smiling. lives all impact our effectiveness as 2002, 58–61; ­Ensign, May 2002, 52–59.
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