April 1993 General Conference Priesthood Session

Russell M. Nelson -Honoring the Priesthood

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, is neither a democracy not a republic. His is a kingdom--the kingdom of God on earth. His is a hierarchical church, with ultimate authority at the top.
• The kingdom of God is governed by the authority of the priesthood. It is not conferred for honor, but for a ministry of service. Priesthood titles are not created by man; neither are they for adornment, nor do they express mastership. They denote appointment to service in the work of the Lord.
• A few do's and don'ts may be helpful:
• Do learn to take counsel. Seek direction from file leaders and receive it willingly.
• Don't speak ill of Church leaders.
• Don't covet a calling or position.
• Don't second-guess who should or should not have been called.
• Don't refuse an opportunity to serve.
• Don't resign from a call. Do inform leaders of changing circumstances in your life, knowing that leaders will weigh all factors when prayerfully considering the proper timing of your release.
• The one who extends and the one who receives a call are both under obligation of accountability.
• The Lord would not withhold blessings from any of His children for want of one with a particular calling.
• Husbands and fathers: With your dear partner, shape attitudes at home.
• Fathers, you understand the principle of temporal self-reliance and try to provide for a year's supply, stored at home. Please also consider the need for spiritual food and self-reliance--not just for a year, but for a lifetime--also stored at home. A worthy father should have first opportunity to administer a blessing to members of his family.

John K. Carmack -Faith Yields Priesthood Power

• Beloved brethren, in this very room there's quite enough power to do anything that we're called to do. We are the priesthood of God.
• The priesthood of God is potentially a greater source of power than electricity. Collectively, priesthood brethren perform well, but we fall far short of our potential.
• Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the priesthood's dynamic power source. By failing to put faith first in our callings, we reduce the priesthood's light and power. Other obstacles also block its beneficial rays.
• "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing."
• Add faith, however, and priesthood service becomes magnificent. Two candles suddenly burst into four hundred watts of light. More to the point, we tap into the Lord's power source, and our actions move in rhythm with His. The Lord compensates for our deficiencies. Vast, unseen reservoirs of dynamic power supply our needs.
• Faith and trust in the Lord came first. Then came action. He had no plan except confidence in the Lord.
• With faith we can get the right things to do into our hearts and the words and mental exertion to do them. It may require leaving unstructured time in our planning and on our agenda. Then faith would have some air to breathe.
• Although faith often includes positive thinking, it is much, much more tan that. Faith taps into divine sources and is a manifestation of unity and partnership with the Lord. Even the ideas and words formulated by faith come by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the power to accomplish the words formed by faith comes from God.
• Even more important, faith leads directly to eternal life, because in exercising faith, we come to know God and His power, and we become like Him.
• To really have faith, we must cleanse the instruments of faith--our minds, our bodies, and spirits.
• Pride and arrogance block out faith.
• Self-sufficiency, often through financial success, high educational attainment, fame, and honor among men, can keep us from having faith.
• Yes, Satan throws up many obstacles. He doesn't want us to have faith.
• Perhaps it is time that we humble ourselves and overcome the obstacles to faith, and then become converted.

F. David Stanley -The Principle of Work

• We are what we are as a people because our ancestors were not afraid of honest, hard work. our forefathers understood the necessity of it; sheer survival demanded it. A common ingredient among all successful people is an understanding of what constitutes paying the price of success. Basic in that formula of paying the price is an inner gift of determination that "I'll do whatever it takes." That means, "I'll work hard, with integrity, to achieve my goal."
• Hard work is a blessing of God. It involves going after it "with all your heart, might, mind and strength." That alone is the difference between the average and the excellent.
• There is a time of preparation and a time of victory.
• "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."
• If you want to be successful, start with the bottom line of work.
• But we need to do it. We need to work.
• Fathers of Zion, teach our youth the value of honest, hard work. There is no substitute, no other alternative. Be careful that you don't train up couch potatoes.

H. David Burton -Heroes

• Carefully selected heroes can give us a pattern for our lives and serve as our role models. They can give us courage to walk the road of life righteously.
• Dads make great heroes. I pray that if you are fortunate enough to have a father close by, he can be your hero. Dads, live in such a way that your sons and others can look up to you as heroes.
• I pray that you proud bearers of the Aaronic Priesthood will listen and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and bond with righteous heroes in standing tall against the evils espoused by the master of deception.

Thomas S. Monson -Search and Rescue

• All was well. The lost were found. Lives were spared. Worry and fear yielded to joy and jubilation.
• "It is better to save the life of a man than to raise one from the dead."
• "The wisdom  of God may appear as foolishness to men. But the greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right."
• Never complaining, ever serving, always sacrificing for the benefit of others, these noble servants deserve our undying gratitude and our fervent prayers.

Gordon B. Hinckley -Some Lessons I Learned as a Boy

• It's easy for old men to lecture young men.
• I learned something I have always remembered--to watch for signs of danger and evil and stay away.
• Never to understand the potential of a boy to make something of his life.
• Industry, enthusiasm, and hard work lead to enlightened progress. You have to stay on your feet and keep moving if you are going to have light in your life.
• "Do what is right; let the consequence follow."
• "Choose the right when a choice is placed before you."
• Fathers, be good men, that your wives will speak of you with love and appreciation and your children will remember you with gratitude everlasting.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi