President Boyd K. Packer: The Power of the Priesthood

This is a great talk. As far as teaching the powers and duties of the Priesthood, this is a landmark talk. President Packer also, for me anyway, describes our place in the world - our place as a church and our place as families and individuals.

It has never been easy to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was not easy when HE lived, and it was not easy in the early days of the Church.  The Book of Mormon makes it clear that we will never dominate by numbers. But we have the power of the priesthood.


As far as our role in the world, I was impressed by this thought:
We can and in due time certainly will influence all of humanity. It will be known who we are and why we are. It might seem hopeless; it is monumentally difficult; but it is not only possible but certain that we will win the battle against Satan.


Referring to a talk he gave several years ago and that was published President Packer said:
Later, when it was to be published, I changed the title to read "What Every Elder Should Know - and Every Sister as Well."  Include the sisters because it is crucial for everyone to understand what is expected of the brethren. Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers and daughters and sisters - who have influence on their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers - we cannot progress. The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are neglected.


President Packer next talked about priesthood power and authority, especially power.
Distributing the authority of the priesthood has raced, I think, ahead of distributing the power of the priesthood. The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be.


We need this "call to power" seriously:
We must awaken in every elder and high priest, in every quorum and group, and in the father of every home the power of the priesthood of the Almighty.


We need everyone. The tired or worn out or lazy and even those who are bound down with guilt must be restored through repentance and forgiveness. Too many of our priesthood brethren are living below their privileges and the Lord's expectations.


That the work of the Lord will prevail is not a question. That we must marshal all of our efforts and unify ourselves are givens.


After all that we have correlated and organized, it is now our responsibility to activate the power of the priesthood in the Church. Authority in the priesthood comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. it is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness.


President Packer then directed his remarks to the fathers and the homes:
Now, fathers, I would remind you of the sacred nature of your calling. You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary's mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost.


The adversary is not actively disturbing our Church meetings - perhaps only occasionally. But he and those who follow him are persistent in attacking the home and the family.


The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children might be happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood.


. . . all these have as their ultimate purpose the perfection of the individual and the family.


President Packer then closes with his testimony of the power and importance of the priesthood and the role it will play in the coming years:
I bear witness of the power of the priesthood given to the Church to protect us and guide us. And because we have that, we have no fear of the future. Fear is the opposite of faith. We move forward, certain that the Lord will watch over us, particularly in the family.