Righteousness through continued efforts subject of Saturday priesthood session
M. Russell Ballard, left, Dallin H. Oaks, center, and Russell M. Nelson, members of a top governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talk before the start of the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY — Hope in the possibility of living a righteous life was offered by those who spoke in the Conference Center at the priesthood session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The hope of attaining the ability to serve and to be served by imperfect leaders was the message given by Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency.
He spoke both to those who believe their own callings and the callings of others are mistakes. “Delay such judgments until you can better see what the Lord sees,” he said.
“For a leader to succeed in the Lord’s work, the people’s trust that he is called of God must override their view of his infirmities and mortal weaknesses,” Eyring said.
Leaders can be both weak and human as well as strong and inspired, he said.
As a demonstration, he told story about when he was a bishop and gave a young man advice that didn’t work. The young man came back, asking if they could pray together. In the prayer, the young man asked for Eyring to be inspired to give better advice.
As a result, Eyring said the revelation came to him that was needed by the young man, who later became a stake president.
“He carried with him the lesson we learned together,” Eyring said. “If you have faith that the Lord leads His church through revelation to those imperfect servants he calls, the Lord will open the windows of heaven to him, as he will to you.”
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Spiritual illness was the topic of a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency.
Such illness can come from sin or emotional wounds, Uchtdorf said.
“Just because spiritual trials are real, does not mean that they are incurable,” Uchtdorf said. “We can heal spiritually.”
Such spiritual healing is possible by stepping away from the shadows of the world, he said, explaining that a person must not allow themselves to feel comfortable in darkness.
“When we are in the light, we have ‘a perfect brightness of hope’ because we can see our mortal trials from an eternal perspective,” Uchtdorf said, quoting Book of Mormon Scripture 2 Nephi 31:20.
All who follow Jesus Christ will experience and share in His light, Uchtdorf said.
“God will open your eyes,” he said. “God will give you a new heart.”
A warning to stay away from temptation was the message of a story told by Elder Richard J. Maynes, of the Quorum of the Seventy. He became emotional as he told about the first time he went on a business trip with his father.
The two met with representatives from another company who showed them their bid for a project was considerably lower than another company’s bid. The other company representative asked them to resubmit the bid just below the next lowest and then split the difference of the extra funds.
Later, the father asked the son what he thought he should do, given the responsibility to keep employees working.
Maynes said he never forgot what his father said next.
“Listen, Rick, once you take a bribe or compromise your integrity, it is very difficult to ever get it back. Don’t ever do it, not even once,” Maynes said, quoting his father.
A story of having questions in his youth was offered David F. Evans, of the Seventy. He said his mother urged him to be patient, praying and studying to know the truth.
“Over time, I came to know that my other was teaching me Heavenly Father’s pattern for seeking truth,” Evans said. “Faith grew, answers began to come, and I accepted a mission call.”
Evans said he received a confirmation of the truth on his mission and vowed to keep that feeling alive.
“A testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study,” he said, quoting President Thomas S. Monson in an Ensign article in May of 2017 titled “The Power of the Book of Mormon.”
Explaining the priesthood as the delegated power and authority of God was Dale G. Renlund, of the Quorum of the Twelve.
“I have come to realize that the purpose of organizing a stake, or using the priesthood of God in any way, is to assist Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in Their work, to provide the opportunity for redemption and exaltation to each of God’s children,” Renlund said.
You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at jfrancis@standard.net or 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook at facebook.com/SEJaNaeFrancis.
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