(general priesthood meeting)
It’s great to be among the Priesthood of God – when Elder Bateman set me apart to this calling he talked about having enthusiasm for the youth. Because of that I would like to talk to the Aaronic Priesthood and all you old guys that think you’re still young at heart.
Never in the history of the world has Peters words been more accurate than today.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a achosen generation, a broyal cpriesthood, an dholy enation, a fpeculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of gdarkness into his marvellous hlight:
I think you all have heard that you’re a chosen generation; the best that has ever been here so many times that you don’t believe or understand what that means. The Lord has called you out of the world or darkness. First you must understand that your being born at this time is no mistake or by chance. That you’re being ordained to the priesthood isn’t just because you have turned 12 years of age.
Many prophets have told us that the Lord has saved his very elect to come to the earth at this time, the last dispensation. Why, because it’s our opportunity, as holders of the priesthood to prepare the world for the coming of the Lord and to bring all mankind unto Christ.
When you all go on your missions, it will surprise you how few people understand the answers to the basic questions: where did I come from, why am I here and where am I going after this life?
We all came to the earth from the presence of God, our father –we are literally his sons. The simple primary song “I am a Child of God” is true. Because of your faithfulness in the pre-mortal life you were foreordained to be born at this time and called to receive the Priesthood or authority to act in Gods name. You were (most likely) foreordained for a lot of other things as well. These include: Mel-Priesthood – Missions – Marriage – Priesthood Leadership and much more. And if you are faithful you will be exalted and return to live with our Heavenly Father.
But with these opportunities also comes great responsibilities.
D&C 121: 34-36 – talking to the priesthood
34 Behold, there are many acalled, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their ahearts are set so much upon the things of this bworld, and caspire to the dhonors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the arights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be bcontrolled nor handled only upon the cprinciples of righteousness.
To receive these opportunities or exercise our priesthood we must be righteous. Many times most of us make being righteous harder than it should be.
(Apples)
Satan Cheats – He knows that the large sins (apples) will not get us, so he makes us believe that the smaller sins (plums) aren’t that serious and he breaks down our fortress allowing the larger sins to come in.
Elder Maxwell – liken sins to stones or boulders – he said that many saints have a hard time pushing the boulders of sin from our lives because we are slipping and sliding on the pebbles beneath our feet.
Young brethren what are some of the pebbles or plums that Satan is putting in our paths? One truth that the earlier we learn will help us is that Satan hates you – You the holders of the Priesthood have not only succeeded in your pre-mortal life, but you are chosen to be the very elect of God, His leaders. He will never have what you have - his only goal is to make you miserable like he is.
3 Nephi 18:18
18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for aSatan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
In deed we must watch ourselves and pray to resist temptation. What are some of Satan favorite plums?
Pornography – A young man that is very dear to me saw a very explicate sexual seen in a movie that he knew he shouldn’t be watching with some of his friends. That situation lead to more experimentation and viewing of other materials. He hid it well from his parents and Bishops, even to the point that he served a mission – until it began to consume his soul – finally it controlled most of his thoughts – lead to his arrest and the loss of almost everything that was dear to him including his membership in the church. President Hinckley has told us to avoid pornography like the disease it is.
Word of Wisdom – The world believes that an occasional drink is actually healthy and encourages it. Drugs and alcohol are highly addictive and dull our senses. I still remember as a Bishop a crying young lady that had drank some alcohol for the first time at the encouraging of some of her so called friends. This led to more and the breaking down of her will and doing things I believe she never would have done on her own. Some of these so called friends were holders of the priesthood
Chastity – It is good that you are attracted to those of the opposite sex. These feelings are what cause us to want to get married and have families of our own. Remember that these young women are literal daughters of God. A worthy priesthood holder will treat them with respect and treat them like the Goddesses they will become in the Celestial Kingdom. I recently heard of two 14 year olds that aren’t dating because they are two young - but were more than willing to make out on the family coach in the basement. Brethren where is the logic in that. Necking – leads to petting – petting to things that can make you unable to serve a mission or get married in the temple.
Vocabulary- a short time ago a member of our stake was playing in a soccer tournament. During a break members of their team were talking about one of their opponents and their vulgar language. When they said the number, they released it was a very good friend of theirs and an active member of their ward. President Kimball once said that – swearing is a feeble mind trying to be forceful. Think about when your friends swear – are they trying to be forceful. It’s not appropriate for a holder of the priesthood of God!
There are other examples – too many to talk about…
And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
It’s my understanding that a flaxen cord is very thin thread– almost to the point that it’s hard to see. Satan leads us at first with a small sins or cords until he has desensitized us and can bind us down like my young friend that lost almost everything. Is looking at pornography, taking a first drink or making out with a young lady, activities that lead to the spirit - or are they steps or plums that lead to more inappropriate activities for holders of the priesthood of God.
In Alma chapter 37 Alma gives counsel to his son Helamon.
6 Now ye may suppose that this is afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 And the Lord God doth work by ameans to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very bsmall means the Lord doth cconfound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.
In deed it’s the small and simple things that lead to salvation or damnation. If we don’t watch Satan can use a flaxen cord on us, to convince us that it’s not that bad. But, as the scripture states – by small and simple things in righteousness God will bring about his eternal purposes.
Alma then as he talked about small thing – used the example of the Liahona. How it pointed where to go and what to do. I don’t know if that seems very small to me I would love to have one of those.
40 And it did work for them according to their afaith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.
41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by asmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were bslothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;
It only worked by their faith and obedience - but they became slothful, complacent and more concerned about the things of the world than the things of God.
44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the aword of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
46 O my son, do not let us be aslothful because of the beasiness of the cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would dlook they might elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
It’s as easy for us to follow the word of Christ as it is for them to use the Liahona. The word of Christ comes through the scriptures, living prophets, priesthood leaders and the Holy Ghost. It’s as cool to have them as it is that ball. But many times we don’t take the time to make these things important in our lives.
How do we do it? We do it by small and simple steps. Pray – read your scriptures – if your in High School take seminary – make the decision now to stay one of the elect of God – plan to go on a mission – get married in the temple – make the decision not to look at pornography or break the word of wisdom. Be the type of friend that encourages righteousness and be a support. Don’t play with the fire of immorality, you will get burned.
If you have made a mistake and it hasn’t been taken care of - talk to your Mom or Dad; make an appointment with your Bishop.
Again the words of Alma -
Now ye may suppose that this is afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass;
As holders of the priesthood don’t get complacent behind your nets or fortress – You will have so called friends that will say it’s not that bad or it doesn’t lead to something else or its fun and worth it, you can repent later.
This year’s theme in the Young Men’s program is to “arise and shine forth, that thy blight may be a cstandard for the dnations.” – This is stated in the form of a command – to get up and take action.
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