Transcript

We're just delighted to have this opportunity of being with you today. We have a very talented group here with Elder Hallstrom of the Seventy and Bishop Davies of the Presiding Bishopric, two powerful men. Now, you listen to them. They have a lot of good instruction for you today. We're very privileged to have keys bestowed on us, that each of us can trace that priesthood authority directly back to the Savior Himself. We know in the mortal ministry of the Savior Jesus Christ that He gave keys to Peter and His other disciples. And then the glorious days of the Restoration, when first John the Baptist, then Peter, James, and John, and then Moses, Elias, and Elijah came to the earth and restored the keys necessary for the work of God here upon the earth. Jesus Christ holds all the priesthood keys. He then confers those keys upon men who hold the holy apostolic authority. I was taught a great lesson once when I was on a trip to Denmark with President Kimball and President Packer. In between meetings, President Kimball came to us and said, "There's something in Denmark I want to show you." And he invited us to go with him to a little chapel. As we entered the chapel, we immediately recognized Thorvaldsen's beautiful Christus. And around the sides, Thorvaldsen had carved each of the original Twelve Apostles. President Kimball said, "I want you to come over here" and had all of us stand in front of Peter. And he said, "What is in Peter's hands?" And of course, we responded, "He's holding keys." And President Kimball said, "That's right. The Savior gave him the keys to preside over the Church after He had departed from the earth." Then he said, "Today, I hold the keys, just the same as Peter did in his days. The keys are invested in the prophet, seer, and revelator and President of the Church." Then he turned to the custodian that had let us in and said, "These are the original Twelve. Then he pointed to President Packer and me and said, "These are the modern Apostles today. They hold the keys the same as the Twelve Apostles did in the Savior's day." That was a profound impression on me to think that we held those keys. I've never felt the same since. I've never felt worthy of the keys I hold. I'm always trying to strive to live up to that which the Lord has blessed us with. Elder Perry and Elder Hallstrom, as we talk about priesthood keys, in the handbook, for those who aren't familiar with what priesthood keys are, it's very direct. Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to priesthood leaders to direct, control, and govern the use of His priesthood on earth. Now, President Bryant, you're a teachers quorum president. How do you feel about that? How has that affected your life and your quorum? Well, I think it's such an amazing opportunity we have in this day to have keys and to be able to have the authority to sit in a quorum and guide and counsel people what they need to do. It's been such an awesome experience to use my keys to teach them and to show examples to them. It's been just an amazing blessing in my life. Has it changed your life? It has changed my life. I look at things differently because of it. I see a person for what they can be instead of what they are. That is wonderful, wonderful testimony. Now, you, as stake president, hold the keys and have the responsibility of presiding over a stake of Zion. How do you feel about your role and the keys that you hold? I take it very seriously. One of the opportunities that I have is to call elders quorum presidents and bishops who have keys. And one of the things that I can do, my part, is to teach bishops and elders quorum presidents about what it means to have keys right when I extend that call. Bishop Mulitalo, could you just give us some understanding of how you view your keys and the relationship between the bishop and the elders quorum president? I delegate as much as I possibly can to him. It's that simple. And what we do is when we coordinate, we meet regularly. It's almost like we're side by side in the efforts to rescue both spiritually and temporally and in every possible way. What Bishop Mulitalo is saying is so powerful, because when bishops understand that elders quorum presidents hold keys, and they delegate, and they do so with trust and confidence, it empowers the elders quorum president and his quorum to perform the labors to which they've been called. Plus, it allows the bishop to be freed up to focus on other keys. President Cowley and President Mills, give us some understanding of how you view your keys and the relationship between the bishop and the elders quorum president. A lot of times, the things that people are working through are things that we can be doing as an elders quorum-- that aren't necessarily things that are related to worthiness, but things that are obviously going to be helping in worthiness. Keys allow us to do what the Lord Himself would do if He was in the ward. And that's when an elders quorum president can really minister is when he has the power of the priesthood and he can know the mind and will of the Lord. Now, high councilor, do you feel any responsibility to this? It's a great responsibility to help them understand their oath and covenant of the priesthood and to sit in counsel with them and teach them. It's a privilege to work with the stake president and to bless the elders quorum presidency with that. President Lu, how do high priests group leaders fit into this equation? How do their responsibilities relate to elders quorum presidents? Well, elders quorum presidents are very, very important. High priests group leaders are equally important. While they don't have keys, they have similar responsibilities to the elders quorum presidents as it relates to those that are in their specific groups. Let me add to that. I feel that those of us that have keys, there's an opportunity to have presidency meetings, ward council, stake council. In those forums is an opportunity to talk about needs. And then you can zero in on this family, or this family, or this brother, this prospective elder, this couple that needs to go to the temple. And I think that's one way to utilize priesthood keys. There is a principle coming out here that is so wonderful, which is in the righteous exercise of priesthood keys you are strengthening individuals and families. That's what this is all about. Our greatest responsibility as leaders who hold keys is to help fathers in the home, mothers in the home, youth. And we're really supplemental to the very important work that goes on in the home. I've had the great privilege of serving under several prophets of the Church, from President Harold B. Lee up to President Thomas S. Monson. Each one bears the keys to preside over the Church and kingdom of God here on earth. But I know they're not the head of the Church. It is the Savior's Church that we belong to. He's the one that leads and guides and directs His prophet here on earth. There's no doubt in my mind that He's the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. May the Lord bless each of us that we may be inspired in the responsibilities we have and the power that's been given to us to carry His holy priesthood and carry His keys and administrate the kingdom of heaven here on earth, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Amen.

Priesthood Keys

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In the Church, priesthood keys give authority to lead wards and stakes in strengthening families and individuals; the Savior leads the Church.
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