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Transcript

President Nelson, when you dedicated the priesthood restoration site on September 15 of 2015, you said that was the most important assignment you've ever had. Why is that? I'd received that assignment earlier in the year when President Packer was President of the quorum. And I told Wendy, this is going to be the most wonderful opportunity because we will commemorate the restoration of the priesthood of God. Heavenly messengers came to restore the priesthood. President McKay once answered the question, how does your church differ from others? He answered with this answer: because we have priesthood authority. So, for that reason, I felt like the chance to dedicate this site, and this restoration of the home that Joseph Smith and the Emma once lived in, that was going to be pretty important for us. Just look at the beauty of this house. This is a significant site in the restoration of the priesthood. Well, all of that occurred here. They translated the Book of Mormon here. They went down to the river and received the authority to baptize. John the Baptist was here. Peter, James, and John were here, restored the Melchizidek Priesthood. And they had troubles. They had the lost manuscript to deal with. They had illness to deal with and adversarial relations in the family. It was a tough time for them. And yet there were a lot of miracles that also happened here. Exactly. When I think about the revelations that were received here, when I think about the miracles of the translation, the Book of Mormon--it is absolutely astounding. For instance, as you mentioned before, the Book of Mormon was translated within 60 working days. And there was no editing, there was no cross-referencing, there was no reading back of text to start again. And yet, there were very few changes made to the manuscript. It's almost impossible to conceive that anyone could write a 588-page book and print the first draft.

It's interesting to look at a copy of the first edition. You go eight or nine pages in one paragraph--just a continuous flow of text--as the words were dictated by the prophet to his scribe, Oliver Cowdery. Fortunately for us, we have it in chapter-verse form now. It's easier to study. But we have Orson Pratt to thank for that. He did that in 1879. Miracle after miracle. It is true that Joseph would dictate, and then they'd have an interruption and come back, and he'd just pick up right where he was. Emma said you couldn't even draft a letter, but you could dictate this book. And she was amazed that he never had to have it read back to him to make sure he was starting in the right place. Let me ask you a question, Sister Bingham. As President of the Relief Society, you know how women of the world feel and have their gratitude for the priesthood. One way I think you could measure the importance of that would be to ask, what would your life be like--your life, Jane B. Bingham--if the priesthood had not been restored in 1829? My life would be immeasurably different, President. When I think about growing up in a home where my father held the priesthood, I had the blessings of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost as a child. And as I grew older, I was able to make my temple covenants, and what a difference that has made in my life. Then when I was sealed to my husband in the temple, now I know, because of that priesthood authority and power, that I will be with him forever. And then my children, who are born in the covenant. Again, because of that priesthood authority, my life has been immeasurably changed. I can also tell you, I think about so many times in my life when I have had questions, when I've had challenges with personal relationships or with my callings. And because of that priesthood power that I received through my covenants, I've received revelation. I've received revelation on how to deal with challenges, how to go forward, how to repent. The priesthood has made all the difference in my life. You've answered your question. You asked me why restoration of priesthood was important. The answer is, it makes life better for men and women and children. You are so right, President.

The Priesthood Just Makes Life Better, Says President Nelson

Description
President Russell M. Nelson shares his feelings about the restoration of the priesthood with Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, in the replica Smith home in Harmony, Pennsylvania.
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