“Ordaining Young Men at the Appropriate Age,” Ensign, Aug. 1999, 73
Ordaining Young Men at the Appropriate Age
Ordaining worthy young men to Aaronic Priesthood offices at the appropriate age requires the best efforts of the young men, their parents, and Church leaders.
What each young man should do. Young men should be actively engaged in pursuing their own advancement in the priesthood. They should faithfully perform their priesthood duties, recognize the blessings of priesthood service, and live worthy of progressing in the priesthood.
What parents may do. Parents may discuss the purposes and blessings of the priesthood in family home evenings and other family settings. They may bear testimony of the importance of the priesthood in their own lives and use the scriptures to teach the duties of each priesthood office.
What Church leaders should do. Quorum presidencies should visit the home of each young man, welcoming him to the quorum shortly before he is of age to enter that quorum. They may encourage all quorum members to take part in quorum activities and service projects. They can also show respect for each quorum member and foster quorum unity.
Quorum advisers should be positive role models for young men, including the less active, and teach them by the Spirit. They should build relationships of trust with each young man and help him cope with life’s challenges.
Bishoprics should teach the young men, hold regular interviews with each, and ensure that every teacher and priest is assigned to a devoted home teaching companion.
President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: “The Lord God of heaven organized His priesthood into quorums. … We are so organized to support and sustain one another, to build and strengthen one another, to multiply our individual capacities in service to others, and to coordinate our individual strengths to move forward the kingdom of God” (satellite fireside, 6 May 1990).
Photo by Eldon K. Linschoten