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What are my duties as an Aaronic Priesthood holder?

What are my duties as an Aaronic Priesthood holder?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

The Lord has said that every man who has been ordained to the priesthood should “learn his duty” and “act … in all diligence” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99). As Aaronic Priesthood holders, we perform priesthood ordinances, serve others, and invite all to come unto Christ.

Resources to Help You Prepare

These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

Think about how you felt when you first received the Aaronic Priesthood. What did having this authority mean to you? How did holding the priesthood influence your thoughts and actions?

Most Aaronic Priesthood holders are aware of their duties to administer the sacrament but may not be aware of their duties to serve others and invite others to come unto Christ. What can you do to help the young men become aware of and fulfill all of their priesthood duties?

What can the young men do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

In every setting, the Savior was an example and mentor to His disciples. He taught them to pray by praying with them. He taught them to love and serve by the way He loved and served. He taught them how to teach His gospel by the way He taught it. Help the young men fulfill their duties by teaching the gospel as the Savior taught.

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

  • Our quorum: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?

  • Our duties: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?

  • Our lives: Remind the quorum of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?

If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a quorum presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the quorum; approximately 25–35 minutes

After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help quorum members understand the doctrine.

  • Divide the young men into two groups and assign each group to read either the second or third section in Brother Douglas D. Holmes’s message “What Every Aaronic Priesthood Holder Needs to Understand.” Invite them to look for answers to questions like the following: What does it mean to bear the priesthood of God? How can these responsibilities help me understand and magnify my priesthood power? Invite the young men to share their answers. Read Brother Holmes’s promises in the last paragraph, and ask the young men how they could make their sacred priesthood duties a vital part of their lives.

  • Invite a quorum member to come prepared to tell the story at the beginning of Bishop Gérald Caussé’s talk “Prepare the Way.” How did Bishop Caussé’s experiences in the Church prepare him for the job offer he received? Write John the Baptist and Aaronic Priesthood on the board. Invite the young men to search Bishop Caussé’s talk for things they learn about how John the Baptist and Aaronic Priesthood holders “prepare the way.” What can they do to seek out opportunities to assist Melchizedek Priesthood holders? What experiences have they already had with serving with Melchizedek Priesthood holders?

  • Invite the young men to read about their priesthood duties in Doctrine and Covenants 20:46–59 and Duty to God (pages 23, 46–47, or 70–71). Ask them to identify priesthood duties and list them on the board. Ask the young men what duties they learned about that they did not know they had. What can they do to fulfill these duties?

  • Invite the young men to search the scriptures and identify examples of individuals who fulfilled their priesthood duties (for example, Matthew 3:1–6, 13–17; Jacob 1:18–19; Alma 15:16–18; 3 Nephi 18:1–5). Ask them to share their examples and identify what category from Duty to God each example belongs to (“Administer Priesthood Ordinances,” “Serve Others,” or “Invite All to Come unto Christ”). How were the people in these scriptures blessed through priesthood service?

  • Ask the young men to read portions of President Henry B. Eyring’s talk “Eternal Families” (or watch the video “Faith in the Priesthood”) and share what inspires them to fulfill their priesthood duties, in their families or elsewhere. Invite the young men to write about an experience they had when they exercised their priesthood or learned from the example of another priesthood holder. How has holding the priesthood been a blessing to the young men and their families?

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3. Plan to Act

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

  • Ask the young men to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a quorum to apply what they have learned?

  • Give the young men a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.

  • Remind the young men that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.