'We can and must be honorable men'
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Saying that he wished to speak "very plainly" about a matter he feels deeply concerned over, President Gordon B. Hinckley in his priesthood session address warned about the need for personal worthiness to exercise the priesthood.
He began by reading Doctrine and Covenants 121:36-37, giving particular emphasis to the phrase "in any degree of unrighteousness" as pertaining to acts which cause the heavens to withdraw themselves, the Spirit of the Lord to be grieved and priesthood power to cease to function.
"That is the unequivocal word of the Lord concerning His divine authority," President Hinckley declared. "What a tremendous obligation this places upon each of us. We who hold the priesthood of God must stand above the ways of the world. We must discipline ourselves. We cannot be self-righteous, but we can and must be decent, honorable men.
"Our behavior in public must be above reproach. Our behavior in private is even more important. It must clear the standard set by the Lord."
He further quoted from Section 121, reading verses 41 and 42 that list the godly characteristics that must attend the exercise of priesthood power or influence.
"Now, brethren, those are the parameters within which this priesthood must find expression," he said. "It is not a cloak that we put on and take off at will. It is, when exercised in righteousness, as the very tissue of our bodies, a part of us at all times and in all circumstances."
To young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, he said: "You cannot be immoral in any sense. You cannot be dishonest. You cannot cheat, or lie, you cannot take the name of God in vain or use filthy language and still have the right to the ministering of angels."
He implored young men who look forward to going on missions, to not cloud their lives with anything that would cast doubt on their worthiness to serve the Lord.
He reiterated the injunction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve to missionaries to maintain the highest standards of conduct, including strict observance of the law of chastity, and to protect themselves from false accusations by never being separated from their companions, even in the homes they visit.
Missionaries, after they return home, should accept no alternative for marrying in the House of the Lord, he said. "Be careful, lest you destroy your eligibility to be so married. Have a wonderful time. But keep your courtship within the bounds of rigid self-discipline.
President Hinckley said: "In the marriage companionship there is neither inferiority nor superiority. The woman does not walk ahead of the man, neither does the man walk ahead of the woman. They walk side by side as a son and daughter of God on an equal journey. She is not your chattel, nor anything of the kind."
He condemned wife abuse as "utterly disgusting."
"Any man in this Church who abuses his wife, who demeans her, who insults her, who exercises unrighteous dominion over her is unworthy to hold the priesthood," he declared. "Though he may have been ordained, the heavens withdraw, the Spirit of the Lord will be grieved, and it will be amen to the authority of that man.
"Any who engages in this practice is unworthy to hold a temple recommend."
He called to repentance any who are guilty of such behavior.
"Pray to Him for the power to control your tongue and your heavy hand," he admonished. "Ask for the forgiveness of your wife and your children. . . . I am confident that when we stand before the bar of God there will be little mention of how much wealth we accumulated in life, or of any honors which we may have achieved. But there will be searching questions concerning our domestic relations. And I am convinced that only those who have walked through life with love and respect and appreciation for their companions and children will receive from our eternal judge the words, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . enter into the joy of thy lord.' " (Matthew 25:21.)
President Hinckley mentioned abuse of the elderly, calling it "revolting."
He spoke at length about the "much publicized" abuse of children by adults, usually men. "I regret to say there has been some very limited expression of this monstrous evil among us," he said. "It is something that cannot be countenanced or tolerated."
He quoted the following from the Church Handbook of Instructions: "The Church's position is that abuse cannot be tolerated in any form. Those who abuse . . . are subject to Church discipline. They should not be given Church callings and may not have a temple recommend. Even if a person who abused a child sexually or physically receives Church discipline and is later restored to full fellowship or readmitted by baptism, leaders should not call the person to any position working with children or youth unless the First Presidency authorizes removal of the annotation of the person's membership record.
"In instances of abuse, the first responsibility of the Church is to help those who have been abused and to protect those who may be vulnerable to future abuse (pp. 157-158)."
President Hinckley said bishops, stake presidents and others have been urged to reach out to, comfort and strengthen victims and let them know that what happened was wrong, the experience was not their fault and that it need never happen again.
"We have issued publications, established a telephone line where Church officers may receive counsel in handling cases, and offered professional help through LDS Family Services," he said. "These acts are often criminal in their nature. They are punishable under the law. Professional counselors, including lawyers and social workers, are available on the help line to advise bishops and stake presidents concerning their obligations in these circumstances. Those in other nations should call their respective area presidents."
The Church president emphasized that the work of the Church is saving souls. "Our hearts reach out to the victim. . . . Our hearts reach out to the offender, but we cannot tolerate the sin of which he may be guilty. . . .
"Nevertheless, we recognize, and must always recognize, that when the penalty has been paid and the demands of justice have been met, there will be a helpful and kindly hand reaching out to assist. There may be continuing restrictions, but there will also be kindness."
He declared that the priesthood is a "precious and wonderful" gift that carries with it the authority to govern the Church, administer in its affairs, speak with authority in the name of Jesus Christ, to act as His dedicated servants, to bless the sick, bless one's family and many others. "It serves as a guide by which to live our lives," he said. "In its fulness, its authority reaches beyond the veil of death into the eternities that lie ahead."
