The more Church members learn about holding the priesthood and understand its operation, the more they will appreciate the blessings the Lord has given them, said Elder L. Tom Perry Saturday morning.

Elder L. Tom Perry

"I believe few of us realize the potential of the priesthood and what a blessing it is," said the member of the Quorum of the Twelve.

One of the blessings of receiving the priesthood is having the opportunity of belonging to a quorum. Quoting Stephen L Richards, he said a priesthood quorum is three things: "First, a class; second, a fraternity; and third, a service unit."

Elder Perry noted that he saw these three aspects many years ago while attending a high priests group meeting. The lesson was on justification and sanctification. Soon the brethren were finding application for the lesson and developing a course of action to help a new widow with her farm until she was able to cope with the problems now falling on her.

"As we left the classroom, there was a good feeling among the brethren. I heard one of them remark as he passed through the doorway, 'This project is just what we needed as a group to work together again.' A lesson had been taught, a brotherhood had been strengthened, a service project had been organized to assist someone in need."

Elder Perry said the Church must retain its family-based orientation. "We need to teach the concept of building successive generations of members who are married in the temple and faithful. We need to teach basic doctrines and understand the relationship between personal spiritual growth and that of the family. We need to make the outcome clear, inviting members to come unto Christ and endure to the end."

Quoting President Spencer W. Kimball, Elder Perry spoke about the eternal nature of the family:

First, he said, there must be the proper approach toward marriage, "which contemplates the selection of a spouse who reaches as nearly as possible the pinnacle of perfection in all the matters that are of importance to the individuals." Then those parties must work hard toward successful joint living.

Second, Elder Perry continued, there must be great unselfishness and forgetting self.

Third, there must be continued courting and expressions of affection, kindness, and consideration to keep love alive and growing, he added.

Finally, there must be compete living of the commandments of the Lord as defined in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Homes should be an anchor, a safe harbor, a place of refuge, a happy place where families dwell together, a place where children are loved," he said. "In the home, parents should teach their children the great lessons of life. Home should be the center of one's earthly experience, where love and mutual respect are appropriately blended."

Elder Perry said second only to the importance of building eternal companions is being an earthly parent. "We encourage you to gather your families around you for family prayer, gospel study, for family work and family activities."

The Church, he concluded, has been given the great power of the priesthood. 'It blesses us individually and also provides blessings for our family; it blesses the quorums to which we belong; it blesses the congregations in which we are called to serve; it even blesses the world in which we live. We need to learn how to righteously follow the doctrines and teachings the Lord has given to us as bearers of His holy priesthood. . . .

"May the Lord bless us, as members of His Church, that we may realize what a blessing it is to have the priesthood on earth and to be able to use it for the benefit of our families and of all mankind. May we grow to understand our relationship to God our Eternal Father and the priesthood that He has given us, is my prayer."