Priesthood restored
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The 1829 visit of John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery stands as that historic pre-requisite for many of the most essential elements of the Restoration.
Young and old men alike gathered worldwide May 16 to commemorate and celebrate the 175th anniversary of the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood. Thousands came together at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City to witness the event firsthand. Tens of thousands of others listened in their homes or meetinghouses via satellite broadcast to the counsel of President Gordon B. Hinckley, President Boyd K. Packer, who is acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, and Presiding Bishop H. David Burton. They were reminded of the significance of what unfolded May 15, 1829, in northeast Pennsylvania — and challenged to live worthy of their priesthood callings. (See additional articles on related links above).
A Young Men choir from 10 Layton, Utah, stakes performed several songs at the commemoration, including an original number written for the broadcast entitled "Young Men of Zion: An Anthem for the Aaronic Priesthood."
"What a marvelous and wonderful thing it was that after centuries of an absence of divine authority on the earth the glorious day of restoration came," President Hinckley said. "And think of the manner in which it came. It came directly from the heavens under the hands of those who held it when the Savior walked the earth."
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were working together on the translation of the Book of Mormon when they came across a biblical passage from John concerning baptism, President Hinckley said. The two men learned that baptism was required to enter heaven. Concerned, they found a quiet place near the Susquehanna River and prayed. They were visited by John the Baptist, who addressed Joseph and Oliver as "fellow" servants and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.
"(John the Baptist) spoke as a servant of the Lord," President Hinckley said. "Likewise, each of us is a servant of the same Lord, bound together as brethren, as fellow servants, more than 300,000 Aaronic Priesthood holders working unitedly to advance the kingdom of God in the earth."
The young men of the Aaronic Priesthood who live worthy lives can be blessed by the "protection of ministering angels," he said. "You who have been ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood have something magnificent to live up to."
President Hinckley spoke plainly to the young men "because I love you," warning them of matters which could make them "unworthy of this wonderful blessing."
"You live in a world where there is terrible evil. You are constantly confronted by those who use filthy language and indulge in filthy ways. Let the world do what it will. But you, my brethren, must never forget that you have something which the world does not have."
President Hinckley said priesthood holders must adhere to the Word of Wisdom and shun illicit drugs. Avoid pornography. "It is totally wrong for any of you to watch such degrading material. Pornography is an evil thing. It leads to evil thoughts and evil behavior."
The Church leader also expressed concern about the increasingly popular practice of tattooing one's body.
"If you have even considered such an idea, please pause and think," he said. "Before you go one step further, ask the Lord about it. He has said concerning your body, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
President Hinckley encouraged the young men of the Church to develop healthy, respectful friendships with LDS young women. Have fun together. Sing, dance, hike and skate. "But draw the line where familiarity comes in. Some girls of weak will and weak ways will lower the bar of behavior. Any such act should make you retreat and avoid what could become a disaster."
The priesthood also holds the keys of repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, President Hinckley said. Young men of the Church have an obligation to serve as worthy missionaries.
"Young men, on this significant anniversary gathering, I plead with you, I ask you to live worthy of the tremendous thing which you have," he said. "You do not need to be prudes. You do not need to be self-righteous. You cannot be arrogant in any way. But you can be humble, living decently and cleanly, as you serve the Lord as one holding the priesthood after the order of Aaron."
President Hinckley also spoke to the older men, those holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood whose endless authority was bestowed by Christ Himself. It is an authority that can only be exercised in righteousness.
"The Lord expects that we will keep our lives in order, that we will live the gospel in every aspect, that we will shun evil and not partake of the 'mean and beggarly' elements of life," he said.
President Hinckley reminded Melchizedek Priesthood holders that domestic abuse is "entirely incompatible" with the priesthood, and encouraged them to control their anger, lower their voices and speak with love, appreciation and respect.
E-mail: jswensen@desnews.com
