Strength in a priesthood quorum comes not from the number of members or their age and maturity, but from "how completely its members are united in righteousness," Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve told priesthood session listeners Saturday evening.

Elder Henry B. Eyring

"The unity in a strong quorum of the priesthood is not like anything I have experienced in an athletic team or club or any other organization in the world," he affirmed.

Citing Mosiah 18:20-21, he said that members' hearts become "knit together" when they are changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

"You can see then why the Lord charges the presidents of quorums to lead in the way that He does," Elder Eyring reasoned, adding that the Lord uses almost the same words in Doctrine and Covenants 107 to describe the duties of the president in each quorum, directing that they are to teach members their duty "as it is given in the covenants."

"Covenants are solemn promises," he explained. "Heavenly Father has promised us all eternal life if we will make and keep covenants."

Though that does not mean that every lesson in the quorum must be only about faith and repentance, "it does mean that the teacher and those who participate must always desire to bring the Spirit of the Lord into the hearts of the members in the room to produce faith and a determination to repent and to be clean," Elder Eyring said.

He recounted an experience in which he was called to teach lessons to a deacons quorum and he learned to follow the counsel of the quorum president as to what to teach because the quorum president held the charge to sit in counsel with his quorum. On one occasion, he noticed a boy in the quorum recording the lesson being given. After the class, the boy told the teacher he was recording the lesson for his friend who would not be in the quorum meeting that day.

"I had trusted in the responsibility given to a young quorum president," Elder Eyring mused. "And so help from heaven came. The Spirit came to touch the members in that room and sent one to a friend to try to strengthen his faith and lead him to repentance. The deacon carrying the recorder had learned according to the covenants, and he reached out to help his friend and fellow member in the quorum, according to the covenants."

Elder Eyring said priesthood quorum members learn also in giving service." A quorum can give greater service than the members could give alone. And that power is multiplied by more than their members."