The Lord places trust in priesthood holders
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Elder Stanley G. Ellis in his priesthood session address compared the concept of "power of attorney" to the Lord's delegation of power to priesthood holders.
Elder Ellis of the Seventy said he and his wife kept their business several years ago when he was called as a mission president. This made it necessary to have a "power of attorney" prepared.
"That is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to do anything in our name," he explained. "The person with this document could sell our home or other assets, borrow money in our name, spend our money, or even sell our business. The thought of giving someone that much power and authority over our affairs was scary.
"We decided to give our power of attorney to a person we trusted, our good friend and partner, who exercised that power and authority very well. He did what we would have done if we were there."
Similarly, the Lord has given priesthood holders His authority and power, Elder Ellis reasoned. "With this priesthood power and, when necessary, the authorization of those with the appropriate keys, we can perform the ordinances of salvation in His name: baptize for the remission of sins, confirm and confer the Holy Ghost, confer the priesthood and ordain others to priesthood offices, and perform temple ordinances. In His name we can administer His Church. In His name we can bless, home teach and even heal the sick.
"What a trust the Lord has placed in us! Think of it, brethren. He trusts us!"
Priesthood holders must maintain their worthiness because they never know when they will be called upon to use the priesthood authority, Elder Ellis said.
