The priesthood is a gift that brings not only special blessings but also solemn responsibilities, President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, affirmed at the priesthood session Saturday evening.

President Thomas S. Monson

"We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction," President Monson observed. "To avoid such paths requires determination and courage."

Further, he said, "The call for courage comes constantly to each of us — the courage to stand firm for our convictions, the courage to fulfill our responsibilities, the courage to honor our priesthood."

He asked brethren of the priesthood if they are living their lives in accordance with what the Lord requires. "If you are not, make the decision here and now, muster the courage it will take, and institute whatever changes are necessary so that your life is what it should be. To sail safely the seas of mortality, we need the guidance of that eternal mariner — even the great Jehovah. If we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help."

President Monson said that such help has come to him on countless occasions. He spoke of two, the first pertaining to having been ordained an elder at age 18 just one week prior to reporting for active duty in the U.S. Navy during the final phases of World War II. He related that a buddy and fellow sailor, Leland Merrill, became ill and asked him to give him a priesthood blessing.

President Monson said he had never given or received such a blessing, and had never witnessed a blessing being given. He prayed for help. His prayer was answered, he said, with a prompting to look in the bottom of his sea bag. There was a copy of a missionary handbook that had been given to him by a thoughtful member of his ward bishopric, who had told him "it might come in handy." Following the instructions in the handbook, he gave the blessing. "Before I could stow my gear, Leland Merrill was sleeping like a child," he said.

"The next morning, Merrill smilingly turned to me and said, 'Monson, I'm glad you hold the priesthood!' His gladness was only surpassed by my gratitude — gratitude not only for the priesthood, but for being worthy to receive the help I required in a time of desperate need and to exercise the power of the priesthood."

The other occasion of which President Monson spoke transpired in April 2000, when Rosa Salas Gifford telephoned and told his secretary that her father, Bernardo Augusto Salas, had been diagnosed with liver cancer and was expected to live only a few more days. Her father's great desire was to meet President Monson.

Desiring to fulfill the request, President Monson decided to visit the family before going home. He drove to the neighborhood but could not find the street. He offered a silent prayer for help and was inspired to approach from the opposite direction. By doing so, he saw the street sign, which had fallen onto the ground, and noticed the tiny lane that led to the home. He made the visit, and gave a blessing of comfort and peace to the dying man.

"As I drove toward home, I reflected on the special spirit we had felt. I experienced, as well, as I have many times before, a sense of gratitude that my Heavenly Father had answered another person's prayer through me.

"My brethren, let us ever remember that the priesthood of God which we bear is a sacred gift which brings to us and those we serve the blessings of heaven. May we, in whatever place we may be, honor and protect that priesthood. May we ever be on the Lord's errand, that we might ever be entitled to the Lord's help."