Elder Claudio R. M. Costa: Priesthood responsibilities
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Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the Presidency of the Seventy emphasized a fourfold responsibility that priesthood holders have, to families, employers, the Lord's work and themselves.
In doing so, he quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley from the Worldwide Leadership Training meeting of June 21, 2003.
"It is our responsibility as fathers to lead our families in daily family prayer, daily study of the scriptures, and in family home evening," Elder Costa said.
"We need to keep Monday nights free of other commitments so that we can have our family home evenings," he said. "No other activity is more important for our family."
Elder Costa said it is important to involve the whole family in home evening assignments. "A child could share the Primary lesson that he or she had last Sunday," he suggested.
Regarding daily family study of the scriptures, Elder Costa recalled an occasion when there was a power outage at his family's home. His 7-year-old son came downstairs carrying his scriptures in one hand and a candle in the other. Having been warned not to drop the candle lest it start the house on fire, he wanted to be sure the scriptures would be saved.
Regarding priesthood holders' responsibility to their employers, Elder Costa said President Hinckley "reminded us that our employment enables us to take care of our family as well as to be effective servants in the Church."
Elder Costa commented: "As we consider the wise use of our time and resources to meet the needs of our families, our employment and our Church callings, it is important to remember that every priesthood holder needs to grow spiritually. This is a responsibility we have to ourselves. And it is important to remember that we all have helpers. The counsel from our prophets, seers and revelators is the most precious help that we receive."
He cited Jesus' words from Matthew 11:29-30 and said, "When we do His work and His will, rather than our own will, we will realize that the yoke is easy and the burden is light. He will be with us always."
