Priesthood Power

It will be a marvelous day, my brethren—it will be a day of fulfillment of the purposes of the Lord—when our priesthood quorums become an anchor of strength to every man belonging thereto, when each such man may appropriately be able to say, ‘I am a member of a priesthood quorum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I stand ready to assist my brethren in all of their needs, as I am confident they stand ready to assist me in mine. … Working together, we can stand, without embarrassment and without fear, against every wind of adversity that might blow, be it economic, social, or spiritual.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, Welfare Responsibilities of the Priesthood Quorums, Conference October 1977

We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace. Brethren, we have work to do.

~ D. Todd Christofferson, Bretheren We Have Work to Do, Conference October 2012

We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently… We can help them to overcome their shortcomings. We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ.’

~ Thomas S. Monson, Seeing Others As They May Become, Conference October 2012

Yes, there is always something imperfect in any situation. Yes, it is easy to find things to complain about. But brethren, we are bearers of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God! .. I feel a certain sadness for those who do not grasp and appreciate the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. They are like passengers on an airplane who spend their time grumbling about the size of the packet of peanuts while they are soaring through the air, far above the clouds.

~ Dieter F. Utchdorf, The Joy of the Priesthood, Conference, October 2012

Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. As you seek revelation to see gifts God sees in those you lead in the priesthood—particularly the young—you will be blessed to lift their sights to the service they can perform.

~ Henry B. Eyring, Help Them Aim High, Conference October 2012

The devil knows if the elders of Israel should ever wake up they could step forth and help preserve freedom. Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully, on neutralizing much of the priesthood.

~Ezra Taft Benson, Not Commanded In All Things, Conference, April 1965

The kingdom of God is governed by the authority of the priesthood. It is not conferred for honor, but for a ministry of service. Priesthood titles are not created by man; neither are they for adornment, nor do they express mastership. They denote appointment to service in the work of the Lord.

~ Russell M. Neilson, Honoring the Priesthood, Conference April 1993

It (the priesthood) is veritably the power of the Almighty given to man to act in His name and in His stead. It is a delegation of divine authority, different from all other powers and authorities on the face of the earth.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, Priesthood Restoration, Conference October 1988

Your priesthood quorums provide opportunities for friendship, service, and learning. But the responsibility to develop power in the priesthood is personal. Only as an individual can you develop a firm faith in God and a passion for personal prayer.

~ Russell M. Neilson, Personal Priesthood Responsibility, Conference October 2003

When I lay hands on the sick, I expect the healing power and influence of God to pass through me to the patient, and the disease to give way. … When we are prepared, when we are holy vessels before the Lord, a stream of power from the Almighty can pass through the tabernacle of the administrator to the system of the patient, and the sick are made whole.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 252;

 My Own Thoughts and Testimony; 

I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood in my life. I know that both men and woman are given separate and divine qualities. Woman have the amazing blessing of being able to bring God's children into this world and men are given the blessing to be able to receive the priesthood. Both are necessary and depend on one another. The priesthood is the ability for men to act in Gods name and to achieve His work here on earth. The priesthood is an act of service and can not be used for selfish desires or be used if unworthy. I know that miracles still exists today and that by the power of the priesthood, the great work of God is moving forward in these last days.