Chapter 5
The Priesthood Blesses Others
. . . preach . . . bind up . . . proclaim . . . comfort . . .
—Isaiah 61:1–3
Although a priesthood holder is blessed by holding the priesthood, a primary purpose of the priesthood is to bless others. In fact, the blessings the individual priesthood holder is promised are conditioned on his serving others. One of the ways a priesthood holder serves others is through a priesthood quorum. A quorum is defined as a class, a fraternity, and a service unit.1 And it is through his quorum that a priesthood holder’s service is often organized and given.
The priesthood is not the only organization that can provide fraternity. Other organizations do so in an exemplary manner. Some organizations provide the opportunity for continuing education. The priesthood is not necessary for classroom experiences and the acquisition of new and exciting knowledge. The priesthood is not necessary to provide meaningful service opportunities. Other commendable organizations do so effectively to the benefit of many. So, how is the priesthood unique in blessing others? What is it that the priesthood can do for Heavenly Father’s children that no other fraternal organization can?
The unique mission of the priesthood may be compared with the role of a rocket.2 In this modern era of space exploration, a multistage rocket is an essential vehicle used to supply a space station or deliver a communications satellite into earth’s orbit. The only purpose for these rockets is to deliver a payload, which is the valuable cargo the rocket transports. The payload’s intrinsic value is fully realized only when it is delivered and functioning. The payload can be rendered inconsequential if it is not delivered to where it needs to be. One need not be a rocket scientist to appreciate that an expensive communications satellite is not useful in global communications if it is sitting in a warehouse. While a rocket might get a lot of attention as its fuel, in a controlled burn, generates hot gas to propel it into space, its purpose is simply as a payload delivery system.
The difficult part of rocketry is generating the appropriate thrust profile over time to lift the rocket and payload. Rocket propellant combustion is complex because it is dependent on many factors: temperature, pressure, surface area, particle mixing, and so on. The simple way of describing this is that one needs a “controlled burn.” Small changes in environment can significantly alter a burn, so a rocket is an engineering feat that relies on redundancies, fail-safes, and wide margins. Because any additional weight to a rocket requires more fuel, additional features are not added randomly. All are considered carefully so they contribute to launch success. The bottom line is that a rocket is a complex piece of machinery. A rocket that does not deliver the payload where it needs to be is just a big, intricate, and costly firecracker.
As exciting as rockets and space may be, the most valuable “payload” in the history of the world is not a satellite. It is “the love of God,” His mercy and grace, which “is the most desirable above all things . . . and the most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:22–23). Forgiveness and salvation are made available to Heavenly Father’s children because of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, which is made operative by means of the Holy Ghost. Without these blessings, creation’s purpose is frustrated. Through them, Heavenly Father accomplishes His purposes: to save His children from physical and spiritual death and give them the kind of life He has, known as eternal life (see Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; 75:5; 88:4; 124:55; 131:5).
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all who come to earth will be saved from physical death because resurrection is universally and unconditionally given. All may ultimately be saved from spiritual death, conditioned on obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. But, for that to happen, the gospel with its laws and ordinances needs to be delivered to God’s children. God’s delivery system in this last and final dispensation is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Church is His appointed vehicle—the rocket, so to speak.
The priesthood is tasked with delivering gospel covenants and ordinances to each man and woman. If priesthood holders fail to deliver this opportunity, they fail in their purpose. Therefore, Heavenly Father covenants with each Melchizedek Priesthood holder and teaches him the meaning of the covenant, to accomplish His work to bring His children safely back to their heavenly home. The covenant is made:
. . . for the sake of the whole world.
And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin.
And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me [Jesus Christ].
For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. (Doctrine and Covenants 84:48–51)
The priesthood is on earth so that all may come unto Christ and receive saving and exalting ordinances. Through His Atonement, the bondage of sin may be removed. The priesthood holder can then stand with the Savior in fulfilling His mission:
. . . to preach good tidings unto the meek . . . bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
. . . to comfort all that mourn;
. . . to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isaiah 61:1–3)
Fault analyses have sometimes identified minor defects in rockets that lead to mission failure. Brittle O-rings, sheared bolts, material fatigue, and even paint thickness can lead to combustion instabilities. Simply put, even seemingly minor components play a vital role. The priesthood holder has the incredible opportunity and responsibility to assist in making the Savior’s atoning sacrifice available to the whole world as a latter-day rocket. All priesthood holders are vital, mission-critical components of the Lord’s Atonement delivery system.
“Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand? Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:109–110).
I came to understand more fully our role in the Savior’s work several years ago. One weekend, I was given two assignments. One was to create the first stake in a country. I was excited to be part of this historic event. The meetings were well attended by enthusiastic Saints. A wonderful stake presidency was called and sustained.
The second assignment came from the First Presidency. I was authorized to interview a young man and, if all was in order, restore his priesthood and temple blessings. This thirty-year-old man had joined the Church in his late teens. He served an honorable mission. But when he returned home, he lost his way and he lost his membership in the Church. After some years, “he came to himself” (Luke 15:17) and, with the help of loving priesthood leaders and kind members, he repented and was readmitted by baptism into the Church.
Approximately a year later, he had applied to have his priesthood and temple blessings restored. We set an appointment for the Saturday of the conference at 10:00 a.m. at the meetinghouse. When I arrived for the morning’s earlier interviews, he was already there. He was so anxious to once again have the priesthood, he just could not wait.
During our interview, I showed him that President Thomas S. Monson had reviewed his application and authorized the interview just two days earlier. This stoic, handsome young man wept. As we continued, I told him that the date of our interview would have no meaning in his life. He looked puzzled. I informed him that after I restored his blessings, his membership record would show only his original baptism and confirmation dates, original priesthood ordination dates, and original endowment date. He again wept.
I asked him to read from the Doctrine and Covenants: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43).
He wept again.
Then, I placed my hands on his head, and, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and with the authorization of the President of the Church, I restored his priesthood and temple blessings. The joy that came over us was profound. He knew he was once again worthy to hold the priesthood of God. He knew that the temple blessings he had received earlier were now fully operative. He had a bounce in his step and a radiant light about him. I was so proud of him and sensed how proud Heavenly Father was of him as well. I too wept with joy.
In my mind, the historic occasion of organizing the first stake in that country was overshadowed by the joy I felt in restoring the blessings to this young man. I have reflected on this experience and have come to realize that the purpose of organizing a stake, or indeed of using the priesthood of God in any way, is to assist Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in their work, to redeem each of God’s children. Like the rocket whose purpose is to deliver a payload, the priesthood is the vehicle that delivers the gospel of Jesus Christ, enabling all to choose to make covenants and receive ordinances. The “atoning blood of Christ” can thereby be applied in our lives as we receive Heavenly Father’s promises and experience the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost (see Mosiah 4:2).
Notes