Chapter 14

Principle #6

Priesthood Power and Influence Are Maintained Using Christlike Attributes

. . . by persuasion, by long-suffering,
by gentleness and meekness, and by love . . .

—Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–42

The doctrine of the priesthood requires that priesthood authority be exercised in the same way Christ exercises His authority. The Lord emphatically states:

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–42).

Other powers or influences, such as force, guilt, or coercion in any degree, are not sanctioned. Using any other power or influence violates the doctrine of the priesthood. President Joseph F. Smith explained:

There is not a man holding any position of authority in the Church who can perform his duty as he should in any other spirit than in the spirit of fatherhood and brotherhood toward those over whom he presides . . . [they] . . . should not be rulers, nor dictators; they should not be arbitrary; they should gain the hearts, the confidence and love of those over whom they preside, by kindness and love unfeigned, by gentleness of spirit, by persuasion, by an example that is above reproach.1

Agency, the eternal principle of progression, is a God-given ability to act and not to be acted upon. A priesthood holder exercises influence only when another allows him to. For example, every person in a ward “presides” over the bishop, in a sense, by retreating across his threshold and saying, “No.” A priesthood holder may influence by persuading, encouraging, coaxing, and urging. When that is coupled with long-suffering, forgiveness, tolerance, accommodation, and patience, the priesthood holder acts in a Christlike manner. An effective priesthood holder exhibits mildness, calmness, tenderness, and even submissiveness. He loves sincerely and genuinely and respects the individual’s agency. A righteous priesthood holder is not pushy and aggressive; rather, he shows compassion, sympathy, thoughtfulness, and consideration.

Christlike attributes must be cultivated. The priesthood holder uses “pure knowledge that will greatly enlarge the soul” in influencing others. This means that he uses gospel knowledge, not rhetorical techniques or tricks, in persuading others. He does not resort to duplicity, shading of truth, wiliness, craftiness, cleverness, or deceit. He is always honest.

Peter wrote that for priesthood holders to be effective and receive the great and precious promises of the Savior, they need to take on themselves divine attributes.

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:4–8)

A priesthood holder must develop a divine nature; he must become virtuous, temperate, patient, godly, kind, and charitable so that he may effectively invite all to come unto Christ. This may sound like an impossible task, but by daily practice and focus, we can all progress.

President Thomas S. Monson has over a lifetime inculcated into his very being Christlike attributes. Many have observed his kindness from afar. We saw it up close. When I was called as a General Authority in 2009, I was set apart by President Monson. He took the time to teach, sharing some of his experiences, illustrating principles that he thought would be helpful for me. After I was set apart, President Monson gave Ruth a big hug and asked her to share his love with the Saints wherever we encountered them.

We felt blessed for the time President Monson had taken with us. I remarked, “President Monson, you have been unbelievably generous and gracious with the time you have spent with us.” Somewhat surprised, President Monson said, “I have only treated you as I would like to be treated.” This small interaction allowed us to see that President Monson lives this teaching from the Savior: “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31).

President Monson’s example has been an inspiration to us. Treating others as we would like to be treated is a core aspect of priesthood service. Priesthood holders minister most effectively when they minister using Christlike attributes. These attributes allow priesthood influence to bless people in meaningful and lasting ways.

Note

1. Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, October 1904, 5.