Joseph Smith
July 1839
Commerce, Illinois
"The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will
to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. . . .
"If there is no change of ordinances, there is no change of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of the
Gospel are administered, there is the Priesthood."
( History of the Church, 3:386-87)
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"Priesthood blessings are the great equalizer. Those blessings are the same for men and women, for boys
and girls; they are the same for married and single, rich and poor, for the intellectual and the illiterate, for
the well-known and the obscure.
"I am grateful that through the infinite fairness and love of God, all men and women were given equal
partnership, gifts, blessings, and potential through priesthood ordinances and spiritual gifts. Because of the
priesthood, which is woven in and around and through our lives, every power, every covenant we need to
do our life's work and walk back to our heavenly home has been poured out upon our heads."
( Julie B. Beck, "An Outpouring of Blessings," Ensign, May 2006, 13)
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Joseph Smith
October 5, 1840
Nauvoo, Illinois
"The Melchisedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood, and is the grand head, and
holds the highest authority which pertains to the Priesthood, and the keys of the Kingdom of God in all
ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth, and is the channel through which all knowledge,
doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven."
Topic: Priesthood
( History of the Church, 4:207)
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"Our foundation is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The authority of the holy priesthood is here, restored
under the hands of those who received it directly from our Lord. The curtains have been parted, and the
God of heaven and His Beloved Son have spoken to the boy prophet Joseph in opening this last and final
dispensation.
"Our burden in going forward is tremendous. But our opportunity is glorious."
Topics: authority, priesthood, revelation, responsibility
( Gordon B. Hinckley, "Opening Remarks," Ensign, May 2005, 6)
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Joseph Smith
May 12, 1844
Nauvoo, Illinois
"A man can do nothing for himself unless God direct him in the right way; and the priesthood is for that
purpose."
Topic: Priesthood
( History of the Church, 6:363)
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"Our foundation is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The authority of the holy priesthood is here, restored
under the hands of those who received it directly from our Lord. The curtains have been parted, and the
God of heaven and His Beloved Son have spoken to the boy prophet Joseph in opening this last and final
dispensation.
"Our burden in going forward is tremendous. But our opportunity is glorious."
Topics: authority, priesthood, revelation, responsibility
( Gordon B. Hinckley, "Opening Remarks," Ensign, May 2005, 6)
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Joseph Smith
April 6, 1837
Kirtland, Ohio
"President Joseph Smith, Jun., addressed the assembly and said, the Melchizedek High Priesthood was no
other than the Priesthood of the Son of God; that there are certain ordinances which belong to the
Priesthood, from which flow certain results; and the Presidents or Presidency are over the Church; and
revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the Presidency. This is the order
of heaven, and the power and privilege of this Priesthood."
Topic: Priesthood
( History of the Church, 2:477)
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The Importance of the Priesthood
"Why is the power to act in the name of God so important? Why is it important that bearers of the
priesthood prepare to serve with power? Because the priesthood is of eternal significance. The priesthood
benefits every man, woman, and child who now lives, who has lived, and who yet will live upon the earth.
Those who hold the priesthood need to prepare in order to make the blessings of priesthood power readily
available to all of God's children. Those who hold priesthood keys need to understand how to use those
keys wisely and righteously."
( Elder Russell M . Nelson, "Keys of the Priesthood," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 41)
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"How precious is [the Lord's] gift to us. He has given to us a portion of that which is His divine authority,
the eternal priesthood, the power by which He brings to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. It
follows that when much has been given to us much is required of us (see Luke 12:48; D&C 82:3).
"I know that we are not perfect men. We know the perfect way, but we do not always act according to our
knowledge. But I think that for the most part we are trying. We are trying to be the kind of men our Father
would have us be. That is a very high objective, and I commend all of you who are trying to reach it. May
the Lord bless you as you seek to live exemplary lives in every respect."
Topics: priesthood, authority, responsibility
( Gordon B. Hinckley, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 60)
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"Holding the Aaronic Priesthood carries with it the obligation of being a good example, with clean thoughts
and proper behavior. We acquire these attributes as we carry out our priesthood duties."
Topics: priesthood, example
(James E. Faust, "A Royal Priesthood," Ensign, May 2006, 52)
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"The priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an
opportunity to bless the lives of others."
Topics: service, priesthood
(Thomas S. Monson, "Our Sacred Priesthood Trust," Ensign, May 2006, 57)
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"I hope our granddaughters and grandsons grow up knowing that they are not and have never been third-
party observers of the priesthood. The blessings of the priesthood, which 'are available to men and women
alike' (Dallin H. Oaks, "Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 26), are
woven in and through and around their lives. Each of them is blessed by sacred ordinances, and each
of them can enjoy the blessings of spiritual gifts by virtue of the priesthood."
Topic: priesthood
(Julie B. Beck, "An Outpouring of Blessings," Ensign, May 2006, 11)
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"All faithful members of the Lord's Church are equally blessed by priesthood ordinances."
Topics: priesthood, ordinances
(Julie B. Beck, "An Outpouring of Blessings," Ensign, May 2006, 11)
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"I testify of the refining, spiritual, comforting, strengthening, and restraining influence the priesthood has
had in my life. I have lived under its spiritual influence all my life--in my grandfather's home, in my
father's home, and then in my own home. It is humbling to use the transcending power and authority of the
priesthood to empower others and to heal and bless.”
Topic: priesthood
(James E. Faust, "A Royal Priesthood," Ensign, May 2006, 53)
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"The strength in a quorum doesn't come from the number of priesthood holders in it. Nor does it come
automatically from the age and maturity of the members. Rather, the strength of a quorum comes in large
measure from how completely its members are united in righteousness. That unity in a strong quorum of
the priesthood is not like anything I have experienced in an athletic team or club or any other organization
in the world.
"The words of Alma, recorded in the book of Mosiah, come closest to describing the unity I have felt in the
strongest priesthood quorums:
" 'And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look
forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in
love one towards another' (Mosiah 18:21).
"Alma even told his people how to qualify for that unity. He told them that they should preach nothing save
it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people (see Mosiah 18:20).
"What Alma was teaching, and what is true in any unified priesthood quorum I have seen, is
that the member's hearts are being changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That is how their hearts
become knit together."
Topics: priesthood, unity, righteousness, Atonement
(Henry B. Eyring, "A Priesthood Quorum," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 43)
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"Think what the Lord has given us--His power and authority! The power and authority to act for Him in all
things pertaining to His work!
"With this priesthood power and, when necessary, the authorization of those with appropriate keys, we can
perform the ordinances of salvation in His name: baptize for the remission of sins, confirm and confer the
Holy Ghost, confer the priesthood and ordain others to priesthood offices, and perform temple ordinances.
In His name we can administer His Church. In His name we can bless, home teach, and even heal the sick.
"What a trust the Lord has placed in us! Think of it, brethren. He trusts us!
"Before we received the priesthood, we had already been prepared and proven. We had exercised faith in
Jesus Christ, repented, been baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The level of experience we
brought to our ordination varied. But the divine procedure was the same. We had been prayed about and
interviewed by those exercising priesthood keys. We had been sustained by a vote of the Church members
of our unit. We were ordained by one with authority and authorization to do so.
"The Lord is careful with His priesthood. To exercise His power and authority is a sacred trust."
Topics: priesthood, trust, faith, authority
(Stanley G. Ellis "He Trusts Us!" Ensign, Nov. 2006, 51)
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"We who hold the priesthood of God cannot afford to drift. We have work to do (see Moroni 9:6). We must
arise from the dust of self-indulgence and be men! It is a wonderful aspiration for a boy to become a man--
strong and capable; someone who can build and create things, run things; someone who makes a difference
in the world. It is a wonderful aspiration for those of us who are older to make the vision of true manhood a
reality in our lives and be models for those who look to us for an example."
Topics: priesthood, example, personal growth, goals
(D. Todd Christofferson, "Let Us Be Men," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 46)
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"Brethren, our task is to reach out to those who, for whatever reason, are in need of our help. Our challenge
is not insurmountable. We are on the Lord's errand, and therefore we are entitled to the Lord's help. ..
"Ours is the responsibility to so conduct our lives that when the call comes to provide a priesthood blessing
or to assist in any way, we are worthy to do so. We have been told that truly we cannot escape the effect of
our personal influence. We must be certain that our influence is positive and uplifting."
Topics: worthiness, service, responsibility, priesthood
(Thomas S. Monson, "True to Our Priesthood Trust," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 58)
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"God wants His quorums taught 'according to the covenants.' Covenants are solemn promises. Heavenly
Father has promised us all eternal life if we will make and keep covenants. For instance, we receive the
priesthood with a covenant to be faithful in helping Him in His work. The people we baptize into His
Church promise to have faith in Jesus Christ and to repent and to keep His commandments. Every covenant
requires faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments to qualify for the forgiveness and
purified hearts necessary to inherit eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God."
Topics: priesthood, covenants, faith, commandments
(Henry B. Eyring, "A Priesthood Quorum," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 43)