Church Talk

Priesthood

Introduction

Brothers and sister it is good to be with you this morning. As mentioned, my name is Chris Winn and recently we have moved from the US to Fujairah, If a may, I like to introduce my family. My wife’s name is Amy and we have six children: Clayton, Isaac, Kaylee, Jacob, Abigail, and John. You might of seen us come in late a couple of times. Being new, we’ve had poor luck in finding the church. ; however, today is a banner day: we made it on our first try.
Before I begin my talk, I’d like to thank my Heavenly Father for protecting and watching over my family as we travel outside of the US for the first time as a family.
We must have been quite a site when we arrived at the Dubai Airport at 3 a.m. Two exhausted parents, six dazed kids, and twenty-four pieces of luggage. Since our arrival, and maybe like some of you, we have experienced many changes: From Pine Trees to Palm Trees, Dollar to Dirham, English to Arabic, and how Thursday is a special day it’s the day we get ready for Friday, and in some ways, Amy and I have experienced Charles Dickens novel The Tale of Two Cities. His opening paragraph reads. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. However, we would not want to replace the many rewarding experiences we have enjoyed during the past three months.

Start Talk

Today, I want to share with you my thoughts and my testimony of the Priesthood. To do this I would like to use the same method a journalist would use in preparing an article or paper, by asking the questions WHAT, HOW, WHO and WHY.

What

The first question is "What is the Priesthood": President James E. Faust said, the priesthood is "Power and authority delegated by God to act in His name for the salvation of His children. [President Faust went on to say,] Caring for others is the very essence of [the] priesthood. It is the power to bless, to heal and to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel." The second part of President Faust definition of the priesthood helps me clearly and tangibly understand the mission of the priesthood which is to care, bless, heal, and administer to our Heavenly Fathers children.

Who

The second question a journalist might ask is: who is able to receive the priesthood. The Gospel Principle Manual describes who is able to receive the priesthood. It say’s "The Lord has prepared an orderly way for his priesthood to be given to his sons on the earth. A worthy male member of the Church receives the priesthood "by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. In the New Testament we read of a man named Simon who lived when Christ’s Apostles presided over the Church. Simon became converted and was baptized into the Church. But Simon did not have the priesthood. Simon knew that the Apostles and the other priesthood leaders of the Church had the true power of God." [end quote] In the New Testament it tells us how Simon tried to erroneously receive the priesthood. In Acts Chapter 8 starting with verse 13 it say’s "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Simon did not understand the priesthood. The priesthood is based on the principles of righteousness. Joseph Smith taught us that the priesthood is governed by gentleness, meekness, long-suffering, and love unfeigned.

How

The third question is: How do we use the priesthood. This question may be answered by simply putting into action the words President Faust used to describe the priesthood: He said, caring is the essence of the priesthood. One of my first experiences as a Priesthood Holder came as a Home Teacher. I was assigned to be with Brother Smedley, an Elder in the ward. A week before our first home teaching visit, he called me to give the names of the families that we would be visiting and the times of each appointment. The following week, Brother Smedely picked me up and we visited each family. During the visits I said very little, if anything at all. I just listened. Brother Smedley did most of the talking. After our visits Brother Smedely dropped me off, but just as I was about close the car door and run into the house to get something to eat. He said seven words that caused me trepidation and great anxiety. He pointed to the Ensign which layed on the car's dashboard and said "will you give the lesson next month." In my mind I quickly thought about the two families that we just visited. The first home teaching visit was to a single member; a member who had not participated in church activities for many years. During our visit, he spent most of the time fixing his motorcycle in his garage as he half heartily listen to our conversation. The second family, the Hidden’s, were a part member family. The father, who had a professional appearance, was not a member, but his wife came to church frequently. As I thought about the two families I would be teaching, I wanted to say "no" to Brother Smedely's question, but the word "yes" came out of my mouth.
Next month came and I found myself sitting in the Hidden’s home. After few minutes of small talk, Brother Smedely looked at me and then at Mr. and Mrs. Hidden and said, "Brother Winn will be giving our home teaching lesson." I do not remember the lesson I gave that day in the Hidden’s home. I’m sure the lesson was short and disjointed, but because of Brother Smedely ,who, gave me, a timid and shy Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood the opportunity to fulfill my responsibility and obey a commandment that the Lord gives to all teachers in the aaronic priesthood, which is, "The teacher’s duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;" As I left the Hidden’s home I felt a great sense of relief, at least for another two months, but more importantly, I felt that I had magnified my priesthood by helping someone else.

Why

The final question a journalist might ask is why? Why the priesthood? We might have answered this with the previous questions, but for me the priesthood helps me understand the importance of being a good husband and father, and also the consequences of not being a righteous husband and father.
As a family we have traveled half-way around the world. We’ve traded Pine Trees for Palm Trees, Dollar for Dirham, and English for Arabic, but what we haven’t traded is the priesthood of our Heavenly Father. This was made clear to me as we held our first sacrament meeting in Fujairah. As we blessed the sacrament that Friday evening, my testimony of the priesthood was strengthened by knowing that we received a priesthood ordinance that would bless my family.
Bear your testimony.