• Douglas D. Holmes. (1st Counselor, YM Presidency.)
“I believe the way we see others significantly impacts their perception of who they are and what they can become.”
Reminds me of the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.”
Keys of the Aaronic Priesthood – ministering of angels – duties.
• President Russell M. Nelson: Big Announcement!
Significant restructuring of Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums;
High Priests and Elders will now be combined into one Elder’s Quorum.
Stake High Priests Quorum will be based on current callings.
• Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Details on new announcement.
In wards, there will be one quorum with one quorum presidency. “The Elder’s Quorum.”
All elders, prospective Elders and High Priests.
High Priest Quorum in the Stake is now Bishoprics, Stake Presidencies, High Council, Patriarchs, etc.
Quorum President will be newly called from either HP or Elders.
(In my case, even though I am a Bishop, I will serve in the EQ as an Elder)
Ah…talking about how the HPs can mentor younger Elders.
• Elder Rasband: More details on change.
Made an effort to tell H.P.’s that it would all be okay.
(I wonder if they will need two EQ’s in many wards, since an EQ caps out at 96.)
And he just answered it. Yes – more than one quorum in a Ward if needed.
Mentoring, ministering opportunities will abound.
PEC Meetings got the axe.
“Let us each use this opportunity to reflect and improve our lives to better align with His will, so that we may deserve the many blessings He has promised to the true and faithful.”
• It looks like the Church already has materials online to explain the changes: Check it out here:
• President Henry B. Eyring:
(I missed the first few minutes of this talk because, you know, texting.)
Told stories of priesthood service.
“Some service like passing the sacrament is something people see and they thank us for doing it, but other service like preparing the sacrament is usually done without anyone noticing.”
• President Dallin H. Oaks. Fundamental principles governing the Priesthood.
“Men who hold the Priesthood are NOT the priesthood.”
Clarified some differences between HPs and Elders. Elders are “standing ministers,” while HPs are “standing presidents.”
Elder McConkie: “An Elder is a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is commissioned to stand in the place and stead of his master in ministering to his fellowmen. ”
“Brethren, our responsibilities as holders of the priesthood are serious matters. Other organizations can be satisfied with worldly standards of performance in delivering their messages and performing their other functions.”
“To fulfill this divine charge, we must be faithful in magnifying our priesthood callings and responsibilities.”
Priesthood keys apply in the church, but not in the family. No need for keys in the home. Equal partners with wives.
POWERQUOTE: “If fathers would magnify their priesthood in their own family, it would further the mission of the Church as much as anything else they might do.”
• President Russell M. Nelson is the concluding speaker.
Voicing a concern: Too many of our brothers and sisters do not understand the concept of priesthood power and authority
“I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs.”
“Too many of our brothers and sisters do not fully understand the concept of priesthood power and authority. They act as though they would rather satisfy their own selfish desires and appetites than use the power of God to bless His children.”
“Some of our brethren, for example, act like they do not understand what the priesthood is and what enables them to do.”
Made a point to talk about under-blessing people. Blessings are more than just glorified prayers. Don’t miss the opportunities.
Told a great story about persistent home teaching.
• Looks to me like that looking beyond the organizational changes is a message that we brethren need to knuckle down and get to work.
Have a great night!
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I was praying about this last night, and your comments are very timely. I now see this in a new light. Thank you.
Perhaps I can add some real life examples on how the ‘merger’ of the High Priests and Elders will be of benefit. I have been privileged to serve 3 times as an Elders Quorum President, and twice as a Counselor in a Melchizedek Group Leadership, all in different wards. Every time I served in these callings I learnt from my fellow Brethren and appreciated the synergies of combined Priesthood efforts in ministering and serving.
This was also similar when I was living in rural Australia firstly as a missionary, and then later as a member, where the Melchizedek priesthood both Elders and High Priests, served together in the same Quorum. I believe this initiative will greatly bless the Church and its members, and help us to hasten the work.
In my ward and stake we are really struggling as separate quorums and this will certainly help us with Quorum Brotherhood and be a great blessing to all of us privileged to serve. However, I appreciate that sometimes changes can be scary at first for some people but I believe that you will feel an outpouring of the Spirit to assist you in accepting and living this new concept.
I so appreciate your comments. They are giving me some peace. Thank you. God bless you for caring enough to answer.
I know it’s an answer to prayer for our unit. My husband is the bishop and has a trouble filling callings. Being able to pull from the high priests to fill out the EQ presidencynot having to fill a HP group leadership, and being able to pair HP with Elders for home teaching will be a great blessing for our ward.
I’m finding it a little hard to accept. What was the problem they felt needed a solution? We’ve had high priest group and elders quorum from almost the beginning. Were the elders not doing enough? Were the high priest feeling left out? What have they been contemplating for several months? I’m definitely going to need to pray about this. Does this need to have the law of Common Consent applied? Help.
I really feel that this will be such an answer to prayer for a lot of units, ours is one of them. Our YM leaders need help, our Elders are spread so thin and we have a huge number of High Priests who have “retired” (from everything). This is going to help all of our priesthood quorums. I’m excited to see how it changes things!
As a sister, I found the song at the end of the Priesthood session to be especially powerful and beautiful; to see that room filled with priesthood holders, standing and singing with such power. You could just feel the incredible power for light and good that these priesthood holders have in the world. I also loved how President Nelson just stood for several seconds after the closing prayer, taking in the view of all those in the conference center. It seemed he didn’t want to leave, but just stay and continue to feel that beautiful spirit in that room.
I was impressed when Pres. Nelson asked the priesthood to stand by their quorums, Deacon’s, etc. It was amazing to watch, but I felt the full impact when the 70’s stood, then the Apostles. Wow! The power of the priesthood!! And then to have the Prophet ask the Priesthood Holders to remain standing to sing the closing song. I hope we all felt that message.
My EC was just commenting on how he doesn’t get asked to move people any more and he missed that being in the H.P. What an exciting change for him now.
Interesting comment about not giving “blessings” when they should be given: baby name and blessings and blessings given during being set apart for callings.
Agree with your son about President Oaks – my EC and I had the same conversation.
Except he still drops bombs. And pretty sure there was a mic drop at the end.
Typo? Under teh final talk by Russell M. Nelson, “Priesthood opera and authority” Is that supposed to be office?