Sunday talk "The Priesthood"

My name is Waldo Gonzalez, I was born in El Paso, Texas. But I was basically raised here in Glendale. I’ve lived roughly in the same neighborhood since I was 11 but I’ve only been in this Stake for about 4 or 5 years. I am 31 years old. And I am a single male that has never been married and aged out of the single’s ward.

Feel free to judge accordingly.

For those of you who remember me from when I was a kid, I kept all the good things you remember and the fun ones that were bad. And for those who don’t know me……. I like long walks on the beach and am a sucker for anything remotely funny.
I served a mission in Mexico City back in 2006. As any ex-missionary can tell you, it was the best two years of my life until I realized that looking back on it like that was unfair to everything that happened afterwards. I got some really good stories I can tell you, but almost none of them relate to what I need to talk to you today.
Two weeks ago, a member of the bishopric came up to me and asked me to talk about the priesthood. I asked him if he had anything particular he wanted me to talk about, but he said, “no, just make it about the priesthood”. And so with the very broad subject of “the priesthood”, I’m going to give a 10 minute rundown.

To begin with, what is the priesthood? We learn from scriptures that the priesthood is the power and authority of God by which he created and governs all creation.

What does that mean to us? He has bestowed this power to us so that we can aid in the salvation of our fellow brothers and sisters.

What can we expect out of it? Although it can be used to perform miracles where extreme circumstances required a direct action from our Heavenly Father, we are taught to use it for comparatively more mundane acts, but much add up to be more significant portions of our lives. We are taught that we are to use to govern our homes in righteousness, to bless the sick and the afflicted, and to guide back those who are lost. It is used to seal families together for all time and eternity and to baptize those who begin their spiritual journey back to celestial glory. We are to use to is to bring hope to the hopeless and comfort those who need succor. The priesthood is to be used, above all, for charity.

Back in my mission, we were given a scripture to memorize every month. Most of these scriptures were 1 to 3 verses long and honestly, I’ve forgotten every single one of them except for one. Moroni 7:40 to 48.
And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

There’s a church by my house that for the longest time has had on its sign, “It isn’t what you do, but why you do it”. And ever since I saw it, it’s bugged me. Until one day I had a eureka moment. What bothered me about it is that it isn’t “It isn’t what you do, but why you do it”, but rather “What you do is as important as to WHY you do it.”

Brothers and sisters, the priesthood was restored to this earth 1829 in this dispensation so that we can do God’s will. The priesthood is meant to be used in our daily lives in righteousness and with charity.
We are to strive higher and higher, grace by grace until we become like unto Nephi in the book of Helaman.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.


Testimony