The Church has done well distributing the authority of the priesthood — there are quorums of elders and high priests worldwide. But distributing the authority of the priesthood has raced ahead of distributing the power of the priesthood, said President Boyd K. Packer, who directed his Saturday morning address to the families of the Church, particularly fathers.
"The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be," he said.
The president of the Quorum of the Twelve said more than 180 years have passed since the priesthood was restored. There are now nearly 14 million members of the Church. Even so, that number represents but a fraction of the billions of people on the earth. "But we are who we are, and we know what we know, and we are to go forth and preach the gospel," President Packer said.
He noted that the Book of Mormon has made it clear that the Church will never dominate by numbers — but the Church has the power of the priesthood.
Understanding the power of the priesthood is not limited to the brethren, he added, saying that it is crucial that the sisters know as well. "Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers and daughters and sisters, who have influence on their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, we cannot progress. The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are neglected."
He explained that the priesthood is the authority and the power that God has granted to men on earth to act for Him. When priesthood authority is exercised properly, priesthood bearers do what He would do if He were present.
President Packer spoke of a father's presiding priesthood role in the home. It is his right and duty to preside. The Church leader told of a memorable encounter he and President Harold B. Lee had with an LDS soldier during the Vietnam War. The young man was leaving for combat and asked President Lee to give him a blessing.
"Much to my surprise, President Lee said, 'Your father should give you the blessing.'
"Very disappointed, the boy said, 'My father wouldn't know how to give a blessing.'
"President Lee answered, 'Go home, my boy, and tell your father that you are going away to war and want to receive a father's blessing from him.'"
President Lee then told the soldier to instruct his father on the process of offering a blessing. The young soldier, said President Packer, went away sorrowing.
"About two years later I met him again. I do not recall where. He reminded me of that experience and said, 'I did as I was told to do. I explained to my father that I would sit on the chair and that he should put his hands on my head. The power of the priesthood filled both of us.'" That was a strength and protection in those perilous months of battle.
The priesthood is presently all over the world, President Packer declared. It is the duty of every elder and high priest to stand, like Gideon's small but powerful army, in his own place, President Packer said.
"We must now awaken in every elder and high priest, in every quorum and group, and in the father of every home the power of the priesthood of the Almighty."
The Church needs everyone, he declared. "Too many of our priesthood brethren are living below their privileges and the Lord's expectations.
"We must go forward, confident in the supernal power of the priesthood. It is a source of strength and encouragement to know who we are and what we have and what we must do in the mighty work of the Lord."
President Packer said homes without the priesthood are to be watched over and ministered by the quorums of the priesthood. In this manner, no blessings will be found wanting in any dwelling within the Church.
The work of the Lord will prevail, he declared. "After all that we have correlated and organized, it is now our responsibility to activate the power of the priesthood in the Church. Authority in the priesthood comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. It is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness."
The senior member of the Twelve then reminded the fathers of the sacred nature of their calling: "You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary's mischief will be that power."
The adversary is persistent in attacking the home and the family.
"The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children might be happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood."
