With a choir made up from the Aaronic Priesthood from the Provo area, the main theme of the Priesthood Session of the 172nd General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was aimed towards the youth.

Only five speakers spoke at the general priesthood session and every talk focused on the preparation of Aaronic Priesthood holders for their future missions and future responsibilities in the church.

President Gordon B. Hinckley hit hard on the importance of moral discipline, emphasizing on the previous speakers' remarks. President Hinckley discussed the importance of missionaries staying morally clean before missions.

M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, compared the 2,000 stripling warriors of the Book of Mormon to the modern day army of young men serving missions.

Ballard spoke of the real-life battle today that the youth have with Satan. He spoke bluntly on raising the bar on moral standards and preparation for serving a full time mission.

"This isn't a time for spiritual weaklings," he said. "A mission isn't a time to go out and get a testimony."

He also commented to returned missionaries. "Just because you were released from your missions, you weren't released from the church," he said.

President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor of the First Presidency, spoke of the seven demons that haunt priesthood holders: greed, dishonesty, debt, doubt, drugs immorality, and immodesty.

Monson focused on immorality, immodesty, and pornography calling them the plague of our generation.

Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke on the unique office of the patriarch and encouraged the youth to prepare themselves to receive a patriarchal blessing.

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, focused on the Aaronic Priesthood and called the it the greatest power on earth. Faust mentioned that the priesthood is to bless and serve others. He said members of the church need to get their prior ties straightened concerning spiritual and physical matters.

President Hinckley also discussed the importance of the Perpetual Education Fund and Family Home Evening. He encouraged local public schools to avoid scheduling activities, practices, and any item on Monday evenings.

He also gave special emphasis to the Melchezidek Priesthood to avoid pornography, divorce, and child abuse.



Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Oct 2002