God Helps the Faithful Priesthood Holder

My thoughts on President Eyring's "God Helps the Faithful Priesthood Holder"

I’m beginning to love Elder Eyring more and more as he speaks. Yesterday watching the new first presidency in a press conference was very interesting. I watched Pres. Eyring and Uchdorf (I’ve got to learn how to really spell his name now and both of their names get a red squiggly on my computer) nod their heads in agreement with Pres. Monson the whole time.

As a mom to five boys I read this article with particular interest. I’m not sure it was this article I read or if there was one similar last time, but it seems that the prophets are reminding the boys more often about how the Lord loves them and wants them to be strong and stand up for what is right. He will help those priesthood holders who are doing good, staying true and doing their job. I know it is true for the sisters, and God is no respecter of person, but it is refreshing to see it in print, hear it spoken from the pulpit and feel it in my heart.

I heard a few messages that he wants us to take into our lives. The first is that the “the assurance will come from a memory of times Heavenly Father has helped you through dangers and difficulties.” This reminds me of the scripture in the D&C where the Lord tells Oliver, “Did I not speak peace into your heart.” We have memories to learn from, good memories and bad ones. When we are on the path of righteousness those memories will help us through some difficulties because we remember that the Lord loves us and wants us to succeed.

The second part was “…pray for help in facing a hard assignment…” I am hoping that I have taught this well to my children. When they have lost something or find a challenge that they just can’t get over and come to me, one of the first things I ask them is if they have prayed. I’ve noticed that they are now starting the conversations with me like this, “Mom, I’ve already prayed, but I still can’t…..” I chuckle inside. I guess they are listening. The answer Pres. Eyring received was a great one itself. “Forget yourself—start praying about the people you are to serve.” How often do we have selfish prayers? I know of late I have been praying for two of my children who have been struggling and the more I pray for them the more love I feel for them. This happened to me when I was a RS president too. I was praying for sisters who wouldn’t even open the door when I was on their front porch and yet, I loved them. Go figure!

The third part is “go to work!” How often do we wait for the path to be shown? I find in homeschooling that this answer is most often the answer I receive when asking about a particular curriculum, subject or way. Sometimes it isn’t the answer that needs changing but the placement of our feet. My mom use to tell me that the truly prayerful were never led down the wrong path, but those who never moved didn’t go down either path.

Then of course what priesthood leader can give a talk like this without saying something in about being clean. You can not do the above without being clean. “No unclean thing…” “No priesthood holder who wants to succeed will be careless about where his eyes may go.” “The same care is required in what we say.” “You can decide—and you must—to change what you say even when you can’t control what others say.”

This is so hard sometimes, but one must “bridle their tongue.” It is only then that we master the mind, body and spirit.