President Thomas S. Monson
First Counselor in the First Presidency
May we reach out and rescue those who have fallen by the wayside, that not
one precious soul will be lost.
We are assembled this evening as a mighty body of the priesthood, both here
in the Conference Center and in locations throughout the world. Some hold the
Aaronic Priesthood, while others bear the Melchizedek Priesthood.
President Stephen L Richards, who served as a
counselor to President David O. McKay, declared, "The Priesthood is usually simply defined as 'the
power of God delegated to man.' " He continues: "This definition,
I think, is accurate. But for practical purposes I like to define the Priesthood
in terms of service and I frequently call it 'the perfect plan of service.' . . . It
is an instrument of service . . . and the man who fails
to use it is apt to lose it, for we are plainly told by revelation that he
who neglects it 'shall not be counted worthy to stand.' "1
In the Pioneer Stake, located in Salt Lake City and where I received both
the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood, we were taught to become familiar
with the scriptures, including sections 20, 84, and 107 of the Doctrine and
Covenants. In these sections we learn about priesthood and Church government.
Tonight I wish to emphasize one verse from Section
107: "Wherefore,
now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is
appointed, in all diligence."2
President Harold B. Lee frequently taught: "When
one becomes a holder of the priesthood, he becomes an agent of the Lord.
He should think of his
calling as though he were on the Lord's errand."3
We also learn from these sections the duties of quorum presidencies and the
fact that we are responsible for others besides ourselves.
I firmly believe that the Church today is stronger than it has ever been.
Activity levels of our youth testify that this is a generation of faith and
devotion to truth. Yet there are some who drop by the wayside, who find other
interests that persuade them to neglect their Church duties. We must not lose
such precious souls.
There are growing numbers among the prospective elders who are not found
in Church meetings nor filling Church assignments. This situation can and
must be remedied. The task is ours. Responsibility needs to be assigned and
effort put forth without delay.
The presidencies of the Aaronic Priesthood quorums, under the leadership
of the bishopric and quorum advisers, can be empowered to reach out and rescue.
Said the Lord, "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of
God; . . . and how great is his joy in the soul that
repenteth!"4
Sometimes the task appears overwhelming. We can
take fresh courage from the experience of Gideon of old, who, with his
modest force, was to do battle
with the Midianites and the Amalekites. You will remember how Gideon and
his army faced an overwhelming strength of forces vastly superior in equipment
and in number. The book of Judges in the Old Testament records that the
united
enemy, the Midianites and the Amalekites, "lay along in the valley like
grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the
sand
by the sea side for multitude."5 Gideon went to Almighty God
for his strength.
To his surprise, Gideon was advised by the Lord
that his forces were too many in number for the Lord to deliver the enemy
into their hands, lest they
say, "Mine own hand hath saved me."6 Gideon was instructed
to proclaim to his people: "Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him
return and depart . . . from mount Gilead. And there
returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand."7
Then the Lord said, "The people are yet
too many."8 He instructed Gideon to take the men to water
to observe the manner in which they should drink of the water. Those who
lapped the water were placed in
one group, and those who bowed down upon their knees to drink were placed
in another. The Lord said unto Gideon, "By the three hundred men that
lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and
let
all the other people go every man unto his place."9
Gideon returned to his forces and said to them, "Arise;
for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian."10 And he
divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in
every man's hand, with empty pitchers and lamps within the pitchers. And he
said unto them:
"Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold,
when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall
ye do.
"When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye
the trumpets also on every side . . . and say, The sword
of the Lord, and of Gideon." He then said in effect, "Follow me."
His exact words were, "As I do, so shall ye do."11
At the leader's signal, the host of Gideon did
blow on the trumpets and did break the pitchers and did shout, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon."
The scripture records the outcome of this decisive battle: "And they
stood every man in his place," and the victory was won.12
Home teaching is part of today's plan to rescue.
When it was introduced by President David O. McKay to all of the General
Authorities, he counseled: "Home teaching is one of our most urgent and most rewarding opportunities
to nurture and inspire, to counsel and direct our Father's children. . . . [It]
is a divine service, a divine call. It is our duty as Home Teachers to carry
the divine spirit into every home and heart."13
In certain areas where adequate Melchizedek Priesthood strength is missing,
stake presidents and bishops, coordinating with the mission president, may
use full-time missionaries to visit less-active and part-member families.
Not only does this rekindle the missionary spirit in the home, but it also
provides an ideal opportunity for quality referrals to be obtained.
Over the years as I have visited many stakes
throughout the world, there have been those stakes where ward and stake
leaders, out of necessity or in
response to duty, stopped wringing their hands, rolled up their sleeves,
and, with the Lord’s help, went to work and brought precious men to qualify
for the Melchizedek Priesthood and, with their wives and children, to enter
the
holy temple for their endowments and sealings.
In brief form I will mention several examples:
On a visit to the Millcreek Stake in Salt Lake
City some years ago, I learned that just over 100 brethren who were prospective
elders had been ordained
elders during the preceding year. I asked President James Clegg the secret
of his success. Although he was too modest to take the credit, one of his
counselors revealed that President Clegg, recognizing the challenge, had
undertaken
to personally call and arrange a private appointment between him and each
prospective elder. During the appointment, President Clegg would mention
the
temple of the Lord, the saving ordinances and covenants emphasized there,
and would conclude with this question: "Wouldn't you desire to take your
sweet wife and your precious children to the house of the Lord, that you might
be a forever family throughout the eternities?" An acknowledgment followed,
the reactivation process was pursued, and the goal was achieved.
In 1952 the majority of the families in the Rose Park Third Ward were members
whose fathers or husbands held only the Aaronic Priesthood, rather than the
Melchizedek Priesthood. Brother L. Brent Goates was called to serve as the
bishop. He invited a less-active brother in the ward, Ernest Skinner, to assist
in activating the 29 adult brethren in the ward who held the office of teacher
in the Aaronic Priesthood and to help these men and their families get to
the temple. As a less-active member himself, Brother Skinner was reluctant
at first but finally indicated he would do what he could. He began personally
visiting with the less-active adult teachers, trying to help them see their
role as priesthood leaders in their homes and as husbands and fathers to their
families. He soon enlisted some of the less-active brethren to assist him
in his assignment. One by one they became fully active again and took their
families to the temple.
One day the ward clerk came out of a grocery
checking line to greet the last of the group to go to the temple. Commenting
on his position as the last,
the man said: "I stood by and watched as all of that group became active
in our ward and went to the temple. If only I had been able to imagine how
beautiful it was in the temple, and how it would change my life forever,
I
never would have been the last of 29 to be sealed in the temple."
In each of these accounts, there were four elements which led them to success:
-
The reactivation opportunity was pursued at the ward level.
-
The bishop of the ward was involved.
-
Qualified and inspired teachers were provided.
-
Attention was given to each individual.
Brethren, let us remember the counsel of King
Benjamin: "When ye are
in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."14
Let us reach out to rescue those who so need our help and lift them to the
higher road and the better way. Let us focus our thinking on the needs of
priesthood holders and their wives and children who have slipped from the
path of activity. May we listen to the unspoken message from their hearts:
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.15
The work of reactivation is no task for the idler or dreamer. Children grow,
parents age, and time waits for no man. Don't postpone a prompting; rather,
act on it, and the Lord will open the way.
Frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is
required. As a bishop I felt prompted one day to call on a man whose wife
was somewhat active, as were
the children. This man, however, had never responded. It was a hot summer's
day when I knocked on the screen door of Harold G. Gallacher. I could see
Brother Gallacher sitting in his chair reading the newspaper. "Who is
it?" he queried, without looking up.
"Your bishop," I replied. "I've
come to get acquainted and to urge your attendance with your family at
our meetings."
"No, I'm too busy," came the disdainful
response. He never looked up. I thanked him for listening and departed
the doorstep.
The Gallacher family moved to California shortly
thereafter. The years went by. Then, as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve,
I was working in my office
one day when my secretary called, saying: "A Brother Gallacher who once
lived in your ward would like to talk to you. He's here in my office."
I responded, "Ask him if his name is Harold
G. Gallacher who, with his family, lived at Vissing Place on West Temple
and Fifth South."
She said, "He is the man."
I asked her to send him in. We had a pleasant
conversation together concerning his family. He told me, "I’ve come to apologize for not getting out of
my chair and letting you in the door that summer day long years ago."
I asked him if he was active in the Church. With a wry smile, he replied:
"I'm now second counselor in my ward bishopric. Your invitation to come
out to church, and my negative response, so haunted me that I determined
to
do something about it."
Harold and I visited together on numerous occasions before he passed away.
The Gallachers and their children filled many callings in the Church. One
of the youngest grandchildren is now serving a full-time mission.
To the many missionaries who may be listening this evening, I share the observation
that the seeds of testimony frequently do not immediately take root and flower.
Bread cast upon the water returns, at times, only after many days. But it
does return.
I answered the ring of my telephone one evening
to hear a voice ask, "Are
you related to an Elder Monson who years ago served in the New England Mission?"
I answered that such was not the case. The caller introduced himself as a
Brother Leonardo Gambardella and then mentioned that an Elder Monson and an
Elder Bonner called at his home long ago and bore their testimonies to him
and his wife. They had listened but had done nothing further to apply their
teachings. Subsequently they moved to California, where, some 13 years later,
they again found the truth and were converted and baptized. Brother Gambardella
then asked if there were any way he could reach the elders who first had visited
with them, that he might express his profound gratitude for their testimonies,
which had remained with him and his wife.
I checked the records. I located the elders.
Can you imagine their surprise when, now married with families of their
own, I telephoned them and told them
the good news—even the culmination of their early efforts. They instantly
remembered the Gambardellas. I arranged a conference telephone call so they
could personally extend their congratulations and welcome them into the Church.
They did. There were tears, but they were tears of joy.
Edwin Markham penned these lines:
There is a destiny that makes us brothers;
None goes his way alone:
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our own.16
Tonight I pray that all of us who hold the priesthood
may sense our responsibilities, that we, like Gideon of old, may stand every
man in his appointed place and,
as one, follow our Leader—even the Lord Jesus Christ—and His prophet,
President Gordon B. Hinckley. May we reach out and rescue those who have fallen
by the wayside, that not one precious soul will be lost.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
NOTES
1. In Conference Report, Apr.1937, 46.
2. D&C
107:99.
3. Stand Ye in Holy Places (1974), 255.
4. D&C
18:10, 13.
5. Judges 7:12.
6. Judges 7:2.
7. Judges 7:3.
8. Judges 7:4.
9. Judges 7:7.
10. Judges 7:15.
11. Judges
7:17–18.
12. Judges
7:18, 21. See also Judges 6 and 7.
13. Priesthood Home Teaching Handbook, rev. ed. (1967), ii—iii.
14. Mosiah
2:17.
15. Naomi W. Randall, "I Am a Child of God," Hymns, no. 301.
16. "A Creed," in James Dalton, ed., Masterpieces
of Religious Verse (1948), 464.
Previous
