Eyring - The Priesthood Man - April 2014

President Eyring talks about hero's in our lives and the natural desire to be like them, to emulate them, to desire to be a great as they are in the things that they do.  He speaks of his childhood hero being Joe DiMaggio and trying to copy his baseball swing.

• When we choose heroes, we begin to copy, consciously or unconsciously, what we admire most in them.
  

He speaks about several hero's in his life that gave priesthood service to others.  His father, a marine getting an education that was his friend, and a young man who faithfully drove his mother to church each week and eventually accepted the gospel himself were three people that he points out are examples of great priesthood men in his life.

• Each of you will be a model of a priesthood man whether you want to be or not. You became a lighted candle when you accepted the priesthood. The Lord put you on the candlestick to light the way for everyone who surrounds you. That is especially true for those in your priesthood quorum. You can be a great model, an average one, or a bad model. You may think it doesn’t matter to you, but it does to the Lord.
  

He speaks of being blessed by great priesthood holders in quorums where he has lived.  They have all been great examples of the type of life he should lead.

• I have been blessed by examples of great priesthood holders in quorums where I was fortunate to serve. You can do what they have done for me by being an example for others to follow.
  

He points out three common characteristics that a great priesthood man needs to have.  Each is vital to becoming what the Lord whats each of us to become.

• I have observed three common characteristics of the priesthood holders who are my heroes. One is a pattern of prayer, the second is a habit of service, and the third is a rock-hard decision to be honest.
  

Concerning prayer he says:

• We all pray, but the priesthood holder you want to be prays often and with real intent. In the evening you will get on your knees and thank God for the blessings of the day. You will thank Him for parents, for teachers, and for great examples to follow. You will describe in your prayers specifically who has blessed your life and how, during that day. That will take more than a few minutes and more than a little thought. It will surprise you and change you. As you pray for forgiveness, you will find yourself forgiving others. As you thank God for His kindness, you will think of others, by name, who need your kindness. Again, that experience will surprise you every day, and over time it will change you.
  

President Eyring shares that when we prayer and improve our relationships with God, one of the results is that we will gain a better understanding that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father.

• When you know that you are a child of God, you will also know that He expects much of you.
  

He gives advice to those that want to dedicate their life to the service of God.  His advice is for those that want to become more like the Savior and follow His example.

• My counsel to you who want to bless others with your priesthood has to do with your life which is private to all but God.
  
  • Pray to Him. Thank Him for all that is good in your life. Ask Him to know what individuals He has placed in your way for you to serve. Plead that He will help you give that service. Pray so that you can forgive and so that you can be forgiven. Then serve them, love them, and forgive them. Above all, remember that of all the service you give, none is greater than to help people choose to qualify for eternal life. God has given that overarching direction to us on how to use our priesthood. He is the perfect example of it.
    

He concludes with words of encouragement that we can all become great priesthood men and rise to the opportunities we have to serve God in a more valiant way.

• Each of us can make a difference. We have been prepared for our time and place in the last days of that sacred work. Each of us has been blessed with examples of those who have made that work the overriding purpose of their time on earth. I pray that we may help each other rise to that opportunity.
  

This talk is so inspiring to me.  I have hero's in my life and great examples of men that have served God with all their heart, might, mind, and strength.  I have had great quorum leaders who have inspired me to serve others and who have taught me the important things in my priesthood service.  These men were examples of the type of father I should be, the type of husband I should be, and the type of friend I should be.  Above all, they have shown me the type of person I should be when I follow the Savior.  I see that I can have some of that same influence on those that I serve.  I need to step up and be an example of compassion, service, and show those I associate with the type of disciple they need to be to show their love and devotion to the Savior.  The burden is heavy to not let others down, but with God, we can rise to the responsibilities we have and God will help us become the type of priesthood men he knows we can and should be.