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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2

Follow the Brethren

"Lesson 42: Follow the Brethren," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2, 158

OBJECTIVE

Each young man will resolve to follow the counsel of God's ordained leaders.

PREPARATION

SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT

The Mind and Will of the Lord Are Made Known through His Ordained Leaders

Story and discussion

In a general conference address, Elder John Groberg of the Seventy told of his experience as a missionary in the South Pacific.

"I was assigned as a district president to administer the affairs of the Church and preach the gospel in a group of fifteen small, scattered islands. We traveled almost exclusively by sailboat. ...

"On one occasion, we received word that a missionary was very ill on a somewhat distant island. The weather was threatening. ... Extra heavy seas slowed our progress, and it was late afternoon before we arrived. The missionary was indeed very ill. Fervent prayer was followed by administration, during which the impression came very strongly to get him back to the hospital on the main island, and to do it now! ...

"There was much ... talk about the darkness, the storm, the formidable reef with its extremely narrow opening to the harbor ... but soon eight persons, including an ill missionary, a very experienced captain, and a somewhat concerned district president, boarded the boat. ...

"No sooner had we made our commitment to the open seas than the intensity of the storm seemed to increase sevenfold. ... The thick clouds and driving rain increased the blackness of our already dark universe-no stars, no moon, no rest-only turmoil. ...

"As we rolled and tossed closer and closer to the reef, all eyes searched for the light that marked the opening-the only entry to our home. Where was it? ... The rain slashed at our faces and tore at our eyes-eyes vainly searching for that life-giving light.

"Then I heard the chilling sound of the waves crashing and chewing against the reef! It was close-too close. Where was that light? Unless we hit the opening exactly, we would be smashed against the reef and ripped and torn by that thousand-toothed monster. ...

"Some began to whimper, others to moan and cry, and one or two even to scream in hysteria. At the height of this panic when many were pleading to turn to the left or to the right, ... I looked at the captain-and there I saw the face of calmness, the ageless face of wisdom and experience, as his eyes penetrated the darkness ahead. Quietly his weather-roughened lips parted, and without moving his fixed gaze and just perceptibly shifting the wheel, he breathed those life-giving words, ... 'There is the light!' ...

"I could not see the light, but the captain could see it. And I knew that he could see it. ... And so with one last great swell we were hurtled through the opening and into calmer waters. ...

"We were in the protected harbor. We were home. ...

"And so the great lesson: There are those who, through years of experience and training, and by virtue of special divine callings, can see farther and better and more clearly-and can and will save us in those situations where serious injury or death-both spiritual and physical-would be upon us before we ourselves could see" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, pp. 61-63; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, pp. 44-45).

Reread the final paragraph if necessary.

Scripture, chalkboard, and discussion

Have the young men read and mark Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 and D&C 68:2-4.

Ask the young men to name some leaders of the Church who receive guidance and counsel for their benefit.

From the responses of the young men, prepare the following chart on the chalkboard:

Priesthood Leaders

 

The President of the Church
The First Presidency
The Quorum of the Twelve
Area Presidency (members of the Seventy)
The Presiding Bishopric

 

Stake presidency

 

Bishopric or branch presidency
High priests group leadership
Elders quorum presidency
Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies

 

Tell the young men to refer to the chart as they answer the following questions.

Quotation

Explain that the mind and will of the Lord are made known through his ordained leaders: "The voice of the First Presidency and the united voice of those others who hold with them the keys of the kingdom shall always guide the Saints and the world in those paths where the Lord wants them to be" (Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1972, p. 99; or Ensign, July 1972, p. 88).

Church Leaders Give Guidance for Our Benefit

Story and discussion

Relate the following story told by President David O. McKay.

"Recently I read an article in which a game warden noticed a string attached to a tree leading into a dense forest. He concluded to follow this string to find out its significance. Through underbrush, through overhanging branches, he made his way the best he could, and finally came upon a hunter with what remained of a ball of twine still in his hand. Upon inquiry as to what the twine was for, the hunter replied, 'I have heard of men who have lost their way in these wilds, and I determined that if I should lose my sense of direction, I would have one means of finding my way back' " (Treasures of Life [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1962], p. 404).

Activity and discussion

Distribute to each young man an issue of the Ensign containing a report of general conference. Ask each young man to read in the index the list of subjects discussed during a recent conference session. Have each young man identify talks that contain counsel that would be particularly useful to him.

Quotation

Read the following statement from Elder Marion G. Romney:

"Today the Lord is revealing his will to all the inhabitants of the earth, and to members of the Church in particular, on the issues of this our day through the living prophets, with the First Presidency at the head. What they say as a presidency is what the Lord would say if he were here, ... and it is scripture" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1945, p. 90).

Church Leaders Counsel Us to Live by Standards That Differ from the World's Standards

Quotation

Explain that as we follow the counsel of the Brethren, we will discover that we are required to live standards that may not be popular in the world. President George Q. Cannon proposed a test for faithful Latter-day Saints: "If the breach [distance] is daily widening between ourselves and the world, ... then we may be assured that our progress is certain, however slow. On the opposite hand, if our feelings and affections, our appetites and desires, are in unison with the world around us, ... we should do well to examine ourselves" (in Millennial Star, 5 Oct. 1861, p. 645).

Scriptures and discussion

Ask a young man to read 1 John 2:15-17 aloud.

Ask the young men to read 1 Peter 2:9. Explain that the word peculiar in this scripture means righteous, holy, charitable, and Christlike. An alternate translation given in the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version of the Bible is "a purchased people." We are purchased through the suffering of the Savior and therefore should be setting a proper example of righteous living.

Activity

Divide the quorum into small groups. Give each group a note that you have extracted from recent conference talks, or use the ones included below. Ask the young men to read the counsel and tell the ways that they will be different or stand apart from the world as they follow the counsel of the prophets.

Quotation

Read the following quotation:

"We must always remember that though we are in the world, we must not be part of it. We just cannot follow the ways of the world. We must dare to be different. We must not be influenced by those who would call us peculiar. The Lord said to the children of Israel:

" 'For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.' (Deut. 14:2.)" (N. Eldon Tanner, in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, p. 113; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, p. 76).

Conclusion

Testimony and challenge

Show the New Era, the Church News, and the conference issues of the Ensign to the young men, and refer again to the poster or chalkboard. Emphasize that they can know the mind and will of the Lord today by reading, studying, and listening to the words of the Lord's chosen leaders, including their local leaders, who receive direction from the General Authorities. Bear your testimony that guidance and counsel for today's problems are available, sharing personal experiences if appropriate.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Suggest that the young men do one or more of the following activities:

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Next Chapter: Lesson 43: Spiritual Preparation for a Mission »

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