Steven J. Lund

Aaronic Priesthood and the Power of Young Men

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By John Fisher (assisted by AI)

Introduction

In the April 2025 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Steven J. Lund, Young Men General President, offered a powerful testimony of the sacred authority and eternal significance of the Aaronic Priesthood. In his address, “Divine Authority, Sublime Young Men,” President Lund emphasized the spiritual strength, global impact, and sacred duties of young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood. His message was rich in doctrine and deeply human in tone, grounded in stories that reveal the priesthood’s quiet but transformative power.

Summary of the Talk

President Lund’s talk centered on the sacred calling and spiritual authority bestowed upon young men through the Aaronic Priesthood. He described how this divine conferral is not merely a rite of passage but a worldwide, time-spanning chain reaction that connects each young priesthood holder to Christ through John the Baptist, Joseph Smith, and Oliver Cowdery.

The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood, empowering young men to teach, administer ordinances, and act in God’s name in ways that bless others and prepare themselves for lifelong service. President Lund bore testimony that these roles—administering the sacrament, warning and inviting others to Christ, and serving their communities—are acts of spiritual power and love. Through two deeply moving stories, he illustrated how priesthood duties—performed with compassion, consistency, and conviction—can soften hearts, forge eternal bonds, and fulfill the Lord’s purposes.

Illustrated Stories from the Talk

1. The Conversion of Alan
In one story, a group of young deacons began visiting elderly members of their ward, including Alan—a gruff, profane man who had resisted the gospel for years. Through acts of service, patience, and genuine friendship, the boys softened his heart. They invited him to quorum meetings, practiced missionary lessons with him, and prayed for him. When he became seriously ill, Alan asked for their help to stop smoking. Eventually, he desired baptism, but passed away before it could happen. One of "his boys" later baptized a proxy for him in the temple. The boys fulfilled every duty of their priesthood, from service to teaching to sacred ordinance.

2. The Grieving Bishop and the Sacrament
Another powerful account involved a bishop whose two-year-old daughter died the day before his son’s baptism. Despite his grief, he felt inspired to join his priests at the sacrament table the next morning and pronounce the sacrament prayers himself. The congregation, stunned by his strength, heard the sacramental covenant with new reverence and power. This act of priesthood in the face of sorrow became a spiritual anchor for both the bishop’s family and the ward.

Quotes from the Talk

  1. “There should be trumpets and crashing cymbals and blazing Roman candles. There should be parades!”

  2. “This controlled chain reaction began with a ministering angel sent of God.”

  3. “Deacons can be hard to hate, and Alan eventually began to love them.”

  4. “Such serious expectations require serious preparation.”

  5. “Words of eternal consequence. Words of ordinance. Words of covenant.”

Open-Ended Questions for Discussion

  1. How have you seen young men influence others through quiet acts of service in your community?

  2. What does it mean to you that the Aaronic Priesthood connects holders directly to Jesus Christ through divine authority?

  3. In what ways can we better support and prepare young priesthood holders for lifelong ministry?

  4. How does the story of the bishop and the sacrament prayers deepen your understanding of the power of ordinances during times of grief?

  5. How can priesthood holders be examples of “love unfeigned” in today’s world?

Conclusion

President Lund’s talk is a stirring call to recognize and honor the divine authority held by young men around the world. Through their service, priesthood duties, and spiritual maturity, these young men prepare themselves to bless others and advance the gathering of Israel. Their roles are not symbolic—they are transformative. From snow-shoveling deacons to grief-stricken bishops, President Lund bore witness that priesthood power, when exercised with faith and compassion, brings the Spirit, changes lives, and fulfills eternal purposes.

Keywords: Aaronic Priesthood, service, covenant, youth ministry, priesthood authority
#AaronicPriesthood #PriesthoodPower #YoungMenLeadership #LDSConference #GatheringIsrael

Reference (APA style):
Lund, S. J. (2025, April). Divine authority, sublime young men. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/22lund

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