Priesthood Duties

March Week 1

Counseling Together to Do God’s Work

Leader Training

First-Sunday Quorum Meetings

To prepare for this meeting, confer with your bishopric or branch presidency, ward or branch council, or stake or district presidency to receive direction and assignments. also consider the needs of quorum members and their families.

Share Experiences

Presidency member, group leader, or an assistant (5–10 minutes)

As disciples of Jesus Christ and priesthood holders, we can strengthen each other by sharing how the gospel has blessed us and our families during the week. Sharing these experiences is one way to invite the Spirit into our meetings. For example, when have we or someone we know done the following? How did we feel? What did we learn?

• Followed the impressions of the Spirit and used the priesthood to minister to others

• Received divine help

• Learned gospel truths and life lessons

• Served someone in need

• Sought the Lord’s help in strengthening family members

• Acted on what we learned in last week’s meeting

My Experiences

Counsel Together

Presidency member, group leader, or an assistant (20–25 minutes)

The Savior taught that quorum presidents are to “sit in council” with quorum members (see D&C 107:85–89). First-Sunday quorum meetings are designated for this purpose—to counsel together about the work of the priesthood and how we plan to do it. As a presidency, prayerfully consider what the quorum should counsel about. Below are some ideas. As you counsel, be sure to avoid sensitive topics that deal with specific individuals. In future meetings, quorum members will be invited to share how they are acting on their plans.

• What can we do to better provide temporally for our families and those around us?

• What are we doing to provide spiritual leadership in our homes? What ideas can we share with one another?

• Who in our community could we collaborate with in order to make a positive difference in our area?

• What direction have we received as priesthood holders during general conference? How can we respond?

• Do all quorum members understand how to perform priesthood ordinances properly? (see Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 2.1.2 and chapter 20).

• What are we doing to “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God”? (D&C 84:44).

• What can we do to help make the sacrament a more meaningful experience?

• How can we magnify our priesthood duties (see D&C 84:33) to perform ordinances, serve others, and invite all to come unto Christ? (see Handbook 2: Administering in the Church [2010], 2.4.5).

What other topics do quorum members feel they should counsel together about?

My Assignments

Learn Priesthood Duties and Principles

Presidency member, group leader, or an assistant (5 minutes)

How do “principles of righteousness” affect priesthood leadership in the home?

As time permits, spend a few minutes studying and discussing a principle of priesthood service: How do the principles related to righteous and unrighteous priesthood leadership found in Doctrine and Covenants 121:36–45 apply to priesthood leadership in the home? Use a dictionary for help with unfamiliar words. When have “principles of righteousness” blessed our priesthood leadership at home?

My Impressions