Doctrine and Covenants 20

Elder Richard G. Scott:

“The purpose of priesthood authority is to give, to serve, to lift, to inspire” ( “Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well,” Ensignor Liahona, Nov. 2008, 46.)

Doctrine and Covenants 20:1–4

Pres. Dallin H. Oaks:

“A testimony of the gospel is a personal witness borne to our souls by the Holy Ghost that certain facts of eternal significance are true and that we know them to be true” (“Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 26).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:17–36

Pres. Ezra Taft Benson:

“In the twentieth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord devotes several verses to summarizing the vital truths which the Book of Mormon teaches. (See vs. 17–36.) It speaks of God, the creation of man, the Fall, the Atonement, the ascension of Christ into heaven, prophets, faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, endurance, prayer, justification and sanctification through grace, and loving and serving God” (“A New Witness for Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1984, 7).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:30–31

Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

“Because of ‘the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice,’ Jesus Christ can satisfy or ‘answer the ends of the law’ on our behalf. Pardon comes by the grace of Him who has satisfied the demands of justice by His own suffering, ‘the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God’ (1 Pet. 3:18). He removes our condemnation without removing the law. We are pardoned and placed in a condition of righteousness with Him. We become, like Him, without sin. We are sustained and protected by the law, by justice. We are, in a word, justified.

“Thus, we may appropriately speak of one who is justified as pardoned, without sin, or guiltless. For example, ‘Whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world’ (3 Ne. 27:16; emphasis added). Yet glorious as the remission of sins is, the Atonement accomplishes even more. That ‘more’ is expressed by Moroni:

“‘And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot’ (Moro. 10:33; emphasis added).

“To be sanctified through the blood of Christ is to become clean, pure, and holy. If justification removes the punishment for past sin, then sanctification removes the stain or effects of sin. The Prophet Joseph Smith testified:

“‘And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—

“‘That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear [justify] the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness’ (D&C 76:40–41)” (“Justification and Sanctification,”Ensign, June 2001, 20–22).

Doctrine and Covenants 20 :42

Elder Richard G. Scott:

“The purpose of priesthood authority is to give, to serve, to lift, to inspire” (“Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 46. ).

President James E. Faust:

“Caring for others is the very essence of priesthood responsibility. It is the power to bless, to heal, and to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel” (“Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 1997, 41).

Elder W. Grant Bangerter:

“For several years I had the privilege of sitting at the feet of President Marion G. Romney, who taught us about the ‘constitution of the Church’—meaning that revelation given on the occasion of the organization of the Church wherein the Lord outlined the procedures by which it should be governed. The elders, it says in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants, assisted by the lesser priesthood, are to ‘watch over the Church.’ (Vv. 42, 53.) A part of that ‘watching over’ is done by visiting the houses of the members and in instructing them to do their duty. In another revelation the elders quorum is specifically mentioned as a body of ‘standing ministers.’ (D&C 124:137.) Those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood are also called ‘standing ministers.’ (D&C 84:111.)” (“The Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 69).

President James E. Faust:

“Some years ago a priests quorum decided to gather food for the needy as a service project. Jim, one of the priests, was excited to participate and was determined to collect more food than anyone else. The time arrived when the priests met at the chapel. They all went out at the same time and returned at a specified time later in the evening. To everyone’s surprise, Jim’s cart was empty. He seemed rather sober, and some of the boys made fun of him. …

“… The adviser asked Jim if he was upset. Jim said, ‘No, not really. But when I went out to collect the food, I really got a lot. My cart was full. As I was returning to the chapel, I stopped at the home of a nonmember woman who is divorced and lives within our ward boundaries. I knocked on the door and explained what we were doing, and she invited me in. She began to look for something to give me. She opened the refrigerator, and I could see there was hardly anything in it. The cupboards were bare. Finally, she found a small can of peaches.’

“‘I could hardly believe it. There were all these little kids running around that needed to be fed, and she handed me this can of peaches. I took it and put it in my cart and went on up the street. I got about halfway up the block when I just felt warm all over and knew I needed to go back to that house. I gave her all the food.’

“The adviser said, ‘Jim, don’t you ever forget the way you feel tonight, because that’s what it is all about.’ Jim had tasted the nutrient of selfless service” (“Spiritual Nutrients,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2006, 54).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:46

President Wilford Woodruff:

“I traveled thousands of miles and preached the Gospel as a Priest, and, as I have said to congregations before, the Lord sustained me and made manifest His power in the defense of my life as much while I held that office as He has done while I have held the office of an Apostle. The Lord sustains any man that holds a portion of the Priesthood, whether he is a Priest, an Elder, a Seventy, or an Apostle, if he magnifies his calling and does his duty” (Deseret Weekly, Nov. 7, 1896, 641). (See also Boyd K. Packer, “The Aaronic Priesthood,” Ensign,Nov. 1981, 33.)

Doctrine and Covenants 20:59

True to the Faith:

“If you are a priesthood holder, remember that the priesthood should be a part of you at all times and in all circumstances. It is not like a cloak that you can put on and take off at will. Any ordination to a priesthood office is a call to lifelong service, with the promise that the Lord will qualify you to do His work according to your faithfulness.

“You must be worthy in order to receive and exercise priesthood power. The words you speak and your everyday behavior affect your ability to serve. Your behavior in public must be above reproach. Your behavior in private is even more important” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 127).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:60

President Boyd K. Packer:

“Your authority comes through your ordination; your power comes through obedience and worthiness. …

“Power in the priesthood comes from doing your duty in ordinary things: attending meetings, accepting assignments, reading the scriptures, keeping the Word of Wisdom” (“The Aaronic Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 32–33).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:60–67

President Boyd K. Packer:

“You can receive the priesthood only from one who has the authority and ‘it is known to the church that he has authority.’ (D&C 42:11.)

“The priesthood cannot be conferred like a diploma. It cannot be handed to you as a certificate. It cannot be delivered to you as a message or sent to you in a letter. It comes only by proper ordination. An authorized holder of the priesthood has to be there. He must place his hands upon your head and ordain you.

“That is one reason why the General Authorities travel so much—to convey the keys of priesthood authority. Every stake president everywhere in the world has received his authority under the hands of one of the presiding brethren of the Church. There has never been one exception.

“Remember these things. The priesthood is very, very precious to the Lord. He is very careful about how it is conferred, and by whom. It is never done in secret” (“The Aaronic Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 32).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:75

Elder Melvin J. Ballard:

“The one thing that would make for the safety of every man and woman would be to appear at the sacrament table every Sabbath day. We would not get very far away in one week—not so far away that, by the process of self-investigation, we could not rectify the wrongs we may have done. … The road to the sacrament table is the path of safety for Latter-day Saints” (in Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard[1949], 151).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:77

Elder David A. Bednar:

“Consider the reasons we pray and study the scriptures. … These holy habits primarily are ways whereby we always remember Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son and are prerequisites to the ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost” (“Receive the Holy Ghost,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2010, 96).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:77-79

True To The Faith

“You receive great blessings when you keep the baptismal covenant. As you renew it, the Lord renews the promised remission of your sins. Cleansed from sin, you are able to ‘always have his Spirit to be with [you]’ (D&C 20:77). The Spirit’s constant companionship is one of the greatest gifts you can receive in mortality. The Spirit will guide you in the paths of righteousness and peace, leading you to eternal life with your Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 148).

President James E. Faust:

“Baptism by immersion in water is ‘the introductory ordinance of the gospel, and must be followed by baptism of the Spirit in order to be complete.’ [Bible Dictionary, “Baptism,”618.] …

“If worthy, those possessing this spiritual gift can come to enjoy greater understanding and enrichment and guidance in all of life’s activities, both spiritual and temporal. The Holy Ghost bears witness to us of the truth and impresses upon our souls the reality of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, so surely that no earthly power or authority can separate us from that knowledge. [See 2 Ne. 31:18.] Indeed, not having the gift of the Holy Ghost is somewhat like having a body without an immune system. …

“Those who possess the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism and confirmation can receive more light and testimony. This is because the gift of the Holy Ghost is ‘a permanent witness and higher endowment than the ordinary manifestation of the Holy Spirit.’ [In James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (1965–75), 5:4.] It is the higher endowment because the gift of the Holy Ghost can act as ‘a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin.’ [Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost,” 704.]” (“Born Again,” Ensign, May 2001, 55, 58).