"What about you? Do you recognize your higher and holier identity as a son of God, a bearer of His holy priesthood? With this eternal identity in mind, create your game plan and priesthood playbook that will guide you during times of temptation and adversity. Consider both offensive and defensive strategies.
"Offensive strategies help strengthen testimonies and increase resolve to stay on the strait and narrow path. Examples include regular prayer, scripture study, church and temple attendance, paying tithing, and following the counsel found in the For the Strength of Youth booklet.
"Defensive strategies include planning ahead how you will face temptation. When tempted to compromise your personal standards, you know beforehand what you will do.
"You need a playbook for that.
"Don’t feel like praying today? Time to execute the play you already game-planned.
"Do you feel your testimony waning? You have a play for that. You know what to do."
- Gary E. Stevenson, "Your Priesthood Playbook," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk
Elder Stevenson addressed his remarks to the young men of the Church, encouraging them to anticipate challenges ahead in their lives and prepare to confront them. These are principles that all of us, at any age, should consider.
Every one of us has a sacred identity as a child of God, and should do all in our power to live up to that inheritance! I particularly appreciate the idea of "offensive strategies," ways to build strength and prepare in advance by increasing faith and testimony; and "defensive strategies" that help us anticipate ways we might confront challenges and temptations.
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)
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