Priesthood holders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in meetinghouses throughout the world on Saturday evening to hear messages from the church's general authorities.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said it is important for all to follow the words and teachings of living prophets. He said that the Lord does not always want his children to serve him through a dramatic act, but he does require consistent and faithful dedication.

He said just as the President of the Church, Heber J. Grant, taught of the importance of the word of wisdom before science was able to confirm his teaching, so do the prophets of today provide teachings that protect God's children now and in the future.

"Your resolve should be to follow the counsel of a prophet," Elder Cook said.

Bishop H.David Burton

H. David Burton, the church's presiding Bishop, spoke of the church's recent welfare and humanitarian efforts. He said the church responded to 170 major events in 52 countries in 2007. That comes out to nearly one major event every two days.

The things we do for ourselves end with us, but what we do for others lives on for generations, he said.

"Thank you for your compassion, your goodness; your generosity," Bishop Burton said.

President Dean R. Burgess of the Young Men's Presidency

The First Counselor in the Young Men's General Presidency, Dean R. Burgess, said it is important for each of us to know who we are in order to serve the Lord.

"Finding out who we are is one of life's greatest quests," he said.

The answers to three questions will help answer who we are, he said. Do you know that you are a son of God? Do you know who you are in God's plan? Do you know who you are as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

President Monson and other latter-day prophets will teach us who we are and how to become more like the Savior. Following their teachings will bring happiness into our lives, he said.

Elder John M. Madsen of the Seventy

Elder John M. Madsen of the Seventy spoke to each 12 year-old Deacon in attendance.

He shared a sculpture entitled Deacon's Bench. It was of five young men restlessly sitting on a bench at a meeting. He spoke of the importance of seeing past the young men's posture into their possible futures as husbands, missionaries and potential church leaders.

"I trust and pray we can all see their divine potential," he said of the young men of the priesthood.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, said small events in our lives can hold great significance.

He spoke of a sight-seeing airplane destined for Antarctica. The plane's crew was unaware of a two degree miscalculation in their flight plans. The error resulted in the plane veering 28 miles off course and eventually crashing into a volcano, killing all of the plane's passengers and crew.

"The difference of happiness and pain is only a matter of a few degrees," he said.

Even small mistakes can set us on a course for spiritual disaster, President Uchtdorf said. We must make early and decisive corrections to get back on track in order to avoid disaster. The way to make those corrections has already been provided in the atonement of Jesus Christ.

President Henry B. Erying of the First Presidency

"My purpose is to help you grow in your confidence that you can and will raise to the promises of the oath and covenant of the Priesthood," said President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency.

He said there are two reasons why men should be confident in accepting the covenant: the consequences for accepting and failing are equal to those of not accepting and never trying and God has promised help.

President Thomas S. Monson

The newly sustained prophet and President of the Church, Thomas S. Monson, said it was important for Priesthood holders everywhere to always be worthy of the power they hold. He asked each of the Priesthood holders if they were worthily exercising their Priesthood authority.

"As holders of the power of God, it is our duty to live our lives in such a way to be an example for other to follow," he said.

He said every Priesthood holder should look to and learn from the life of the Savior.

"What finer example can we strive to emulate than that of Jesus?" he said.