Review
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Title: Men Of God: The Powerful Influence of a Righteous Priesthood Holder
Publisher: Deseret Book
Author: Robert L. Millet
Genre: Doctrinal
Year Published: 2023
Number of Pages: 224
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 13:978-1-63993-136-1
Price: $24.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters
Millet states in the preface to Men Of God: The Powerful Influence of a Righteous Priesthood Holder the following truths:
“While this book is written principally to men, it is important that we begin our study of the Holy Priesthood with a proper perspective on men, women, and the priesthood. We must always keep in mind that priesthood is neither male nor female, neither man nor woman. With the exception of being ordained to offices within the priesthood or performing certain ordinances, the women of the church are entitled to every blessing of the priesthood that men are” (ix-x).
President Nelson has stated to the women of the church, “More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His Priesthood power which you have been endowed with in the temple.”
Millet has expertly woven scripture with personal and moving stories from his own life with a firm warning to priesthood holders from the scriptures. From Ether 8:24, “Wherefore the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come upon you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination that shall be among you; or wo be unto it, and also upon those who built it up”. From this, we know the priesthood is to warn the people of the earth and to call them to repentance.
Mr. Millet tells the story of how at the age of ten, he felt a sense of gloom about his life and told his mother he wanted to stay ten years old forever. He had watched his father, his grandfather, and an uncle work so hard and noticed how they always seemed so tired and how much they seemed to hate their jobs. By the time he was fifteen, he thought it was cool to be a man and be able to buy and drive nice cars and motorcycles, have girlfriends, and so forth.
A full-time mission “grew him up in a hurry.” While on this mission he received nearly weekly letters from his mother and grandmother and as well as letters from his father every other month that helped him focus on what was truly important. As his father wrote about his duties as a bishop and later as a high councilor; he was teaching his son how to magnify his church callings accomplish much good, and love the people he was serving.
While on his mission Millet also received letters from a former home teaching companion. To learn about the baptisms, callings, and temple attendance of these families also served to enlighten and strengthen him in his duties as a priesthood holder on a mission.
Time and space do not permit me to relay all the scriptures and stories in this important and timely book. Let me close with these thoughts from the book:
“Elder and Sister Renlund have written that ‘righteous men who accept and honor their priesthood covenants continue to change the world for themselves and their families…Righteous men who accept and honor their priesthood covenants and bear witness to others change the world one soul at a time. Righteous priesthood holders today are changing the world so that Jesus Christ will come again in power and glory’.”
Millet then quotes President Nelson:
“In a coming day, ONLY those men who have taken their priesthood seriously by DILIGENTLY seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself will be able to bless, guide, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.”
Men of God: The Powerful Influence of a Righteous Priesthood Holder by Robert Millet provides great advice and instruction to men and women on the importance of the priesthood in all of our lives and how righteous priesthood holders can be a powerful influence in the church and in the world.