The First Presidency invites Latter-day Saints and their friends to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1978 revelation on the priesthood. Forty years ago, President Spencer W. Kimball announced that the blessings of the priesthood would be extended to all of God’s children everywhere in the world.

In June 1978 the First Presidency announced, “that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple.” that the blessings of the priesthood would be extended to all of God’s children everywhere in the world (see Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration 2).

The worldwide celebration will be broadcast from the Conference Center on Temple Square on Friday, June 1, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. The program will include a message from Church leaders and music from a variety of choirs. The broadcast will be live on the Church satellite system, LDS.org, and other media. Shortly after the live event, the broadcast will be archived on LDS.org and added to the Gospel Library app. Get tickets to attend in person at BeOne.lds.org.

On June 8, 1978, the following letter was sent to all general and local priesthood officers of the Church worldwide:

Dear Brethren:

 

As we have witnessed the expansion of the work of the Lord over the earth, we have been grateful that people of many nations have responded to the message of the restored gospel, and have joined the Church in ever-increasing numbers. This, in turn, has inspired us with a desire to extend to every worthy member of the Church all of the privileges and blessings which the gospel affords.

 

Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God’s eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance.

 

He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple. Accordingly, all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Priesthood leaders are instructed to follow the policy of carefully interviewing all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or the Melchizedek Priesthood to insure that they meet the established standards for worthiness.

 

We declare with soberness that the Lord has now made known his will for the blessing of all his children throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his authorized servants, and prepare themselves to receive every blessing of the gospel.

 

Sincerely yours,

Spencer W. Kimball

N. Eldon Tanner

Marion G. Romney

The First Presidency

Learn more in the article “Race and the Priesthood.”

Visit BeOne.lds.org for more information.