The week leading up to my lesson I prayed every day for help with it, and I expressed my anxiety to Gerson, who helped me feel better. This ended up being one of the most spiritual lesson preps that I have experienced, and I would like to share some of the things that I learned about the priesthood.
When I teach, I don't always go in order of the sections in the chapter. For this lesson I started in section 2, "The priesthood is the power and authority by which God accomplishes His work," which defines the priesthood. I used the Gospel Topics on LDS.org for help and liked this definition found in the Priesthood topic:
“The word priesthood has two meanings. First, priesthood is the power and authority of God. It has always existed and will continue to exist without end (see Alma 13:7-8; D&c 84:17-18). Through the priesthood, God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power, He exalts His obedient children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39, see also D&C 84:35-38).
Second, in mortality, priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children. The blessings of the priesthood are available to all who receive the gospel.”
Section 1 briefly covered the restoration of the priesthood. I used the Doctrine & Covenants and the Student Manuel to the Doctrine & Covenants for help, and I learned some really great things. The priesthood was restored by ancient prophets bestowing their specific keys to Joseph Smith.
John the Baptist - John the Baptist conferred the Priesthood of Aaron to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The account can be found in Section 13 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It's only one verse long and explains that power of the Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of "the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins."
Peter, James, and John - Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. According to Doctrine and Covenants Church History: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 8, an official account of the restoration of the restoration of the Melchizedek was not recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. References to the event are found in the heading to D&C 13, D&C 27:12-13, and D&C 128:20.
The heading to Section 13 states that John the Baptist was acting under the orders of Peter, James, and John, and that they would confer the Melchizedek priesthood at a later date. Both of the verses in sections 27 and 128 indicate that in receiving the Melchizedek priesthood, Joseph Smith was given the keys of the kingdom, a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times.
Moses - Moses committed the keys of the gathering of Israel to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The account can be found in D&C 110:11. According to the section heading Moses appeared to Joseph and Oliver on April 3, 1836 in the Kirtland Temple after Sabbath meetings.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said explained what these keys mean:
"...with increasing power and in great glory, we have gathered, from their Egyptian bondage as it were, the dispersed of Ephraim and a few others, initially to the mountains of America, but now into the stakes of Zion in the various nations of the earth. The gathering of Israel is a reality. When the ten tribes return they will come at the direction of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for he now holds and will then hold the keys of presidency and direction for this mighty work.”
Elias -Elias committed the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham. He came at the same time and place as Moses. Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains what the gospel of Abraham is:
“The man Elias brings back ‘the gospel of Abraham,’ the great Abrahamic covenant whereby the faithful receive promises of eternal increase, promises that through celestial marriage their eternal posterity shall be as numerous as the sands upon the seashore or as the stars in heaven for mulititude. Elias gives the promise - received of old by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - that in modern men and in their seed all generations shall be blessed. And we are now offering the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to all who will receive them.”
Elijah - Elijah committed the sealing keys, and appeared to Joseph Smith right after Elias. This is the well known " turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers." Joseph later explained the turning of the hearts this way:
“Now the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? Or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion.
But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah.”
Section 3 was what I wanted to focus my lesson on. The section is titled, "The blessings of the
priesthood are to be enjoyed by all." In this section President Hinckley explains how the priesthood can bless each and every one of us. I felt like this was the most applicable section to women, which is why I chose to focus on it.
President Hinckley discussed six priesthood duties/ordinances and explained how they bless us:
1. Administer the Sacrament. When we accept the administration of the sacrament and partake of it, we renew the covenants that we have made with Heavenly Father. We also keep the Holy Ghost as our companion.
2. Bestow the Holy Ghost. I'm going to let D&C 121:46 explain this one: “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”
3. Bless the sick. Priesthood power can bless any and all people to be healed from their ailments. I imagine the majority of us have received such blessings several times throughout our lives. President Hinckley - who was Elder Hinckley at the time - shared such an experience. He was in Japan presiding over the formation of a new stake, and he asked the mission president to give him a blessing because he wasn't feeling well. The mission president was nervous and said that he could not give the blessing in English, Elder Hinckley said that Japanese would be fine. After the blessing Elder Hinckley thanked him and looked strong and healthy the next day. The mission president later received a note from Elder Hinckley that said, "I so much appreciate the blessing which you gave me. I immediately began to feel better after that. My recovery was quick and total. Sister Hinckley and I are deeply grateful for the privilege of staying in your mission home."
That story resonated with me because it teaches that all worthy men have access to use the priesthood regardless of their status or ethnicity. President Hinckley was an apostle at the time, and the other man probably felt like "just" a mission president next to him. But it didn't matter. He was a worthy son of God who held the priesthood and could use it. It reminds me of the account in the New Testament of Jesus Christ asking John the Baptist to baptize him. John didn't feel that he was worthy to baptize Jesus, but he was and did.
4. “Bless with prophecy, to comfort, to sustain, to direct.” When I read those words from President Hinckley I took that mean father's blessings, setting apart blessings when we get a calling, etc. I remember feeling incredible support and revelation when I was set apart as a Relief Society teacher.
5. Patriarchal blessings. These blessings are given to us through a stake patriarch, and they come from God. They tell us what our lineage is and gives us advice and blessings that we can receive should we follow a path of righteousness. This is a very sacred blessing, and should not be read by just anyone. My parents were present for mine, and Gerson and I have read each other's. It is a blessing that I recommend you review frequently, when I read mine I feel so peaceful and inspired.
6. Authority to seal. Of this power President Hinckley said:
This is where my lesson ended, but I would like to share a few things that stood out to me from sections 4, 5, and 6.
Section 4 talked about personal righteousness of priesthood holders. In the Priesthood section of Gospel Topics I learned about the difference between the authority of the priesthood and the power of the priesthood:
The areas of personal righteousness that President Hinckley discusses have been placed into bullet points below:
There is also a great quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard:
I have a testimony that the priesthood is the power of God. I have many wonderful and sacred experiences with it blessing my life. If you want to further study the priesthood I would recommend:
Priesthood in Gospel Topics
Aaronic Priesthood in the Bible Dictionary
Melchizedek Priesthood in the Bible Dictionary
4. “Bless with prophecy, to comfort, to sustain, to direct.” When I read those words from President Hinckley I took that mean father's blessings, setting apart blessings when we get a calling, etc. I remember feeling incredible support and revelation when I was set apart as a Relief Society teacher.
5. Patriarchal blessings. These blessings are given to us through a stake patriarch, and they come from God. They tell us what our lineage is and gives us advice and blessings that we can receive should we follow a path of righteousness. This is a very sacred blessing, and should not be read by just anyone. My parents were present for mine, and Gerson and I have read each other's. It is a blessing that I recommend you review frequently, when I read mine I feel so peaceful and inspired.
6. Authority to seal. Of this power President Hinckley said:
“In its ultimate expression the holy priesthood carries with it the authority to seal on the earth and have that sealing effective in the heavens. It is unique and wonderful. It is the authority exercised in the temples of God. It concerns both the living and the dead. It is of the very essence of eternity. It is divine power bestowed by the Almighty as a part of His great plan for the immortality and eternal life of man.”
This is where my lesson ended, but I would like to share a few things that stood out to me from sections 4, 5, and 6.
Section 4 talked about personal righteousness of priesthood holders. In the Priesthood section of Gospel Topics I learned about the difference between the authority of the priesthood and the power of the priesthood:
“There is a difference between the authority of the priesthood and the power of the priesthood. Priesthood authority comes from ordination. Power comes from personal righteousness.”
The areas of personal righteousness that President Hinckley discusses have been placed into bullet points below:
- “Flee the evils of the world.”
- “Be faithful and true to the covenants that are associated with the priesthood of God.”
- “To every officer, to every teacher in this Church who acts in a priesthood office, there comes the sacred responsibility of magnifying that priesthood calling. Each of us is responsible for the welfare and the growth and development of others.” (Does this hold true for R.S., Primary, and Y.W. callings as well?)
- Have no attitude of dominion or compulsion over wives and children.
- Be good husbands and fathers (be good wives and mothers).
- When transgressions do happen, repent.
In Section 5 President Hinckley explains how Priesthood quorums and the Relief Society are similar
and compliment each other. He said:
"… The priesthood quorum is the Lord’s organization for men of the Church, just as the Relief Society is the Lord’s organization for women of the Church. Each has among its responsibilities, basic to its reason for being, the assisting of those in need.
When the Relief Society was organized the Prophet Joseph said of the women of the Society: “They will fly to the relief of the stranger; they will pour in the wine and oil to the wounded heart of the distressed; they will dry up the tears of the orphan and make the widow’s heart to rejoice” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 452]. I would hope that the same might be said of the men of the priesthood."Section 6 briefly discusses women and the priesthood. President Hinckley said:
"The men hold the priesthood, yes. But my wife is my companion. In this Church the man neither walks ahead of his wife nor behind his wife but at her side. They are co-equals in this life in a great enterprise.
There is strength and great capacity in the women of this Church. There is leadership and direction, a certain spirit of independence, and yet great satisfaction in being a part of this, the Lord’s kingdom, and of working hand in hand with [holders of] the priesthood to move it forward."
There is also a great quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard:
“In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. In other words, in the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife”
I have a testimony that the priesthood is the power of God. I have many wonderful and sacred experiences with it blessing my life. If you want to further study the priesthood I would recommend:
Priesthood in Gospel Topics
Aaronic Priesthood in the Bible Dictionary
Melchizedek Priesthood in the Bible Dictionary
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