Priesthood Power
Restored, Received by prophecy and the Laying on of Hands, Righteous Priesthood Holder,
Inherit all that God has if we live worthy of this blessing
Eternal Blessings, Enable mortals to act in God’s name
Source of the Blessings? Sustain, Sacrament
Through the Priesthood We Receive
Heirs, Chosen Heirs
Offices of the Priesthood, (Two Priesthood's) Ordinances & Oil
Oath & Covenant– God Promises, They Promise
Differences & Duties
In one of the sermons, President Smith said: “I think we all know that the blessings of the priesthood are not confined to men alone. These blessings are also poured out upon our wives and daughters and upon all the faithful women of the Church. These good sisters can prepare themselves, by keeping the commandments and by serving in the Church, for the blessings of the house of the Lord. The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.
As Sister Bosh taught the lesson, she gave the scripture 1 Nephi 19:23 which says "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.."
She wanted to "liken" President Smith's lesson to us women. As you read the lesson, think about what it means for us, women. "The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord..."
1. Men should have a clear understanding of the covenant they make when they receive offices in the priesthood.
Then,
speaking of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, the Lord
says: “For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of
which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified
by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
“They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
“And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
“For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
Refer to D & C 84: 17-24
2. Priesthood holders promise to magnify their callings in the priesthood and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
My father, President Joseph F. Smith, said: “There is no office growing out of this priesthood that is or can be greater than the priesthood itself. It is from the priesthood that the office derives its authority and power. No office gives authority to the priesthood. No office adds to the power of the priesthood. But all offices in the Church derive their power, their virtue, their authority, from the priesthood."
In other words, in a woman's perspective, magnify your callings. "What does it mean to magnify a calling? It means to build it up in dignity and importance, to make it honorable and commendable in the eyes of all men, to enlarge and strengthen it, to let the light of heaven shine through it to the view of other men. And how does one magnify a calling? Simply by performing the service that pertains to it. An elder magnifies the ordained calling of an elder by learning what his duties as an elder are and then by doing them. As with an elder, so with a deacon, a teacher, a priest, a bishop, and each who holds office in the priesthood." --taken from here
And we have a lot of sisters who magnify their callings!
3. The promise of exaltation is offered to every Melchizedek Priesthood holder who is true to the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
Christ is our greatest example of fulfilling of callings and duties: President Smith said, "And so Christ is the great prototype where priesthood is concerned, as he is with reference to baptism and all other things. And so, even as the Father swears with an oath that his Son shall inherit all things through the priesthood, so he swears with an oath that all of us who magnify our callings in that same priesthood shall receive all that the Father hath.
And~~~~ It is perfectly clear that there are no more glorious promises that have or could be made than those that came to us when we accepted the privilege and assumed the responsibility of holding the holy priesthood and of standing as ministers of Christ."
4. The blessings of the Lord are offered to all people through the ministrations of those who hold His holy priesthood.
Sister Bosh said that we need the blessings of the priesthood in order to receive exaltation. President Smith said, "The blessings of the Lord are offered to the Saints and to the world through the ministrations of those who hold his holy priesthood, who represent him, who are in fact his servants and agents and are willing to serve him and keep his commandments."
In addition~~~I found a conference talk that stood out to me. Here is a highlight from Neil L Andersen's talk. He said, "A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift." I attached the video for you. :)
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