Tag Archives: Priesthood

Priesthood power comes line upon line

This quote by John Taylor stood out to me as I strive to understand what the Lord would have me do. He said,

“If we understand ourselves and our position, it ought to be with us, the kingdom of God first and ourselves afterwards. If we can learn to accomplish a little thing, the Lord will probably tell us to do a grater, because we are prepared to do it. . . . If we are the people of God, and he is trusting to us to accomplish these great purposes, we have got to do a little more than we have done, and we have got to be willing and obedient to the dictation of the Spirit of the Lord and his servants whom he had placed over us. If we do this, every labor we engage in will be joyous and pleasant to us, peace will reign in our bosoms and the peace of God will abide in our habitations; the Spirit of the Lord will brood over us, and we shall be full of joy and rejoicing all the day long, and so it will be to the end of the chapter. I know of no other way to accomplish all this work, only to be taught of the Lord, and for that purpose he has organized his holy priesthood.”

John Taylor
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, p. 124

Priesthood is given to enable us to build up Zion

Speaking on the purposes of the priesthood of God, John Taylor taught,

“What is the priesthood given for? That we may be enabled to build up the Zion of our God. What for? To put down wrong and corruption, lasciviousness, lying, thieving  dishonesty, and covetousness, with every kind of evil, and also to encourage faith, meekness, charity, purity, brotherly kindness, truthfulness, integrity, honesty, and everything that is calculated to exalt and ennoble mankind, that we may be the true and proper representatives of God the Father here upon the earth, that we may learn to know his will and do it; that his will may be done on earth as in heaven.”

John Taylor,
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, p. 122

Sketchnotes – “Brethren We Have Work To Do” – Church Notes for November 25

Back in our home ward, I took some sketchnotes during our lesson in Priesthood based on Elder Christofferson’s recent address during the Priesthood Session of General Conference, “Brethren, We Have Work to Do.”

“As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength inpornography or spend their lives in cyberspace (ironically being of the world while not being in the world).

Brethren, we have work to do.”

The full talk: Read | Watch

Sketchnote: “Beware Concerning Yourselves”

It’s not a sketchnote in the truest sense of the method, but still a creative release while capturing meaning from Elder Anthony D. Perkin’s priesthood session address. I loved the imagery and what started as a sketch kind of took on a life of it’s own.

“Brethren, each of you has entered, or will soon enter, into the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood. In that covenant is embedded a glorious journey that begins with receiving both the lesser and higher priesthoods, progresses through magnifying our callings, and climbs ever upward to God’s grandest vistas, until we receive ‘all that [the] Father hath.’

The wise designer of that celestial road has erected caution signs for our journey. The oath and covenant of the priesthood contains this soul-searching warning: ‘I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves.'”

Read, listen or watch the address here.

Honoring the Priesthood

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught us how we can take steps to better honor the priesthood. He said,

“Let us embrace and understand the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. Let us accept and love the responsibilities we are asked to fulfill—responsibilities in our homes and in our Church units, no matter how large or small they may be. Let us constantly increase in righteousness, dedication, and priesthood service. Let us find the joy of serving in the priesthood!
We can do this best by applying the principles of knowledge, obedience, and faith.

“That means, first, we need to know and internalize the doctrine of the priesthood found in the revealed word of God. It is important for us to understand the covenants and commandments upon which the priesthood operates.

“Next, let us be wise and act upon this gained knowledge constantly and honorably. As we obey God’s laws, discipline our minds and bodies, and attune our actions to the patterns of righteousness taught by the prophets, we will experience the joy of priesthood service.

“And finally, let us deepen our faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Let us take upon ourselves His name and commit each single day to walk anew in the path of discipleship. Let our works make our faith perfect. Through discipleship we may be perfected one step at a time by serving our family, our fellowmen, and God. “

2012 October General Conference, The Joy of the Priesthood, Priesthood Session – By Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Wonder and Privilege of the Priesthood

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf challenged us to see the priesthood for what it really is. He said,

“I feel a certain sadness for those who do not grasp and appreciate the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. They are like passengers on an airplane who spend their time grumbling about the size of the packet of peanuts while they are soaring through the air, far above the clouds—something ancient kings would have given all they possessed to try and experience just once!

“Brethren, we are blessed to be humble partakers of this great priesthood authority and power. Let us lift up our eyes and see, recognize, and accept this opportunity for what it really is.”

2012 October General Conference, The Joy of the Priesthood, Priesthood Session – By Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Men of the Priesthood: We Have Work to Do

Elder D. Todd Christofferson challenged the men of the Priesthood to move away from worldly trends of diminishing men. He said,

“As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace (ironically being of the world, while not being in the world).

Brethren, we have work to do.”

2012 October General Conference, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, Priesthood Session – By D. Todd Christofferson

Importance of Worthiness

President Thomas S. Monson taught us about the importance of retaining our worthiness,

“Let us have ready hands, clean hands, and willing hands, that we may participate in providing what our Heavenly Father would have others receive from Him. If we are not worthy, it is possible to lose the power of the priesthood; and if we lose it, we have lost the essence of exaltation. Let us be worthy to serve.”

“Willing and Worthy to Serve,” April 2012 General Conference – Priesthood Session

Priesthood Definition

President Joseph F. Smith taught,

“The priesthood … is … the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and act legitimately; not assuming that authority, nor borrowing it from generations that are dead and gone, but authority that has been given in this day in which we live by ministering angels and spirits from above, direct from the presence of Almighty God.”

Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. (1939), 139–40; emphasis added.

 

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Gospel and Priesthood Needed to See God

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 1, p.4

“The Father and the Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith before the Church was organized and the priesthood restored to the earth. Under those conditions the Lord could appear to one who sought for light as he did in the case of Joseph Smith.

“Now that the Church is organized, and the power of the priesthood is here, no one can see the face of God, even the Father, without the blessings of the gospel and the authority of the priesthood.”