I wrote the post below in June 2014, but recently have found an article that I have found very helpful and insightful about women and the priesthood; which also gives men an interesting viewpoint to think about. It is an article by Barbara Morgan Gardner (who was an assistant professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU when this was published). Her article is entitled, "Helping Female Students Rise to Their Spiritual Privileges".
In the May 2013 BYU Women’s Conference, Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President said,
“We rejoice that we are privileged to live in this
season of the history of the Church when questions are being asked about the
priesthood. There is great interest and desire to know and understand more
about the authority, power, and blessings associated with the priesthood of
God….I testify that the Lord is hastening His work, and it is imperative for us
to understand how the Lord accomplishes His work so that we may receive the
power that comes from be aligned with His plan and purposes” (Linda K. Burton, "Priesthood: 'A Sacred Trust to Be Used for the Benefit of Men, Women, and Children’, BYU Women’s Conference, 3 May 2013).
I
have always had a testimony of the power of the Priesthood. I was raised in a
home where I could ask my father any time, day or night, for a blessing –
whether it was for health, comfort, guidance, or any other need – and he would
be willing and ready. I have never really studied the doctrine of the
priesthood because I felt that it just applied to men, and I am content to
support and sustain it. Raising a family, however, has helped me realize the importance of both men and women understanding the Priesthood.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke about the priesthood when he said, “How does this apply to women? In
an address to the Relief Society, President Joseph Fielding Smith, then
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said this: “While the sisters
have not been given the Priesthood, it has not been conferred upon them, that does
not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood”, Ensign, May 2014). This statement made
me realize that the priesthood is not only for men, but for women and children
as well – for everyone.
I
wanted to take a few moments and share with you a few things I’ve learned about
the priesthood.
One
thing I found of interest from Sister Burton’s talk is when she said,
“I am
learning that women’s moral influence is a complementary gift to priesthood
power.” She then gave the following example:
“Let me share a simple illustration of the influence of a righteous woman I know and love.
"One day when my husband was serving as a stake president, he received an urgent phone call requesting his immediate help at a nearby hospital to give a priesthood blessing to a faithful man in our stake. As he arrived, the man’s wife met him at the door. Upon telling the physician that her stake president was there to give her husband a blessing, the doctor informed her that her husband was about to die and she had better prepare herself for the inevitable. Pounding on his chest with her fists, she emphatically opposed him and said in effect, “He is going to be healed. My stake president is here to give him a priesthood blessing, and he will live!”
"Was it the priesthood blessing, offered by a worthy priesthood holder who pronounced a blessing, yet acknowledged the will of the Lord? Or was it the unwavering faith and influence of a righteous woman? Or was it both that brought about the miraculous healing that followed? I like to think Heavenly Father took both into account to bring about the miracle that preserved the life of this husband, who shortly afterward was called to serve as our stake patriarch” (Linda K. Burton, "Priesthood: 'A Sacred Trust to Be Used for the Benefit of Men, Women, and Children’, BYU Women’s Conference, 3 May 2013).
“Let me share a simple illustration of the influence of a righteous woman I know and love.
"One day when my husband was serving as a stake president, he received an urgent phone call requesting his immediate help at a nearby hospital to give a priesthood blessing to a faithful man in our stake. As he arrived, the man’s wife met him at the door. Upon telling the physician that her stake president was there to give her husband a blessing, the doctor informed her that her husband was about to die and she had better prepare herself for the inevitable. Pounding on his chest with her fists, she emphatically opposed him and said in effect, “He is going to be healed. My stake president is here to give him a priesthood blessing, and he will live!”
"Was it the priesthood blessing, offered by a worthy priesthood holder who pronounced a blessing, yet acknowledged the will of the Lord? Or was it the unwavering faith and influence of a righteous woman? Or was it both that brought about the miraculous healing that followed? I like to think Heavenly Father took both into account to bring about the miracle that preserved the life of this husband, who shortly afterward was called to serve as our stake patriarch” (Linda K. Burton, "Priesthood: 'A Sacred Trust to Be Used for the Benefit of Men, Women, and Children’, BYU Women’s Conference, 3 May 2013).
This
reminded me of another faithful woman in Church history: Mary Fielding Smith.
She was the 2nd wife of Hyrum Smith, and mother of Joseph F. Smith
(who became the 6th President of the Church).
“Preparing to migrate west with the Saints in 1848, Mary Fielding
Smith faced many hardships. During her stay at Winter Quarters, some of her
oxen had been stolen, and many of her cattle and horses had died in the severe
winter. Strong oxen were necessary to making the trip west in safety.
"Mary’s son Joseph, then nine years old, was given the job of driving one of the ox teams. Because they didn’t have enough oxen to pull their wagons, they tied two wagons together and used their few oxen to pull both wagons at once. Though this slowed their progress, they managed to make it the twenty-seven miles from Winter Quarters to the Elk Horn River, where their company was forming and where they hoped to obtain more oxen or horses.
"Although Mary managed to get some additional cattle to help pull the wagons to the Salt Lake Valley, the trek still tested and refined her faith. One day one of her best oxen became very sick, lay down, and was apparently near death. Had this happened, she could not have continued on the journey to the Valley. Mary got a bottle of consecrated oil and asked two brethren to administer to the sick ox. Although administration to the sick had only been used for humans, Mary believed that the Lord would heal the animal that she needed so desperately.
"After the blessing, the ox got up and was soon ready to pull the wagon again. Two more times other oxen became ill, and twice more Mary asked the brethren to bless them. Each time, they were healed instantly” (Jane McBride Choate, “Mary Fielding Smith—Mother in Israel”, Friend, July 1993).
"Mary’s son Joseph, then nine years old, was given the job of driving one of the ox teams. Because they didn’t have enough oxen to pull their wagons, they tied two wagons together and used their few oxen to pull both wagons at once. Though this slowed their progress, they managed to make it the twenty-seven miles from Winter Quarters to the Elk Horn River, where their company was forming and where they hoped to obtain more oxen or horses.
"Although Mary managed to get some additional cattle to help pull the wagons to the Salt Lake Valley, the trek still tested and refined her faith. One day one of her best oxen became very sick, lay down, and was apparently near death. Had this happened, she could not have continued on the journey to the Valley. Mary got a bottle of consecrated oil and asked two brethren to administer to the sick ox. Although administration to the sick had only been used for humans, Mary believed that the Lord would heal the animal that she needed so desperately.
"After the blessing, the ox got up and was soon ready to pull the wagon again. Two more times other oxen became ill, and twice more Mary asked the brethren to bless them. Each time, they were healed instantly” (Jane McBride Choate, “Mary Fielding Smith—Mother in Israel”, Friend, July 1993).
To
repeat Sister Burton’s question; “Was it the priesthood blessing, offered by a
worthy priesthood holder, acknowledging the will of the Lord? Or was it the
unwavering faith and influence of a righteous woman? Or was it both?” This got
me thinking about how the power of faith relates to the priesthood.
Bruce R. McConkie says it this this way,
Bruce R. McConkie says it this this way,
“Priesthood is power like none other on earth or in heaven. It is the
very power of God himself, the power by which the worlds were made, the power
by which all things are regulated, upheld, and preserved.
"It is the power of faith, the faith by which the Father creates and governs. God is God because he is the embodiment of all faith and all power and all priesthood.” (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood”, Ensign, May 1982).
"It is the power of faith, the faith by which the Father creates and governs. God is God because he is the embodiment of all faith and all power and all priesthood.” (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood”, Ensign, May 1982).
The Lord is hastening His work, and we need to be in tune to the Spirit of
the Lord so we can know how He works, and in turn receive the power that comes
from being aligned with His plan and purposes.
We
know that righteousness qualifies each of us to invite priesthood power into
our lives. Righteousness comes through obedience to God. A recently returned
missionary stated, “obedience brings blessings. Exact obedience brings
miracles.”
We
can look at the miraculous examples in the scriptures: Captain Moroni (Alma 48:15-18), or the sons of Mosiah (Alma 17:2-3) from the Book of Mormon. Examples of David, who
slew Goliath (1 Samuel 17), or Gideon and his 300 men defeating the Midianite army (Judges 7). One
comment I heard recently in Sunday School is that “the Lord can make anything
happen, and he will use whatever tools he has available to do it.” Are we
living our lives in such a way that the Lord can use us as His tool;
that through our faith His power can be accessed? Elder John K. Carmack spoke about faith and the priesthood when he shared the following,
“Recently Elder Tai and I stayed in the Everest Hotel in Kathmandu,
Nepal. One evening the electric power failed. Fortunately two small candles and
matches were provided. But instead of about four hundred watts of electric
power to light our rooms, our candles yielded only two candlepower, not enough
light to allow us to continue our work.
"The priesthood of God is potentially a greater source of power than electricity. Collectively, priesthood brethren perform well, but we fall far short of our potential. Why? Could our problem be that we fail to tap our greatest source of power in exercising our priesthood? Do we trade electricity for candles?
"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the priesthood’s dynamic power source. By failing to put faith first in our callings, we reduce the priesthood’s light and power. Other obstacles also block its beneficial rays….
"Rather than relying on faith, we are tempted to stay with the comfortable and tangible tools of our temporal lives to accomplish priesthood callings. The Church has also provided some tools. These tools are useful. They have helped us achieve success, power, and control over our time. They include our natural intelligence; education and training; preparation, with manuals, handbooks, agendas, and budgets.”
"The priesthood of God is potentially a greater source of power than electricity. Collectively, priesthood brethren perform well, but we fall far short of our potential. Why? Could our problem be that we fail to tap our greatest source of power in exercising our priesthood? Do we trade electricity for candles?
"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the priesthood’s dynamic power source. By failing to put faith first in our callings, we reduce the priesthood’s light and power. Other obstacles also block its beneficial rays….
"Rather than relying on faith, we are tempted to stay with the comfortable and tangible tools of our temporal lives to accomplish priesthood callings. The Church has also provided some tools. These tools are useful. They have helped us achieve success, power, and control over our time. They include our natural intelligence; education and training; preparation, with manuals, handbooks, agendas, and budgets.”
He speaks of the
benefits of these things, and doesn’t discount them, but, “Add faith, however, and priesthood service becomes magnificent. Two
candles suddenly burst into four hundred watts of light. More to the point, we
tap into the Lord’s power source, and our actions move in rhythm with His. The
Lord compensates for our deficiencies. Vast, unseen reservoirs of dynamic power
supply our needs.”
With all this power
available, why does it sometimes seem so hard to access it? Let me continue
from Elder Carmack’s remarks about things that may block our faith.
“Pride and arrogance block out faith.
"Self-sufficiency, often through financial success, high educational attainment, fame, and honor among men, can keep us from having faith.
"Religious fanaticism can damn our faith. In religion, as in other things, sometimes more is less.
"Alcohol, drugs, salacious entertainment, pornography, and accumulation of material things clog the arteries of faith; and fear, guilt, bitterness, and resentment can choke faith.” (John K. Carmack, "Faith Yields Priesthood Power”, Ensign, May 1993).
"Self-sufficiency, often through financial success, high educational attainment, fame, and honor among men, can keep us from having faith.
"Religious fanaticism can damn our faith. In religion, as in other things, sometimes more is less.
"Alcohol, drugs, salacious entertainment, pornography, and accumulation of material things clog the arteries of faith; and fear, guilt, bitterness, and resentment can choke faith.” (John K. Carmack, "Faith Yields Priesthood Power”, Ensign, May 1993).
On the flip side,
Elder Richard G. Scott, in General Conference of 2012, said “…spiritual communication can be enhanced
by good health practices. Exercise, reasonable amounts of sleep, and good
eating habits increase our capacity to receive and understand revelation.” (Richard G. Scott, "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, Ensign, May 2012).
Elder Carmack
continues,
“Yes, Satan throws up many obstacles. He doesn’t want us to have
faith…. faith is not an exclusive tool of the priesthood. The Roman centurion
held no priesthood, but through faith asked the Lord to heal his servant….The
gentile woman of Canaan also tapped into the source of power. Evil spirits had vexed
her daughter, and she sought in faith to have Jesus cast the evil spirits out….
we can learn much about faith from such sisters as the woman of Canaan, from
our friends of other faiths such as the Roman centurion, and especially from
our children. No matter how we learn to use the power of faith, we need to have
it to accomplish the awesome tasks assigned to us" (John K. Carmack, "Faith Yields Priesthood Power”, Ensign, May 1993).
It’s obvious that
Satan does not want us to have faith in Jesus Christ - because faith is tied to
Priesthood power. God’s power. There has been so much confusion lately about
men vs. women and the power, keys and authority of the priesthood.
In the 2011 BYU
Women’s Conference, Sister Julie B. Beck said,
“Don’t confuse the power with
the keys and the offices of the priesthood. God’s power is limitless and it is
shared with those who make and keep covenants. Too much is said and
misunderstood about what the brothers have and the sisters don’t have. This is
Satan’s way of confusing both men and women so neither understands what they
really have.” (Julie B. Beck, Opening Session, BYU Women’s Conference, 29 Apr 2011).
The adversary does
not want us to understand the power of the priesthood, because if we truly did,
we would be unstoppable.
Continuing from his earlier message Elder Bruce R.
McConkie said:
“Truly, there is power in the priesthood—power to do all things!
"If the world itself was created by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can move mountains and control the elements.
"If one-third of the hosts of heaven were cast down to earth by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can put at defiance the armies of nations or stay the fall of atomic bombs.
"If all men shall be raised from mortality to immortality by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can cure the diseased and the dying and raise the dead.
"Truly there is power in the priesthood.” (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood”, Ensign, May 1982).
"If the world itself was created by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can move mountains and control the elements.
"If one-third of the hosts of heaven were cast down to earth by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can put at defiance the armies of nations or stay the fall of atomic bombs.
"If all men shall be raised from mortality to immortality by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can cure the diseased and the dying and raise the dead.
"Truly there is power in the priesthood.” (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood”, Ensign, May 1982).
A power that Satan
will never have.
With the power
of the priesthood being so vital to moving the work of the Lord forward, how
can we learn more about it? Sister Burton offers 3 suggestions:
“First, seek to be worthy of the gift of the Holy Ghost. Because the doctrine of the priesthood is best
understood by revelation, it is essential to have the help of the Holy Ghost to
reveal and distill the doctrine upon our souls….
"Second, the holy temple. We know that the temple “is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth” and is the ideal setting to learn about the priesthood by the spirit of revelation….
"Third, the scriptures. Searching, pondering, and studying the scriptures are invitations for the Holy Ghost to reveal to us important truths about the priesthood.” (Julie B. Beck, Opening Session, BYU Women’s Conference, 29 Apr 2011).
"Second, the holy temple. We know that the temple “is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth” and is the ideal setting to learn about the priesthood by the spirit of revelation….
"Third, the scriptures. Searching, pondering, and studying the scriptures are invitations for the Holy Ghost to reveal to us important truths about the priesthood.” (Julie B. Beck, Opening Session, BYU Women’s Conference, 29 Apr 2011).
She goes on to give
specific scriptures that we can study if we want to learn more about the
priesthood.
I know God lives. I
know that he is intimately aware of each of us. He is willing to help us become
who we can become. I pray that we will choose to make time to learn more about
the Lord and His ways, so that we can be instruments in his hands.
