The Powers of Heaven

Sister Griffeth taught our lesson from the conference issue of the May 2012 Ensign by Elder David Bednar.

President David O. McKay asked and Sister Griffeth asked us to consider this question, 

If at this moment one of you were asked to stated the most distinctive aspect of the church, what would you say?  

Some answers were:  a living prophet, priesthood, Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, temples, doctrine stays the same, eternal families.

McKay's response to this question was, "Divine authority of the priesthood.  It is distinguishing because it was passed down to Joseph Smith from Jesus Christ through Peter, James and John.  

What is the priesthood?  The authority and power to act in the name of God. It is the means whereby the Lord acts through men to save souls.  

Who is given the priesthood?  All worthy males ages twelve and up.  Ordinary men.  

Bednar said, "Ordinary men are given the authority of the priesthood.  Worthiness and willingness--not experience, expertise, or education--are the qualifications for priesthood ordination.  A priesthood holder is expected to exercise this sacred authority in accordance with God's holy mind will, and purposes.  Nothing about the priesthood is self centered.  The priesthood always is used to serve, to bless, and to strengthen other people."

President Ezra Taft Benson taught, "It is not enough to receive the priesthood and then sit back passively and wait until someone prods us into activity.  When we receive the priesthood, we have the obligation of becoming actively and anxiously engaged in promoting the cause of righteousness int eh earth, because the Lord says:  He that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned."  

Sister Griffeth said that while sitting through the sacrament meeting today, she watched for all the different roles the priesthood holders conducted.  The ones she noted were the preparing, blessing and passing of the sacrament, organize and conduct the meeting, usher.  She noticed that even with all the recent changes in our ward, things flowed.  

Bednar taught, "the power of the priesthood is God's power operating through men and boys like us and requires personal righteousness, faithfulness, obedience, and diligence.  A boy or a man may receive priesthood authority by the laying on of hands but will have no priesthood power if he is disobedient, unworthy, or unwilling to serve."  

Bednar went on to share a personal experience, "I was reared in a home with a faithful mother and a wonderful father.  My mom was a descendant of pioneers who sacrificed everything for the Church and kingdom of God.  My dad was not a member of our Church and, as a young ma, had desired to become a Catholic priest.  Ultimately, he elected not to attend theological seminary and instead pursued a career as a tool and die maker.

For much of his married life, my father attended meetings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with our family.  In fact, many of the people in our ward had no idea that my dad was not a member of the Church.  He played on and coached our ward softball team, helped with Scout activities, and supported my mother in her various callings and responsibilities.  I want to tell you about of the thre great lessons I learned from my father about priesthood authority and power.

As a boy I asked my dad many times each week when he was going to be baptized.  He responded lovingly but firmly each time I pestered him:  "David, I am not going to join the Church for your mother, for your or for anyone else.  I will join th eChurch when I know it is the right thing to do." 

I believe I was in my early teenage years when the following conversation occurred with my father.  We had just returned home from attending our Sunday meetings together, and I asked my dad when he was going to be baptized.  He smiled and said, "You are the one always asking me about being baptized.  Today I have a question for you".  I quickly and excitedly concluded that now we were making progress!

My dad continued, "David, your church teaches that the priesthood was taken from the earth anciently and has been restored by heavenly messengers to the Prophet Joseph Smith, right?"  I replied that his statement was correct.  Then he said, "Here is my question.  Each week in priesthood meeting I listen to the bishop and the other priesthood leaders remind, beg, and plead with the men to do their home teaching and to perform their priesthood duties.  If your church truly has the restored priesthood of God, why are so many of the men in your church no different about doing their religious duty than the men in my church?"

What do men need to do to honor and utilize their priesthood?  Sister Griffeth shared their families practice of having a special dinner and then a father's blessing the night before the first day of school.  Another sister shared an experience in her life when her husband was elders quorum president and gone a lot.  She was feeling a little bitter.  One day she realized how lucky she was to have the priesthood in her home at all times. She lost her bitterness and was glad her husband could lend his priesthood blessings to those in the ward that did not have the priesthood in their homes.  Another sister said that we need to teach our children in righteousness.   She had grown up in a home without the priesthood.  She was blessed and baptized by home teachers who faithfully came.  She had always felt she had gotten the short end of the stick until one day she realized and was grateful that the priesthood is so far reaching.  Sister Griffeth then shared an experience she and her family had had when her husband became sick and was in the hospital.  Her home teachers came to the hospital at 9:00 at night dressed in their church suits and never complained and actually made them feel as if they had given them a great honor.  Another sister said that we need to point out and help our teenage boys realize what an honor it is to pass the sacrament.  It is not something we can give ourselves.  They need to be worthy.

How can we teach young men and sometimes older men to fulfill their priesthood responsibilities?  Some responses were, allow them to use it.  Sometimes we have a hard time asking for blessings because we convince ourselves we are ok.  Using the priesthood is how they grow.  We need to be supportive when our husbands go away to meetings.  Our children see us and our reactions when our husbands are gone again.  Sister Griffeth commented how impressed she is every month when a 12 or 13 year old boy calls and then comes to her door with his father by his side to collect their fast offering.