I've just finished studying our RS lesson for tomorrow. It's called "The Holy Priesthood - for the Blessing of God's Children". We don't often study about the Priesthood in RS so this was especially refreshing for me to hear the words of a Prophet of God talk about the Priesthood. If you have your RS manual, it's Lesson #5 in Teachings of Presidents of the Church - George Albert Smith.
He begins by saying that he hopes when boys are conferred to the Aaronic Priesthood they "feel that (he) has something now that is eternally important". I had to wonder if my boys felt that way when they were conferred. Did we do a good enough job teaching them the importance of the Priesthood and what a blessing it would be to them? I surely hope so. I know they had a father who honored his Priesthood, who was a good example for them. But, was it enough? Did I do my best for them?
President Smith talks about how Jesus was not just a "good man", a "good teacher". He came to teach, but He also came to organize His Church and restore the Holy Priesthood of God" to the earth; to "confer on His associates divine authority to administer the ordinances of His Church." These are the very ordinances that will return us to the presence of our Father.
Jesus called the humble fishermen of Galilee to be His Holy Priesthood leaders because they could be taught. Later, the Priesthood was restored to the earth in our time to a humble young boy, Joseph Smith. "The Father and the Son appeared; men who held the Priesthood formerly came and conferred that Priesthood upon humble men and they in turn were commanded to confer it upon others."
"Your mission is a very remarkable one, you men who bear the Priesthood. Upon you has been conferred divine authority. ... You received your authority from men divinely commissioned to act as servants of the Lord, and it was conferred upon you by those who received it directly from Jesus Christ our Lord."
It was exciting to read and to understand that "many of our Father's children are beginning to observe the effect of divine authority in this Church." I had to think of the men and women all over this world who, when taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, come to the realization of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood; who understand and accept the truths and blessings that come because of the Priesthood in our lives. How marvelous is that? What reprecussions will come to the earth because of the expansion of the Holy Priesthood? Can you just imagine a world incompassed by the power of the Priesthood, the blessings of the people blessing each other's lives in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ? How celestrial would that be?
President Smith reminds us that "Through this Priesthood every ordinance of the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, necessary for the salvation of the children of man, is authoritatively administered. ... The Priesthood... is a blessing that, if we are faithful, will open the doors of the celestial kingdom and give us a place there to live throught the ages of eternity." Then he says, "Do not trifle with this pricless blessing."
Priesthood holders have a responsiblity to live examplary lives and use the priesthood to bless others. "You belong to a choice body of men,... making you partners with the Mster of Heaven and Earth. ... there should be deep in every soul a consciousness that 'I am my brother's keeper. I hold authority from the Lord Jesus Christ - I am a bearer of the Holy Priesthood."
"You brethren... have had conferred upon you a sacred opportunity, a sacred trust. You have received the blessings of the Holy Priesthood. Divine authority has been conferred upon you.... You represent Him who is the author of our being... The Priesthood that you hold is the power of God....Surely we ought to be grateful for our blessings...."
I am so very grateful for the blessing of the Priesthood in my life. I sweetly remember my father administering blessings on us children and serving others in kindness. His life was one of service to others and although it wasn't always in a suit with his hands on someone's head. It was often in kindly deeds done to help someone else.
My sweet husband has been an example to his children of service to others. He was always the first to arrive and the last to leave whenever there was an event held that he could be of service to others. He has blessed the lives of each of us with Priesthood blessings, confirmations and service.
My boys and the husbands of my daughters are great men of the Priesthood. They honor the calling they have and they reach out to bless the lives of their families and many others. Their daily lives are examples of all they do in the name of the Lord.
I think on my grandsons and granddaughters. Will they recieve and honor the Priesthod? Will they understand and be prepared for the duties of it? Will they realize the blessings and the responsibilities of it?
I think on the sweet Priesthood holders in our ward who bless and pass the sacrament to me each week. Do they realize my appreciation for them? How will I ever repay the honorable men you've come into our home to bless us with their teachings, their friendships, their Priesthood blessings and their support? My life has been forever deeply touched by those wonderful men who hold and honor their Priesthood.
I love the Priesthood! It has been the foundation of many experiences of my life. I think on the holy blessings that have come to me and to my family because of righteous Priesthood men and my eyes fill with tears and my heart with graditude for a kind and lovely Father who allows us to use His name, His authority, His power to bless our families. Many miracles have occurred in my life because of His Holy Priesthood! I will be forever grateful to the men in this sphere and the men on the other side of the veil who have honored their Priesthood and participated in these blessings. I will be forever grateful to my Savior and to my Father for the blessing of the Holy Priesthood of God.
