Carole M. Stephens

 

(black text is the original talk; all yellow highlights are things I am commenting on;All blue text are my thoughts and are my opinions only and do not represent the official position of the speaker or the church.)

Do We Know What We Have?

By Carole M. Stephens
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

Priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access "to gain entrance to" to the fulness of the blessings "all the Father hath" promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior’s Atonement.oh, how we love Him!

In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles state: “All no distinction made human beings—male and female—just in case you didn't understand what "all" meant....are created in the image of God. we look like God; God looks like us  Each again...each...all...same thing is a beloved "cherished; precious; greatly loved" spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, literally. God IS the Father of your spirit; we are ALL spirit brothers and sisters - family and, as such, each all..has a divine nature and destiny.”¹ Of course...divine parents...divine nature...divine destiny...To achieve this divine destiny, each all...son and daughter of God needs priesthood ordinances and covenants. meaning, without these two things, there is NO achieving your divine destiny or full  development of your divine nature.

We need baptism. Ordinance #1; Covenant #1When we are immersed Christ's example in the waters of baptism, we covenant to take Christ’s name upon us, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end, that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.² Covenant and Blessing - always hand in hand. See Mosiah 18 for a more detailed look at the covenant... 

We need the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ordinance #2 Through that ordinance, we can have access the right to the constant "regular, unchanging" companionship "a relationship between friends"of the Spirit. President Wilford Woodruff taught: “Every all...man or woman that has ever no exception entered into the church of God and been baptized for the remission of sins has a right to revelation, a right to the Spirit of God, to assist them in their labors, in their administrations to their children, in counseling their children and those over whom they are called upon to preside. Do you feel like you are receiving this assistance that you have a right to? The Holy Ghost is not restricted to men, nor to apostles or prophets; it belongs to every faithful man and woman, and to every child who is old enough to receive the gospel of Christ.”³  You don't have to wait for others to tell you what to do..."the Spirit will guide"...

We need to receive the temple endowment. Elder M. Russell Ballard said: “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. … The endowment is literally a gift of power.”⁴

Please take the time to read Elder Ballard's talk on this subject. I started to highlight a few quotes to include here and ended up highlighting the whole talk! Share it!

We need the sealing ordinance, which leads to eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.”⁵ This priesthood ordinance is received only by a man and a woman together. The man is not without the woman, in the Lord...Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, “Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally.”⁶..."If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."

We need the opportunity to renew our covenants each week as we partake of the sacrament. Latter-day prophets and apostles have taught that when we worthily partake of the sacrament, we can renew not only our baptismal covenant but “all covenants entered into with the Lord.”⁷ Do you remember all the covenants you have made?  These priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fulness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior’s Atonement. They arm sons and daughters of God with power, God’s power,⁸ I don't know if we really believe this, as a whole....or we would not have such a hard time getting to the temple regularly - (weekly if you live close to a temple.) How is this power manifest in your life? At the very least, it is the power that comes with understanding "truth" and provide us with the opportunity to receive eternal life—to return to God’s presence and live with Him in His eternal family.

I recently went with priesthood leaders to visit the homes of four women in Honduras. These sisters and their families were in need of priesthood keys and authority, priesthood ordinances and covenants, and priesthood power and blessings.

We visited a dear sister who is married and has two beautiful children. She is faithful and active in the Church, and she is teaching her children to choose the right. Her husband supports her Church activity, but he is not a member. Their family is strong, but to enjoy greater strength, they need additional priesthood blessings. They need the father to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost and to have the priesthood conferred upon him. They need the priesthood and the  power that can come through the endowment and sealing. Example 1: married with kids; faithful, active; strong family but missing the greater strength available through a father with the priesthood, endowment, and the sealing ordinance.

Our next visit was at the home of two single sisters, women of great faith. One sister has a son preparing for a mission. The other sister is receiving treatment for cancer. In times of discouragement and despair, they remember the Savior’s Atonement and are filled with faith and hope. They both need the additional blessings and power available through temple ordinances. We encouraged them to join the future missionary in their home in preparing to receive those ordinances. Example 2 and 3: Two single sisters; great faith; have faith and hope in the Atonement but missing the blessings and power of the endowment

Our last visit was at the home of a sister whose husband recently died in a tragic accident. A recent convert to the Church, she had not understood that she could receive her own endowment and be sealed to her husband. When we taught her that these blessings could be available to her and her deceased husband, she was filled with hope. Knowing that through temple ordinances and covenants her family can be sealed together, she has faith and determination to face the trials ahead. Example 4: widowed sister; convert; missing the blessings of the endowment and sealing and a priesthood holder in the home until her son is ordained.

This widow’s son is preparing to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. His ordination will be a great blessing to her and her family. They will have a priesthood holder in their home. 

When I met these faithful women in Honduras, I could see that they were striving to keep their families active in the gospel. They expressed gratitude for covenant-keeping ward members who tenderly watch over them and help support their temporal and spiritual needs. However, each of these sisters had needs that had not been fully met. All four sisters were faithful; active; grateful; but all four still have need of additional blessings from the priesthood. All four needed a priesthood blessing. I wonder why they chose examples of four active, faithful sisters? It must be a common situation in the church...people so close to the blessings, but not understanding what they are missing>

In each of the three homes we visited, a wise priesthood leader asked each sister if she had received a priesthood blessing. Each time the answer was no. Each sister asked for and received a priesthood blessing that day. Each wept as she expressed gratitude for the comfort, direction, encouragement, and inspiration that came from her Heavenly Father through a worthy priesthood holder.You can have these blessings through the priesthood.

These sisters inspired me. They showed reverence for God and His power and authority. Accepting a priesthood blessing shows reverence for God and His power and authority. I was also grateful for the priesthood leaders who visited these homes with me. When we left each home, we counseled together men and women counseling together...about how to help these families receive the ordinances they needed to progress on the covenant path and strengthen their homes. make a plan to help the people in your ward progress on the covenant path which will strengthen their homes.

There exists today a great need for men and women to cultivate respect for each other as sons and daughters of God and reverence for our Father in Heaven and His priesthood—His power and authority.What is the evidence for this "need'? Again...read Elder Ballard's talk...The Priesthood is God's power...not man's. It is His authority...not man's. 

He has a plan for us, See "the Proclamation on the Family" and when we exercise our faith and trust in His plan, our reverence for Him and for His priesthood power and authority will be strengthened. It takes faith and trust when you don't have all the answers or something doesn't seem "fair"...but acknowledge it is His priesthood power and authority to do with as He sees best.

In the worldwide leadership training Strengthening the Family and the Church through the Priesthood, we were taught that sisters who don’t have priesthood holders in their homes need never feel alone. They are blessed and strengthened through the ordinances they have received and the covenants they keep. They should not hesitate to reach out when help is needed. Yes...ask...people aren't "mind-readers"...Elder M. Russell Ballard taught that every woman in the Church needs to know that she has a bishop, an elders quorum president, a home teacher, and other worthy priesthood holders whom she can rely on to come into her home and assist her and, as Sister Rosemary M. Wixom added, to “give a blessing.”⁹

That is really a two-way admonition... 

Elder Ballard also taught: “Our Father in Heaven is generous with His power. All men and all women have access to this power for help in our own lives. All who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and who honor those covenants are eligible to receive personal revelation, to be blessed by the ministering of angels, [and] to commune with God.”¹⁰ We know what personal revelation is, but what does it mean to be blessed by the ministering of angels and how do you commune with God? Is that prayer? 

We all need each other. Zion...Sons of God need daughters of God, and daughters of God need sons of God. No sealing without recognizing this...

We have different gifts and different strengths. First Corinthians chapter 12 emphasizes the need for sons and daughters of God, each one of us, to fulfill our individual roles and responsibilities according to the Lord’s plan, that all may benefit.¹¹ This may speak to gender difference, but may also be talking about our own unique destiny. The gender plan of the Lord has been revealed; it may take you your whole life to understand the Lord's plan for you...

Here's your checklist men:
Sons of God, do you know who you are? Do you know what you have? Are you worthy to exercise the priesthood and receive the power and blessings of the priesthood? Do you embrace your roles and responsibilities to strengthen homes as fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers, and uncles? Do you show respect for women, womanhood, and motherhood?

Here's your checklist women:
Daughters of God, do we know who we are? Do we know what we have? Are we worthy to receive the power and blessings of the priesthood? Do we receive the gifts given to us with gratitude, grace, and dignity? Do we embrace our roles and responsibilities to strengthen homes as mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts? Do we show respect for men, manhood, and fatherhood?
Both lists are the same, except:

men need to be worthy to exercise the priesthood;
women are to receive the gifts given to them with gratitude, grace and dignity. Is this referring to the gifts of motherhood or womanhood? What gifts are we guilty of NOT receiving with gratitude, grace and dignity?

As covenant sons and daughters, do we have faith in our Heavenly Father and His eternal plan for us? Do we have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement? Do we believe that we have a divine nature and destiny? And in our efforts to achieve this destiny and receive all that the Father has,¹² do we understand the importance of receiving priesthood ordinances and making, keeping, and renewing our covenants with the Lord? The fact you already made the covenant should presuppose that you already do have faith and understanding. But perhaps we forget or we are not acting like we have faith. Remember faith is a verb. See the Bible Dictionary definition of Faith: "Faith is a principle of action and of power..."

We are beloved spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and destiny. Young Women repeat this weekly the YW theme...Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loved us enough to give His life for us. His Atonement provides the way for us to progress on the path to our heavenly home, through sacred priesthood ordinances and covenants. The atonement makes it possible for us to repent when we fail to keep our covenants and also give us power to keep them from day to day.

These priesthood ordinances and covenants were restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and today President Thomas S. Monson holds all the keys of the priesthood on the earth.

All priesthood holders can trace their line of authority directly back to Jesus Christ. It's usually not a very long line either...pretty impressive!  

Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught: “In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found the priesthood authority to administer the ordinances by which we can enter into binding covenants with our Heavenly Father in the name of His Holy Son. … God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants with Him.”¹³ And we end with an emphasis on covenants; making them and keeping them...
 

Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

 1. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129.
 2. See Moroni 4:3; 6:3.
 3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff (2004), 49.
 4. M. Russell Ballard, “Let Us Think Straight” (Brigham Young University Education Week devotional, Aug. 20, 2013); speeches.byu.edu.
 5. Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; see also Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4.
 6. Russell M. Nelson, “Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 37; or in Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society (2011), 134.
 7. Delbert L. Stapley, in Conference Report, Oct. 1965, 14; quoted in L. Tom Perry, “As Now We Take the Sacrament,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 41; see also Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 561; The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 220.
 8. See Doctrine and Covenants 109:22.
 9. See M. Russell Ballard and Rosemary M. Wixom, “Blessings of the Priesthood in Every Home,” in Strengthening the Family and the Church through the Priesthood (worldwide leadership training, 2013); lds.org/broadcasts.
 10. M. Russell Ballard, “Let Us Think Straight”; speeches.byu.edu.
 11. See also Doctrine and Covenants 46:9, 12.
 12. See Doctrine and Covenants 84:38.
 13. D. Todd Christofferson, “The Power of Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 22.

IMPERATIVES 

• Receive the ordinances of:
• Baptism
• the gift of the Holy Ghost
• the Endowment
• Sealings
• the Sacrament 

• Receive these ordinances:
• to have access to the fullness of God's blessings
• to be armed with power
• to progress on the covenant path
• to strengthen your home.

• Show reverence for God and His power and authority
• Claim your right to revelation and the assitance of the Spirit
• in your labors
• in your administrations to your children
• in your counseling of your children 
• in your service over whom you are called upon to preside  
• Recognize your need for and seek the blessings of: 
• priesthood keys and authority
• priesthood ordinances and covenants
• priesthood power 
• priesthood blessings

• Be a covenant-keeping ward member:
• tenderly watch over others
• help support their temporal and spiritual needs
• offer priesthood blessing to those in need
• Show reverence for God; his power and authority by seeing priesthood blessings for comfort, direction, encouragement, and inspiration 
• Do not hesitate to reach out when help is needed. You have bishop, elders quorum president, home teacher, and other worthy priesthood holders whom you can rely on to come into your home and assist you and give you blessings.
• Respect one another as sons and daughters of God 
• Feel reverence for our Father in Heaven and His priesthood—His power and authority by:
•  exercising faith and trust in Heavenly Father's 
   plan for you

• We all need each other. Sons of God need daughters of God, and daughters of God need sons of God.
• Fulfill your individual role and responsibility according to the Lord’s plan, with your unique gifts and strengths, that all may benefit. 
• Sons of God:
• know who you are
• know what you have
• be worthy to exercise the priesthood
• be worthy to receive the power and blessings of the priesthood 
• embrace your role and responsibility to strengthen homes as a father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle 
• show respect for women, womanhood, and motherhood
• Daughters of God:
• know who we are
• know what we have
• be worthy to receive the power and blessings of the priesthood
• receive the gifts given to you with gratitude, grace, and dignity 
• embrace your role and responsibility to strengthen homes as a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and aunt 
• show respect for men, manhood, and fatherhood
• Covenant sons and daughters of God:
• have faith in your Heavenly Father and His eternal plan for you
• have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement 
• believe you have a divine nature and destiny  
• understand the importance of receiving priesthood ordinances
• understand the importance of making, keeping, and renewing your covenants with the Lord

  DOCTRINAL INSIGHTS

• Priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fulness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior’s Atonement.
• To achieve (their) divine destiny, each son and daughter of God needs priesthood ordinances and covenants; baptism, Holy Ghost, endowment, sealing, sacrament
• Every baptized member has a right to revelation and the Spirit of God, to assist them in their labors, in their administrations to their children, in counseling their children and those over whom they are called upon to preside. 
•  “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. … The endowment is literally a gift of power.”
• “Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally.”
• when we worthily partake of the sacrament, we can renew not only our baptismal covenant but “all covenants entered into with the Lord.” 
• Priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fulness of the blessings promised to us by God, made possible by the Savior’s Atonement. They arm us with God’s power, and provide the opportunity to return to God’s presence and live with Him in His eternal family 
• Our Father in Heaven is generous with His power. 
• All men and all women have access to this power for help in our own lives. 
• All who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and who honor those covenants are eligible to receive personal revelation, to be blessed by the ministering of angels, [and] to commune with God.
• We progress on the path to our heavenly home, through sacred priesthood ordinances and covenants
• In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found the priesthood authority to administer the ordinances by which we can enter into binding covenants with our Heavenly Father in the name of His Holy Son

  PROMISES

•  When we exercise our faith and trust in Heavenly Father's plan for us, our reverence for Him and for His priesthood power and authority will be strengthened.
• Sisters who don’t have priesthood holders in their homes need never feel alone.You are blessed and strengthened through the ordinances you have received and the covenants you keep  
• God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants with Him

     
 
  WARNINGS