Spiritual Treasure - Pres. Russel M. Nelson

Spiritual Treasures

Spiritual Treasures

By President Russell M. Nelson

As you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase. I'm being invited to "action". I must exercise (action) faith in not only the Lord but faith in HIS priesthood power. Being able to draw upon His priesthood power is an "ability" that is available to me and He has made it possible for me to increase in this ability.

?How do I exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power?

?What determines my ability to draw on this power?
? How has the Lord made this power available?
? How do I increase my ability to draw on this power?

Thank you for that beautiful music. As we all stood to sing that intermediate hymn, “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,” I had two overpowering thoughts come to me. This is revelation. One is about the Prophet Joseph Smith, the prophet of this dispensation. My love and admiration for him grows with every passing day. If the prophet's love and admiration for the Prophet Joseph Smith can grow daily, so can mine. 

?What is he doing/learning to increase his love for this great man?  

The second thought occurred as I looked at my wife, my daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters. I felt like I’d like to claim every one of you as part of my family.

?What was this sweet revelation? A gift of charity? Instead of feeling, "Oh, I am so lucky to have such a beautiful family!"

His thoughts and feelings were turned to each of us. What did he see? Our goodness? Our sadness? Our trials? Our burdens? Our hopes? Our desires? In that moment did he feel our "oneness"?

Several months ago, at the end of a temple endowment session, I said to my wife Wendy, “I hope the sisters understand the spiritual treasures that are theirs in the temple.”

?What are the spiritual treasures that are mine in the temple?
?What spiritual treasures are the "sisters" in the temple?
Sisters, I often find myself thinking about you, including two months ago when Wendy and I visited Harmony, Pennsylvania.
This was our second trip there. Both times we have been deeply moved as we walked on that sacred ground. It was near Harmony that John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and restored the Aaronic Priesthood.

It was there that the Apostles Peter, James, and John appeared to restore the Melchizedek Priesthood.

It was in Harmony that Emma Hale Smith served as her husband’s first scribe while the Prophet translated the Book of Mormon.

It was also in Harmony that Joseph received a revelation manifesting the Lord’s will to Emma. The Lord instructed Emma to expound the scriptures, to exhort the Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to spend her time “learning much.” Emma was also counseled to “lay aside the things of this world and seek for the things of a better” and to hold fast to her covenants with God. The Lord concluded His instruction with these compelling words: “This is my voice unto all.”¹ I would imagine most people who visit Harmony are only thinking about the restoration of the Priesthood. But our prophet also brings to our attention the important things that happened to Emma as well.
1. Expound (declare, explain, interpret)the scriptures
2. Exhort (strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something)the Church
3. Receive the Holy Ghost
4. Spend my time learning much
5. Lay aside the things of this world and seek for things of a better
6. Hold fast to my covenants with God.
7. Encourage others to follow this same counsel

Everything that happened in this area has profound implications for your lives.  

?What are the "profound implications" of "Everything" that happened in Harmony for my life?

The restoration of the priesthood, along with the Lord’s counsel to Emma, can guide and bless each of you. How I yearn for you to understand that the restoration of the priesthood is just as relevant to you as a woman as it is to any man. Because the Melchizedek Priesthood has been restored, both covenant-keeping women and men have access to “all the spiritual blessings of the church”² or, we might say, to all the spiritual treasures the Lord has for His children.
?What are "all the spiritual blessings/treasures of the church"?

Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God. Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of God’s priesthood power by virtue of their covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to know how to draw upon that power.If I have "direct" access to the power of God, then I do not need to wait for or go through another person to access that power.

? I am endowed and strive to keep my covenants. How do I received the gift of God's priesthood power that comes "by virtue of my covenant?
? What does the endowment teach me about how to draw upon priesthood power?

The heavens are just as open to women who are endowed with God’s power flowing from their priesthood covenants as they are to men who bear the priesthood.

? How can I experience the heavens being open to me?
? How does God's power flow from my "priesthood covenants"?
? What are my "priesthood covenants"?
? What does it mean for a man to "bear" the priesthood?

 I pray that truth will register upon each of your hearts because I believe it will change your life. 

?How can this truth,(that the heavens are open to me) change my life?

Sisters, you have the right to draw liberally upon the Savior’s power to help your family and others you love. "drawing liberally" is not just an occasional "dip". Liberally means: "in large, or generous amounts;  characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts". Isn't that the desire of most women - to help their family and other's they love? Yet how powerless do we feel we are in this area because of the agency of others? Are we not being taught that we can draw upon the power of the Savior and HIS power will help them in ways our power cannot? Knowing this, we should seek to increase our ability to draw upon this power with all our "might, mind, and strength".

Now, you might be saying to yourself, “This sounds wonderful, but how do I do it? How do I draw the Savior’s power into my life?”
How did he know....oh, right...he's a "seer"!!:)?
? How do I draw the Savior's power into my life?

You won’t find this process spelled out in any manual. The Holy Ghost will be your personal tutor as you seek to understand what the Lord would have you know and do. This process is neither quick nor easy, but it is spiritually invigorating. What could possibly be more exciting than to labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power—priesthood power?

1.Learning to draw the Savior's power into my life is a process that is not quick or easy but it is spiritually invigorating. ("invigorating" means making one feel strong, healthy, and full of energy) If I'm doing it, I should notice this feeling of increased spiritual strength and energy.
2.The "process" is not spelled out in any church manuals anywhere (don't look for it to be "spelled out" by others claiming to know the process either!)
3. The Holy Ghost will be my personal tutor (a "tutor" is a private teacher)
4. I need to seek to understand what the Lord would have me know and what He would have me do.

5. Get excited about laboring with the Spirit to understand God's power-priesthood power.

What I can tell you is that accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of you to do. It seems like the prophet is telling you that he has gone through this 'process' but he's been instructed not to tell you what his process was. He is, however, able to tell us some things that are required to access the power of God in our life.
? What was Emma instructed to do?

So, I invite you to study prayerfully section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you. Your personal spiritual endeavor will bring you joy as you gain, understand, and use the power with which you have been endowed.

1. study prayerfully D&C 25
2. prepare for the Holy Ghost teach me personally
3. this is a personal spiritual endeavor
4. receive the gift of 'joy'
5. gain the power of the priesthood (by virtue of my covenants)

6. understand the power of the priesthood (as taught by the Spirit)

7. use the power of the priesthood (to help my family and others I love)

Part of this endeavor will require you to put aside many things of this world. Sometimes we speak almost casually about walking away from the world with its contention, pervasive temptations, and false philosophies. But truly doing so requires you to examine your life meticulously and regularly. As you do so, the Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is no longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy.

As you shift your focus away from worldly distractions, some things that seem important to you now will recede in priority. You will need to say no to some things, even though they may seem harmless. As you embark upon and continue this lifelong process of consecrating your life to the Lord, the changes in your perspective, feelings, and spiritual strength will amaze you!

1. Put aside or walk away from: contention; pervasive (found everywhere) temptations; false philosophies

2. Examine my life meticulously and regularly for the above

? Do I foster/participate in contention?
? What are the pervasive temptations I give in to?

? What false philosophies do I follow or believe?

3. Listen for promptings about what is no longer needful

? What things do I feel are "needful" in my life?
? Do I still "need" them?

4. Listen for the promptings about what is not worthy of my time or energy
? Where do I currently spend my time and energy?
? Which of these things are not worthy of continuing to spend time on?

5. Shift my focus away from worldly distractions
? What are my worldly distractions?

6. Gain a new perspective on what is important and should be a priority
? What is my perspective on what is important?
? What are my priorities?
? Do my actions match my priorities?

7.  Embark ("to begin a course of action, especially one that is important or demanding") on this lifelong process of consecrating my life to the Lord
? Have I truly 'embarked' on this journey?
? Do I have a 'course' of action?
? Is it 'demanding'?
? Am I striving to consecrate my life to the Lord?

8. Expect that it will change my perspective, feelings, and spiritual strength. If I can't see that kind of change, I may not doing it right...
? What is my current perspective?
? What are my current feelings?
? How would I rate my current spiritual strength? 

Now a little word of warning. There are those who would undermine your ability to call upon the power of God. There are some who would have you doubt yourself and minimize your stellar spiritual capacity as a righteous woman.

Most certainly, the adversary does not want you to understand the covenant you made at baptism or the profound endowment of knowledge and power you have received or will receive in the temple—the house of the Lord. And Satan certainly does not want you to understand that every time you worthily serve and worship in the temple, you leave armed with God’s power and with His angels having “charge over” you.³
WARNINGS:
1. beware of those who undermine my ability to call upon the power of God.
?  how do people try to undermine my ability to call upon the power of God?

2. beware of those who get you to doubt myself.
? How do people try to get me to doubt myself?

3. beware of those who want to minimize your stellar('exceptionally good, outstanding') spiritual capacity as a righteous woman.
? How do people try to minimize by exceptional spiritual capacity?
4. beware of the adversary's distractions to prevent you from doing the study to understand my temple covenants.
? What are the distractions that prevent me from understanding my covenants?

5. Every time I worthily serve and worship in the temple I leave armed with God's power (priesthood) and with His angels having "charge over" me.
? Why don't I go every day, then? Do I think I don't need angelic protection from the adversary's attacks?

Satan and his minions will constantly contrive roadblocks to prevent you from understanding the spiritual gifts with which you have been and can be blessed. Unfortunately, some roadblocks may be the result of another’s misbehavior. It grieves me to think that any of you have felt marginalized or have not been believed by a priesthood leader or have been abused or betrayed by a husband, father, or a supposed friend. I feel deep sorrow that any of you have felt sidelined, disrespected, or misjudged. Such offenses have no place in the kingdom of God.

? What are the roadblocks that have prevented me from understanding my spiritual gifts?
? What roadblocks have others put in my way?
MISBEHAVIOR OF OTHERS (Roadblocks)
- marginalizing
- not being believed
- abused
- betrayed
- sidelined
- disrespected
- misjudged

Conversely, it thrills me when I learn of priesthood leaders who eagerly seek the participation of women in ward and stake councils. I am inspired by each husband who demonstrates that his most important priesthood responsibility is to care for his wife.⁴ I praise that man who deeply respects his wife’s ability to receive revelation and treasures her as an equal partner in their marriage.

When a man understands the majesty and power of a righteous, seeking, endowed Latter-day Saint woman, is it any wonder that he feels like standing when she enters the room?

Priesthood leaders should:
- eagerly seek the participation of women in councils
Husbands should:
- show they understand their most important priesthood duty is to care for their wives
- deeply respect their wives' ability to receive revelation
- treasure their wives as equal partners
All men should:
- understand the majesty and power of a righteous, seeking, endowed Latter-day Saint woman  

? do I participate fully in councils?
? why is caring for their wives their most important priesthood duty?
? does this "ability" to receive revelation come with my gender? Do I believe that?
? what makes me feel 'treasured' in my partnership?
 
From the dawning of time, women have been blessed with a unique moral compass—the ability to distinguish right from wrong. This gift is enhanced in those who make and keep covenants. And it diminishes in those who willfully ignore the commandments of God.The 'dawning of time' began with Adam and Eve. We are being taught that Eve had a 'unique moral compass' which gave her the ability to distinguish right from wrong.

? How has this been manifest in the women in the scriptures, beginning with Eve?

I have an enhanced ability to distinguish right from wrong because I have made covenants with God. I must never willfully ignore the commandments of God or I will lose this moral compass.

? Why is my moral compass enhanced because of my covenants?

I hasten to add that I do not absolve men in any way from God’s requirement for them also to distinguish between right and wrong. But my dear sisters, your ability to discern truth from error, to be society’s guardians of morality, is crucial in these latter days. And we depend upon you to teach others to do likewise. Let me be very clear about this: if the world loses the moral rectitude of its women, the world will never recover. Women's role as society's guardians of morality is CRUCIAL! Society is depending on us to teach our children and others how to distinguish between right and wrong. WARNING!!! If we lose our moral compass, it's all over!

? How do I distinguish between right and wrong?
? What affects the accuracy of my moral compass?
? How does Satan try to distract me from teaching others?
? How can I help other women stay connected to this duty?

We Latter-day Saints are not of the world; we are of covenant Israel. We are called to prepare a people for the Second Coming of the Lord.

? Can I truly say I am 'not of the world'?
? What does it really mean to be of 'covenant Israel'?
? How do we prepare a people for the Second Coming?
? Are we preparing a 'people' (meaning Saints/Zion) or 'people' (meaning the people living in the world?

Now, may I clarify several additional points with respect to women and priesthood. When you are set apart to serve in a calling under the direction of one who holds priesthood keys—such as your bishop or stake president—you are given priesthood authority to function in that calling.

Similarly, in the holy temple you are authorized to perform and officiate in priesthood ordinances every time you attend. Your temple endowment prepares you to do so.

If you are endowed but not currently married to a man who bears the priesthood and someone says to you, “I’m sorry you don’t have the priesthood in your home,” please understand that that statement is incorrect. You may not have a priesthood bearer in your home, but you have received and made sacred covenants with God in His temple. From those covenants flows an endowment of His priesthood power upon you. And remember, if your husband should die, you would preside in your home.

As a righteous, endowed Latter-day Saint woman, you speak and teach with power and authority from God. Whether by exhortation or conversation, we need your voice teaching the doctrine of Christ. We need your input in family, ward, and stake councils. Your participation is essential and never ornamental!

Clarifications:
1. I am 'given' priesthood authority to function in my calling. That means I 'have' priesthood authority, which is the power to act in God's name.
2. As an endowed member, I have been given authority to 'perform and officiate' in priesthood ordinances every time I do proxy work. Every time I attend the temple I am 'exercising' priesthood power.
3. Ordained men are priesthood 'bearers'. Endowed women have a flow of priesthood power via their covenants. In an endowed marriage the man presides. If he dies the woman presides. 
4. Righteous, endowed women speak and teach with power and authority from God (priesthood power).
5. Our voice is needed to exhort  (strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.) others to follow the doctrine of Christ.
6. Our voice is needed to lead out in conversations about the doctrine of Christ.
7. Our voice is needed and 'essential' (absolutely necessary; extremely important.)in family, ward, and stake councils.

? Will I do/say anything different by seeing all I do as being done in God's name?
? How often am I attending the temple and exercising my priesthood power?
? Do I experience the 'flow of priesthood power'?
? Can I tell when I am speaking with power and authority from God vs self?
? Am I afraid to exhort others to follow the doctrine of Christ?
? Do I see my voice as 'essential'?
 

My dear sisters, your power will increase as you serve others. Your prayers, fasting, time in the scriptures, service in the temple, and family history work will open the heavens to you.

? Is the power he's referring to 'priesthood power'?
KEYS TO OPENING THE HEAVENS - power and revelation
1. serve others
2. pray
3. fast
4. study the scriptures daily 
5. serve in the temple
6. do family history work

? how am I doing with the above?

I entreat (beg, urge, implore) you to study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power. You might begin with Doctrine and Covenants sections 84 and 107. Those sections will lead you to other passages. The scriptures and teachings by modern prophets, seers, and revelators are filled with these truths. As your understanding increases and as you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase. As you do so, you will find yourselves better able to help create eternal families that are united, sealed in the temple of the Lord, and full of love for our Heavenly Father and for Jesus Christ.(see PB)
IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO1. Increase my understanding  by: 
    a. study prayerfully ALL the truths I can find about priesthood power
    b. Study D&C 84, 107
    c. Follow references to other passages  
    d. Study the teachings of modern prophets and apostles on priesthood power

2. Exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power

PROMISE
1. My ability to draw upon priesthood power will increase.
2. I will be better able to help create eternal families
3. I will be better able to help create a family full of love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

All our efforts to minister to each other, proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead converge in the holy temple. We now have 166 temples throughout the world, and more are coming.
All efforts to:
1. minister 
2. proclaim the gospel
3. perfect the Saints
4. redeem the dead
lead to the temple.
? Is this what it means to 'build the Kingdom of God - help more people receive temple ordinances on either side of the veil?

As you know, the Salt Lake Temple, Temple Square, and the adjoining plaza near the Church Office Building will be renewed in a project that will begin at the close of this year. This sacred temple must be preserved and prepared to inspire future generations, just as it has influenced us in this generation. Remember that there will be many generations of children growing up in the millennium. I don't think this statement should be cited as proof the Lord is not returning for a long time...

As the Church grows, more temples will be built so that more families can have access to that greatest of all blessings, that of eternal life.⁵ We regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the Church. Whenever plans are announced to construct a new temple, it becomes an important part of our history. As we have discussed here tonight, you sisters are vital to the work of the temple, and the temple is where you will receive your highest spiritual treasures.
? Am I participating in this vital work of the temple?
? Do I attend the temple to receive my "highest spiritual treasures"?
? What are these treasures?

Please listen carefully and reverently as I will now announce plans to build eight new temples. If one is announced in a place that is meaningful to you, I suggest that you simply bow your head prayerfully with gratitude in your heart. We are pleased to announce plans to construct temples in the following locations: Freetown, Sierra Leone; Orem, Utah; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Bentonville, Arkansas; Bacolod, Philippines; McAllen, Texas; Cobán, Guatemala; and Taylorsville, Utah. Thank you, dear sisters. We deeply appreciate your receipt of these plans and your reverent response.

Now, in closing, I would like to leave a blessing upon you, that you may understand the priesthood power with which you have been endowed and that you will augment that power by exercising your faith in the Lord and in His power. It's not enough to just understand priesthood power or know that I have access to it. The Lord wants me to increase that power in my life by exercising my faith in the Lord and His power.
? How do I exercise faith in the Lord and His power?

Dear sisters, with deep respect and gratitude, I express my love for you. Humbly, I declare that God lives! Jesus is the Christ. This is His Church. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.