Look to God and Live!

There is currently a minority voice with a large platform vying for the priesthood of God to be given to women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter DaySaints.  There has been much negative media towards the church and this has been a concern for me.  Here we are, in the midst of the hastening of the work and the coverage on this issue is countering some of those efforts.  It has tugged at my heart and even for a short time I had a website up to try to offset that influence.  The purpose of the website was to profile "Real Mormon Women," who feel empowered and blessed.  Many women responded but many more did not want to be involved.  As a Mormon woman, I have many personal feelings about this issue but I want to focus on a topic I think has been mostly overlooked in these discussions: the power in the ordinances.

I think many of us think of Doctrine and Covenants section 84 as pertaining to only those that "hold" the priesthood or in other words, those who are ordained to offices in the priesthood.  In reference to both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood we read the following.

"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh." (DC 84:20-21)

The power of the priesthood is in the ordinances.  The authority of the priesthood is necessary for the administration of those ordinances.  To hold the priesthood does not give one power.  To worthily participate in the ordinances and keep the associated covenants is where the power is derived.

With this in mind, suddenly the priesthood power becomes more than something for our husbands or sons but something every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can possess. To understand this power we possess, let’s look at the some other scriptures.

"The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church— To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.  The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments."  (DC 107:18-2) 

The authority of both priesthoods is to hold the keys of the blessings and to administer in the ordinances.  This is held by worthy men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The power in the ordinances is an endowment of gifts that upgrade our ability to receive the spiritual blessings associated with those ordinances. (and boy are those some blessings!)  The power and blessings of the priesthood are available to all worthy members. 

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; to them who believe on his name.  born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (1 John 1:12-19)

The power we are given is the power to become son and daughters of God.  This is the same as being be born again,  sanctified, converted, receiving a mighty change of heart, or becoming a Zion worthy person.  THIS is the power of the priesthood!

The priesthood allows us to tap into the enabling power of the atonement through the ordinances therein. As we keep our covenants associated with those ordinances and heed the promptings of the Spirit, we are empowered.  The Lord takes our imperfect efforts and rewards us with a little bit more of the spirit, a little bit more love in our hearts, and a little bit less care for the things of the world.  Through the power of the priesthood, the Lord can make us into something more and better if we will let Him.  It is through the priesthood power that He is even now preparing hearts to be ready for His coming. 

Who holds a priesthood office is inconsequential to the salvation of men and women.  To focus on this is to miss the mark and the great blessings and power readily available to all who will look. 

"He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished."  (1 Nephi 17:41)

There have been fiery flying serpents among us and some of us have been bitten.  The way is simple, all we have to do is look to God and he will give us peace.  There have been things I have not understood in my own life that have caused me to question my testimony of God.  I had given myself over to so many doubts and questions that I had to fight for my testimony and beg that it not be taken from me.  I have had to put aside those things I could not understand for the peace that the gospel brings.  Dear brothers and sisters, look to God and live!