Priesthood Principles

 Leadership Session of Stake Conference

Chapter 3 of the Handbook talks about Priesthood Principles.  There is so much good information in this chapter that is important to remember.  I will quote extensively from this section but I also hope to add some additional commentary that is helpful.  You could just go home and read this section yourself so I hope you will learn something you can apply to your lives.  The section starts out by reminding us that the priesthood is the authority and power of God.  God grants authority and power to His sons and daughters on earth to help carry out this work.  We will talk more about authority and power but it is important to remember this is granted to both His sons and His daughters to help carry out the work.

3.2 Blessings of the Priesthood

God grants us many blessings through priesthood covenants and ordinances.  We get a list of 6 specific blessings we know we receive in addition to many more.

• We are baptized, confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

• Some of us may barely remember when we were baptized but it is a blessing that has continued with us throughout our life.  I don’t really remember my actual baptism and confirmation.  I’ve seen pictures and I know it happened and that the gift of the Holy Ghost has been very important to me throughout my life.  It has blessed me for decades.

• Some may remember very distinctly when they were baptized and the great joy that brought to you and your friends and families.  I really enjoy hearing stories of those who were baptized later in life and can relate the experience of having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion compared to when that was not a part of their life.

• We can partake of the sacrament.  

• One of the temple recommend questions asks if we prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament.  I hope you consider that question often.  What does it mean to prepare for the sacrament.

• We receive power and authority to serve in church callings and assignments.

• We will talk more about this in a minute.

• We are endowed with God’s power in the temple.

• As we talk about priesthood power, consider how your temple endowment gives you priesthood power to act on the earth

• We are sealed to our family members for eternity.

• The prophet Elijah committed the keys of the sealing power. These keys provide the authority that allows ordinances performed on earth to be binding in the next life.  I am only barely starting to understand the full impact of the sealing power of the priesthood.  I have experienced very heart-warming experiences as I have done sealing work for deceased ancestors from both my direct ancestors and the ancestors of my wife.  I feel like that sealing power draws together families in