June 28, 2020 – Elders Quorum Lesson

June 28, 2020 – Elders Quorum Lesson
by Ron Green

As I read the conference talk by President Oaks given in the Saturday evening meeting, I thought about my mission in Ontario Quebec. While on my mission I came to know how great and wonderful the priesthood really is. At about three months into my mission my companion and I were able to teach the discussions to Verna Infanti. After we had taught her all the discussions, she asked to be baptized. This was my first baptism. While we filled the font we put electric frying pans in the water in an attempt to warm it. As I was changing into the white jumpsuit and chuckling over the frying pans, I was overwhelmed by the sacredness of this event which would be performed by the power of the priesthood which I held. This and so many other events in my life have caused me to be grateful that the gospel and the priesthood have been restored. The priesthood has truly blessed my life in many ways.

Challenge: Ponder your life and how the Priesthood has blessed you, then share it with someone.

As always, I would encourage you to read the full talk by President Oaks. He talks about the Priesthood and how it is governed differently in the Church vs the Home and how the various Priesthood Keys function. The following are a few highlights of President Oaks’ talk.

The Melchizedek Priesthood and the Keys  President Dallin H. Oaks

The priesthood is a divine power and authority held in trust to be used for God’s work for the benefit of all of His children.

While we should not refer to ordained men as the priesthood, it is appropriate to refer to them as holders of the priesthood.

The power of the priesthood exists both in the Church and in the family organization. But priesthood power and priesthood authority function differently in the Church than they do in the family.

The Church exists to provide the doctrine, the authority, and the ordinances necessary to perpetuate family relationships into the eternities. Thus, the family organization and the Church of Jesus Christ have a mutually reinforcing relationship.

The Melchizedek Priesthood keys of the kingdom were conferred by Peter, James, and John, but that did not complete the restoration of priesthood keys. Some keys of the priesthood came later. Following the dedication of the first temple of this dispensation in Kirtland, Ohio, three prophets—Moses, Elias, and Elijah—restored “the keys of this dispensation,” including keys pertaining to the gathering of Israel and the work of the temples of the Lord.

An ordinance is a solemn act signifying the making of covenants and the promising of blessings.

The Aaronic Priesthood officiate in the ordinance of the sacrament under the keys and direction of the bishop, who holds the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. The same principle applies to the priesthood ordinances in which women officiate in the temple. Though women do not hold an office in the priesthood, they perform sacred temple ordinances under the authorization of the president of the temple, who holds the keys for the ordinances of the temple.

Another example of priesthood authority under the direction of one who holds the keys are the teachings of men and women called to teach the gospel, whether in classes in their home wards or in the mission field. Other examples are those who hold leadership positions in the ward and exercise priesthood authority in their leadership by reason of their callings and under the setting apart and direction of the priesthood leader who holds the keys in the ward or the stake. This is how the authority and power of the priesthood is exercised and enjoyed in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The principle that priesthood authority can be exercised only under the direction of the one who holds the keys for that function is fundamental in the Church, but this does not apply in the family. For example, a father presides and exercises the priesthood in his family by the authority of the priesthood he holds. He has no need to have the direction or approval of one holding priesthood keys in order to perform his various family functions. These include counseling the members of his family, holding family meetings, giving priesthood blessings to his wife and children, or giving healing blessings to family members or others.

The same principle applies when a father is absent and a mother is the family leader. She presides in her home and is instrumental in bringing the power and blessings of the priesthood into her family through her endowment and sealing in the temple.

Fathers who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood should exercise their authority “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned”.

They should cultivate loving family relationships so that family members will want to ask them for blessings.

In these conference meetings, as we seek brief shelter from our mortal concerns with a devastating pandemic, we have been taught great principles of eternity. I encourage each of us to have our eye “single” to receive these truths of eternity so that our bodies “shall be full of light”.