Asking Questions about the Priesthood By Jennifer Grace Fallon Publishing Services Department
I had a lot of questions about how the priesthood operated in my life. As I turned to the right sources and exercised patience, I was able to find the answers. I remember the first time I realized that only the men in the Church hold priesthood office. I was still in Primary, and I thought, “But what do I get to do?” When I asked my teachers this question, the most common answer I received was that women in the Church don’t hold the priesthood because we get the opportunity to bear children. This
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still didn’t feel right to me. It took me years to work out why I felt unsettled about this teaching. It was a popular answer to my question, but I knew good women in my family and ward who never had the opportunity to get married. What if I didn’t get to have children in this life? Since priesthood ordination is available to every man in the Church if he is worthy, was I unworthy before Heavenly Father if I never had a chance to have children? This was only the beginning of my questions about the priesthood. Eventually, I learned that asking sincere questions is an appropriate way for me to grow and that I could be patient as the Lord provided me with answers. My most profound insights came as I continued to serve and exercise faith, and as I studied the scriptures and the teachings
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of modern prophets. What I have learned about my relationship to the priesthood has enabled me to serve more effectively, unlock the power of my covenants, and feel more at peace about my place within my family. Serving in the Kingdom The first obstacle to my peace of mind was my mindset. Although my childhood
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question expressed a sincere desire to serve, some of my motives for serving were selfish. I thought about what I would do and how I would be noticed before I considered what Heavenly Father wanted. This mindset slowly changed as I understood more about how the Savior demonstrated unselfish service. During His ministry, the disciples argued about who
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would be the most important in God’s kingdom. He called them together and said: “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
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“And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26–28). Immediately the Savior shifted their focus from the stature of their position to the stature of their soul. Without realizing it, I had adopted the worldly mindset that position equals importance. Most worldly organizations are hierarchical, meaning the higher you are in the hierarchy, the greater your value in the organization. But the scriptures taught me that Heavenly Father considers His children to be equal. He provides us with leaders because His kingdom is orderly (see D&C 88:119). He has organized His Church to be led by prophets, stake presidents, bishops, Relief Society presidents, and so on, but none of these callings elevates the worth of the individuals who hold them. In this way, my service in the kingdom is not about me at all. My service is about what the Savior needs me to do. Regardless of my position in the Church or the world, my worth is great in the sight of God (D&C 18:10). The stature of my soul is
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determined by my willingness to minister and to give my life as an offering to the Lord and His kingdom. Unlocking Priesthood Power through Covenants I began to feel more at peace about my relationship to the priesthood when I learned
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that priesthood power was available to me as I kept my covenants. I had always assumed
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that I had to rely on men to bring priesthood power into my life. As long as I was single, I thought I could never have priesthood power in my home unless my home teachers were visiting. This mindset made me afraid to get married. How could I be sure that the man I married would stay true to the gospel? And if he didn’t, what would that mean for priesthood power in my home? As I studied the words of modern prophets and apostles, I learned that although only
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worthy men of the Church can be ordained to offices of the priesthood, priesthood power is available to everyone. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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taught that every member of the Church—married or single—can live in a home blessed
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with priesthood power because “as we keep [our] sacred covenants, we receive priesthood
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power and blessings.”1 All the covenants that I made by receiving baptism, the Holy
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Ghost, and temple ordinances, and that I renew by partaking of the sacrament bless me with the power of godliness— priesthood power. When I realized that priesthood power was already an active part of my life, I became
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aware of the many blessings it provided. It brought me tremendous relief to realize that
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my ability to access priesthood power depended on my choices and not on the choices of
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others. As long as I relied on my Savior and kept my covenants, I could invite priesthood power into my life. My Place in the Family I am one of four daughters. Some of us remain unmarried and the rest, who married older, have struggled to have children. But all of us keep our covenants and are faithful members of the Church. As I contemplated the righteous examples of my sisters, I realized that whether an individual becomes a mother or father in this life has no connection to worthiness, whereas our ability to invite priesthood power into our lives has everything to do with worthiness. Even with this understanding, I had a hard time figuring out where I fit in my family. I often fall short of the list of traditional womanly qualities and skills. I don’t sew, I have never made a casserole, and I don’t have an automatic love for all children. But I have learned to exercise my creativity in other ways—discernment, courage, compassion, and knowledge. As I’ve grown to appreciate my own unique identity as a woman, I’ve felt less confused about my role in my family. My husband and I choose to rejoice in our complementary differences, instead of squabble about whose gifts are superior. Instead of drawing lines around our roles, we are learning to use our strengths to help each other
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reach our fullest potential.
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Blessings from Understanding
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As I have confronted misconceptions about the priesthood, my faith has increased, and I have experienced greater peace within myself and my relationships. I look forward to increasing my understanding of how the priesthood operates in my life. When I have asked sincere questions in faith, the Lord has patiently provided me with answers, and I believe that He will continue to lovingly help me resolve my concerns. I take courage from what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.”2 With my increased understanding of the priesthood, I feel empowered and motivated to keep my covenants, and I’m beginning to understand the important role I serve in the Lord’s kingdom as a woman and a minister to others.
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Notes 1. Neil L. Andersen, “Power in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 92. 2. Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2013, 95.
Our Purpose in Relation to the Opposite Gender Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, invited
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us to consider our own roles and how we relate to the opposite gender: “Sons of God, do you know who you are? . . . Are you worthy to exercise the priesthood and receive the power and blessings of the priesthood? Do you embrace your
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roles and responsibilities to strengthen homes as fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers, and uncles? Do you show respect for women, womanhood, and motherhood? “Daughters of God, do we know who we are? . . . 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?”1 Notes 1. Carole M. Stephens, “Do We Know What We Have?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 14.
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Why do only men hold priesthood office? The prophet Alma taught that priesthood holders were “called and prepared from
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the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their
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exceeding faith and good works” (Alma 13:3). Men who hold the Melchizedek
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Priesthood “were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb” (Alma 13:10–11). Although we don’t know why Heavenly Father chose to organize His kingdom the way that He has, we do know that God calls men to their office. Some try to fabricate reasons for Heavenly Father’s decisions by saying things like, “Women don’t need the priesthood to be righteous” or “Men are naturally better leaders.” Both of these types of statements overgeneralize men and women and are demeaning. The idea that men need the priesthood because they are more inclined to evil sets low expectations for their behavior and contributions to the Church. Both the natural man and the natural woman are enemies to God. We all must become celestial individuals through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 3:19). If a man holds priesthood office, does that give him the right to control and be the sole decision-maker for his family? Any behavior that aims to restrict another’s agency runs contrary to Heavenly Father’s plan (see 2 Nephi 2:27). Still, some men use their priesthood office as an excuse to exercise unrighteous dominion. Unrighteous dominion includes all forms of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. It also includes withholding affection, demanding compliance with arbitrary rules, ignoring counsel on important decisions, and faultfinding.1 The Lord
Natalie Campbell 5/19/2015 3:48 PM Moved up [3]: The prophet Alma taught that priesthood holders were “called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works” (Alma 13:3). Men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood “were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb” (Alma 13:10–11). Natalie Campbell 5/19/2015 3:27 PM Formatted: Font:Italic Natalie Campbell 5/19/2015 3:27 PM Deleted: make all the Natalie Campbell 5/19/2015 3:27 PM Deleted: s Natalie Campbell 5/19/2015 3:28 PM Deleted:
warned that when this happens, “the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and . . . Amen to the priesthood or authority of that man” (D&C 121:37). The very authority that some men use as an excuse to be abusive is removed the minute they try to dominate or control others. A man with true authority will preside with humble Christlike attributes; his faithfulness to his family and to the gospel of Jesus Christ will be stronger than death, and the Holy Ghost will be his constant companion (see D&C 121:41–46).
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Notes 1. See H. Burke Peterson, “Unrighteous Dominion,” Ensign, July 1989, 6.
Does my role in the family determine my worth to Heavenly Father? When we believe that our role in the family determines our worth, we are applying a worldly philosophy to a divine structure. Just as Church hierarchy does not define individual worth, neither fathers nor mothers stand above one another in worth or importance. In Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, the Lord reminds us that “the worth of
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souls is great in the sight of God” (emphasis added). In the next verse, He clarifies the immensity of that worth: “For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death … that all [people] might repent and come unto him” (D&C 18:11). If men and women are truly equal, why do they have different roles? Within the family, women and men have equivalent roles as mothers and fathers, not
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as mothers and priesthood holders. Mothers and fathers both serve important purposes, and have equal access to priesthood power. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. . . . Both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife.”1 Men and women have equal roles because all are children of God, and God did not create a superior gender (see Acts 10:34). As Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pointed out, “The distinct, complementary gifts of women and men … together produce a greater whole.”2 Notes 1. M. Russell Ballard, “This Is My Work and Glory,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 19. 2. D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 31.
Can a woman have priesthood power in her home if she is not married to a righteous man? Priesthood offices, authority, and power are all different—yet interconnected. Only the worthy men of the Church can be ordained to priesthood office. Both men and women can be called to exercise priesthood authority. Priesthood power is available to everyone.1
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Priesthood power in a home does not depend on whether a righteous man is present; it depends on how faithfully we keep our covenants. Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president, explained that “righteousness is the qualifier . . . to invite priesthood power into our lives.”2 Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that we can recognize some of the blessings of priesthood power when we experience true repentance and forgiveness, when we become more sensitive to the Spirit, and when the temple ordinances strengthen us.3 Notes 1. Dallin H. Oaks, “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49–52.. 2. Linda K. Burton, “Priesthood Power—Available to All,” Ensign or Liahona, June 2014, 23. 3. See Neil L. Andersen, “Power in the Priesthood,” 92.
A Continuing Process Our understanding of the priesthood will come “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30). The Savior taught the Prophet Joseph Smith that “the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven” (D&C 121:45). Dew collecting on the earth is not an immediate process. It is the slow accumulation of molecules over a period of time. But if truth is sought diligently, all members of the Church can expect an increased understanding of their relationship to the priesthood in
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time.
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