Lesson for February 2, 2014

Lesson for February 2, 2014 Today we had a lesson from the Relief Society president, Amy Young. Elder Neal L. Anderson’s talk on the “Power in the Priesthood” really made an impression on Amy and she felt like she needed to teach about it. The first paragraph told about a young mother who listened to the Primary song about having priesthood power in the home and she felt she did not. However, Elder Anderson said we can live blessed by Priesthood power regardless of our circumstances. Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President, said that there is a difference between priesthood authority and priesthood power. Authority is given by calling, but power is available to all. Sometimes we overly associate the priesthood power with men in the Church. Maybe because we use the word priesthood to refer to both. Men do not own the priesthood. The greatness of the priesthood is for all. So when we get priesthood blessings, the power of the blessing comes from God, but not from the man who gave the blessing. Men use the priesthood to bless others, but cannot put their hands on their own heads to bless themselves. If we are worthy, we can access the blessings of the priesthood. In the ordinances, the power of the priesthood is manifested. The ordinances are not denied to any worthy person who is baptized. All of the ordinances are to bring us closer to Jesus Christ, and that is a blessing in itself. Sister Burton said that righteousness is the gate by which we receive priesthood blessings and power. If the power and the blessings of the priesthood are available to all, why are they given by men. Elder Anderson said we don’t know why. Some of it is because of our different roles, such as women being able to have children. We know that God did not create men and women the same. In our Heavenly Father’s plan, men may carry the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Isaiah 55:8-9 says that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are higher than ours. Amy says she has learned to trust God, even though she doesn’t understand—she trusts God to know what is best. Emily Campbell said that she can understand more about why men have the priesthood because of her service as a mother, and maybe men need a way to serve as well. Elder Bednar said that priesthood holders are supposed to do God’s will and strengthen others, so they serve and bless and are changed as well. God will tell us things in His own time. Sister Lydia Gibbons said she is glad she doesn’t have that responsibility. Heather Cantrell said her friend left the Church so she could be a priest in the Episcopal church, and Heather told her that women are better at nurturing and having children. President Hinckley said it was the Lord was the one who organized it this way. Emily Campbell said if we feel less, it is because we live in a telestial world where people do not always act as they should. Unfortunately men do not behave as they should and use unrighteous dominion. Carol said that God created men and women to be one. Culturally, men may try to act like they are superior, but doctrinally, we are equal. Men have to be humble to serve and be in the right frame of mind to give blessings and perform the ordinances. Often what the mothers do in their homes fill their homes with priesthood power and continue to bless their descendants, but we have to do our part. We have to remember the Atonement and how it makes it so we are not denied anything and can have the power of the priesthood in our lives.