PRIESTHOOD POWER FOR US TODAY

This article was inspired by a talk given in an LDS General Conference by President Boyd K. Packer.

The Priesthood is the Power and Authority of God, delegated to man on the Earth.

President Packer talked about how Gideon, in the Bible, who was given authority to head the army of Israel, which were thousands strong but he only chose a select few because of the way they drank water from the stream.  Instead of bowing down, these men scooped up water in their hands and drank, while upright, being alert for the enemy.

The Lord has chosen certain men in the pre-existence to hold the priesthood after coming to earth in these Last Days.  While here, they receive the Aaronic or the preparatory priesthood.  With this priesthood he is given authority from God to administer in the outward ordinances like Baptism, passing the sacrament and service to others.

The Melchizedek priesthood is the higher priesthood.  Authorized Melchizedek Priesthood holders can be authorized to preach the Gospel, administer the ordinances of Salvation, and to govern the Kingdom of God on the Earth and to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom.

Now this has to do with the Authority which is given by God to a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, but the Power that is in that Priesthood can only be controlled or used only when the holder is Righteous.

DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 121: 34-37

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

 

36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

 

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

 

Fathers listen up.  You have the opportunity to have the Authority and Power of God by receiving the Priesthood from someone holding the Melchizedek Priesthood.  You can bless and protect your family and give them the saving ordinances of the Gospel.

You can also bless and anoint them with Holy Oil when they are sick and heal them if its the Lords will that they are to be healed. 

 

This Melchizedek Priesthood, with direct line of authority to Jesus Christ is only found in this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Each holder of the Priesthood can have upon them a card showing their LINE OF AUTHORITY back to JESUS CHRIST to prove their Authority.

 

To watch, hear or read this address from a modern Apostle Boyd K. Packer, click here.

 

For further information, go to www.lds.org .

Send this article to everyone you know and care about.

WHY PRAYER TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

This is a series of addresses by Modern Prophets and Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
FIRST:  is a series of talks by Apostle BOYD K. PACKER
of the Council of the Twelve Apostles.

“This article was inspired by a recent talk given in an LDS General Conference by  Apostle Boyd K. Packer.”

Our Heavenly Father sent each of us here to earth as spirit sons and daughters.  The object was to obtain a physical body, learn how to use it and care for it. 

We are also here to be tested to see how we make our decisions and use what we had learned while with Him in the spirit world.

WHY DO WE NEED PRAYER? 

He did not leave us all alone.  He gave us a way to communicate back and forth with Him whenever we needed.  This is called Prayer.

No matter what situation we are in, we can pray to Him on our knees or from our mind and heart while we are doing things.  He hears us.

He knows ahead of time what we need, but He wants us to ask him anyways and to learn how to be sensitive to His Spirit so we will recognize an answer when it comes. 

He may not always answer us immediately, but in His own time. 

Sometimes He may not answer a prayer at all because of circumstances, which He knows about, will come up, that answering the prayer, will not be needed.

He gave us a mind and sound reasoning to use much of the time.  We are not expected to ask Him about every decision that He knows we can make for ourselves.

WHY ARE PROMPTINGS OF THE SPIRIT NEEDED?

There is a perfect manner of communication through the Spirit:

1 CORINTHIANS 2: 10

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

All of the sons and daughters of God were given the Spirit of Christ to guide them in choosing between right and wrong.

After baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, another ordinance which is the Laying on of the Hands for the GIFT of the HOLY GHOST is performed.  From that moment on, as long as the person is righteous, the Holy Ghost stays with that person and guides them in ALL THINGS throughout their life on earth.

If that person strays from righteousness, REPENTANCE is needed BEFORE the Holy Ghost returns.

Without this second ordinance, the baptism is not complete.  It is like putting a key in a car ignition but not turning it.  It all works together once the key is turned.

Promptings of the Spirit will guide you in the things that you do.  The Spirit will warn you of some danger coming or that something is not right.  Listen to it.

Most of the time it will come as thoughts or impressions to our mind.  Most of the time you will feel this spiritual communication more than you will hear it.

We are sent here to mortality to gain experiences in choosing good over evil.  Satan knows us from the spirit world and tries to prompt us in NOT praying.  That is the time we most need to pray.

To watch the full talk, go to PRAYER AND PROMPTINGS, 9 Oct. 2009.
For further information, go to www.lds.org.

Send this article to everyone you know and care about.