"Ye Are A Chosen Generation, A Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9)

I think the best place to start in a discussion of the priesthood is at the beginning. That is, the Old Testament. The word for priesthood in Hebrew is “cahona” and comes from the root “cahan” which means “is divine’ (Brown-Driver-Briggs English-Hebrew Lexicon). With the realization that the origin of the very word is connected with divinity let us dive into a closer analysis of the priesthood of the Old and New Testaments in order to more fully understand the nature and roll of the priesthood in the LDS Church.

As mentioned in a previous post the functions of priests in this time was to act as mediators between the people and God. By virtue of their office they were able to draw closer to God, while the people, as a result of their sins, could not pass beyond a certain point. The priests of the Old Testament mainly exercised their office at the altar by offering sacrifices and incense. In Numbers 18:5 the Lord instructs Aaron and his sons “And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.” Yet their other duties included; teaching the people of the law by communicating to them the will of God and blessing them in the name of the Lord.

It is important to note that the priests did not (nor does they today by LDS standards) take their office upon themselves. Rather they were and are chosen of God.  Earlier in the book of Numbers a man by the name of Korah along with 250 rebels try to seek priestly offices for themselves. In section 16 Aaron declares: “the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him” (Numbers 16:5). In a sense the priest belonged to God and was Holy to him. If you would like to learn more about the priests of the Old Testament please let me know and I will gladly dedicate a post completely to that.

An important aspect of the priests and priesthood in the Old Testament is the practice of the laying on of hands from the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the laying on of hands was used in ceremonies which carried with it a specific meaning. An illustration is found in Genesis 48. After telling Joseph about the promise of blessing God had given him (Genesis 48:4), Jacob said that Joseph's sons would become his sons, just as Reuben and Simeon were his sons (Genesis 48:5). As far as Jacob was concerned, together with God' s approval these two sons of Joseph  were now legal  sons of Jacob and heirs of the blessings God had promised him. All this would   become more specific with the ceremony of the laying on of hands on these two individuals - Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen. 48:13-16) Notice that Jacob deliberately crossed his hands during the ceremony  so that Ephraim,  the younger brother received the  greater blessing, and Manasseh the older brother, received a lesser blessing.  The laying on of hands here illustrates a special ceremony within the context of a divine purpose.

So we’ve discussed the function of priests, priesthood and the practice of laying on of hands in the Old Testament. What about the New Testament?  With the advent of Christ, the priesthood of the Old Testament was elevated to the height it had never before possessed. It also became the cornerstone of the Christian religion so much so that we might almost define true Christianity as the religion of a divinely revealed priesthood. Christianity is indeed priestly and the priesthood is of its essence:. So when Christ died on the cross and atoned for all of us, thus opening the way for men to find their way back to God, the Old Priesthood (not the Priesthood itself but the Priesthood in its Old Testament form was done away with).

If we’ll remember the purpose of a priest in Old Testament times was to act as a mediator between man and God. Christ was the ultimate mediator through the shedding of his blood. Indeed Christ proclaimed “No man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Yes Christ became our ultimate mediator, our advocate with the Father, yet that was not the end of the priesthood. In John 20:21 Christ admonishes His disciples “as my Father hath sent me even so send I you” Previous to His death Christ had ordained the priesthood upon his apostles when he said “ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name he may give it you” (John 15:16). This verse brings back two familiar ideas of the priesthood and priests. First, that they must be chosen by God, and second that they act as mediators of sorts with the ability to act in Christ’s stead, essentially they were to do what Christ would have done if He were upon the Earth.

There are numerous branches of Christianity that believe the priesthood ended with the death of Christ and the tearing of the veil. However, after Christ’s resurrection and ascension into heaven many of the Apostles (Paul, Timothy, etc..) laid their hands upon the heads of new believers and conferred the Holy Ghost upon them. This is the priesthood. In Acts 8 the Apostles go to Samaria when they hear that the people have received the word of God but have not yet received the Holy Ghost. Verse 17 says “then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” Just as Christ acted as a mediator to confer the Holy Ghost on his Apostles from the Father, the Apostles act as a mediator of sorts for the new members of the Church to receive the Holy Ghost as well. Another example of the exercising of the priesthood used as mediation between man and God is seen in Acts 19 when Paul passes through Ephesus and runs into a group of people that have only been baptized with “John’s baptism” (Acts 19:3) and Paul asks them “Unto what end were ye baptized?” (Acts 19:2) and the record goes on “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”(Acts 19:6). The bottom line is to show that the laying on hands and the priesthood was continued from Old Testament times to New Testament times and continues beyond that into modern times.

Much like the apostles going forth, baptizing and conferring the Holy Spirit upon new members with the laying on of hands, the practice also exists in the pages of the Book of Mormon and in the LDS Church today. In the Book of Alma, the prophet Alma while preaching to the people (much as the apostles of Christ did after his ascension into heaven) Alma came upon the city of Zarahemla and “ordained priests and elders by laying on his hand according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the Church” (Alam 6:1). Another example takes us to 3 Nephi where Christ makes his visit to the American continent after He is crucified and resurrected. The scriptures record “And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen (chosen by God), one by one, even until he had touched all, and spoke unto them as he touched them” (3 Nephi 18:36) The chapter goes on to say “the disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 18:37).

So the priesthood and the practice of laying on of hands was present in the Old Testament, New Testament and the Book of Mormon. But perhaps the white elephant in the room is the functions of priests and the priesthood in the LDS church today. First of all, within the Church there are two kinds or levels of Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood, it is the “lesser” of the two priesthood and contains the offices of deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. It is known by other names as the Levitical Priesthood, the Preparatory Priesthood, the Lesser Priesthood, the Second Priesthood, and the Priesthood of Aaron. The other branch of the Priesthood is the Melchizedeck Priesthood it is the “higher” of the two priesthood and contains the offices of Elder, High Priest, Patriarch, Seventy, Apostle, and Prophet. The greatest reference for the duty of priesthood holders (remember they must be called of God, ordained to the office by one who is in authority [or who has also been called of God through the laying on of hands], and live worthy of their office.) can be found in D&C 20, often nicknamed the foundation of the Church because it outlines its structure and the function of all the difference offices. The duties of priesthood holders are as follows:

Apostles (an elder)-verse38 

• To baptize (38)
• To ordain other elders priests, teachers, and deacons (39)
• To administer bread and wine (we use water)- the emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ-
• Confirm those who are baptized into the Church, by the laying on hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost (41)
• To teach, to expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the Church
• To take the lead of all meetings

Elders

• Conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God (45)

Priests 

• To preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament (46)
• Visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties (47)

•  May also ordain other priests, teachers and deacons (48)
•  Take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present (49)
• In these duties assist the Elder if the occasion requires (52)

Teachers and Deacons 

• To watch over the Church always and be with and strengthen them (53)
• See that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, back biting, nor evil speaking. (54)
• See that the Church meet together often, and all that all the members do their duty (55)
•  Take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest (56)
• And is to be assisted always in all his duties in the church, by the deacons if occasion requires (57)
• DO NOT have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands (58)
• Both Teachers and Deacons are to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.

So there you have, a list of duties (roughly) that each office of the priesthood performs. If you are interested in a post on the complete organization of the Church just let me know and I will gladly get one up for you. It has been a pleasure my dear readers sharing this information with you. Latter Day Saints take very seriously the reminder from Peter “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). To wield the power of God, to act in His name, to use such a responsibility to bless others and edify the Church, that is true meaning of being a Priesthood holder of God. May God bless you all, man and women alike, until you read again.

(I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more to search "the priesthood" on lds.org or ask any question you would like in a comment, I promise to do my best to answer it). 

"Come Unto Me" (Matthew 11:28)

I promise that the post on the priesthood is coming but I wanted to stray from that a little bit a share a post about  my faith’s stance on the atonement of Jesus Christ. As many may or may not know the official name of the LDS church is: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We revere Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, yet many still do not call us Christians. I hope that in my post I can prove to you and to all that Latter Day Saints are not only Christians but that we cling to Christ as is necessary to get through this life.

I have talked to many people of late who have felt discouraged and alone. To them I say with the invitation to find out for yourself, you are never alone. He is always there; even when we feel He is not. He never leaves us. As much as I enjoy the poem Footprints in the Sand (if you haven’t read it, google it, it is a beautiful poem) I do have one qualm about it and that is this. When the man in the poem goes through hard times the Lord says that He carries him. That’s all sweet and good but I sincerely believe that Christ never ceases to carry us. Even those that have turned their back on Him, he waits, ready with open arms for us to look to Him and return to His presence and His embrace of love and mercy.

The Book of Mormon testifies of the love of our redeemer. In Helaman 5:12 the prophet Helaman admonishes his sons before he dies “And now, my sons, remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” It shall have no power over you. Whenever I read that verse I always envision the instance when Christ and his disciples are afloat on a sea that is angry and raging with a furious storm. Hesitantly the disciples wake the sleeping Master crying “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” At times I think we are like Christ’s disciples, crying in the midst of our anguish, loneliness, trials and afflictions “Master, carest thou not that I perish”

I know I have been there. I know what its like to not want to continue because you feel like there’s just no reason to. Yet the Savior offers to you the same words he spoke to the sea. “Peace, be still” I say unto you my readers, peace be still. For the God of all the world is your Father who loves you with a perfect love. Who believes in you even when you have ceased to believe in Him. When you feel you have sinned too much, when you feel you are welcome no where the Lord calls to you “Come unto me”. He offers us peace “not as the world giveth.” Come to know the man of sorrows, confide in Him who is acquainted with grief for He knows how to comfort you.  To the lonely, look to Him who was “despised and rejected of men”. The atonement encompasses all that have lived, do live, and will yet live upon this Earth and any other worlds that our all-powerful God has created. Yet at the same time he suffered for you. Only you. He felt your pains, your grief and your sorrows and he willingly took them upon himself that he would know how to best comfort you when you experienced them. At times we too may cry out as the Savior did “Father, Father, why hast thou forsaken me” but I am here to tell you that he never has and he never will.

He suffered beyond our comprehension. Christ himself tells us in the Doctrine and Covenants “which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit- and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink-“ (D&C 19:18). He knows my dear readers. He knows more than you could ever understand how you are feeling. His blood stained the ground for you. He has “engraven you upon the palms of [his] hands” (Isaiah 49:16). His mercy is extended to all. He loves all His children. One of my favorite passages from D&C reads “Therefore, fear not little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail” (D&C 6:34).

The storms will come my dear readers. They will come. But always remember that Christ has already weathered that storm. He has already felt the pelting rain of your guilt and withstood the mighty gales of your shame. Turn to him, know him, and find peace in He who knows you.

At a very hard time in my life I wrote the following poem. I think we can all relate to the lost and wandering sailor.

The storm it rages ‘round me                           

My ship is tossed about                                  

The wind it whips and howls                         

And I am filled with doubt                             

I know the fault is mine                                  

That I will meet my fate                                 

I crossed the line forbidden                            

And now it is too late                                     

I could not see the harm                                 

In sailing to its edge                                       

There were no chains that trapped me           

I saw no dangerous ledge                               

My confidence was blinding                          

My pride it made me deaf                              

To warnings all around me                             

Til there was nothing left                               

The water is like shackles                              

As it pulls me under                                       

My cries they are not heard                            

Above the clapping thunder                           

The waves they hold me fast                          

The wind becomes my tomb                          

I close my eyes and wait                                

Knowing it will be over soon                         

Then a voice doth call me                              

How does he know my name?                      

I know not who beckons                                

But he hails me just the same                         

He offers me his hand                                      

The scars are plain to see                                

It is my Savior and my Lord                             

Come to rescue me                                          

Yet I fear I cannot face Him                             

I have done to many things                             

That they could not be covered                       

By His healing wings                                          

He calls to me again                                          

He’s holding out his hands                                 

I can see his patient love  

Where on the waves he stands                          

Finally with a cry

I lunge for His embrace

But my spirit is too weak

And I remain in place

Then He is beside me

Shielding me from the wind

He tries to hide the pain

But I recognize my sin

I feel the bitter guilt

And fight back my tears

Watching His fist clench

As he battles through my fears

Finally the wind dies down

The waves they cease to be

The clouds begin to clear

And the sun it blindeth me

Again the hand is offered

And into His eyes I gaze

For I am standing at the side

Of He who calmed my waves

He weathered my life’s storms

And bowed beneath their gales

For God could not expect

Me to have perfect sails

My masts were tattered and broken

By the depths I was almost swallowed

The winds they overcame me

And in agony I wallowed

But He came with the dawn

New parts He did supply

From His perfect vessel

So only one must die

Now with my ship I sail

He is at the head

And towards eternal life

I am humbly led

From the course I will not stray

And God one day I’ll see

Standing in a Heavenly harbor

Ready to welcome me

He waits for you. He pleads for you. He calls to you. Pray to him my dear reader. He died for you so live for Him. May we all heed the admonishment that came from our beloved Savior. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Turn it over to Him who already knows and ye shall come to know the joy and peace that comes from being a disciple of the Master, the Redeemer of the world, and the Savior of us all.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stries we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)

“The Veil of the Temple was Rent in Twain” (Matthew 27:51)

Right after Jesus Christ “yielded up the ghost” (Matthew 27:50) upon the cross the scriptures record that the “veil of the temple was rent in twain”. There is much controversy on what this symbolized in the tumultuous religious world of doctrine and opinion. Having this questions recently posed to me, as an intellectual myself I was interested to see what it implied from not only an LDS perspective but from the perspective of many Christian denominations, how they differ, and how they are similar.

First I think it is incredibly important that we establish (for the sake of understanding between reader and writer) what exactly the purpose of the veil in the temple was both in Old Testament times, New Testament times, and (for the LDS among the audience) modern times as well. Exodus 26:33 in the King James publication of the Bible reads that the vail (as spelled in this verse) “shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” Within the same chapter, the verses go on to explain that the veil was designed to cover the ark, the mercy seats, and the symbol of divine presence. The word “veil” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides. So what was the veil hiding exactly? Essentially its main purpose was to obscure the view of the individual from the divine. To many it stood, and still stands, as a figurative and literal obstacle between mankind and God.

The book: Temples of the Ancient World edited by Dr. Donald W. Parry explained that “throughout the ancient world, the veil of the temple is the barrier between ourselves and both the hidden and mysteries of the temple and the boundless expanses of cosmic space beyond” (Parry 572). The book goes on to explain that a veil was used rather than a door to show that the barrier between the spiritual and the secular is not completely impenetrable and that messengers could pass through it. This idea is also set forth by a passage well known by Latter Day Saints: “The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:1). In this verse it is not a physical veil like the woven tapestry of the tabernacle and the temple but rather a figurative spiritual veil that kept the Saints of this dispensation from understanding the things of God.

Religions and secular scholars alike acknowledge the fact that in Old Testament times anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Even the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement. In order to cross the barrier between man and God this high priest had to make special preparations.  He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins. In his letter to the Hebrews Paul explains: “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people” (Hebrews 9:7). To put it simply, the high priest was a mediator between the people and God who made sacrifices within the realm of the holy of holies

So what exactly did the tearing of this sacred veil mean? Well in light of what has previously been discussed the tearing of the veil was essentially the rending of the barrier between man and God. With Christ’s death, suddenly man could again return to God despite being a sinner, through the atonement and blood of Jesus Christ. Many Christian faiths, for some reason, uphold the notion that Latter Day Saints under appreciate this important fact by claiming that because they claim to have a prophet, who acts as a mediator for the entire Church before God, they do not believe that they need Christ to approach the Father. However in Doctrine and Covenant (a compilation of modern revelations from receive by the modern day Prophet Joseph Smith from Jesus the Christ)  in Section 45 there is a beautiful verse about this belief in the words of Christ himself which reads “Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him- saying: Father, behold the suffering and death of him who did no sin, in who thou was well pleased, behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” (D&C 45:3-5). So thus far the beliefs are the same. To both denominations the renting of the veil represented the dissolution of the barrier between God and man.

Referencing once again Paul’s letter to the Hebrews he relates to them “Having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-20). I’m no expert on the Bible, however let me propose that this scripture is essentially saying that Christ established a “new and living way” for us to return to God, that is that through him and his atonement we can return to the presence of God by means of repentance. During his Earthly ministry Christ taught “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). With the rending of the veil this was reaffirmed. To go along with what the Bible teaches about the need for atonement the Book of Mormon confirms “Wherefore it must needs be an infinite atonement- save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, the flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth to rise no more.” (2 Nephi 9:7)  This means that without the atonement of Christ we would have no hope of getting back to God. The splitting of the shroud as Christ’s death symbolized that opportunity. Abinadi, a prophet of the Book of Mormon admonishes the wicked of his time “And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sin, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?” (Mosiah 16:13)

Yet another question remains from all this; It seems that all Christians (yes even Latter Day Saints) believe that with the death of Christ and the rending of the veil our journey back to God was no longer hindered by our sins because of the blood of the Lamb of God. So why the need for a priesthood? Why the need for modern revelation and a prophet? If Christ acts as our mediator and advocate before the Father why do we need revelation today if we can receive it ourselves? Though there are many answers (which I wholeheartedly invite you to learn about by studying the Book of Mormon and asking me if you so desire) it essentially comes down to the need for ordinances such as baptism. When Christ was baptized he taught “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)  Thus the Son of God puts forth the need for baptism. If we are not baptized we cannot return to the presence of God. Another witness of the importance of baptism comes in the Book of Matthew. When Christ comes forward to be baptized by John, the Elias refuses, claiming he [John] , if anything, has need to be baptized by Christ. The Lord responds “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) So baptism is meant to fulfill all righteousness. What in the world does it mean to fulfill all righteousness? Again humor me and refer to your Book of Mormon. Nephi (another prophet of the Book of Mormon) provides a great clarification when he says “Know ye not that he (Christ) was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that , according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments... And again it showeth unto men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them” (2 Nephi 31:6,9).  Well there you have it my friends. Christ was setting the example for us (He is the ultimate example after all) and in being baptized He demonstrated His will to submit to the Father and showed us that “For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14); so must we demonstrate our willingness to submit to His will and be baptized.

Now, let me clarify something very important. Latter Day Saints do not believe that it is ONLY through baptism that we are saved (though we will always uphold that baptism is a stepping stone towards salvation). A literal article of our faith declares “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second, repentance, third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and fourth, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Article of Faith #4). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints if often accused of believing that it is through works, not faith, that we are saved. However in the Book of Mormon Christ teaches us “My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me: for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). We believe that. We believe that Christ’s grace is sufficient to save us. We believe in the importance of works as a demonstration of our love before God. Many opposers of the Church will use the scripture 2 Nephi 25:34 which says “it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do.” Yet what gets me is no one ever asks us “what exactly is all that you can do?” The answers can once again be found in the book which we uphold as doctrine from God, the Book of Mormon. Alma 24:11 reads “And now behold my brethren since it has been all that we could do, (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take our sins.” Faith, repentance, baptism, keeping the commandments, obedience, diligence, continuing in humility and enduring in faithfulness to the end: those are examples of our works. Those are things that we can do for ourselves. Then comes God’s grace. He forgives us because we cannot forgive ourselves only after we repent. Asking a Latter Day Saint if we believe we are saved by grace or by works is like asking if we prefer to cut with one blade of the scissors or the other. In our minds you need both because you cannot receive grace without accepting Christ ( a work) and you cannot accept Christ without his mercy being extended towards you (grace).

So certain ordinances are necessary for our salvation (though these ordinances have no bearing without the atonement and grace found through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ). These ordinances, such as baptism, cannot be performed without the priesthood. Since I do not want to stretch your synapses any further than I already have with all that I’ve shared with you up to this point I will leave you with a leading verse of sorts to prepare you for my next post. In the first epistle of Peter, Christ’s senior apostle writes to the Christians of old and to the Saints of today “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9).  The prophets of the Book of Mormon only second the need for the priesthood when Alma explains “Now they were ordained after this manner- being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end-“(Alma 13:8). It has been a pleasure my friends. I hope you have been enlightened and edified by what you have taken the time to read. May the Lord bless you until you read again. 

Modeling Our Mothers

So I've been asked to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday. If you are a nonmember and have questions about that then just shoot me an email and I'll gladly explain it. Anyway, I was asked to speak on mothers (imagine that) and it was suggested I reference the talk Mothers and Daughters. It has to be twelve to fifteen minutes long. I figured what better way to kick off a blog about spiritual things then to share a talk I had to give. Enjoy! May God bless each of you!

Since it is Mother’s day I have been asked to speak on mothers. Though it was recommended I draw my remarks from the talk Mothers and Daughters given by M. Russell Ballard I decided to take a somewhat different approach. Elder Ballard’s talk discussed the influence mothers and daughters can have on one another. Since I didn’t want the priesthood holders in the audience to spiritually kick up their feet and take a fifteen minutes nap I have chosen to speak to you on the influence various matriarchal figures have had on men and women of God throughout history and what we can learn from their wonderful examples.  In the talk that I previously mentioned M. Russell Ballard said “Throughout the history of the world, women have always been teachers of moral values. That instruction begins in the cradle and continues throughout the lives of their children.”  I intend to discuss with you today, six exemplary women who taught the principles of God through their words and their actions. 

First I would like to talk about Sarah, the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Sarah is a wonderful example of patience and faith. As we all remember Sarah did not give birth to Isaac until well into her later years. Not being a mother myself I can only imagine the heart ache that waiting must have caused her. After all Abraham had been promised that he would be “the father of many nations” I’m sure Sarah in turn expected that she would be the mother of many nations. As the story goes, the Lord did finally bless them with a son, Isaac. Sarah had waited years for this blessing. I cannot fathom her feelings when Abraham came to her and related the Lord’s admonishment to him to “take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:3). Genesis 22, the chapter from which this verse is taken does not even mention Sarah but I can imagine that she was not that enthusiastic about the idea. Yet she let Abraham leave with their only son, certain that he wouldn’t return. To me that brothers and sisters, is a true example of faith. As Latter Day Saints we must have the conviction to trust that the Lord will guide us even when we cannot see the road we have been called to travel. It is vital to our salvation that we learn, as Sarah eventually did, to wait upon the Lord for all the righteous desires of our hearts. I can personally testify that in our patience and waiting we can find true happiness.

In an address given by Elder Russell M. Nelson he quoted a statement from the First Presidency which expounds ““Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”

I would next like to draw our attention to Hannah, the mother of Samuel. I’m sure we are all familiar with her story. She was desperate to be a mother. Her demonstration of gratitude towards and trust in, the Lord are the epitome of how each of us, men and women alike need to be. The first book of Samuel records how “her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6). As any of us would be there were times when she struggled with what she felt the Lord was denying her. Verse 10 of the same chapter reads “and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10) I would like to bring to your attention that despite her bitterness, despite her pain and her suffering, she went to the Lord. In verse 15 she tells Eli the priest that she has “poured out [her] soul before the Lord.” When she brings Samuel forth she claims in verse 20 that is because “I have asked him of the Lord”. Not only did she trust the Lord and cultivate enough faith to believe that if she asked she would receive but when she did receive she credited the miracle to the Lord. Then as she had promised she gave Samuel to the Lord. To be representatives of the Savior we must pattern our lives and behavior after Hannah. When we are suffering it is essential that we pray to the Lord in faith, fundamental that we praise him when that suffering is relieved, and a requirement of the Celestial kingdom to be honest in all our dealings with God and our fellow men.

Sheri Dew proclaimed “For mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in posterity, wisdom, joy, and influence.”

Another woman I would like to recall to your remembrance is of course Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a teenager when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and hailed her as “highly favored… and blessed among women” [Luke 1:28]. When told that she would conceive and bring forth a son, even the son of God she did not state the impossibility of it, she did not argue that such a thing would not come to pass. Rather she demonstrated humility in the meek but innocent reply of a young girl “how shall this be, seeing I know not a man” (Luke 1:34). When explained the way and told of her cousin Elizabeth’s own miracle Mary replied with a faithful answers that has been praised for centuries “behold the handmaid of the lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Never mind that she would have to face her family and her betrothed, knowing that it was likely they would not believe. Never mind that the law said Joseph could have her stoned for being unfaithful. Never mind that she was but a child who was bear and raise the boy that would grow to be the prophesied Messiah and Redeemer of all mankind. Forget all of that and consider the courage it would take to bring forth and raise a son, knowing full well that he would atone for the sins of the world; that he would be the Savior of all dispensations and peoples. I know I for one would feel extremely inadequate, afraid, and unworthy. I pray that we like Mary, humbly and faithfully accepting the Lord’s will, that we do all that he commands with courage, and that we say unto the Lord no matter the circumstances “be it unto me according to thy word”

Russell M. Nelson said “Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.”

There are many more examples of great mothers in the Bible but because I am short on time I cannot discuss them further. I encourage each of you to personally ponder many of these other great women. Study them and draw lessons of character and obedience from their righteous ways. The next woman, or rather women, that I would like to speak on are the wives and mothers of those faithful Anti-Nephi Lehis. You will recall the account in Alma 24 when the Lamanites came against the people. The men walked forward to meet them; prostrating themselves on the ground they allowed their Lamanite brethren to slaughter them without mercy. Their faith and reward is praised in verse 22, “we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God” (Alma 24:22). What we are not privy to are those wives and mothers that did not go out to meet the Lamanites. Who bid their husbands and sons farewell in the full knowledge that they would not see them again in this life. Their faith in the teachings of the Savior, their steadfastness to their belief, and their testimonies in the wisdoms of God are unequivocal and unparalleled. These women let their sons and husbands leave their embrace that day, believing that the Gospel they had so recently accepted was true. To stand strong against this world of moral decay it is requisite that we develop a testimony strong enough to withstand the cunning temptations of the adversary; a testimony that will provide us with strength to face the spiritual massacres that we will encounter. We, as members of the Lord’s church in these Latter Days, may never have to face such a difficult decision. But, when the time comes when we must choose between God and the world, we must decide now to stand with these faithful women and not falter in our fight for all that is good, encouraging those around us to do likewise. 

Regarding women and motherhood Elder Matthew Cowley said “You are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls. You are co-creators with God of his children. Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you will be the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God's children here upon the earth.”

Perhaps one of the most well-known groups of mothers in the Book of Mormon is the mothers of the stripling warriors.  These women of the Anti-Nephi Lehis had to have the faith to send their sons to be under Helaman’s command. These very same women watched their fathers, husbands, and elder sons be slain before the Lamanites just a generation before. Now, when the need called for it, they were willing to give their beloved boys to the cause of their God and their freedom yet again. Perhaps the most miraculous, and then again not so miraculous, facet of these women was their examples to their mighty sons. Helaman relates to Moroni regarding his stripling warriors “they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: we do not doubt that our mothers knew it” (Alma 56:47-48) he goes on to say “they obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them…” (Alma 57:21). Let us all be like these mothers; faithful, strong, and courageous. One of my favorite sayings goes like this “live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you.” It is my hope that each of us live in a way that will bring others to Christ; that when others speak of us “they do no doubt that we knew it.” 

In that same talk entitled Mothers and Daughters M. Russell Ballard stressed “In these last days it is essential—even critical—that parents and children listen to and learn from one another.” 

The last remarkable mother that I would like to speak of is not written about in the scriptures. In fact she has not been recorded in any history book. Multitudes of people do not know her name. When she was nine years old she tried to join the church but was told to wait till she was old enough to be sure it was the choice she wanted to make. At twelve she was the pioneer of her family and continues to set the example today. She is a woman familiar with sorrows and has been a frequent companion to adversity. She has suffered many of the trials and abuses of this world. Yet she has remained steadfast and faithful, endeavoring to teach her children that with the Lord all things are possible. She has been an example of faith, long suffering, courage, and love to her children. I am honored to be counted among them. My mother stands as all the other women previously mentioned; as one who loves God and those around her. I bear my witness of the value of motherhood; of the divinity of that sacred calling. I can testify that from our mothers we can learn all that we need in order to live a faithful righteous life. I pray that each of us remember our mothers today, the examples that they have been and all that they have done for us. May we emulate their goodness and their righteousness. I say these things in the name our Beloved Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, Amen.