Blessings of the Priesthood

One of the greatest understatements in all of scripture is found in the first verse of the Book of Abraham. Threatened with being sacrificed to idol gods by his Father, Abraham writes, “In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my fathers, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence.”

What Abraham said next changed his life and the course of human history. It has the power to change your life and mine. He said, “And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers" (Abraham 1:1-2).

Now, that was a really long sentence; but focus on what he was searching for and why. Finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers.

The blessings of the fathers are, of course, the blessings of the gospel and, more specifically, the priesthood. Our journey to greater happiness and peace and rest begins with two critical priesthood ordinances. When we have developed a measure of faith in Christ and repented of our sins, we are baptized by immersion for the remission of sins. Having been made clean before the Lord, we are then baptized and sanctified by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

To the ancient Israelites wandering in the desert, a pillar of fire was a symbol of the presence of the divine. Likewise, through the priesthood ordinances of baptism and confirmation, we are admitted into Christ’s church and into the presence and constant companionship of the divine. These are great blessings, but just like going to a concert or a movie, admission is only the beginning.

Elder Bednar has taught, “The simplicity of [the confirmation] ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply be acted upon.

“The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed ‘receive the Holy Ghost’ and its attendant spiritual gifts” (Receive the Holy Ghost, October 2010).

What greater happiness and peace and rest can we expect if we accept the ongoing responsibility of inviting the Holy Ghost into our lives? Consider, as an example, the apostle Peter. He was the Savior’s chief apostle, the “rock” and future leader of Christ’s church and one of the Lord’s most devoted friends. It is Peter that has the faith to walk a step or two on the water, who learns by the spirit that Jesus is the Christ, who witnesses the transfigured Christ and who cuts off the ear of Malchus in defense of our Lord. In short, Peter was a pretty good guy.

Yet, when the Sanhedrin seized the Savior and sentenced him to die, Peter wasn’t feeling so good. He was recognized three times as he followed the proceedings and each time Peter denied his association with the accused. When he realized what he had done he went out and wept bitterly. Then, when the Lord was gone, he went back to his fishing boat aggrieved. It must have seemed like it was over—like there was nothing more to hope.

Six weeks later, everything looked different. Peter and John noticed an older man in front of the temple who was lame from his birth. When they healed the man, a crowd gathered and Peter testified of the same Christ who the leaders in the crowd had just crucified. Brought before the Sanhedrin himself, Peter boldly declared: Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole (Acts 4:10).

What changed for Peter? Yes, Peter had spent 40 days with Christ after his resurrection, but he had spent three years with him prior to his infamous denial. He had seen the Savior’s glory, witnessed the raising of the dead numerous times and testified of the divinity of Christ even before the Savior was tried and crucified. Now Peter was making bold declarations before the very audience that had made him ashamed of Christ less than two months prior.

Of course, the difference is the gift of the Holy Ghost that Christ had promised and Peter had received on the day of Pentecost. Through the Holy Ghost we can receive the attendant gifts of confidence, sanctification and peace of conscience, knowledge of all things, strength to endure all things and a desire to share the gospel. There are many, many more. With these blessings, Peter is able to overcome his fear of men and transform from student to teacher, from follower to disciple and from having a testimony to being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we grow in the gospel, we will participate in other ordinances made available to us through the priesthood. Like the gift of the Holy Ghost, each one returns blessings on an exponential scale if we give the requisite effort to make them operative in our lives. We won’t have a celestial marriage just because we are married in the temple, but if we work to develop a relationship based on gospel principles like forgiveness, kindness and love, we will find much happiness and peace and rest in our families in this life and throughout eternity. We aren’t forgiven of all sin just because we take the sacrament bread and water on Sunday, but as we prepare and commune with God we will add inspiration and spiritual strength to the forgiveness we seek.

It was my pleasure to attend the temple yesterday to assist our youth in performing baptisms and confirmations for the dead. This priesthood service does not guarantee salvation for myself or for those for whom ordinances were performed. We both have more work to do. But there were many tender mercies that have brought greater peace into my life. It was great to see the seminary students I teach most mornings getting an opportunity to experience the gospel in action. Many of the names were from the country where I served my mission and I was grateful the Lord would provide an opportunity to serve that people once again. And Brother Black rekindled my desire to do more family history work as he relayed his goals to prepare names for the temple.

In addition to priesthood ordinances, the Lord uses his priesthood to bless our lives as those with authority lay their hands on our head and pronounce blessings of comfort, healing or guidance. None of us likely remember when we may have received a name and a blessing as a baby. This blessing is unique in that the priesthood holder acting as voice addresses Heavenly Father and calls down blessings from heaven on behalf of the child as inspired by the Holy Ghost. As I’ve returned to journal entries where I’ve recorded what I could remember of each of my children’s blessings, I’ve been inspired to find that many of the pronounced blessings already manifest themselves in the lives of Hyrum, Camden and Allie.

The Church Handbook of Instructions directs that “Every worthy, baptized member is entitled to and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired direction from the Lord” Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 20.12.1). Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person’s lineage in the house of Israel, providing valuable insights into his or her past and responsibilities on earth, as well as personal counsel from the Lord. As we study and follow the counsel in our patriarchal blessings, we receive guidance, comfort and protection (LDS Gospel Topics: Patriarchal Blessings).

We may request priesthood blessings whenever we feel they are needed in our lives. Brother Tyra received a blessing in our quorum meeting last week in preparation for his eye surgery. As was heard in that blessing, the Lord often expresses his love for us, information about our true identity, and what the Lord would like us to do through priesthood blessings. He is anxious to bless us, but also requires that we have faith in his power.

Over a century ago, when Elder J. Golden Kimball presided over the Southern States Mission, he called for a meeting of the elders. They were to meet in a secluded spot in the woods so they would have privacy. One of the elders had a problem with one of his legs. It was raw and swollen to at least twice the size of his other leg. But the elder insisted on attending this special priesthood meeting in the woods, so two of the elders carried him to this meeting place.

Elder Kimball asked the missionaries, “Brethren, what are you preaching?”

They said, “We are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Are you telling these people that you have the power and authority, through faith, to heal the sick?” he asked.

They said, “Yes.”

“Well then,” he continued, “why don’t you believe it?”

The young man with the swollen leg spoke up and said, “I believe it.” Here is the rest of the story told in Elder Kimball’s words: “[The elder] sat down on a stump and the elders gathered around him. He was anointed and I administered to him, and he was healed right in their presence. It was quite a shock; and every other elder that was sick was administered to, and they were all healed. We went out of that priesthood meeting and the elders received their appointments, and there was a joy and a happiness that cannot be described” (In Max Nolan, “J. Golden Kimball in the South,” New Era, July 1985, 10).

Did you catch that? There was a joy and a happiness that cannot be described. Isn’t this what Abraham was looking for? Isn’t this what you are looking for? Greater happiness and peace and rest are the fruits of the priesthood. The blessings of the fathers are available through priesthood ordinances and priesthood blessings. They also come as we serve in priesthood callings.

In seminary this week we read about the first General Conference of the ancient church. The apostles were wrestling with a difficult problem: the rapidly growing church needed a way to meet its temporal and business needs while keeping the apostles’ mandate to preach the gospel and be witnesses of Christ to all nations. The solution was to call seven disciples who were honest and “full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom” to assist the apostles in their work. As the bishopric does for us when we are called to serve in the church, the apostles laid their hands on the newly-called disciples heads and set them apart for service in God’s kingdom before the conference ended.

As these seven disciples served in and magnified their callings, the scriptures record that “the word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:1-8).

We might not feel like our calling contributes to missionary work or is a catalyst for miracles, but every calling does and is. We are set apart through the power of the priesthood and every calling from nursery teacher to prophet, seer and revelator serves through that same power. Primary pianists, relief society committee members and the building coordinator are all performing priesthood functions; and priesthood service qualifies us for priesthood blessings. We can help increase the word of God, multiply the membership of our ward, improve in our obedience to God’s commandments, and even bring about great wonders and miracles through inspired diligence in our priesthood callings.

Priesthood ordinances, priesthood blessings and priesthood callings are only three ways through which the Lord extends his blessings to us. Consider that the heavens and the earth and all that in them are were created by the power of the priesthood; that the Atonement of our Savior was possible only through the power of the priesthood; and that the just and the unjust will be resurrected at some future day through the power of the priesthood. Every blessing we have, realized or taken for granted, is possible only through the priesthood power of our Almighty God.

Some of these blessings are given to us by a loving Heavenly Father who, I believe, delights in spoiling us with his blessings. As a wise parent, he also realizes that sometimes our happiness and peace and rest must be earned for us to be successful. Abraham left home in search of learning and a better life. Peter left his career—twice!—to learn from Christ and be worthy of the Holy Ghost. The youth gave up a Saturday morning to serve in the temple. The young missionary believed he could be healed. Stephen magnified his church calling.

These things may feel like sacrifices or heroic efforts at times to us, but to God they are lessons in living how He lives. That is his goal for us: immortality and eternal life. Eternal life is his life—a life filled with perfect happiness and peace and rest because of perfect priesthood ordinances, blessings and service. With every heartfelt prayer, every trip to the temple, every Sunday School lesson taught and every meal delivered to someone in need, we practice living how he lives. We practice eternal life.

Our Savior lived a life without sin, left his apprenticeship as a carpenter to do his Father’s work, suffered agony in Gethsemane and on Golgatha and was resurrected on the third day. Because of Him, and His priesthood, I know there is greater happiness and peace and rest available for us all if we will seek the blessings of the gospel, which are the blessings of the priesthood.

Praying (and Persevering) for a Promised Land

More than four thousand years ago, two brothers had a dilemma. They lived in a city founded by one of Noah's grandsons in the middle of modern-day Iraq. Both men were fathers and providers for their families. They were righteous men, but the city where they lived had become wicked. They knew the Lord was not pleased with what was going on around them. They also knew that the Lord's pending wrath meant the people would be scattered and their languages confused-- and that they might not ever see, or be able to understand, each other again.

Faced with this difficult circumstance, one of the brothers, whose name was Jared, did what every older brother and fearless leader would do: he delegated. 'Cry unto the Lord,' he told his brother, 'that he will not confound us' (Ether 1:34). When the Lord had promised not to confuse the language of Jared and his brother, Jared asked his brother to pray again for their friends and a third time, accepting that they may be scattered like the rest of their people, for direction on where they should go.

To this third inquiry, the Lord responds that he would, 'go before thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth' (Ether 1:42). Though the land would be choice and their descendants were promised to become the greatest nation on earth, the work didn't stop there. This small group was not yet ready to receive that ultimate blessing. Preparation would take at least, but likely much more than, five more years.

That preparation included four significant moves-- first north to the land of Nimrod, then out into the wilderness 'where there never had man been', on to the land along the beach, where they lived in tents for four years, and finally across the ocean to reach their ultimate goal. Their travels included building barges to cross the water on at least two separate occasions (with earlier builds likely enhancing the quality of the vessels that would cross the ocean), finding and preparing food for themselves and herds of animals they had brought with them, and solving problems of insufficient light, steering, and air on the eight water-tight barges built to cross the ocean. They were spiritually prepared as they sought answers to their prayers, followed the Lord in a cloud across the wilderness and, after they had been faithful for many years, as the brother of Jared saw the premortal Christ and all things from the beginning of the world to the end.

The final leg of their 6,000-mile journey isolated three or four adults, if they were divided evenly, with their children and animals in eight windowless, water-tight barges for just over eleven months as they crossed the ocean. The ocean waves were like mountains and the winds were fierce. The craft were tossed and frequently submerged under the water, sometimes only coming up for air after they had prayed for relief. The people, now unified as 'Jaredites', had learned to trust in the Lord, so they filled their time with grateful singing and praises to God.

When they finally landed on the American continent, the 'promised land' they had been working for years to achieve, there was more to be done. After rejoicing and thanking the Lord for what he had given them, they set about the work of dividing the land, tilling it to plant their crops, and establishing a government. Their lives were not likely very easy by our standards, but they had achieved something far greater. 'They were taught to walk humbly before the Lord,' the scripture says, 'and they were also taught from on high'. Becoming what the Lord wanted them to be, and knowing him well enough that he could teach them his will and doctrine, was far a greater prize than even the land they had acquired.

Whether a physical place or a goal to achieve something significant in our lives, each of us is striving toward our own 'promised land'. In our striving, it is useful to take note of the pattern that is prevalent in scripture. Of all the stories of peoples led to promised lands-- be it Abraham, Moses, Lehi, the modern pioneers or one of the others-- each began in the face of a difficult situation. Abraham was nearly murdered by his father; Moses was left for dead in the deserts of Arabia; Lehi was troubled by the prophecies that Jerusalem would be destroyed; and Joseph Smith wrestled with the question of which church he should join.

What separates these men from their peers, why they were led to great blessings and ultimately empowered to obtain 'promised lands' when others facing the same challenges around them were destroyed, is twofold: first, these men took their challenges to the Lord with faith that He would respond; and second, having received an answer from the Lord, they worked hard to accomplish His will for them.

None of these examples initially prayed for a promised land, either. The brother of Jared prayed to preserve the language of his family and friends; Abraham desired to be saved from his father and then to receive the priesthood; the Israelites prayed for freedom; Lehi prayed in behalf of his people; Joseph prayed for truth. Each received the desires of their hearts, but then submitted themselves to the further counsel and direction given by the Lord.

A period of temporal and spiritual preparation ensued in every case. Most of the stories we read in scripture come from these refining periods in the lives of the faithful. The Jaredites wandered over five years to reach their goal, learning shipbuilding and the nature of God as they went; Moses and the Israelites witnessed many miracles and received the Ten Commandments that would be the basis of their government while wandering the desert for 40 years; the early Saints received the restored gospel through the Book of Mormon and learned how to build temples in the 27 years it took to reach the Salt Lake Valley and are still waiting to build the New Jerusalem in Jackson County, Missouri.

It should be no surprise that reaching significant goals also takes significant time and effort. It takes an average of nine months for a baby to be born and an average of eighteen years to teach that baby to be an adult; great companies take an average of four years to define their values and another seven to fifteen years to realize their greatest successes (and five years of research just to figure that out); successful military campaigns are rarely won in a day, the best crops do not come from the first or second or third year of planting, marathons are rarely ran the first time a person gets off the couch, and the faith to see God does not come from a single, thoughtless petition to 'bless the food' or 'drive home safe'. Even when these goals are achieved, it will be following the Lord's guidance for our lives that will bring blessings so great that we will sing grateful praises though we're tossed and submerged by the storms of life.

Like Jared and his brother, we are faced today with the most difficult of circumstances. Though our individual lives have different challenges, we share a fallen, sinful nature that is unworthy to return to our Heavenly Father. Whatever other promises you or I may obtain from the Lord, He has promised each of us a place in His kingdom if we will follow the pattern outlined in scripture.The journey begins with earnest prayers for ourselves and others that we may receive His promise, then requires a significant period of preparation as we repent, receive necessary ordinances and develop the traits and abilities needed to make the final leg of the journey. Finally, if we endure it well, it will be our privilege to go about our Father's business in the promised land of His Celestial Kingdom.

It is God's desire that we all obtain this promise, and with it, all that He has. It is possible if we will follow the example of the prophets by turning to Him in faith and, trusting in His divine wisdom, put our time and effort to accomplishing His will for us.