Important Dates
- June 5-7: Stake Laurel High Adventure
- June 9-11: Stake Priest High Adventure
- June 15: Father's Day
- June 23-27: Stake Girl's Camp
- July 10-12: Youth Conference
June 2014 Lesson Schedule
- June 1: Presidency Lesson
- June 8: Chapter 9: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
- June 15: Chapter 10: Our Search for Truth
- June 22: Spiritual Whirlwinds by Elder Neil L. Andersen
See June 2014 Calendar HERE
Lesson Review
Elder
Oaks began his remarks as follows:
“At
this conference we have seen the release of some faithful brothers, and we have
sustained the calls of others. In this rotation – so familiar in the Church –we
do not “step down” when we are released, and we do not “step up” when we are
called. There is no “up or down” in the service of the Lord. There is only “forward or backward,” and that
difference depends on how we accept and act upon our releases and our callings.
I once presided at the release of a young stake president who had given fine
service for nine years and was now rejoicing in his release and in the new
calling he and his wife had just received. They were called to be the nursery
leaders in their ward. Only in this Church would that be seen as equally
honorable.”
Elder
Oaks cites a comment by Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president as
saying, “Priesthood power blesses all of us. Priesthood keys direct women as
well as men, and priesthood ordinances and priesthood authority pertain to
women as well as men.”
What
is the priesthood? President Joseph F. Smith described the priesthood as “the
power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the
salvation of the human family.” Elder
Oaks also quotes “[o]ther leaders have taught us that the priesthood ‘is the
consummate power on this earth. It is the power by which the earth was
created.’”
What
are priesthood keys? Elder Oaks explains
that “Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to priesthood [holders]
to direct, control and govern the use of His priesthood on earth.”
Elder
Oaks reminds us, “Ultimately, all keys of the priesthood are held by the Lord
Jesus Christ, whose priesthood it is. He
is the one who determines what keys are delegated to mortals and how those keys
will be used. We are accustomed to
thinking that all keys of the priesthood were conferred on Joseph Smith in the
Kirtland Temple, but the scripture states that all that was conferred there
were ‘the keys of this dispensation’ (D&C 11:16). At general conference
many years ago, President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that there are other
priesthood keys that have not been given to man on the earth, including the
keys of creation and resurrection.”
Elder
Oaks addresses the issue of women and the priesthood. He states:
“In
the eyes of God, whether in the Church or in the family, women and men are
equal, with different responsibilities.
“I
close with some truths about the blessings of the priesthood. Unlike priesthood keys and priesthood
ordinations, the blessings of the priesthood are available to women and to men
on the same terms. The gift of the Holy
Ghost and the blessings of the temple are familiar illustrations of this truth.
“In
his insightful talk at BYU Education Week last summer, Elder M. Russell Ballard
gave these teachings: ‘Our Church doctrine places women equal to and yet
different from men. God does not regard
either gender as better or more important than the other….When men and women to
go the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which is priesthood
power….Access to the power and the blessings of the priesthood is available to
all of God’s children.’”
For
further study and pondering, see the references in the “notes” from Elder Oaks’address.
NEXT WEEK (6/1/14): Presidency Lesson
No comments:
Post a Comment