President Russell M. Nelson (our new Prophet, this month) spoke of ‘The Price of Priesthood Power’ in a General Priesthood session, April 2, 2016:
Why would any man waste his days and settle for Esau’s mess of pottage [i] when he has been entrusted with the possibility of receiving all of the blessings of Abraham? (see [ii] below)
I urgently plead with each one of us to live up to our privileges as bearers of the priesthood. In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.
What is the price to develop such priesthood power? The Savior’s senior Apostle, Peter—that same Peter who with James and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (see [iii] below)—declared qualities we should seek to “be partakers of the divine nature.”[iv]
He named faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, and diligence.[v] And don’t forget humility![vi] So I ask, how would our family members, friends, and coworkers say you and I are doing in developing these and other spiritual gifts?[vii] The more those attributes are developed, the greater will be our priesthood power.
How else can we increase our power in the priesthood? We need to pray from our hearts. Polite recitations of past and upcoming activities, punctuated with some requests for blessings, cannot constitute the kind of communing with God that brings enduring power. Are you willing to pray to know how to pray for more power? The Lord will teach you.
Are you willing to search the scriptures and feast on the words of Christ [viii] — to study earnestly in order to have more power? If you want to see your wife’s heart melt, let her find you on the Internet studying the doctrine of Christ [ix] or reading your scriptures!
Are you willing to worship in the temple regularly? The Lord loves to do His own teaching in His holy house. Imagine how pleased He would be if you asked Him to teach you about priesthood keys, authority, and power as you experience the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the holy temple. [x] Imagine the increase in priesthood power that could be yours.
Are you willing to follow President Thomas S. Monson’s example of serving others? For decades he has taken the long way home, following promptings of the Spirit to arrive on someone’s doorstep and then hear words such as, “How did you know it was the anniversary of our daughter’s death?” or “How did you know it was my birthday?” And if you truly want more priesthood power, you will cherish and care for your wife, embracing both her and her counsel.
Now, if all of this sounds excessive, please consider how different our relationships with our wife, children, and associates at work would be if we were as concerned about gaining priesthood power as we are in progressing at work or increasing the balance in our bank account. If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power.” (Again, taught by President Russell M. Nelson, our new Prophet, in a General Priesthood session, April 2, 2016: titled ‘The Price of Priesthood Power’)
These blessings from above to ‘lives so ordered’, are available to many. At times, when Priesthood authority is not available, or the Priesthood holder feels less worthy, the Lord works through others who so live by his teachings. Faithful women, living as Christ taught, are often the means of miraculous interventions and healings. (Sacred ordinances with eternal purpose are the ‘exclusive territory’ of those ordained, set apart, and acting in their Priesthood responsibilities. This under direction of Jesus Christ through our current Prophet, President Nelson and the Quorum of the Twelve.) k
Next post on God’s house as a house of order. k
[ii] Genesis 12:3; 17:2-8; Galatians 3:29; 1 Nephi 15:14-18; Abraham 2:9-11;
[iii] see Doctrine & Covenants 128:20 The Savior, Moses, and Elijah (sometimes referred to as Elias) initially gave the keys to Peter, James and John on the mount when Jesus was transfigured before them (see Matthew 17:1-4, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-30, D&C 63:21)
