Thoughts on Priesthood Ordinances

In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World, we read, “all human beings – male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has divine nature and destiny.”

Our divine nature and destiny is to gain eternal life and exaltation. To qualify for eternal life and exaltation, each of us needs to receive priesthood ordinances and keep their accompanying covenants. Through the saving ordinances of the priesthood, we are eligible to receive eternal life and exaltation.

But how do we start down the path to these ordinances?

We must follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In 2 Nephi 31, we learn that Christ’s mission was:

1. He came to do the will of the Father

2. He was obedient in keeping the commandments

3. He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness

4. He showed us the gate and strait and narrow path to eternal life

5. He set the example for us to follow

In 2 Nephi 31:21, we read:

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ…

What must we do then?

1. Have faith – faith leads to repentance

2. Repent – faith and repentance lead to a change of heart or no more desire to do evil.

3. Be baptized – take Christ’s name upon us and promise to keep the commandments

4. Receive the Holy Ghost

5. Endure to the End

This “pattern” is mentioned over and over again in the Book of Mormon.

Sound familiar?  This truth is taught in the 4th Article of Faith.

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; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

A few years ago, our ward held a Book of Mormon Invitation.  Each member of the ward, 12 and older, were given a copy of the Book of Mormon and were invited to read it in a certain amount of time.  We were asked to read through with someone specific in mind that we wanted to give the book to when we were done.  I accepted the challenge, but wasn't really sure who I would end up giving the book to.  As I read, I became aware of the above pattern; faith, repentance, believe in Christ and be baptized, receive a witness from the Holy Ghost, and endure.  Each time I came across this pattern, I marked it.  I called it "the path" or "the way".

As I neared the end of the book, I felt that I needed to give the book to my brother.  Several months later, when the time was right and the Spirit prompted me, I gave the book to my brother Eric.  Eric hasn't been active in the church for over 20 years.  I asked him to read the book, and he told me he didn't know if he would.  I asked him to at least read the marked passages and he agreed to do that.  It wasn't until a couple months later that I realized why I had been prompted to mark and highlight passages having to do with getting on the gospel path.  My brother Eric, one day, will have a guide to find his way back into church activity and the blessings available to him through that choice.

How can we teach or help others to get on the gospel path?

In Alma 31:5 we read:

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue (power) of the word of God.

President Boyd K Packer has said:

The study of doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.  ... That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel.

So what is it about these doctrines that we need to understand?

• The Doctrine does not change; it is eternal. Christ’s doctrine is that he came into the world to do the will of the Father, to carryout the Atonement, and to set an example for us to follow.
• Gaining a testimony of the doctrine leads men and women to the principles of the gospel. We learn in the 4th Article of Faith that these principles are faith and repentance.
• Faith and Repentance, the principles of the gospel, lead us to receive ordinances where we make covenants with our Heavenly Father.

Through these saving ordinances of the priesthood, we are eligible to receive eternal life and exaltation.

Sister Carole M. Stephens in October 2013 Conference, spoke about these saving ordinances. She said:

We need baptism. When we are immersed in the waters of baptism, we covenant to take Christ’s name upon us, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end, that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. We need the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through that ordinance, we can have access to the constant companionship of the Spirit.

We need to receive the temple endowment. Elder M. Russell Ballard said: “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. … The endowment is literally a gift of power.”

We need the sealing ordinance, which leads to eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God.” This priesthood ordinance is received only by a man and a woman together. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, “Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally.”

We need the opportunity to renew our covenants each week as we partake of the sacrament. Latter-day prophets and apostles have taught that when we worthily partake of the sacrament, we can renew not only our baptismal covenant but “all covenants entered into with the Lord.”

These priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fullness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior’s Atonement. They arm sons and daughters of God with power, God’s power, and provide us with the opportunity to receive eternal life...

Not all priesthood ordinances are essential for salvation and exaltation. But all priesthood ordinances bless our lives.

Bishop H. Burke Peterson mentioned other ways in which priesthood ordinances can bless us: 

If we live for it, ours can be a power given us from our Heavenly Father that will bring peace to a troubled household. Ours can be a power that will bless and comfort little children, that will bring sleep to tear-stained eyes in the wee hours of the morning. Ours can be the power that will… calm the unsettled nerves of a tired wife. Ours can be a power that will give direction to a confused… teenager. Ours, the power to bless a daughter before she goes on her first date or before her temple marriage, or to bless a son before his departure for a mission or college. …Ours can be the power to heal the sick and comfort the lonely.

I am grateful for the priesthood ordinance of blessings in my life. When I read this quote to my husband we exchanged a smirk when I read the part about calming the nerves of a tired wife.  I told him that I wasn't sure the word "tired" was the word I would use to describe myself.  Maybe "crazy" or "neurotic"!

There have been many times in my life when something is troubling me, or I just can't seem to muster the strength and courage to face all that life seems to be throwing at me. (I recently wrote about such a time.)  In these times, I personally pray and seek for guidance and strength, but when I remember to seek out a priesthood blessing, the peace and comfort is usually always immediate.

I am truly grateful for the priesthood power that my husband holds and with which he blesses me.  I am also grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who has provided a way and means for me to one day return to live with him.

For more information about Why are Ordinances Important in My Life, go here.  A couple of more quotes about priesthood ordinances that provide some food for thought:

Elder Ballard also taught:

Our Father in Heaven is generous with His power. All men and all women have access to this power for help in our own lives. All who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and who honor those covenants are eligible to receive personal revelation, to be blessed by the ministering of angels, [and] to commune with God.

Sister Carole M Stephens:

We are beloved spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and destiny. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loved us enough to give His life for us. His Atonement provides the way for us to progress on the path to our heavenly home, through sacred priesthood ordinances and covenants.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found the priesthood authority to administer the ordinances by which we can enter into binding covenants with our Heavenly Father in the name of His Holy Son. … God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants with Him.