The Priesthood

Task: Choice #3 (sections 107):
The priesthood is a power that governs the Lord’s church (the Relief Society is also organized under that power), and priesthood callings call one to perform specific responsibilities of service. How can having the priesthood operating on the earth today magnify your ability and works of service towards others?

The Power of the Priesthood allow us to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ on this Earth. Through the priesthood, worthy men are able to hold callings that help us know the way of how to return to our Heavenly Father. The Priesthood is on this earth to help others. You can’t use it for selfish reasons. Worthy men are able to service others by giving blessings of comfort and to the sick. Also only through the priesthood, we are able to partake of Covenants. That is a huge serve for all of us. It helps us live a more righteous life, so we can return to our Heavenly Father. 

The priesthood allows all of us to hold certain callings. When we are called to a position in the church, we are willing to give it all for others. Through the Priesthood we are divinely called to perform certain callings that allows us to serve one another. By doing this we learn about who we are and who we are meant to become.
There is a quote By Elder Russell M. Ballard, it says “We need to understand the reason for offices within the Melchizedek Priesthood. Priesthood offices are not status symbols but opportunities for service. High priests and elders are equally responsible to serve faithfully in the offices to which they have been called. All priesthood holders assist our Heavenly Father in accomplishing His divine purpose: ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’” This is why the priesthood is here on this Earth to help bring God’s children unto him, so they can have eternal life.  Elder Ballard continues by saying, “ The priesthood itself cannot be magnified nor diminished. However, one who worthily uses his priesthood in service to others can magnify his calling in the priesthood. All who hold the priesthood of God are joined together in a common bond of service...Each man or boy who holds the priesthood, regardless of his priesthood or his ordained office, is a fellow servant in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is important to realize. We are all fellow servants in the Lord’s work. The Priesthood allows us to serve others. Moreover, as men hold the priesthood worthy in service they will magnify their callings and will be blessed because of it. 

I really like what Elder Ballard said. “From the time one is first ordained to any office in the priesthood, he should be committed to a lifetime of service in the kingdom of God. Young men should be taught by loving and sensitive fathers, bishops, and priesthood advisers that priesthood means service. One of the most meaningful service opportunities you young men will have will be to serve as a full-time missionary.” I love this quote because it teaches me as a wife and mother to make sure that my sons know that the priesthood is a lifetimes of service. When they are ordained immediately they begin that service for the rest of their lives.
 

Zion

Task: Search www.lds.org and find a quote from a modern prophet or apostle concerning Zion or the redemption of Zion. How does this quote help you better understand what the Lord is teaching in these revelations to his Saints? What are the implications for Latter-day Saints today?

“His work includes the building up of Zion in the last days. He has commissioned us to do that work for him. The foundations of Zion have already been laid in North America, in South America, in Europe, in Asia, in the South Pacific, and in every place where there are stakes of Zion. But Zion is not yet perfected in any of these places. When she is perfected, it will be as it was with Zion of old—The Lord will come and dwell with his people.
Our tenth Article of Faith says, “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel.” This gathering occurs when the lost sheep of Israel come into the Church. It occurs when their sins are washed away in the waters of baptism so that once again they have power to become pure in heart; and Zion is the pure in heart.”
- Elder Bruce R. McConkie
This quote helps me understand that we all have a part in the building up of Zion. Sometimes personally I forget that I am commissioned to do that work for. I know that sometimes I feel embarrassed to share what I know, and that is not fulfilling what I’m supposed to be doing. I like How Elder Bruce R. McConkie mention that the foundation of Zion has already been establish. Now it is up to us to try to become perfects as Jesus Christ. It is so conforming to hear that as Zion becomes perfect, the Lord will come to dwell with us.

The second part of this quote reminds me of D&C section 101 verses 17 and 18. They say, “ Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered. They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion”  I know that I have seen in my life the gathering of Israel. In my family we are all converts to the church. We were lost sheep, but we have come to the knowledge. In my Patriarchal Blessing, it talks about how I’m going to witness the gathering of Israel and that I’ll have the privilege of helping to bring this to pass. I can already see this happening around me and I can’t wait until the Lord comes. In the quote and scriptures talk about how it is so important that we become pure in heart because Zion is pure in heart. We need to be faithful to the covenants and promises that we have made. We need to be clean inside and out so we can help those return and also their prosperity.

Role of the United States

Choice #4 (section 98)
If you are not a citizen of the United States and the member of the United States, or if you are a citizen of the United States, but have lived in another country for a period of time, how do the citizens of other countries feel about the United States role in the restoration of the Gospel? Describe their feelings, and how they relate to section 98.

I was born in Chile and lived there until I was ten. Being a little kid I never really payed attention  to the role that the United States had on the restoration of the Gospel. As I convert to the church I only knew the basics. After my family and I moved to the United States my knowledge of the Restoration increased. I was able to see as I studied the scriptures and the constitution of the United States the role that this country had for restoring of the Gospel to occur.

My dad was called six years ago to be a Spanish Branch President here in the United  States. There, I was able to meet many individuals from around the world and I was able to learn their thoughts and feelings of the Unites States role in the restoration of the Gospel. Many of them view the United States as a place of rescue. They know that this land was where the Gospel needed to be restored. They know that this land is a place of liberty and justice. Those were some things that the land of where the Gospel needed to be restored had to had.
members of the Church from various countries around the world are be grateful for this country and for the opportunity that has brought them to come to the knowledge of this Gospel. Members know that the Unites States provides the liberty to practice religion. In many of their origin countries this doesn’t happen. This testifies to them that the United States was truly chosen from Heavenly Father.

I truly think that their thoughts of the Unites States is so positive because they live here. I know as a little child people in my national country used to joke around that if all the countries of South America combined forces they would take over the United States. I think that many members of other countries don’t know about the United States’ constitution and their history. That changes many people’s perspective and feelings about the people and the laws of the United States.

many are called, but few are Chosen

Task:  choice #4
The Lord says that many have been called and ordained, but few have been chosen. What does it mean to be called and not chosen? After studying the footnotes, what other scriptures can you find that help to explain this principle (e.g. Alma 13)? What do we need to do that we might be chosen of the Lord?

I’ve always wondered about this scripture. I’ve always heard various people’s explanations about it and I have also heard and seen many people that fall away because they have read this scripture and couldn’t understand its meaning. As I was reading the Doctrine and Covenants Manual, I found a great explanation concerning this scripture. . It says, “It is one thing to be called to labor in the vineyard and another to be faithful in the performance of that work. Only those who faithfully fill their callings are chosen by the Lord for exaltation in the kingdom of God. Those who are called but not chosen “have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day” (D&C 95:6), for they do not respond to the light of the restored gospel that surrounds them (see also D&C 121:34–40).
  I believe that this is very powerful. Many of us have had various callings from the Heavenly Father, but we haven’t perform our duties the ways that we should had. I think that not performing our duties to the fullest has become a huge issue now days. Many of us don’t have enough time to fully fulfill our duties in the Church. Sometime we get too caught up with school and work rather than spending time at church fulfilling our callings. It is important that we remember to be faithful to the Callings that Heavenly Father has given us. He knows that we can do. That is why He have it to us.
  I really like what it is found in Alma chapter 13 verse three. It says, “ And this is the manner after they which they were ordained- being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God...” For me this scripture was a reminder that I already knew what my callings were in the preexistence and that Heavenly Father had already prepared me for them. It is so comforting to know that.
  As members of the church we have many advantages compared to others concerning the topic of being chosen from the Lord. I think that what we can do to make sure that we are chosen is to listen to the counsel of the spirit and of the Prophet. I also think that as we are called to various positions we need to always perform our best to our ability. We need to trust Heavenly Father and be in tune with his Spirit. Lastly, I think that praying and reading the Scriptures will bring us closer to him. That will help us become more aware of our duties as member of His church.

Temples

Task: Choice #5 (sections 88:119):

The Lord governs by law and order; through them he is able to save and sanctify us. Take some time to thoughtfully study verse 119 and its footnotes. Then answer the following questions:

• What is the Lord wanting his people to establish for him?
• What do each of the adjectives listed tell us about the Lord's house; why are they important in accomplishing the Lord's plan for mankind?
• Why is such a house important to you personally?

I remember when I was little I had to give a little talk in primary about this scripture. My mom and I made a poster and pasted pictures of temples around the world. I remember loving doing that talk and I also got memorize that scripture. When I was little a viewed that scripture differently than I do now. At that time of my life I didn’t understand all the things that happened in the house of the Lord. I just thought that it was a beautiful place and that one day I will like to get married there. I also knew that you didn’t wear street clothes inside the Temple. I remember my mom telling me that when we got sealed together that I was wearing a beautiful white dress. I was a baby so I didn’t remember. Now my view and knowledge of the Temple has increased. Now that I’m married, am able to see beyond what I was able to see before. I understand the Covenants made there and the promises of those covenants. When I went through the Temple for the first time, I wasn’t expecting it to be the way it is. But now, I understand why certain things are preformed and why.

In this scripture the Lords wants us to establish a house for Him. The Temple. This is a place where His Spirit will dwell. I always remember my mom say that our home needs to be like a Temple when it was messy. She said that it will be embarrassing if the Lord were to come today and our house would be the way that it was. This scripture definitely agrees with what my mom used to say. The Temple is a house of order and so do our houses need to be. Moreover our homes, like the Temple, needs to be a place of prayer, fasting, faith, and learning. These adjectives are important for Heavenly Father’s plan because it tells us by the Standards that we need to live by.  The Temple is the closest place to Heaven. If we want to live with Heavenly Father we need to live by these adjectives. The Temple to me is a very special place. Sometimes I find myself noticing that I don’t but it as a priority. I know I should. The ordinances of the Temple are essential for our eternal salvation. We need to go often. Also the promises made there are so beautiful that anyone that takes part of those covenants wouldn’t want to do anything to lose the promises made by the Lord.

Doctrine and Covenants: missionary opportunity

Prompt: 

(sections 78-81):
Several sections of the Doctrine and Covenants call particular people to missionary service. In section 80, Stephen Burnett is called upon to “declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true” (v. 4) and told “Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss” (v. 3).
Why do you think the Lord would say it didn’t matter where Stephen Burnett went to preach? Could it be that so many people were hungry for the gospel that Brother Burnett would find someone wherever he went? Or could it be that, at that time, the Lord was more focused on Stephen Burnett and how he would be changed through testifying of the gospel? (Or maybe there is another reason entirely?)
What experiences have you had with missionary work? Who has the greatest change wrought upon them? Why? What is the importance of declaring “the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true” in coming to know something? How might what you have observed effect your efforts to teach one another in this course?

In section 80 of the Doctrine and Covenants, Stephen Burnett is called to preach the Gospel wherever he goes. I think that the Lord wanted him to grow as a person and also to nourished those without the gospel. That’s why the Lord didn’t care where he went. All of us in some ways are called like Stephen Burnett. We may have not been called to a specific place to preach the gospel, but we should do it wherever we go. In this case I think  that for all the saints it was important to preach the gospel to all because the restoration of the church was just starting. The Lord wanted everyone to hear the word. Also as the saints became converted to the gospel, they still needed nourishment. I think that by brother Burnett preaching the gospel, it made it easier for him to grow as an individual and also get to know his testimony of the restored gospel.

I love missionary work. My parents are converts to the church. My mom and siblings got baptized a few months after meeting with the missionaries. In the other hand, it took my dad nine years to joined the church. They had missionaries over all the time!! The Lord works in miraculous ways, He knows all of us too well.  By my parents becoming members it changed not only them, but those around them as well. People respected their beliefs and why they were changing their ways. I think that both the missionaries and the person becoming converted have the greatest change wrought upon them. I know that converting to the gospel brings so much joy and peace. My husband served his mission in Argentina and I know that as he served the Lord he changed too.

The importance of declaring what we know is essential for our personal growth. If the gospel brings us happiness then we should share it with all of those whom we know and love. Teaching what we know not only applies to the gospel. It applies to all the fields of study. If we learn something knew, we should be encourage to teach it to others. If somethings brings us joy, it might bring joy to others as well. Although we might be scared to teach the things we know, we need to. It is not going to only help those who we teach, but it will also help us become who we are meant to be. Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to be scared of sharing the things we know. He wants us to preach his word.

In the October issue of the Ensign they talk a lot about the Book of Mormon. President Monson mentions many beautiful things about the Book of Mormon and the importance that we have as members to preach those teachings in it to those we have temporally lost their ways. It will bring them to the Gospel. The book of Mormon will establish a steppingstone for those that are learning about our religion. There are many other ways in which we can preach the gospel. A simple one is just by being a good example. The Lord needs faithful women and men to help individuals bring them to the light of truth.