How Was The Priesthood Restored?

1. How Was The Priesthood Restored?

2. How was the Priesthood Restored? The priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith by the laying on of hands by those who held it anciently. In May 1829, John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood, and shortly thereafter, Peter, James, and John, three of the Savior’s original Apostles, restored the Melchizedek Priesthood. On April 3, 1836, Moses, Elijah, and Elias restored additional priesthood keys.

3. How does our claim to priesthood authority make Latter-day Saints unique? The priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name. The same priesthood authority that existed in the original Church established by Jesus Christ exists in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. The Church is directed and led through this authority. (mormon.org)

4. Jesus Ordained His Apostles To His senior Apostle Peter He said, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

5. The Priesthood Was Missing From the Earth Unfortunately those Apostles were soon killed or otherwise taken from the earth, and their priesthood keys were taken with them, resulting in more than 1,400 years of priesthood privation and absence of divine authority among the children of men.

6. Priesthood Powers & Blessings Are Restored But part of the modern miracle and marvelous history of [the church is] the return of those same heavenly messengers in our day and the restoration of those same powers they held for the blessing of all mankind.

7. In May of 1829 while translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith came across a reference to baptism. He discussed the matter with his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, and the two earnestly supplicated the Lord regarding the matter. Oliver wrote: “Our souls were drawn out in mighty prayer, to know how we might obtain the blessings of baptism and of the Holy Spirit. … We diligently sought for … the authority of the holy priesthood, and the power to administer in the same.”

8. The Priesthood is Restored In response to that “mighty prayer,” John the Baptist came, restoring the keys and powers of the Aaronic Priesthood. A few weeks later Peter, James, and John returned to restore the keys and powers of the Melchizedek Priesthood, including the keys of the apostleship.

9. Priesthood Line of Authority We in the restored Church of Jesus Christ can trace the priesthood line of authority exercised by the newest deacon in the ward, the bishop who presides over him, and the prophet who presides over all of us. That line goes back in an unbroken chain to angelic ministers who came from the Son of God Himself, bearing this incomparable gift from heaven.

10. The Priesthood Power Any elder holds as much priesthood as does the President of the Church or as I do as an Apostle—different offices. But the priesthood is not delegated out and parceled a little here and a little there. It is given all at once. Boyd K. Packer

11. Worthy Priesthood Holders “Men who bear God’s holy priesthood should be different from other men. Men who hold the priesthood are not inherently better than other men, but they should act differently. Men who hold the priesthood should not only receive priesthood authority but also become worthy and faithful conduits of God’s power. “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 38:42). Elder Bednar

12. Why is it important for young women to know about the restoration of the priesthood? Jump in a cold swimming pool and suddenly all your senses will be aware of the water. You know water surrounds you.But if you stand on the side and watch someone else jump in the water, does it mean that water has nothing to do with you? No, of course not. You still drink water, feel rain on your face, bathe, know that water is in every plant and animal around you, and even realize that your own body is made up mostly of water.(Sister Diane Mangum, Young Women & The Blessings of the Priesthood)

13. The Priesthood Is Vital For Us Sometimes, as a young woman, you might see young men and the priesthood as someone else doing the swimming and so you might think the priesthood has nothing to do with you. In fact, the priesthood of God is as important to you spiritually as the water you drink is physically.

14. How Does The Priesthood Relate To You? From the daily practices of our church we know that priesthood offices are given to worthy males so that they may serve others and build the kingdom of God with the assistance of the true power of God. So where does a woman fit into this endless creating, governing, and serving—especially a young woman in her teens? How does the priesthood relate to you?

15. All Are Alike Unto Christ First, we need to remember that all are alike unto Christ. He favors no particular group or class of people. Nephi wrote that the Lord “doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; &he inviteth them all to come unto him &partake of his goodness; &he denieth none that come unto him, black &white, bond and free, male and female; & he remembereththe heathen; &all are alike unto God, both Jew &Gentile” (2 Ne. 26:33).

16. We Have Different Roles & Responsibilities But just because all are alike in God’s love and concern does not mean that he needs or wants all of his children to be identical in roles and responsibilities. Young women need to be young women and young men need to be young men, and within each group there is not only room for, but need for even further diversity.

17. The Body/Church of Christ The Apostle Paul explained that the members of Christ’s church are all baptized unto a single body, called the body of Christ, but the parts or members of the body are not all alike. “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12:14, 17–18, 21). Each of you can be your own member of the body with no concern that you aren’t just like another, for each part is needed for its uniqueness and none can say to the other, “I have no need of thee.”

18. Priesthood is the life blood Continue the analogy of the Church being like a body just a bit further, and we can compare the priesthood to the lifeblood that flows through every part of the body. The power and blessings of the priesthood nourish each member and are the source of strength just as blood is to the body. It circulates throughout, that power of God that “worketh all in all.”

19. As you reach an age of maturity, you do not stand aside while only ordained priesthood holders build the kingdom of God. Priesthood holders are given specific offices with the right to perform sacred ordinances as a service to all members. And women are also called and set apart by the power of the priesthood to perform many great and varied services.

20. When a bishop places his hands on the head of a Beehive class president, it is with the full power of the priesthood that he gives her the delegated authority to lead her class. Her calling to serve is no less potent or real than that of the Sunday School president, the Relief Society president, or any other position in the ward.

21. Power Through The Priesthood You may be called upon to lead, to teach, or even to go out and preach the gospel as a missionary, and with each calling you will be given power through the priesthood to perform the job that you need to do.

22. Priesthood Covenants As an adult, a woman who is a worthy member of Christ’s restored church may go to the temple where she will enter into sacred priesthood covenants and prepare herself for special priesthood blessings.

23. You may have the opportunity to marry, and as you are sealed in a holy temple you are eternally joined to your husband and the priesthood to which he is ordained. Within marriage you may also have the sacred opportunity for motherhood, wherein the priesthood will continue to be a great blessing to you and your children.

24. The Priesthood is the Power of the God who Loves You As a young woman, your relationship to the priesthood may not be as apparent as your brother’s, who passes the sacrament or attends priesthood quorum meetings. But the importance of the priesthood in your life is no less real. It is a power by which you and those you serve are blessed. The priesthood is the power of the God who loves you and offers you blessings beyond imagination if you will only seek righteousness.

25. The Restoration Brought Us the Blessings of the Priesthood May we always remember how blessed we are to live at a time where the Priesthood, the Power of God, has been restored.The Priesthood is here to bless ALL of us. “Women and men who righteously make and keep sacred priesthood covenants and ordinances will inherit “all that [the] Father hath,” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:38.) “This is promised to every faithful man and woman, single or married, for we know that every faithful man or woman, single or married, will not be denied any of our Father’s greatest blessings. Sister Reeves

26. Gratitude for The Priesthood “By it the heavens and earth were created. By it the effects of the Fall were overcome through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because the authority of the priesthood is entrusted to man to bless Heavenly Father’s children, He wants us to invite the power of the priesthood into our homes to bless and strengthen our families and our individual lives.” Sister Linda Burton