General Conference: Do We Know What We Have? by Carole M. Stephens, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency (1) We have a divine destiny with our divine Father. A loving God has provided a way for us to return and live with Him again. To achieve this divine destiny, each son and daughter of God needs priesthood ordinances and covenants. (a) We need baptism. When we are immersed in the waters of baptism, we covenant to take Christs 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. (b) We need the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through that ordinance, we can have access to the constant companionship of the Spirit. . . .The Holy Ghost is not restricted to men, nor to apostles and prophets; it belongs to every faithful man and woman, and to every child who is old enough to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. (c) We need to receive the temple endowment. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally. (d) We need 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. (e) 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. (f) We need the opportunity to renew our covenants each week as we partake of the sacrament. . . .When we worthily partake of the Sacrament, we can renew not only our baptismal covenant, but all covenants entered into with the Lord. (2) These priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fullness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Saviors atonement. They arm sons and daughters of God with power, Gods power, and provide us with the opportunity to receive eternal life--to return to Gods presence and live with Him in His eternal family. (3) There exists today a great need for men and women to cultivate respect for each other as sons and daughters of God and reverence for our Father in Heaven and His priesthood--His power and authority. He has a plan for us, and when we exercise our faith and trust in His plan, our reverence for Him and for His priesthood power and authority will be strengthened. (4) Sisters who dont have priesthood holders in their homes need never feel alone. They are blessed and strengthened through the ordinances they have received and the covenants they keep. They should not hesitate to reach out when help is needed. Elder M. Russell Ballard taught that every woman in the Church needs to know that she has a bishop, an elders quorum president, a home teacher, and other worthy priesthood holders whom she can rely on to come into her home and assist her and to give a blessing. (5) Elder Ballard 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. (6) We all need each other. Sons of God need daughters of God, and daughters of God need sons of God. We have different gifts and different strengths. (7) Sons of God, do you know who you are? Do you know what you have? Are you worthy to exercise the priesthood and receive the power and blessings of the priesthood? Do you embrace your roles and responsibilities to strengthen homes as fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers, and uncles? Do you show respect for women, womanhood, and motherhood? (8) Daughters of God, do we know who we are? Do we know what we have? Are we worthy to receive the power and blessings of the priesthood? Do receive the gifts given to us with gratitude, grace, and dignity? Do we embrace our roles and responsibilities to strengthen homes as mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts? Do we show respect for men, manhood, and fatherhood? (9) As covenant sons and daughters, do we have faith in our Heavenly Father and His eternal plan for us? Do we have faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement? Do we believe that we have a divine nature and destiny? Do we understand the importance of receiving priesthood ordinances and making, keeping, and renewing our covenants with the Lord? (10) 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. (Elder D. Todd Christofferson)
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 15:50:55 +0000