God Wants a Powerful People: Part 2

Sorry it's taken me awhile to get back to this.  Life seems to have been crazy busy!  But let's continue...
One of the things that God has given us that gives us power is....

The Priesthood

Sheri Dew explains how the Priesthood is basically responsible for all the things we have in the Gospel and thus in our lives.  It is the greatest power on earth:  pg. 38 of God Wants a Powerful People

      "Were it not for the restoration of priesthood power, no one could receive the gift and power of the Holy Ghost and thus have the privilege of receiving personal revelation; or be endowed with power in the House of the Lord (see D&C 109:22); or receive blessings of healing, comfort, strength, and instruction; or enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage with an eternal companion, thus launching an eternal family unit; or have a full understanding of the enabling, healing, redeeming, sanctifying power of the Atonement; or have living prophets, seers, and revelators to lead them; or bind in heaven what is bound on earth (see Matthew 16:19)"

The Priesthood is God's power and thus we have power from heaven given to those who are righteous and thus should always be used righteously.

            D&C 121:36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.           

In Daughters in my Kingdoma pg. 7 bottom of 1^st column, 

To a group of Relief Society sisters, President Lorenzo Snow, the fifth President of the Church, said: “You have ever been found at the side of the Priesthood, ready to strengthen their hands and to do your part in helping to advance the interests of the kingdom of God; and as you have shared in these labors, so you will most certainly share in the triumph of the work and in the exaltation and glory which the Lord will give to His faithful children.”18

We saw at the time of the Savior that Mary and Martha walked side by side with Jesus and helped him.  They were a great support to him and the Priesthood that he held and the work that He had to do.

I love the story when He was at their home and Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to his words.  Martha prepared the home and food so that the temporal needs of the Savior were met. Martha got frustrated with Jesus and said to him in effect, "don't you care that I am working tirelessly trying to prepare the food and the home while Mary just sits at your feet and listens to your words?" The Savior then taught a very powerful lesson.  From Daughters in my Kingdom pg. 4:

In an age when women were generally expected to provide only temporal service, the Savior taught Martha and Mary that women could also participate spiritually in His work. He invited them to become His disciples and partake of salvation, “that good part” that would never be taken from them.

Mary and Martha became active participants in the Lord’s mortal ministry. Later in the New Testament, we read Martha’s strong testimony of the Savior’s divinity. In a conversation with Jesus, she said, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

We read of many instances in the New Testament where women were instrumental in serving the Lord and were true disciples.  They walked beside the Priesthood.  We, too, can be instruments in God's hands and walk side by side with the Priesthood, to support and help them in their important responsibilities.

Sister Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society General President, said in the May 2011 BYU Women's Conference:  “I’ve learned through studying the history of Relief Society that we have and live with inseparable connection to the priesthood.  No one need confuse the idea of those who hold the priesthood with the gifts, blessings, and privileges associated with the priesthood.  The priesthood is God’s power.  It is His power to create, to bless, to lead, to serve as He does. The priesthood duty of every righteous man is to qualify to hold the priesthood so he can bless his family, while the priesthood duty of sisters is to create life, nurture God’s children, and prepare them to make covenants with the Lord.  Don’t confuse the power of the priesthood with the keys and offices of the priesthood.  The power is limitless and is shared with those who make and keep covenants.”

To that I have to say, the same gifts and blessings that are available for men holding the priesthood, are available for us as well.  We don’t have priesthood keys, but we have priesthood duties.  We have different roles and responsibilities and abilities from men but we are equal partners and we must walk side by side with them to sustain, support and help.

As single sisters with single priesthood brethren, how do we walk side by side?

*Be a strength and an example

*Treat each other with respect—the way you want to be treated

*Help them keep the commandments when you are with them

*Don’t be afraid to discuss religious topics

*Shoo them out of your apartment at the appropriate time restrictions--leave their apartment the same way

*Stay out of their bedrooms and don't allow them into yours

*Give them opportunities to serve and use their priesthood
*Be available to have them home teach you
*Dress modestly--As single sisters, you can be and MUST be a strength to the Priesthood holders around you in how you dress and act and live your life—don’t be a temptation—Dress Modestly—If it’s too low, too tight or too short, get rid of it
*Let them know that you have high standards and expect them to have the same.
*Do the 5 things that Pres. Mullen, our Stake President, has asked us to do:      ---Pray at least twice daily
---Read daily from the scriptures, especially from the Book of Mormon
---Have a current temple recommend and use it
---Act and don't be acted upon

---Abide by the principles in the For Strength of Youth Pamphlet 

When you get married you will be ready to support your husband in his priesthood and fatherly callings.  Here are some ways to continue to support them at that stage of your life:

*Don't complain when they are gone doing their church callings
*Support them in FHE, Family prayer and scripture study
*Encourage them to be good fathers and husbands and priesthood holders
*Be a good wife and mother
*Be responsible and fulfill your own church callings
*Serve with all your heart, might, mind and strength

When we do these things, we will experience the power of the priesthood in our lives and we will have God's power.  We will be a powerful people!

Part 3...Purity and Obedience helps us be a Powerful People...coming soon!