Men & Priesthood

Men kind of get a bad rap in this world. It is a sad statement, but true. Of course, some of them do all they can to foster that bad rap. But they aren't who I want to talk about. I want to talk about the benefit of having a righteous priesthood holder in my life. I grew up with a man who was rather stingy with the priesthood, my biological father. He and my mother divorced when I was 14 and I still really had no idea what a righteous priesthood holder was supposed to do in a family. On November 8, 1980 my mother married Fritz Hendrik Sluyter the man who came to be the father of my heart, but also the man who truly helped me to understand the power and strength of a righteous priesthood holder in the home. First, I think we should define the priesthood: ... Read More

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, casually known as the Mormon Church, we have what is known as the "laying on of hands" by one holding the proper priesthood authority. What is it exactly? Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15) Priesthood blessings may also be given in times when comfort, strength or counsel is needed. The priesthood is the eternal power and authority... Read More

It is interesting what people expect from men of God. Having just seen Evan Almighty, I saw an interesting take on what Hollywood expects of a man God talks to in addition to more realistic reactions over time. Joseph Smith, Jr. also suffered from this: “I was this morning introduced to a man from the east. After hearing my name, he remarked that I was nothing but a man, indicating by this expression, that he had supposed that a person to whom the Lord should see fit to reveal His will, must be something more than a man. He seemed to have forgotten the saying that fell from the lips of St. James, that [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are, yet he had such power with God, that He, in answer to his prayers, shut the heavens that they gave ... Read More

"There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic" (D&C 107:1). The Melchizedek Priesthood, which is "after the Order of the Son of God" (D&C 107:3), is the greater of these. It "holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church" (D&C 107:8). It also holds "the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church" (D&C 107:18). It is named after a great high priest who lived during the time of the prophet Abraham (... Read More

“Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust” (2 Nephi 1:23). We live in a world in a state of chaos. President Gordon B. Hinckley, the living prophet, seer and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called the men to action in the fall session of General Conference, a bi-annual gathering of Mormons to listen to the prophet, apostles and leaders of the Church. "There is not a man or boy in this vast congregation tonight who cannot improve his life. And that needs to happen. After all, we hold the priesthood of God. If we are boys who have received the... Read More

On June 8 of 1978 a monumental revelation was received by President Spencer W. Kimball. Prophets, of modern times, one after another, had begged the Lord for this revelation. On September 30, 1978 it was presented to the church as an official declaration to be added to the Doctrine & Covenants. OFFICIAL DECLARATION—2 To Whom It May Concern: On September 30, 1978, at the 148th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the following was presented by President N. Eldon Tanner, First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church: In early June of this year, the First Presidency announced that a revelation had been re... Read More

We've already discussed about the restoration of the priesthood authority in 1829. Now we're going to break it down and discuss the Aaronic Priesthood: "As the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he found mention of baptism for the remission of sins. On May 15, 1829, he and his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, went into the woods to inquire of the Lord concerning baptism. As they prayed, "a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light." This messenger was John the Baptist, the prophet who had baptized Jesus Christ centuries earlier. John the Baptist, now a resurrected being, laid his hands on Joseph and on Oliver and conferred upon each of them the Aaronic Priesthood, which had been taken from the earth during the ... Read More

The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God. Through the priesthood God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power He redeems and exalts His children, bringing to pass "the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). God gives priesthood authority to worthy male members of the Church so they can act in His name for the salvation of His children. Priesthood holders can be authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, and govern the kingdom of God on the earth. -- Priesthood, Gospel ... Read More