March 31, 2021
Emma Smith - An Elect Lady
“Although her strength was exhausted, still her spirits were the same, which, in fact, was always the case with her, even under the most trying circumstances. I have never seen a woman in my life who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship from month to month and from year to year with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure-she has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty-she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman.”
Lucy Mack Smith speaking about Emma Smith
"The Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith By His Mother"
Articles about Emma
(Click on the title to read)
March 17, 2021
March 16, 2021
Spencer W. Kimball - Peter Whitmer, Sr Farmhouse
Spencer W. Kimball speaks at the reconstructed farmhouse of Peter Whitmer Sr
during the April 1980 General Conference.
History of the Whitmers and Peter Whitmer Sr's home.
The Only True and Living Church
Joseph Smith and "The Only True and Living Church"
Robert R. Millet
1. It does not mean that men and women of other Christian faiths are not sincere believers in truth and genuine followers of the Christ.
2. It does not mean that they are worshiping “a different Jesus,” as many in the Christian world often say of the Latter-day Saints.
3. It does not mean we believe that most of the doctrines in Catholic or Protestant Christianity are false or that the leaders of the various branches of Christianity have improper motives.
4. It does not mean that the Bible has been so corrupted that it cannot be relied upon to teach us sound doctrine and provide an example of how to live.
5. It does not mean that God disapproves of or rejects all that devoted Christians are teaching or doing, where their heart is, and what they hope to accomplish in the religious world.
6. It does not mean that God-fearing Christians who are not Latter-day Saints will not go to heaven.
7. Our belief that we are “the only true and living church” does not mean that Latter-day Saints desire to “do their own thing” or face social challenges on their own.
What the "only true church" does mean:
1. “The word only,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote, “asserts a uniqueness and singularity about [the Church] as the exclusive ecclesiastical, authority-bearing agent for our Father in heaven in this dispensation.”
The word true is derived from the Old English word treowe, meaning honest, upright, virtuous, straightforward, loyal, faithful, steady and steadfast, constant, fitting, proper, consistent with fact, conforming with reality, conforming to a standard or pattern, accurately positioned, germane, correctly balanced or aligned, precise, and secure. It is related closely to such words as trust, truce, and betrothed. Thus, to refer to the restored Church as “the only true church” is to speak of it as being the most steady, sure, and solid institution on earth, the closest to the pattern of the primitive Christian Church, in terms of dispensing the mind and will of God and enjoying His complete approbation. It does not suggest that other churches are mostly false or that their teachings are completely corrupt.
2. “The only true and living church” means that doctrinal finality rests with apostles and prophets, not theologians or scholars.
3. It means that while God will bless and strengthen and lead any person who follows the divine light within (see John 1:9), each man or woman is responsible to be true to that light which leads unto all truth, to seek, search, weigh, and prove all things.
Read the full article HERE
March 10, 2021
Woman and the Priesthood References
Click on the titles or book images to access the links:
by: Barbara Morgan Gardner
by: President Russell M. Nelson
By: Julie B. Beck
By: Sister Jean B. Bingham, Sister Sharon Eubank, Sister Reyna I. Aburto
by: President M. Russell Ballard
by: Bonnie L. Oscarson
Linda K. Burton
President Dallin H. Oaks
March 9, 2021
Women of the Covenant
Editor’s note: This narrative is part of a Church News series titled “Women of Covenant,” in which women of the Church discuss their personal experiences with priesthood power and share what they have learned through following President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel to “labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power — priesthood power” (“Spiritual Treasures,” general conference, October 2019).
Read their stories at Church News HERE
March 5, 2021
Priesthood and Sisterhood
Priesthood and Sisterhood: An Equal Partnership
Grethe Ballif Peterson
President Kimball spoke more precisely and extensively than ever before
to the women of the Church. He described the great possibilities of womanhood
and methodically discussed what women need to know and need to do. In the
Church's women's conference in the fall of 1979, he stated unequivocally that
men and women have full equality as spirit children. Then, quoting Elder John
A. Widtsoe, he said, "The place of woman is to walk beside the man, not in
front of him nor behind him." President Kimball continued: "Within
those great assurances, however, our roles and assignments differ. These are
eternal differences, with women being given many tremendous responsibilities of
motherhood and sisterhood and the men the tremendous responsibilities of
fatherhood and the priesthood." (My Beloved Sisters, Deseret Book,
1979, pp. 35, 37.)
View the complete article HERE
March 3, 2021
March 1, 2021
Women and the Priesthood
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
General Conference - April 2014
"The Keys and the Authority of the Priesthood"
I
come now to the subject of priesthood authority. I begin with the three
principles just discussed: (1) priesthood is the power of God delegated
to man to act for the salvation of the human family, (2) priesthood
authority is governed by priesthood holders who hold priesthood keys,
and (3) since the scriptures state that “all other authorities [and]
offices in the church are appendages to this [Melchizedek] priesthood” (D&C 107:5), all that is done under the direction of those priesthood keys is done with priesthood authority.
How does this apply to women? In an address to the Relief Society, President Joseph Fielding Smith, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said this: “While the sisters have not been given the Priesthood, it has not been conferred upon them, that does not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority. … A person may have authority given to him, or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation, such as the work that our sisters do in the House of the Lord. They have authority given unto them to do some great and wonderful things, sacred unto the Lord, and binding just as thoroughly as are the blessings that are given by the men who hold the Priesthood.”7
How does this apply to women? In an address to the Relief Society, President Joseph Fielding Smith, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said this: “While the sisters have not been given the Priesthood, it has not been conferred upon them, that does not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority. … A person may have authority given to him, or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation, such as the work that our sisters do in the House of the Lord. They have authority given unto them to do some great and wonderful things, sacred unto the Lord, and binding just as thoroughly as are the blessings that are given by the men who hold the Priesthood.”7
Joseph and Oliver Baptized
Church History In The Fulness Of Times Student Manual
The angel introduced himself as “John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and [told them] that he acted under the direction of Peter, James, and John” (Joseph Smith—History 1:72). He laid his hands upon Joseph and Oliver and said, “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins” (Joseph Smith—History 1:69; see also D&C 13:1). John explained that the Melchizedek Priesthood would be bestowed upon them at a later time. For the first time in centuries, the priesthood was again on the earth.
John directed Joseph to baptize Oliver, and Oliver to then baptize Joseph. They were then to confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon each other. As they came out of the water from their baptisms, they were filled with the spirit of prophecy. Oliver predicted “many things which should shortly come to pass,” and Joseph prophesied “concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men.” They were “filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of [their] salvation” (Joseph Smith—History 1:73). They were also given insight into the meaning of the scriptures. They had to keep these things secret, however, because of persecution from local religious leaders. Isaac Hale, Joseph’s father-in-law, had stepped in to provide protection, but his ability to control the situation waned.
Levitical Priesthood
D&C 13:1. Who Are the “Sons of Levi”?
President Joseph Fielding Smith explained that “after the children of Israel came out of Egypt and while they were sojourning in the wilderness, Moses received a commandment from the Lord to take Aaron and his sons and ordain them and consecrate them as priests for the people. (Ex. 28.) At that time the males of the entire tribe of Levi were chosen to be the priests instead of the firstborn of all the tribes, and Aaron and his sons were given the presidency over the Priesthood thus conferred. Since that time it has been known as the Priesthood of Aaron, including the Levitical Priesthood.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:63.)
D&C 13:1. What Is Meant by the Sons of Levi Offering an Offering of Righteousness unto the Lord?
The Prophet Joseph Smith commented as follows on this scripture:
“It is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e.,] the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in the future; but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the Priesthood, or with the Prophets.
“The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. …
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