Salt Lake Mid Singles “Doctrines of the Gospel” Religion Class Lesson 26 The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood Scriptures Used: D&C 84:33-44 D&C 84:40-42 D&C 82:10 D&C 121 34-39 D&C 121:35-46 Quotes from the Manual: The Melchizedek Priesthood is received by an oath and a covenant. ■ “A covenant is a binding and solemn agreement entered into by at least two individuals. It requires that all parties involved abide the conditions of the compact in order to make it effective and binding” (ElRay L. Christiansen, in Conference Report, Oct. 1972, 44; or Ensign ,Jan. 1973, 50). ■ “To swear with an oath is the most solemn and binding form of speech known to the human tongue; and it was this type of language which the Father chose to have used in the great Messianic prophecy about Christ and the priesthood. Of him it says: ‘The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’ (Ps. 110:4.)” (Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 92). ■ “When we receive the Melchizedek Priesthood we do so by covenant. We solemnly promise to receive the priesthood, to magnify our callings in it, and to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. The Lord on his part promises us that if we keep the covenant, we shall receive all that the Father hath, which is life eternal. Can any of us conceive of a greater or more glorious agreement than this?” (Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 91). ■ “Now, you made an oath, when you received the priesthood. You made an oath, and you cannot with impunity ignore that oath. You promised. When the stake president or mission president interviews, or the bishop or branch president, he asks promises: ‘Will you? Do you? Have you done? Will you continue to do?’ And with that oath and the promise, you move forward into your service in the Melchizedek Priesthood” (Spencer W. Kimball, in Stockholm Sweden Area Conference Report 1974, 99). ■ “One breaks the priesthood covenant by transgressing commandments—but also by leaving undone his duties. Accordingly, to break this covenant one needs only to do nothing” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 497). ■ “The Lord has made clear that they who receive his priesthood receive him. And I think that means more than just sitting in a chair and having somebody put his hands upon your head. I think when you receive it, you accept it. You do not just merely sit. ‘And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.’ Can you imagine anything greater? Shouldn’t we be frightened, almost awed as we contemplate the honor we have and the responsibility we have that has come from the oath and the covenant” (Kimball, in Stockholm Sweden Area Conference Report 1974, 100). ■ “The priesthood cannot be conferred like a diploma. It cannot be handed to you as a certificate. It cannot be delivered to you as a message or sent to you in a letter. It comes only by proper ordination. An authorized holder of the priesthood has to be there. He must place his hands upon your head and ordain you. . . . “I have told you how the authority is given to you. The power you receive will depend on what you do with this sacred, unseen gift. “Your authority comes through your ordination; your power comes through obedience and worthiness” (Boyd K. Packer, That All May Be Edified, 28–29). ■ “Priesthood and priestcraft are two opposites; one is of God, the other of the devil. When ministers claim but do not possess the priesthood; when they set themselves up as lights to their congregations, but do not preach the pure and full gospel; when their interest is in gaining personal popularity and financial gain, rather than in caring for the poor and ministering to the wants and needs of their fellow men—they are engaged, in a greater or lesser degree, in the practice of priestcrafts” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 593). ■ “What, then, is the doctrine of the priesthood? And how shall we live as the servants of the Lord? “This doctrine is that God our Father is a glorified, a perfected, and an exalted being who has all might, all power, and all dominion, who knows all things and is infinite in all his attributes, and who lives in the family unit. “It is that our Eternal Father enjoys this high status of glory and perfection and power because his faith is perfect and his priesthood is unlimited. “It is that priesthood is the very name of the power of God, and that if we are to become like him, we must receive and exercise his priesthood or power as he exercises it. “It is that he has given us an endowment of heavenly power here on earth, which is after the order of his Son and which, because it is the power of God, is of necessity without beginning of days or end of years. “It is that we can enter an order of the priesthood named the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (see D&C 131:2), named also the patriarchal order, because of which order we can create for ourselves eternal family units of our own, patterned after the family of God our Heavenly Father. “It is that we have power, by faith, to govern and control all things, both temporal and spiritual; to work miracles and perfect lives; to stand in the presence of God and be like him because we have gained his faith, his perfections, and his power, or in other words the fulness of his priesthood” (Bruce R. McConkie, in Conference Report, Apr. 1982, 50; or Ensign, May 1982, 33–34). Gods Promises: 1 you will be sanctified by the sprit unto the renewing of your body D&C 84:34 2. You will become the chosen seed and elect of God D&C 84:34 3. All that the father has will be given unto you D&C 84:38 Man’s Promises: 1 Magnify callings in the Priesthood D&C 84:33 2 Give Diligent heed to the words of eternal life D&C 84:43 3 Live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God D&C 84:44 What causes a man to lose the power of the priesthood: 1 kicking against the pricks (fighting or ingoring the promptings of the spirit) 2. Seeking the Honors of Men 3. Covering Sins 4. Gratifying Pride 5. Exercising unrighteous dominion What Qualities or characteristics are essential if a priesthood bearer is to govern? 1 Persuasion & Long Suffering 2 Gentleness & Meekness 3 Love Unfeigned 4. Kindness 5. Proper Discipline (Reprove quickly when moved upon by the Holy Ghost & showing an increase of love afterwards What is Promised to a Priesthood Bearer who develops the essential characteristics for Priesthood Leadership” 1 Confidence wax strong in prescence of god 2 doctine of priesthood will distill upon his soul 3 holy ghost to be his constant companion 4 have everlasting dominion or eternal kingdom
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 02:47:20 +0000
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