Sunday Thoughts- Priesthood

Our Relief Society lesson today was from President Boyd K. Packer's talk in this last General Conference. These are some of my favorite thoughts:

• Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers and daughters and sisters- who have influence on their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers- we cannot progress. The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are neglected.
• We need everyone. The tired or worn out or lazy and even those who are bound down with guilt must be restored through repentance and forgiveness. Too many of our priesthood brethren are living below their privileges and the Lord's expectations.
• The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be.

These thoughts reminded me of an experience I had last month- Kate was stressed about a test and I thought to tell her that she should ask for a father's blessing. Kelly was happy to give her one and she felt better after the blessing. Soren heard Kate ask for the blessing and also asked for one. It was a wonderful blessing. We felt peace in our home.

I think, as women, we often focus on our role in helping our husbands and sons to be worthy of the priesthood, but we should also remember that we have a keen awareness of when it is needed in our homes and should do more to invite this power to be used.

I also think about the relationships my girls have with their brothers and the influence they can have, for good or bad. I want them to understand that responsibility.

• We must go forward, confident of the supernal power of the priesthood. It is a source of strength and encouragement to know who we are and what we have and what we must do in the work of the Almighty.
• The authority of the priesthood is with us. After all that we have correlated and organized, it is now our responsibility to activate the powers of the priesthood in the Church. Authority in the priesthood comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. It is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness.
• Now, fathers... You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary's mischief will be that power.

I have felt the power of the priesthood throughout my life. As a daughter, I was baptized by my father and I received blessings at the start of each school year. As a wife, I have received blessings from my husband as I faced challenges or became ill. As I have accepted callings, I have received blessings from church leaders to expand my abilities and ease my fears. As a mother, I have been blessed to see my children receive peace, comfort and health from their father. As a sister, I have been blessed to see my brothers and brother's in-law stand in circles to name, to confirm and to bless.

(David, Jonathan, Benjamin, Nathan, Dad, Kelly, Joe, Micah and Scott
after giving Avery a name and a blessing at our home, December 2008.)

The power of the priesthood has healed my sickness, eased my fears, strengthened my testimony and brought peace to my life. I am grateful to know that the power to act for God has been restored to righteous men and that my family has access to that power. I hope I can do my part to "firmly fix" the priesthood in our family as President Packer has asked.