HEAVEN'S BLESSING

 

 

“If the power of the priesthood were not upon the earth, the adversary would have the freedom to roam and reign without restraint. There would be no gift of the Holy Ghost to direct and enlighten us; no prophets to speak in the name of the Lord; no temples where we could make sacred, eternal covenants, no authority to bless or baptize, to heal or comfort. Without the power of the priesthood, ‘the whole earth would be utterly wasted’. There would be no light, no hope – only darkness.”

-        Elder Robert D. Hales, “Blessings of the Priesthood”, GC October 1995

I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation and for the order which has existed from the beginning for its execution here in mortality. I am grateful for God’s sons who have since the days of Adam ensured the continuation of the blessing of the holy priesthood from the Father and His Son.

Imagine if the world we were required to live in was cloaked in darkness. Imagine if everything the priesthood makes possible was taken from the earth. What would be the point of being here?

Going back in time, if there was no priesthood, there would not have been creation at the hands of the Son of Man of Holiness, no Atonement, no salvation. Our growth would have been impeded forever.

I look at the power in the Son of God on the cross. Besides the fact that He was half immortal, He was endowed with strength that is in every man which gives him the potential of achieving godhood. And not only the strength, the Saviour had amazing courage and commitment and willingness to endure suffering on behalf of another. Going back in time again, there were no women volunteering for the experience of the cross.

This courage and strength is inherent in all men for what married man on earth does not feel the responsibility and willingness to protect his wife and children? I ache to see men emasculated in our society and their importance and worth somewhat unappreciated.

I pay homage to the sons of God who take their responsibility upon this earth now and eternally with unwavering commitment. Being created in the image of the Man of Holiness, the Father, the Eternal, and having an example before them like His Beloved Son, they stood loyally by God and by Jesus in their first estate and did not flinch.

“If you had flinched, then you would not be here with the Priesthood upon you. The evidence that you were loyal, that you were true, and that you did not waver is to be found in the fact that you have received the Gospel – and the everlasting Priesthood.”

-        George Q. Cannon, azquotes.com

Men, you are strong and brave and true…..we need you!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: The Saviour by Tina Lecour)

A STEP CLOSER TO GOD PART 1

 

 

“Joseph Smith explained the circumstances surrounding the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood (see JS-H 1:68-72), which took place along the bank of the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Pennsylvania. Oliver Cowdery, who was with the Prophet on this occasion, was filled with awe and wonder, for it was his first experience with a heavenly messenger. He wrote:

“On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the vail was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the gospel of repentance! – What joy! What wonder! What amazement! While the world was racked and distracted – while millions were groping as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon uncertainty, as a general mass, our eyes beheld – our ears heard.

“His voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, ‘I am thy fellow-servant’, dispelled every fear. We listened – we gazed – we admired! ‘Twas the voice of an angel from glory – ‘twas a message from the Most High! And as we heard we rejoiced, while his love enkindled upon our souls, and we were wrapt in the vision of the Almighty!

“Where was room for doubt? Nowhere; uncertainty had fled, doubt had sunk, no more to rise, while fiction and deception had fled forever……what joy filled our hearts and with what surprise we must have bowed, (for who would not have bowed the knee for such a blessing?) when we received under his hand the holy priesthood.”    (Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1840, p 202)

When I joined the Church, I didn’t know very much about the Church, its’ organization or most of its teachings. I just knew that I wanted the way of life I could have in the Church and that one day I would have an eternal family. What I understood the least was the priesthood.

When I stepped into the waters of baptism at the tender age of 18, I did not expect to experience my first encounter with the Holy Ghost who descended upon me so forcefully when I came up out of the water that I wept uncontrollably. That was my first experience with the priesthood of God and the powers of heaven and the beginning of my journey with God. The priesthood gave me that.

How godly You were

When You planted the heavens

And laid the foundations of the earth.

How noble when you gave me hope

Of salvation through the water’s gate.

I now fly to You on my wings of faith.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Upon You My Fellow Servants by Linda Curley Christensen)