Women and Spiritual Gifts and Power of the Priesthood

Women and Spiritual Gifts and Power of the Priesthood

I know that some women really struggle with not being able to be ordained to the priesthood.  For me, that has never been a desire or an issue.  I perhaps have errored the opposite way, tuning out when ever the word 'priesthood' was mentioned, figuring that my husband had that covered so I didn't need to worry about it.  Experiences since his death have led me to study and understand how  priesthood is used on the other side of the veil, how priesthood power is shared in a marriage, and how I can access priesthood power in my life.

President David V. Clare stated, "I want to testify to you that priesthood and power of the priesthood is for you and is absolutely critical for the days ahead—absolutely critical." In many of the talks below, inspiring stories are told from the scriptures and church history of women who do exactly that in critical times. 

In the last year some amazing talks have been given on priesthood power and women.  Most people are very familiar with Dallin H. Oaks conference talk, The Keys and the Authority of the Priesthood (April 2014) Where he points out the difference between priesthood power and priesthood authority.

Men are called to officiate in and administer priesthood ordinances (with the exception of women who do the ordinance work in the temple.)  The Prophet and the Twelve Apostles hold all the priesthood keys to perform those ordinances and they delegate that power to others through the laying on of hands. 

The power in the priesthood comes to us through the service of men,

 but men are not the priesthood.  

The power of the priesthood is available to all of us. 

This is not just referring to when we ask for blessings.  

Priesthood power is so much bigger than that.  

Priesthood power is power from God. 

What else is also defined as power from God?

• glory
• intelligence
• light 
• truth
• spiritual gifts

All of these things are power, or priesthood power.

Sister Linda Burton, General Relief Society president confirms this idea as well.  She links the ability to obtain and use this power to our personal righteousness.

"There is a difference, however, between priesthood authority and priesthood power. Priesthood authority is conferred by calling; priesthood power is available to all. Since priesthood power is something we all desire to have in our families and homes, what do we need to do to invite that power into our lives? In the 2013 World Wide Leadership Training, Elder Oaks, Elder Golden, and Bishop Caussé taught that personal righteousness is imperative to having priesthood power." -Linda K. Burton

How do we as women learn more about the priesthood of God?

Bruce R McConkie, says "“the doctrine of the priesthood is known only by personal revelation. It comes line upon line.” We also learn in the Doctrine and Covenants “the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven." (D&C 121:45)  These two references teach us that through personal revelation we can come to understand how we personally draw upon this power.  Personal revelation is the very principle that the Brethern have been stressing in both General Conference and in Stake Conferences.

How do we as women use and access that power?

Elder Oaks discusses the ability of women to receive personal revelation and the gift of prophecy.  This is an interesting example, because the prophecy comes to Rebecca, not her husband who is the priesthood holder.  Elder Oaks explains that it comes to her because she asks, it pertains to her stewardship, and she has incredible faith.

"There is a choice example of personal revelation in the Genesis 21.  Rebecca went to inquire of the Lord. In this instance the Lord spoke to Rebecca... Though she was the wife of a prophet and patriarch, Rebecca herself inquired of the Lord and the Lord instructed her directly in a matter of great personal concern to her, to the children she would bear and to generations unborn. Elder Bruce R McConkie concluded, 'The Lord gives revelation to women who pray to Him in faith." 

I am not advocating that as women we should bypass our husbands to receive revelation for our families, but neither should we rely on them exclusively.  There are times when our faith may be able draw on the powers of heaven in a way that our husband's cannot.  As we counsel together, share our revelations with each other and seek for confirmation, we have the added bonus of "two witnesses" to establish truth.  This is a principle that I wish I had practiced more often with my husband in mortality.  To often I simply relied on him to get the answer because he had the priesthood.

It is through the dual keys of Faith and Personal Righteousness that we are able to unlock the power of the priesthood

 in our lives and in the lives of the ones we love.

What is the ultimate purpose of priesthood power?

"To bring a man and a woman unto Christ so that they can become ONE 

that the eternal round of God is fulfilled."- Clare

This ONENESS, like the ONENESS that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ share, is when two being, each accessing priesthood power come together in a united purpose, sharing with each other their unique divine attributes or spiritual gifts.  The eternal plan of the Father requires both a man and a woman together endowed with priesthood power, living and keeping their covenants in righteousness.

Women have a vital role to play in bringing forth the kingdom.  The prophets have foretold this. I love the following references to the gift of prophecy among women that Elder Oaks used.  I testify that I have seen these verses being fulfilled now.

"The Bible has many references of women who had or would have the gift of prophecy.  'It shall come to pass in the last days, sayeth God,  that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams, and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out my spirit and they shall prophesy'" (Joel 2 and Act 2:17-18)

Elder Oaks gave additional understanding about the gift of prophecy.  He asked a question that I myself had asked my priesthood leadership... "How can a woman have the gift of prophecy when she does not hold the priesthood?"  I was assured that women very much can have this gift as the scriptures and prophets rightly testify.

Paul taught "He that prophsieth speaketh unto man to edification, exhortation and comfort." Thus in the sense used in speaking of spiritual gifts, a prophet is one who testifies of Jesus Christ, teaches God's word and exhorts God's people.  In a scriptural sense, to prophesy means much more than to foretell the future." President Joseph Field Smith declared, "All members should seek for the gift of prophecy, for their own guidance, which is the spirit by which the world of the Lord is understood and His purposes made known."

How will women use priesthood power in the eternities?

We learn something of the power of the priesthood and women on the other side of the veil from Joseph F. Smith. He compares the authority given to women to work in the temple to their call to preach the gospel in the next life.

"Now, among all these millions and thousands of millions of spirits that have lived in the earth and have passed away, from generation to generation, since the beginning of the world, without the knowledge of the gospel-among them you may count that at least one-half are women. Who is going to preach the gospel to the women? Who is going to carry the testimony of Jesus Christ to the hearts of the women who have passed away without a knowledge of the gospel? Well, to my mind, it is a simple thing. These good sisters have been set apart, ordained to the work, called to it, authorized by the authority of the Holy Priesthood to minister, for their sex, in the house of God for the living and for the dead, will be fully authorized and empowered to preach the gospel and minister to the women while the elders and prophets are preaching it to the men. The things we experience here are typical of the things of God and the life beyond us (Joseph F. Smith, Young Women's Journal 23:130).

I love this concluding quote by Elder Oaks, who encourages us to all seek for these gifts or power of the priesthood, regardless of our sex.

"These gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost and are available to every member of the church, both male and female. We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God and shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections."

As we come to better understand the priesthood we will be prepared to have the fullness of the Father's priesthood power bestowed upon us.

"I want to visually again show a very important, beautiful truth about the priesthood so that you understand that it’s something that you must come unto—that you must receive the priesthood, understand it, and utilize the power. The priesthood—the Holy Priesthood—is God’s priesthood, all power." - Clare

As Sheri Dew said, "God needs a powerful people." Priesthood power is "the power of God that [we] need to tap into and understand and utilize."(Clare)  As we study to understand this power, we will come to know how to activate and use our spiritual gifts.  We will be able to strengthen our homes and families, we will be prepared for the final days and the crowns that will be bestowed upon us in the eternities. We as women and men "need to draw upon the miracles that will come and are needed in the last days" and that are only accessible through the power of the priesthood. (Clare)

Resources for Further Study:
Please don't just take my word for it.  These are amazing and I only highlight a small portion of the pearls of knowledge found in these talks.  If you want to learn to really access this power, and I think we all in the last days desperately need to do this, study these resources. (Especially Oaks and Clare!)

Oaks, Dallin H. "Spiritual Gifts," BYU Speeches 1986
(I have typed selective quotes from this speech below since it is not available in written format)

Clare, David V. "Attaning, Accessing, Using Priesthood Power."  BYU Women's Conference 2014
Clare, David V. transcript

Lectures of Faith, Joseph Smith - suggest study for by David Clare (specifically to learn the attributes and characteristics of God and Christ)

Swinton, Heidi S. "The Powerful Privilege of Women." BYU Women's Conference 2014
Swinton, Heidi S. transcript

Linda K Burton, "Priesthood: “A Sacred Trust to Be Used for the Benefit of Men, Women, and Children” BYU Women's Conference 2013
Linda K Burton.  transcript

Selected Notes from Spiritual Gifts by Dallin H Oaks

Sprirtual Gifts: Infusions of Light

Spiritual Gifts: Infusions of Light

I taught D&C 46 in seminary today, which covers spiritual gifts.  Our discussion in class reminded me of many impressions and thoughts that I needed to write down and share today.

What are spiritual gifts?

Spiritual gifts are so much broader than the examples given in the scriptures ( Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–33; 1 Corinthians 12:1–12; Moroni 10:8–18) and the Seventh Article of Faith.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply illustrations of the boundless outpouring of divine grace that a gracious God gives those who love and serve him” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 371).

I love the phrase "outpouring of divine grace" to define spiritual gifts.  

As members of the church we use the word "blessings" to describe what we receive when we are obedient, but I do not think that most of us and especially the youth associate the word 'blessings" with spiritual gifts.  This is an important principle to teach our children.  Understanding that those blessings, although sometimes including temporal things, are always spiritual in nature and are always spiritual gifts, helps us to recognize them, express gratitude for them and to use them more effectively.

Spiritual gifts are any ability or attribute of 

Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ that they share with us through

 the Light of Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost.

This definition of spiritual gifts helps us understand the enabling power of the atonement.  It is through these gifts of spiritual light that we are able to become more like the Savior.  This expands the concept of spiritual gifts to include the all of the virtues of Christ.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

“Taken at random, let me mention a few gifts that are not always evident or noteworthy but that are very important… The gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost” (“There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20). 

 I visualize spiritual gifts as seeds of light 

 that are gifted to us from our Heavenly Father. 

Although some of those seeds begin to sprout early in our lives, many of those divine traits lay dormant within us...waiting for us to discover and activate them or waiting for catalysts to drive us to discover them. (see Unleashing the Dormant Spirit) We allow the sunshine of the Spirit to radiate on those seeds through dedicated seeking, studying and pondering about those gifts.  We water those seeds as we identify ways to practice and act in faith on those gifts. As we do our part to discover and nurture those seeds, our Savior allows them to grow within us.

The power of spiritual gifts can only be accessed

 when we feel the Holy Ghost.  

If we are doing, thinking or feeling things that pull us out of alignment with the Spirit then our ability to use those gifts will be diminished.  Without the light from the Spirit, those gifts will wilt and then wain and die in us.  We must diligently seek the light and the living water that comes from seeking Christ and doing His will.

Spiritual gifts are gained and developed line upon line

 just like spiritual knowledge (which is a spiritual gift.) 

More advanced spiritual gifts cannot be sought without obtaining and developing foundational gifts.  For example, in his book "Increase in Learning," Elder Bednar describes how being "quick to observe" is a precursory gift to "discernment."(52-61) Personally, as I have studied meekness, I have realized that humility, patience, reverence, gentleness, and selflessness to name a few are prerequisite attributes for the development of meekness. Dissecting this spiritual gift has given me foundational gifts to seek in combination, so that in time I can develop the gift of being meek.

Gifts also get 'boosted' and 'upgraded' as we learn more and 

become proficient in using them for good. 

My boys used to play with Pokemon cards, and I find that they make a good analogy to spiritual gifts.  Each animal starts as an immature version with limited abilities. As it gains experience through action, it will undergo a burst metamorphosis into a more mature creature with new and enhanced traits.   After more action, the animal will complete it's final metamorphosis, reaching its full potential and power.  Through this process we grow in spiritual power as the Lord sees that we are prepared and trustworthy to use our gifts only according to His purposes.

Spiritual gifts also combine to activate and create

 new and enhanced gifts. 

For example, if you combine knowledge or understanding with discernment you can develop wisdom.  A person can posses vast amounts of  knowledge and understanding, but without discernment they will not know how to use it properly and will not be wise.

Certain spiritual gifts work as "boosters" to other gifts.  One of the reasons that charity is the greatest of all gifts, is that when it is added to any other spiritual gift, it makes it more effective.  Love is how we share spiritual light.  Only through love do we have the power to influence people.  Even though we may have an amazing spiritual gift of knowledge, if we do not love those we teach, it will do little to impact them.  I believe that humility and it's enhance version, meekness are also booster gifts.

Studying, categorizing and understanding the progression and interaction of spiritual gifts can aid you in acquiring, developing and effectively using more advance spiritual gifts. 

It can also prevent frustration and streamline your efforts.  We would not attempt or expect to be able to do well in a calculus class without foundational algebra and geometry.  Spiritual gifts are not any different.  We will be much more successful if we develop and build strong foundational gifts and proceed line upon line to our perfection.

As an important sidelight... 

We know that spiritual gifts are given for the benefit of all, not for us individually.  Just as God can take our weaknesses and make them strengths, Satan conversely will try to take our strengths and turn them into weaknesses.  As we develop spiritual gifts we must carefully watch our motivations and root out any impurities.  Satan can use these gifts against us if we are not very careful.  Elder Oaks's BYU speech below is eye opening to this concern.

Where do we learn of our spiritual gifts?

Besides our patriarchal blessing and other priesthood blessing, we are also given spiritual gifts in the temple. Today when I was driving home and pondering spiritual gifts, I realized that the Initiatory Ordinance is the pronouncement of spiritual gifts.  These gifts give us power to become like our Savior.  It is important that we understand these blessings in the context of them being spiritual gifts and not just temporal pronouncements.

"...but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual." (D&C 29:35)

Seeking to understand the spiritual meaning of those blessing will aid you in understanding your spiritual gifts.

As we act on the commandment to "Seek ye earnestly the best gifts," we will find added power flow into our lives.  We will have the abilities to accomplish God's work and to become like our Savior. (D&C 46:8)

I invite you to further study the resources below and to individually determine the gifts you have and the gifts you need to seek to obtain at this time in your life.  Then I invite you to learn more about them, understand how they connect and relate to each other and make a plan to practice them.

Resources:

Not for Naught: A Young Widow's Journey :Unleashing the Dormant Spirit
 (my notes and a link to a BYU Address by F. Enzio Busche)

What a Patriarchal Blessing Can Do for You 
(a resource for preparing teens to receive their patriarchal blessing)

Oaks, Dallin H. "Our Strengths can Become our Downfall, " BYU Speeches 1992

Oaks, Dallin H. "Spiritual Gifts" Audio from Women's Conference 1986
 (This ties in the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Christ... awesome!)

Bednar, David A. "Quick to Observe," BYU Speeches 2005

Bednar David A. "Increase in Learning" Deseret Book 2011

Hales, Robert D. "Gifts of the Spirit" BYU Speeches 1993

Eyring, Henry B. "Gifts of the Spirit for Hard Times." BYU Speeches 2006

Teachings of the President of the Church: Brigham Young, Chapter 34