Women and the Priesthood

As soon as I heard Sherri Dew's new book Women and the Priesthood was being published I kne wI had to read it. I devoured the book into two days underlining and thinking about the points she made.

You can imagine my excitement when our Relief Society announced we should read the book because for enrichment night we would have Sherri come and talk to us in a sort of book review.

So I re-read the book...finding even more insights and questions.

To open the night Sherri asked us what we wanted to discuss or any questions we had.  I knew which question I had but am always nervous to share around such wise and accomplished women.  Besides, the other women in the almost filled chaple.

She shared a few things with us and
Then she had us open our scriptures to D&C 107:18,19:

 18 The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—

 19 To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

She asked what those verses said to us. One women commented that the Lord's house is a house of order."

Then there was silence and before I knew it my hand was raised and my voice shook as I explained "My whole life I never doubted and felt like that was good and obedient, but I know I am supposed to seek revelation and I'm not really sure what to seek and here it says I can have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of heaven."  All that I said seemed like rambling to me but I'm sure the spirit helped her hear the things of my heart.

She said yes sometimes we think those things are only for apostles or general authorities but here it said it was for those who have the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood and those endowed with the same power in the temple.

Then she asked what are the mysteries of God?  Everyone was quiet. She told they are How God Works.

We next read Alma 12:9-10:

 9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

 10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

When we aren't seeking we are, as Joseph Smith said, "Living Beneath Our Privileges."

She next went on to say something profound...she asked us if we had ever counted how many times Elder Holland mentioned angels in his talks.  She then went on to say that we could pray and ask angels to help us....that we could get help from the other side of the veil.

We read D&C 84:19,20

 19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

 20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

We needed to understand the priesthood as much as men do.

She then went on to tell us there are 6 Fundamental Elements of Women and the Priesthood that we needed to understand:

1. Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ ate Perfect and They Know Everything

    They don't make mistakes and their ways are always higher than ours (Isiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.)

2. This IS the Savior's Church

   The Savior's Plan & the Savior's Church are eternally designed to exalt ALL His Children.

3. Prophets & Apostles walk the earth

   They are prophets, seers, and revelators for our day.

4. The Church is NOT a Democracy

  Earthly models cannot compare to Divine Models

  Revelation does not come from the ground up

5. People of Faith are required to have...FAITH

  He will not reveal everything to us

6. God does want a powerful people

She encouraged us to read Elder Oaks talk The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood.

Then she expounded on three principles of the priesthood:

1.) Keys

 All Keys come from Prophets & Apostles

They are the right to preside over and direst

 They authorize and distribute the Lord's power

2.) Authority

  We can only preform ordinances when one who has the keys has given authorization

3.) Power

  Power flows from the priesthood

  Endowment is a gift of Power & Knowledge

Lastly she asked us if we had heard how many references were made to section 109 of the D&C during the Ogden Temple Re Dedication.  She encouraged us to go home and read it.  She said it had some interesting phrases to ponder such as "fullness of the Holy Ghost," "Emerge from the Temple Armed with Power,"Grow up in the Lord,""Be Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing."

It was an amazingly spiritual and uplifting experience to say the least and I was so privilieged to be able to be in that room and hear her words.  I thank the Lord for  hearing the desires and questions of my heart and giving me those answers.