Principles of Priesthood Power from Doctrine and Covenants 107

In 2019, President Russell M. Nelson invited all of the women in the Church to “study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power.” He suggested beginning with Doctrine and Covenants 84 and 107.

This week’s Come, Follow Me lesson encourages us to read section 107 as more than an organizational chart with roles and responsibilities:

Here, the Lord teaches us about His power and authority, “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God” (verse 3). … In teaching us about His priesthood, the Savior is teaching us about Himself and how we can come unto Him.

Today, I reread this revelation, looking for principles which can help me receive and exercise priesthood power. Here is what I found:

1. The priesthood is the Order of Christ. When we exercise priesthood authority, we represent Him, and we should strive to emulate Him (v. 3, 30-31).
2. The priesthood helps us have stronger relationships. The keys of the priesthood include communion with the Father and the Son and the ministering of angels (v. 19-20). Priesthood service connects us to our ancestors and enables us to bless our posterity (v. 41-52). We learn to respect and admire other people who exercise priesthood authority in righteousness (v. 1-2, 4).
3. The priesthood is exercised by united groups. Priesthood quorums are to sit in council with one another (v. 85-89). Their decisions are to be unanimous (v. 27-29) and in harmony with divinely revealed truths (v. 63, 72, 79, 85, 89).
4. Priesthood holders are accountable to learn and fulfill their responsibilities. No one is above the law (v. 84). Not knowing your duty because you didn’t make the effort to learn your duty is no excuse (v. 99-100).

Alma taught the same principles during his sermon in Ammonihah. He explained that “priests were ordained after the order of [God’s] Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption” (Alma 13:2). These priests worked to help others enter the rest of the Lord (Alma 13:6, 17-18). They became sanctified as they served together (Alma 13:10-12). And he ended his sermon with an urgent call to prompt repentance, so that his listeners can receive the same blessings (Alma 13:13, 21-30).

Today, I will strive to exercise priesthood power according to these principles: by emulating the Savior, strengthening relationships, serving in unity, and fulfilling my responsibilities with diligence.