Mormon taught that "every form of godliness" invites the ministering of angels. Paul warned that "the form of godliness" without the corresponding power is insufficient. We recieve the power of godliness through priesthood ordinances, which enable us not only to bless and serve others but to become more like God.
The Straitness of the Path
One reason Jesus was baptized, according to Nephi, was to show us "the straitness of the path." We strive for precision as we administer gospel ordinances partly as a symbol of our desire to align ourselves precisely with God's law.
The Ordinances of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
We all interact with unreliable people. We are disappointed at times when someone fails to follow through on something they have agreed to do. If we're honest with ourselves, we can't be too hard on them, because we aren't perfectly reliable ourselves. We're all imperfect, falling short even when we do the best we can.... Continue Reading →
“They Have…Changed the Ordinance”
A disciple is a person who learns a discipline from someone who has already mastered it. You can't do that by simply memorizing facts or understanding concepts. A discipline is a set of habits and skills, and it requires practice. Self-directed learning is popular, and exploration has its place. But when you're trying to develop... Continue Reading →
Performances and Ordinances
Even before rescuing the children of Israel from bondage, the Lord prescribed for them formal actions they should take each year to commemorate their deliverance. They should select a lamb, not just any lamb, but an unblemished male lamb in its first year. They should roast it with fire (not boil it) and eat it... Continue Reading →
Walk in the Ordinances
As Brigham Young led thousands of church members into an unknown frontier, he received a revelation teaching them how to organize themselves for the journey. Near the beginning of that revelation is a concise statement encapsulating the standards of behavior expected of this group of travelers: And this shall be our covenant—that we will walk in all the ordinances of... Continue Reading →
The Power of Godliness
In 1832, the Lord invited church members to receive priesthood ordinances, explaining that "the power of godliness is manifest" in them (Doctrine and Covenants 84:20). An ordinance is "a sacred, formal act or ceremony performed by the authority of the priesthood" (Gospel Topics, "Ordinances"). Some examples of ordinances are baptism, confirmation, the temple endowment, and... Continue Reading →
“Mine Ordinances”
There is power in choosing to do things the Lord's way. After the children of Israel were rescued from slavery in Egypt, the Lord emphasized that He wanted them to worship Him according to His instructions, not according to the religious traditions of their former taskmasters nor of their future neighbors: After the doings of the land... Continue Reading →
Why Are Ordinances Important?
Yesterday, I wrote that to be ordained is to be set in order. An ordinance is the mechanism used to create order. It is an action that is formally prescribed by God which we perform to show our devotion to Him and draw closer to Him. The prophet Nephi urged his people to "keep the... Continue Reading →
Until the Law Shall Be Fulfilled – 2 Nephi 25:30
29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this... Continue Reading →