We generally think of order as a good thing and its opposite—disarray, mismanagement, or chaos—as a bad thing. Most of us work hard to organize our lives and to fulfill our responsibilities in an orderly way. Furthermore, when we participate in an organization, we want to see evidence that things have been thought through, that... Continue Reading →
What Is a Priest?
The Bible Dictionary explains that a priest is a mediator between his people and God. The priest fulfills this role by: Performing religious ceremonies (ordinances) Preaching the gospel Receiving revelation on behalf of the people, and Blessing the people in the name of the Lord At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, religious observance... Continue Reading →
What Are “Gifts and Callings of God?”
Near the end of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni provides a mini-handbook for how to administer the church. Among other things, he explains how priesthood authority is given, how to bless the sacrament, and how to conduct church meetings. In his discussion of priesthood authority, he uses the phrase "gifts and callings:" And... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Endure to the End?
Throughout the Book of Mormon, we are encouraged to endure to the end. The prophet Nephi heard the voice of the Father declaring, "He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved" (2 Nephi 31:15). Jesus Christ made the same promise during His visit to the American continent (3 Nephi 15:9). Near the... Continue Reading →
The Gifts and Callings of God – Moroni 3:4
4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them. (Moroni 3:4) A gift is something of value which is received without being earned. When it appears in the... Continue Reading →
By the Endurance of Faith on His Name – Moroni 3:3
3 In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen. (Moroni 3:3) These are the exact... Continue Reading →
The Endurance of Faith – Moroni 3:3, 8:3
3 In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.(Moroni 3:3)3 I am mindful of you... Continue Reading →
They Ordained Them by the Power of the Holy Ghost – Moroni 3:4
4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.(Moroni 3:4)Moroni reminds us in this verse that we cannot fulfill priesthood responsibilities alone. Since priesthood is the power and... Continue Reading →
Moroni 3:4 According to the Gifts and Callings of God Unto Men
4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.(Moroni 3:4)I love that phrase describing how we receive the priesthood: "according to the gifts and callings of God unto... Continue Reading →