Through Peter, James, and John, the Lord bestowed 'the keys of [His] kingdom" on Joseph Smith (see D&C 27:13).
Priesthood Authority,
Patterns, and Blessings
Chapter 2, cont.
In a Relief Society
meeting six weeks later, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the sisters at length
and then said: “This society is to get instruction through the order which God
has established—through the medium of those appointed to lead—and I now turn
the key to you in the name of God, and this society shall rejoice and knowledge
and intelligence shall flow down from this time—this is the beginning of better
days to this society.”
As the Lord’s prophet,
Joseph Smith held all the keys of priesthood authority on the earth. Therefore,
when he organized the Relief Society to function under his overall direction,
he unlocked opportunities for the women of the Church to play vital roles in
the work of the Lord’s kingdom. They now served under the authority of the
priesthood and were promised blessings beyond those they had already received.
These blessings would come to them according to their faithfulness and
diligence. Knowledge and intelligence would flow to them as they received a
fulness of priesthood blessings in the temple. They would receive ordinances
and make sacred covenants that would help them prepare themselves and their
families for eternal life.
There have been times as I’ve served in the Church that I have
struggled a bit at ‘following the keys.’ I now have a firm testimony of the
power of doing just that, though. The priesthood holder that is called to serve
as the ‘holder of the keys’ in authority over us is called of God; if I do all
in my power to sustain and follow his council, I will have power to fulfill my
calling and serve in a Christ-like manner more that I could otherwise. I am
reminded again of the pattern Ralph Christensen (Head of HR for the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) taught us as we were serving as the Stake
Relief Society presidency in relating to the priesthood leaders we were serving
under the direction of (and goes for serving anytime under the authority of another, say as a councilor
in a presidency, for example):
In my service I assume:
1. Every time I walk in the room you want my best personal and
professional advice.
2. Sometimes we will agree and sometimes we will disagree.
3. That is ok.
You should assume:
1. At any point that you have made up your mind on a direction, I
will ALWAYS immediately support that direction. I will be on board all the way.
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