“Whatever thing a man sets his heart and his trust in most is his god, and if his god doesn’t also happen to be the true and living God of Israel, that man is laboring in idolatry.”
- President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) to Church members in 1976, quoted in Liahona, Aug 2021, page 27. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/08/knowing-how-and-what-we-worship?lang=eng
"Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
The Priesthood Is God’s Power
God blesses us through the power of the priesthood. Priesthood blessings are
available to everyone.
The priesthood is the power of God. He uses this power to bless all of His children
and to help them return to live with Him. God has given priesthood power to His
children on earth. With this power, priesthood leaders can lead the Church, and
priesthood holders can perform sacred ordinances, like baptism, that help us come
closer to God. Every man and woman who worthily receives priesthood ordinances
and keeps the covenants (sacred promises) has access to the power of God.
Priesthood Power Was Given to Joseph Smith
When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He led His Church with priesthood power. He
also gave this power to His Apostles. In the centuries after they died, many
members fell away from the Church. They incorrectly changed the gospel and the
way the Church worked. The priesthood of God was no longer on the earth. In
1829, Jesus sent John the Baptist and the Apostles Peter, James, and John to give
Joseph Smith the priesthood. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the
only organization on earth with this authority from God.
Keys of the Priesthood
Priesthood keys are the authority to direct the use of the priesthood, such as giving
permission to perform ordinances. Jesus Christ holds all the keys of the priesthood.
The President of the Church is the only person on earth who can use priesthood
keys to direct the whole Church. Under his direction, others can use certain keys to
do God’s work. Leaders such as bishops and stake presidents use priesthood keys
to lead in their wards and stakes. Because callings to serve come from leaders with
priesthood keys, men and women who serve in callings exercise priesthood
authority as they do their duties.
Melchizedek Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood
The priesthood has two parts: the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Aaronic
Priesthood. Through the Melchizedek Priesthood, Church leaders direct all the
spiritual work of the Church, such as missionary and temple work. The Aaronic
Priesthood functions under the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is used
to perform ordinances such as baptism and the sacrament.
Blessings of the Priesthood
Through covenants and ordinances, God makes priesthood blessings available to
all of His children. These blessings include baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the
sacrament, and temple ordinances. Men and women who are endowed in the
temple receive a gift of God’s priesthood power through their covenants. We can
also receive priesthood blessings of healing, comfort, and guidance.
What Do the Scriptures Say about the Priesthood?
The priesthood that existed in ancient days is the same that exists now (see Moses
6:7).
Priesthood keys help make sure that we accomplish the Lord’s work in an orderly
way (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:11).
Men who hold the priesthood can use it “only upon the principles of
righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:36).
Some of the duties of those who hold the priesthood are described in Doctrine and
Covenants 20:38–67.
(Liahona, August 2021, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/08/the-priesthood-is-gods-power?lang=eng )
