Duties and Responsibilities of the Priesthood in the Church

The Priesthood of the Church D&C 20:38-67

Duties of the Priesthood Mark all the verbs in D&C 20:46, 59

Duties of the Priesthood To deliver a sermon or religious address to an assembled group of people, typically in church. Preach To cause or help (someone) to learn about a subject by giving lessons Teach To teach something in greater detail Expound To strongly encourage someone to do something Exhort to urge or advise to be careful Warn To ask (someone) to Come Unto Christ Invite

Duties of the Priesthood Teachers and Deacons Elders Priests D&C 20:38 D&C 20:46 D&C 20:53

Duties of the Priesthood Teachers and Deacons Elders Priests D&C 20:38 45 D&C 20:46 52 D&C 20:53 59

Duties of an Elder Elders D&C 20:38-45 Baptize and Confirm the Gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands Ordain other Elders, Priest, Teachers and Deacons Administer the Sacrament Teach, Expound, Exhort, and watch of the church Take lead in all meetings and conduct with the Holy Spirit

Melchizedek Why is it called the Melchizedek Priesthood? D&C 107:1-4 Melchi King Zedek Righteousness The City of Salem (Genesis 14)

Duties of a Priest Priests D&C 20:46-52 Teach, Expound, Exhort, Baptize Administer the Sacrament Visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. Ordain other Priests, Teachers and Deacons Take lead in all meetings when there is no Elder present

Duties of Teachers and Deacons Watch over the church continually and strengthen them See that the church meet together often To take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest They are to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ. To see that there is no iniquity in the church (hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evilspeaking) See that all the members do their duty.

Priesthood Power of God Melchizedek Aaronic Levitical Levite Priest High Priest (Tabernacle) Aaronic Deacon Teacher Priest Bishop (Church) Melchizedek Elder High Priest Patriarch Seventy Apostle (Temple) Patriarchal Patriarch King Priest god (Celestial)

In the restored Church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Priesthood is conferred, as an individual bestowal, upon men only, and this in accordance with Divine requirement. It is not given to woman to exercise the authority of the Priesthood independently; nevertheless, in the sacred endowments associated with the ordinances pertaining to the House of the Lord, woman shares with man the blessings of the Priesthood. When the frailities and imperfections of mortality are left behind, in the glorified state of the blessed hereafter, husband and wife will administer in their respective stations, seeing and understanding alike, and co-operating to the full in the government of their family kingdom. Then shall woman be recompensed in rich measure for all the injustice that womanhood has endured in mortality. Then shall woman reign by Divine right, a queen in the resplendent realm of her glorified state, even as exalted man shall stand, priest and king unto the Most High God. Mortal eye cannot see nor mind comprehend the beauty, glory, and majesty of a righteous woman made perfect in the celestial kingdom of God (James E. Talmage, "The Eternity of Sex," Young Woman's Journal 25 [October 1914]: 602-3).

A Home Teaching Experience in Kirtland In Kirtland, members of the priesthood were assigned to visit the homes of the Saints and teach them. D&C 20:54 was given about nine months before. William Cahoon recalled his experience as home teacher to the Prophet Joseph Smith s family: I was called and ordained to act as a teacher to visit the families of the Saints. I found that I was obliged to call and pay a visit to the Prophet Joseph. Being young, only about seventeen years of age, I felt my weakness in visiting the Prophet and his family in the capacity of a teacher. I almost felt like shrinking from duty. Finally I went to the door and knocked, and in a minute the Prophet came to the door. I stood trembling, and said to him:

Brother Joseph, I have come to visit you in the capacity of a teacher, if it is not convenient for you. He said, Brother William, come right in, I am glad to see you; sit down in that chair there and I will go and call my family in. They soon came in and took seats. He then said, Brother William, I submit myself and family into your hands, and then took his seat. Now Brother William, said he ask all the questions you feel like. By this time all my fears and trembling had ceased, and I said, Brother Joseph, are you trying to live your religion? He answered Yes. I then said Do you pray in your family? He said Yes. Do you teach your family the principles of the gospel? He replied Yes, I am trying to do it. Do you ask a blessing on your food? He answered Yes. Are you trying to live in peace and harmony with all your family? He said that he was.

I then turned to Sister Emma, his wife, and said Sister Emma, are you trying to live your religion? Do you teach your children to obey their parents? Do you try to teach them to pray? To all of these questions she answered Yes, I am trying to do so. I then turned to Joseph and said, I am now through with my questions as a teacher. He said God bless you, Brother William, and if you are humble and faithful, you shall have power to settle all difficulties that may come to you in the capacity of a teacher. I then left my parting blessing upon him and his family and took my departure. (Elder William Farrington Close, Juvenile Instructor 28 August 15, 1892: 492-93).

At All Times If you are a priesthood holder, remember that the priesthood should be a part of you at all times and in all circumstances. It is not like a cloak that you can put on and take off at will. You must be worthy in order to receive and exercise priesthood power. The words you speak and your everyday behavior affect your ability to serve. Your behavior in public must be above reproach. Your behavior in private is even more important The purpose of priesthood authority is to give, to serve, to lift, to inspire Elder Richard G. Scott True to the Faith

Young Women Some may choose to serve missions, and they will someday have the privilege of being members of Relief Society, working alongside men who hold the priesthood to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need Daughters in My Kingdom

Priesthood Power vs Priesthood Authority

Authority Your authority comes through your ordination;

Power Your authority comes through your ordination; your power comes through obedience and worthiness. Power in the priesthood comes from doing your duty in ordinary things: attending meetings, accepting assignments, reading the scriptures, keeping the Word of Wisdom Elder Boyd K. Packer

The Priesthood of the Church D&C 20:38-67