Doctrine

There is nothing quite so sweet as kneeling with your children for prayer and listen as they say beautiful things.  Inspired things.

As my son prayed tonight, I was inspired by the way he spoke with his Father in Heaven.

The first thing he thanked the Lord for was the temple we visited last night.  He was thankful that we have a holy place where we could go and perform baptisms for those who didn't have a chance in this life.  He asked that we would always keep that place sacred and important.

He thanked God for our family, that we are sealed together forever, and that we love each other.

                                       

He shared how grateful we are for the priesthood that is on the earth today, to bless all people.

He was thankful for this beautiful world that God created for us, that we can enjoy the beauties around us.

I don't think this boy realized all the doctrines he expounded on during that prayer, but I was pleased as his parent to know that he understood these things:

1. Temples are the House of God.  In ancient times, God commanded His people to build holy places of worship.  When Christ visited the Temple in Jerusalem, he referenced it as His Father's house.  (John 2:16)

2. Families can be sealed together for eternity.  In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, it speaks of this principle.

3.  The priesthood has been restored to the earth.  John the Baptist brought this power back to the earth, transferring it to Joseph Smith through the laying on of hands. (D&C 13) The higher priesthood was later brought to the earth through Peter, James, and John.  (D&C 27:12)

4. God created this Earth.  In Genesis chapter one, God teaches us that He made this planet and all the living creatures thereon.

Thank you, my boy, for sharing your witness of these doctrines with me through your prayer tonight.

Gender

Boys and girls are different.

 

 (am I allowed to say that?)

Girls have soft bodies that are equipped to have and feed babies.

Boys have more muscular bodies that enable them to do heavy lifting and protect their family.

In the Bible, it states that God made Male and Female children.

In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", it states:

"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."

To me, this means that I have been a female from the beginning of my existence.  The spirit inside my body is a feminine spirit.  God placed that spirit in a body which would grow and develop into a woman.  I have been given tendencies to nurture and to care for others.

 

My children are growing up in a world where many would neutralize gender.  The world wants to make the fact that a person is male or female immaterial.

I want my sons and daughters and eventually my grandsons and granddaughters to know that their gender is sacred and comes with special roles unique to them.  Again from the Proclamation:  "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."

In our faith, men hold the priesthood and preside over their families and church congregations.  Does this make me jealous?  Absolutely not.  Priesthood holders have a huge responsibility.  They hold the power of God, to act in His name.  Everything that is done by the power of the priesthood is an act of service.  The priesthood is not something that is meant to vaunt men above women.  It is actually a power which requires humility in order to exercise.  Here are some warnings to priesthood holders contained in Doctrine and Covenants (modern day scripture), Section 121: 


34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

 35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

 36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

 37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

 38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.

 39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

 40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

 41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

 (In other words, the Lord expects a lot of the men he allows to hold His priesthood)

In another section of scripture, the Lord instructs Emma Smith in her role as a wife:

2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

 3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

...

 5 And the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto ... thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness.

...

 7 And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.

 8 For he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.

 ...

 10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.

 11 And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.

 12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

 13 Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.

 14 Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride. ...

 15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.

 16 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all. Amen.

This section contains counsel that applies to all women.  I highlighted my favorite passages, which have given me direction and guidance at various times in my life.  

I love the fact that Heavenly Father placed men and women on the earth to teach and complement each other.  Though there are several things on this earth that both men and women are capable of doing, there are some things that my husband cannot do, and there are some things I cannot do!  I need him, and he needs me!

Father's Blessings

In the Old Testament,  we find a sweet story of Jacob blessing his sons.  They are each given unique blessings which highlight their life mission and gifts.

I selected a few verses from Genesis 49 to show the unique personalities which came from Jacob:

 9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:


Judah, Gad, and Joseph all had unique roles to play in their family.  God revealed those roles to them through a blessing from their father.




Before our kids go back to school,  they are given a blessing from their father.  It was fascinating to me to listen to these blessings because they were so distinct and perfectly suited to each child.

We believe that when a person is baptized and receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, they are given spiritual gifts.  It says in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 46:

11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

 12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

 13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

 14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

 15 And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.

 16 And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal.

 17 And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom.

 18 To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.

 19 And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed;

 20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal.

 21 And again, to some is given the working of miracles;

 22 And to others it is given to prophesy;

 23 And to others the discerning of spirits.

 24 And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues;

 25 And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.

 26 And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God.

These gifts are real.  I have seen them manifested in the people I know and love.  And now to see them come forth in my children is so beautiful to me.  

The apostle Paul writes of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, where he compares the church to the body.  He explains that our bodies need every part to function properly and that one part of the body should not say we have no need of another part.  Each member of the body is essential.  As people, we need each other.  We need to learn from one another.  The gifts we are given can help bless the world.  

Paul tells us in the end of that chapter: "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."   In other words, we are to seek to acquire precious spiritual gifts!

One of my children is blessed with a sense of discernment.  She can tell when someone is hurting inside or needs help or encouragement.  Another child is blessed with incredible obedience.  He hearkens well to the voice of his leaders (parents, teachers, prophets) and strives to carry out their designs to the letter. 

Just as Jacob's sons were unique, our children each have a different mission to carry out. 

These gifts did not come from me or my husband.  They are direct gifts from God.   It will be exciting to see what they do with these gifts.

Often when talking with other parents about our children, we speak of their outwardly visible talents (soccer, math, dance, etc.)  Why not speak of spiritual gifts?