The Priesthood

            

                The priesthood is the power and authority given to man to act in God’s name for the salvation of his children. Through this priesthood power we are able to receive the ordinances of salvation as well as blessings of healing, comfort, and counsel. The priesthood power can ONLY be used in righteousness, love, and patience. 

The church of Jesus Christ is led by Jesus Christ himself through Apostles and Prophets. These men are called of God and given the priesthood. Anciently Christ gave his Apostles this power to act in his name but was lost after rejection of the gospel and was killed. Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 

Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery restored this Priesthood power when John the Baptist appeared to them. He laid his hands on their heads and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood which every Worthy Man 12 and older may receive to administer ordinances such as baptism and the sacrament. (See D&C13) Shortly after John appeared to them Peter, James, and John Three of Christ original Apostles laid their hands on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery heads and conferred upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood (See D&C 27:12-13) Members of the church receive many spiritual and temporal blessings such as Confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, anoint the sick, give blessings of healing, comfort and counsel.

Any man can receive the priesthood authority only by proper ordination by the laying on of hands by one who has the authority. For example I hold the Melchizedek Priesthood as an elder and I received it from my father. Here is my line of Authority which can be traced all the way back to the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Line of Priesthood Authority

Nathaniel E Dandridge was ordained an Elder 22 August 2010

By

Newell E Dandridge who was ordained a High Priest 7 September, 1997

By

Willie E Dandridge who was ordained a High Priest 2 February 1990

By

Moroni McElhaney who was ordained a High Priest and Bishop on 12 December 1971

By

Boyd K. Packer who was ordained an Apostle 9 April 1970

By

Joseph Fielding Smith who was ordained an Apostle 7 April 1910

By

Joseph F. Smith who was ordained an Apostle 1 July 1866

By

Brigham Young who was ordained an Apostle on 14 February 1835

Under the hands of the Three Witnesses-

Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris who

Were called by revelation to call Twelve Apostles and on

14 February 1835 were

“Blessed by the laying on of hands of the Presidency,”

Joseph Smith Jr., Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G Williams to ordain the Twelve Apostles.

(See history of the Church. Vol. 2 pp. 185-189).

Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery received the

Melchizedek Priesthood in 1829 under the hands of

Peter, James and John.

Peter, James and John were ordained Apostles

By

The Lord Jesus Christ.

A short story I would like to share about the Power of the Priesthood. It was about 9 Months ago I was playing basketball with some members of our ward and my companion was guarding me and we both jumped up to get the rebound and well his pinky went right into my eye. When we went home I showered took some meds and took a quit nap with ice on my eye. I woke up and had some blood coming out of my eye I knew then something was wrong even if everything look fine. Called a member in our ward who was a doctor and he said there was 1/4 scratch across my cornea which wasn’t good at all. He went and got me some meds and before he left to go home I asked him and my companion at the time to give me a blessing of healing. After that he said to come visit him in his office to see if it was infected at all. So 2 days past and he looks in my eye and said elder it was your right eye right? Yes?! Why? There’s nothing there! This should have taken at least two week to heal! Not two days! Well Brother the power of the priesthood works! I am grateful for that faith building time in my life I know that the Priesthood is real I know it blesses us and all people it can change lives and it can help us make right choses. The Priesthood has helped me in lots of ways and I can continue for 5 more pages about what it is and how it has blessed me in my life. If you want to learn more about it talk to the missionaries in your area they would be glad to teach you more and you can even go to the churches webs sites lds.org or Mormon.org and they can answer any question that you may have.

Temples and Family History!

The Savior loves all of his children and desires there salvation and for all of us to live with him once again with our Heavenly Father. Yet so many of God’s children have died without the opportunity to hear his Gospel or to receive saving ordinances, though   the mercy and grace of Christ we are able to receive salvation. This is why the gospel is preached to those in the spirit world for them to accept or reject his gospel. 1^st Peter 4: 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Members of the church preform these saving ordinances in their behalf   but all of them have their agency to reject it or to accept it!

                These saving ordinances are performed in the Temple. In the Temple members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints make and keep these sacred covenants and are endowed with, or are given a Gift of Power and knowledge from on high. Here families are married for time and all eternity thus making it possible to live together in the presents of God.   Doctrine and Convents  95: 8 Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high;

                For this reason church members search for information for their ancestors, they complete pedigree charts so that they may go to the temple and preform saving ordinances on their behalf. They have their chose to accept it or reject these ordinances which is started with baptisms 1 Cor. 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?

                I love the Temple and the sacred work that is preformed there  I love to fill so close to God and fill the power of the holy ghost as we can learn for our self as we are seeking for answers. I know that the temple brings peace to people and that we can have joy in our life as we go there. There is a song that I love that I learned in primary.

1. I love to see the temple.

I’m going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I’ll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

The Power of PRAYER!

The last couple of day the subject of Prayer has been on my mind so I decided write about it today. I know that Pray is something that can help us all when we are going through a trial or something that is difficult. I know that prayer helps because it has truly helped me in my life.

Prayer is how we communicate with God and it’s the only way we can talk with him, we can’t Facebook him, text, email, give a phone call or even twitter etc. its only by getting on our knees and praying that we are able to talk with God and he talks back when we read and though the holy spirit but those are topics for another day.  Jesus taught us how to pray and also commanded us to pray.  We know this as the Lord’s Prayer it’s found in the bible and the Book of Mormon  found in 3 Nephi 13:9-13.

  9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.11 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 12 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil 13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.   So I’m grateful for the Saviors example he teaches how to pray so simply. So we should pray by Addressing our Heavenly Father and the pour out our heart to him, give thanks ask questions and whatever you need to talk to him about and then as Christ taught close in his name. John 16:23   And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Christ also told us not to use vain repetitions 3 Nephi 13 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Now I think of these of just praying to say check off my list for the day and as you pray and finish you have no clue what you just said you were just going through the motions. I was reading a great book that gives the best example of this it’s from the book titled. The Missionary’s little book of Teaching Tools. 

Human: “our Father which art in heaven”

God: Yes?

H: Don’t interrupt me I’m Praying

G: But you called me!

H:  Called you? I didn’t call you I’m Praying. “Our Father which art in heaven”

G: There you did it again.

H: Did what

G: You called me you said” our Father which art in heaven” here I am what’s on your mind?

H: But I didn’t mean anything by it I was you know just saying my prayers for the day  I always say the Lord Pray it makes me feel good kind of like getting  a duty done.

G: Alright go on.

H: “Hallowed be thy name…”

G: Hold it what do you mean by that?

H: It mean… it means good grief … I don’t know what it means how should I know? It’s just part of the prayer. By the way what does it mean?

G: it means Honored, Holy, and Wonderful.

H: Hey that makes sense, I never thought about what Hollowed meant before. “Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

G: Do you really mean that?

H: Sure why not?

G: What are you doing about it?

H: Doing? Nothing, I guess I just think it would be kind of neat if you get control of everything down here like you have it up there.

G: Have I got control of you?

H: well I go to Church.

G: that isn’t what I asked you. What about that habit of gossip you have? And you’re nasty temper? You really got a problem there, you know and then there’s the way you spend your money…  ALL on yourself.

H: STOP PICKING ON ME! I’m just as good as some of the rest of phonies at church.

G: Excuse me. I thought you were Praying for my WILL to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it like you, for example.

H: OH, alright. I guess I do have some hang up’s now that you mention it, I could  probably name some others.

G: SO COULD I!

H: I haven’t thought about it that way very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to be really free.

G: GOOD! Now were getting somewhere. We’ll work together YOU and I. Some victories can truly be won. I’m proud of you!

H: Look, Lord I need to finish up here this is taking a lot longer than it usually does “give us this day, are daily bread.”

G: You should be eating more bread instead of all that junk food you feed yourself with.

H: HEY… wait a minute! What is this “Criticize me” day? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of the sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing you could wind up changed.

G: that’s what I’m trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am, it’s too late to stop now keep on praying I’m interested in the next part of your prayer… Well go on!

H: I’m scared to

G: Scared?  Of what?

H: I know what you’ll say…

G: Try me and see

H: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”

G: What about Jane?

H: SEE, I knew you would bring her up! Why, she’s told lies about me! Cheated me out of my money! She never paid me back that debt she owes me I’ve sworn to get even with her!

G: But your prayer! What about your prayer?

H: I didn’t mean it.

G: Well at least you’re honest but it’s not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside is it?

H: No but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy have I got some plans for old Jane, she’ll wish she never did me any harm.

G: you won’t feel any better. You’ll feel worse.

Revenge isn’t sweet. Think how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that.

H: You can? HOW?

G: Forgive Jane. Then ill forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Jane’s problem and not yours. You may lose the money, but you will have settled your own heart.

H: But lord, I can’t forgive her.

G: then I can’t forgive you.

H: OH, you’re right. You always are. And more then I want revenge on Jane I want to be right with you find the right road on life, lord. She’s bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anyone who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Some way, somehow, show her the right way.

G: THERE, NOW! Wonderful! How do you feel?

H: Hmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact I feel pretty great! You know I don’t think ill have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can because I’m not getting enough rest.

G: you’re not though with you prayer. Go on

H: OH all right. “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us form evil.”

G: Good! Good! I’ll do that. Just don’t put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

H: what do you mean by that?

G: Change some of your friendships some of you friends are beginning to get to you they’ll have you completely involved in the wrong things before long. Don’t be fooled they advertise they’re having fun, but for you it would be ruin. Don’t use me for your escape hatch.

H: I don’t understand.

G: Sure you do. You’ve done it lots of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble and then you come running to me. “Lord, help me out of this mess and i promise I’ll never do it again" you remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?

H: yes, and I’m sorry Lord. I really am. Up until now I figured that if I just prayed the Lord’s Prayer everyday then I could do out and do what I liked I didn’t expect anything to happen like it did.

G: Go on finish your prayer.

H:  “For thine is the Kingdome, and the power and the glory forever. Amen”

G: Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?

H: No, but I’d like to know. I want to please you now. I can see what a mess I’ve made my life. And I can see how neat it would be to really be one of your followers.

G: you just answered the question.

H: I DID?

G: Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of those old sins are exposed and out of the way, well there’s no telling what we can do together.

H: Lord let’s see what we can make of me. OK?

G: YES, Let’s see what we can do!

Brothers and Sister’s I know that prayer works and I know that it help us overcome sin as we TALK WITH God and ask for forgiveness but we need to talk WITH him not TO him. I know that prayer can change our lives because it has changed mine. Now I would like to leave you all with a challenge tonight and for the rest of your life when you pray talk With God and mean everything that you say and I PROMISE that your life will improve and the blessing that are in store for you will be yours!