Written down 3/24/2023
For the past couple decades, a much needed push to equalize women and men has been flooding our society and culture. The cultural understanding of the priesthood has shifted from being a ‘men’s only’ power in a men run organization (the church) to an equal partnership, shoulder to shoulder, in doing the work of God. A lot of effort has been placed into repairing the idea that the priesthood is for men alone to use. Both men and women are clothed in priesthood power in the temple and both enjoy the use of priesthood power in their God given work.
But there has been collateral damage. This movement has displaced the cultural role of men so much that men no longer have a unique purpose except to perform ordinances or give blessings. In the temple, women are performing ordinances under the power of the priesthood. To complicate this further, the role to baptize, anoint, and endow you and your family can be performed by any male who holds the priesthood. This leaves fathers with a strange understanding that it doesn’t matter if they hold the priesthood righteously or not, understand the priesthood or not, because all is taken care of with a few good priesthood holders.
I knew these issues existed amongst the saints but I never pondered on them or cared to. They became more profound when the clarification of the priesthood’s role and purpose came to me while serving in the temple last week. Michelle and I attended the endowment for a nephew and niece of mine. The new endowment instruction explained that for the saints of ancient time, the veil represented Jesus Christ. I thought it fitting that we would have to pass through the veil (Christ) to come into the presence of the Father. For years though, I have understood the veil to represent another aspect of our lives and that is the body.
When Adam was created and placed into his body, he had forgotten all. He had passed through the veil because he was in a new body. It wasn’t even a mortal body. It was a perfect body. A new body creates what is called the veil of forgetfulness. So even, perfect celestial bodies have the effect of a veil upon a new creature that receives one.
Through Christ we will be resurrected and if this resurrection is done by the glory of the Celestial Kingdom then we will receive a celestial body instead of a terrestrial or telestial body. Do we loose our memories again? Don't think so, but I don't know. MY BELIEF is since this resurrected body is the old body we once had, then it retains all memory. It's isn't a new body, but the old one refined to a better state. But what is doctrine is that a Celestial body allows us to pass through the veil of forgetfulness and into the presence of the Father as demonstrated in the endowment. Thus the veil represents Christ because this body which we must have, through the covenants we make, is given to us and modified by the power of Christ. Almost as though to enter the Celestial kingdom, we must take on another body, symbolic of passing through the veil.
As this realization came to me I saw the robes of the priesthood upon the men and the women. I realized both men and women are clothed in priesthood. The only difference in the robe is the cap. The symbol of power and authority. The head directs the body in purpose and gives direction to all movement. The head governs the body, communicates to others, and makes choices based upon belief. The cap is the God given power and authority to act in His work. Like a priesthood key that opens a door to do a specific work. For Aaron, the cap was the purpose and role Aaron was to act in within the Holy Temple. In nature, this cap governs our role and purpose over the estates that God has given us. Our estates are represented by the robe. The apron being the mortal body and the sash being the sealing power that unites them into one body. Each tied with a knot that can be undone.
The difference in the cap was that upon the woman was a veil and upon the man was three bows above the ear. Having understood before that the veil was a body, it was apparent to me that a woman would have the power of the veil, to give it to all the children of men. The veil is the mortal or physical body. This exalting process is essential and requires that the person who holds this power must be formed in a way to perform this power. Hence, they can fill the measure of their creation by bringing souls into the world clothed with a new body, or a veil. They were spiritually and physically designed to fulfill this role.
What of the bows above the ear for the men? I immediately understood that the bows represented the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The symbolism of them whispering in the ear or giving instructions made sense but how is it different from anyone receiving personal revelation? What of the design and purpose of a man’s creation? Were men created spiritually and physically so that they could access or hear this communication in such a way that they might fulfill the measure of their creation? The answer is yes!
Before anyone, especially women, cry out in pain that this makes us unequal or that men have no more capacity to receive revelation than women, let's explore the messages and teachings of the priesthood and modern prophets. Children have an affection and love for their mothers just for bringing them into this world. A love that men don't enjoy. How can a man become equal with a woman in this love for and from their children?
That has been my study currently. Since that temple trip where this was made relevant to me, I have been pondering and studying the teachings and purpose of the priesthood given to men and I have found that men are created different than women on purpose and by design that they might naturally gain love from their children and perform what God has designed for the purpose of exalting his children or that they might become a new creature in Christ who can perform naturally the work these bows above the ear represent. Just as natural as the privilege of giving birth.
The first law of heaven we need to understand is;
It is better to go through hell to keep a relationship than it is to spare yourself the pain and suffering you’d experience as a consequence of their choices.
This law is the basis upon which our Father in Heaven (Adam and Eve's Dad) instructed Adam and Eve to leave their Father and Mother and cleave unto each other and none else. He was saying, “If you have to choose between me (God the Father) and your spouse, choose your spouse.” Not only choose, but cleave to her/him.
This law is the basis upon which Christ came to this earth and suffered for us. He left the Father and cleaved to us. Each prophet taught about the marriage of the groom (Christ) and His bride (Israel). We must cleave to Christ and endure the cross and put on the yoke and not avoid the pain and suffering the gospel of Christ brings.
The result of this law is love. It will always yield unconditional love. This is the source and power of the priesthood. The priesthood operates upon the basis of love. Christ having descended below all things has risen above all things that He might be in all things and through all things… He is loved by all things having brought them out of darkness, utter emptiness and despair and loss, into light and love and power. This love yields the power to command, and the elements and intelligence obey. His ultimate sacrifice gave him ultimate power.
The priesthood is the portion of permission to use this power of sacrifice in God’s name. Hence we (both men and women) act as gods when under the authority of the priesthood. Even Christ holds a priesthood given to Him by His Father.
This understanding is the beginning to understanding exaltation.
The next law that is pertinent concerns two parts of the plan of salvation;
Your kingdom of glory is not decided at final judgment but at your resurrection, before judgment.
The body you receive when you are resurrected will depict the kingdom of glory you have obtained. It will not be a mystery to those around you or yourself. As explained in many scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:35-58 & D&C 76) The resurrected body will have a glory (power/light) that is visibly and physically different from the other glories. Hence, you already know the glory that you have obtained by the nature of your resurrection.
Waiting for judgment is not waiting to be placed into a kingdom of glory. It is awaiting the valuation of your estate God gave to you; your family! To see if you kept it and helped it grow and gained more or lost some. Remember the first law? That suffering with other people’s choices will yield love? Even when a child makes the choice to hate you or to destroy themselves through the world and pleasures of the flesh, nothing will keep them from loving you when all is revealed and they were welcomed by you and you endured hell instead of cutting them off. You chose to suffer with them instead of cutting them off so that you might have peace. Can you keep your estate? Can you fall below some things that you might bring others with you? Not that they have to choose to come with you, but that they will love you and do whatever you ask of them. Not out of fear or guilt, but out of sheer willingness to do as you ask because they trust you are willing to go through it with them. And they know, you would do anything for them. Hence, you will be able to command and watch them until they obey, not standing afar off, but working with them so you can see them. If they do not obey, you will suffer the consequences of their choices. I hope you are picturing God’s position with mankind here, even with Adam and Eve, as also your personal experiences with your parents or as a parent that you might understand the purpose of final judgment.
Final judgment is the re-organization of estates that all might have the opportunity to grow and become like God with those they trust and love.
Faith is the law of knowledge, the principle of exaltation, the doctrine of godhood.
Some laws revealed to us concerning faith are these:
Faith is “the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.” - Moroni 7:21,25
Faith is the power by which men “become the sons of God.” - Moroni 7:26
Faith is obtained by hearing the word of God. - Elder D. Todd Christofferson “Building Faith in Christ: September 2012 at an address given to new mission presidents in Provo. (Through prophets and angels sent to reveal the word of God that we might exercise faith)
Faith without works is dead - James 2:17
Faith requires an assurance of something you hope for. (means faith requires personal revelation) - Hebrews 11:1
Those who have faith will cleave to every good thing. - Moroni 7:28
Faith can move mountains; “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” - Moroni 7:33
Miracles are bound to faith absolutely. Meaning no miracle happens without faith being the catalyst or reason the miracle took place. - Moroni 7:37
“Christ claims all those who have faith in Him.” - Moroni 7:28
Faith is the Doctrine of Christ and no other doctrine will be given until Christ shall manifest himself to you in the flesh. And then, you will exercise faith in Christ’s words directly rather than through a prophet or angels. - 2 Nephi 32:1-6
I need to impress the importance of the law concerning faith where Christ saves (claims) all those who have faith in Him. This is not a simple matter, but as explained by Moroni, Alma, and many other prophets, Christ sits on the right hand of God and claims His rights of mercy which He has upon us.
“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” D&C 45:3-5
To act in Faith in Christ is to have eternal life. While acting in faith, you would be living Eternal Life!
Another law to reiterate concerning faith is that miracles are bound by faith. Keep in mind that blessings are predicated upon laws (D&C 130:20-21) and miracles are very much blessings. Then let this settle upon our hearts that to be faithful is to be law keeping. And we cannot exercise faith without knowing the laws of God. And how do we discover the laws of God? What are these laws of God? Can we list them?
There are so many laws of God one could not spend a lifetime constantly writing them down and get through a tiny fraction of them. There are more laws than we can possibly wish to learn of. BUT… the laws that will exalt us are personal and given to us that we might have miracles and blessings that even heaven is bursting to release them all. Blessings are predicated upon each law and that means there are more blessings available than any man could wish to compile in many life times.
How do I know there are so many laws and therefore blessings? Let me share a blessing with you and the law that was predicated for it.
I got a job framing houses in Colorado Springs. Brent was my employer and it was just myself and him. We would drive two hours early in the morning and then back that afternoon to return from work. These trips were full of talking and getting to know each other pretty well. A month into this the Bishop called me into his office and asked if I was working with Brent. I affirmed and he then called me to bring him back to church. I had no idea Brent was a member or used to be a member of the church. I was taken aback and shared my inadequacies in such a socially demanding or possibly awkward calling. He told me that he knew that I could do it. I asked him how I should do it and he told me he didn’t know but that I was to pray and God would show me. He gave me a blessing and set me apart. So I prayed a couple times about it. It was on my mind while we drove but most often forgotten in conversation with him. We talked about fun things. But in the evenings I would pray to know what I was to do and for the opportunity to help him and fulfill the calling the Bishop gave me.
One evening when we got back to his home which was a half hour from my home, my truck would not start. I know now that the solenoid was stuck that engaged the fly wheel but we didn’t know what was wrong. We popped the hood. Took off the carburetor. Lifted the air intake flap and saw and smelled fuel, but the truck would just click when I turned the key. After twenty minutes of effort, I went back to the driver seat and sat there. Brent was on his hands and knees on the engine exploring it and trying to figure it out. I then prayed. My prayer was different because I asked God to make it work. I told God that I knew that if He made the truck work I would tell Brent I prayed and Brent would be convinced that God is there and would return to church as the Bishop had asked. I was filled from head to toe with the spirit and knowledge came into my mind. I knew it would start. There was no hope about it. I absolutely knew it would start as though it had already started. I had never experienced knowledge like that before.
I then rolled down the window and hollered, “Brent! It’s gonna start.” He said, “What?” but I started it mid his response and the truck started right up. Poor Brent was on top the engine with his finger keeping the air flap open so some fuel squirted into his face and eyes. He jumped off the engine and came to my window. I thought for sure I had ruined the experience and Brent would be upset I started it with him on it. He asked what I did while wiping his face and burning eyes. I was smiling, still completely full of the Spirit of God, “I prayed.” “What?” he said with confusion. “I prayed and God said he would start my truck and I knew it would start so I yelled at you it would start.” He stopped wiping his eyes and tilted his head, “You just prayed?” He said in calm confusion. “Yeah. I thought I needed to pray, so I did. And I knew God answered my prayer.” The spirit was so strong right then. Even in all my adolescent inadequacy for speech and explanation he got a message that was much more powerful than any words could convey. He came to church the next Sunday and every Sunday after that.
In this story I was given instruction to follow or a task to accomplish from the priesthood leader who had authority to help Brent. Just like in scripture where Moroni teaches that God does not cease to send angels to instruct men that they might have knowledge of God. I then prayed and asked God how to do this just as Nephi taught in 2 Nephi 32 where knowing what to do is not enough (verse 3-4) but we must have the Holy Ghost show us how to do it. The opportunity came in the form of an inconvenience. Christ taught that a certain child was born blind so that God’s miracles might be revealed and shown to men (John 9:3), in this case, it was a downed vehicle. I prayed and in my prayer I TOLD God what I hoped for which was good and God came back with a YES. This is the law predicated for this blessing. Just like the woman who grabbed the hem of Christs garment and was healed or the master who told Christ to just speak the words and his servant would be healed, or the Brother Jared who told Christ to touch the stones and they would glow, or a family that prays over their food to bless it and nourish their bodies.
“Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.” Moroni 7:26
So how many laws exist? If I can discover one that required my calling from a bishop, a downed truck, prayer, and telling Brent I prayed to start it; if all heaven moved for this before we even knew this was a law which got the Bishop to act in faith in calling me; with God’s foreknowledge that the truck would not start on this evening; if every miracle is a blessing and every blessing is predicated upon law… then there are a ton of laws out there and all we have to do is start looking for them and doing them. There are a ton of blessings just waiting for us to discover the laws they are tied to.
Back to the priesthood and the bows above the ear for the men.
What does it mean to have God at your ear?
“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts? Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” 2 Nephi 32:1-3
To have God in your ear is to have instructions. It is literally to have God “tell you all things what ye should do.” It is to speak with the tongue of angels. Since the beginning of faith is to first have something to do or hope for, then the three bows above the ear are the fountain of living waters for pouring down opportunities of faith for your estate. Opportunities that if followed will lead the man and his estate to Christ and Eternal Life. They will provide unlimited evidence of God and His purpose and love for him and his estate.
Does this mean that women cannot have God whisper to them and allow them to act in faith? NO! Do not flip this around much like the saints who heard the prophet teach at BYU to not watch rated R movies and what they heard was all rated PG-13 movies are OK to watch. Do not flip this to mean anything other than this:
Men are designed in nature and capacitated by God to receive instructions on what to do. This is the work of spiritual birth to those within their estates. Spiritual birth requires faith and going through hell.
Resurrection will come upon all people. The light (glory) by which they are resurrected that is found within them, defines the glory of their resurrection.
“In the resurrection from the dead, the bodies which were laid down natural bodies shall come forth spiritual bodies. That is to say, in mortality the life of the body is in the blood, but the body when raised to immortality shall be quickened by the spirit and not the blood. Hence, it becomes spiritual, but it will be composed of flesh and bones, just as the body of Jesus was, who is the prototype.” - Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:285-286
There isn't a need to think spiritual bodies are not physical bodies. A spiritual body can be as tangible as this mortal body and yet walk through doors and walls like Christ did after his resurrection.
“Furthermore, although the breaking of the bonds of mortal death by the resurrection of the body is a free and universal gift from Christ, a product of his victory over death and the grave, the kind or nature of the body (or "degree of glory" of the body), as well as the time of one's resurrection, is affected very directly by the extent of one's faithfulness in this life. The apostle Paul made clear, for example, that those most fully committed to Christ will "rise first" in the resurrection (1 Thes. 4:16). Paul also speaks of different orders of resurrected bodies (1 Cor. 15:40). The bodies of the highest orders or degrees of glory in the resurrection are promised to those who faithfully adhere to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ; they will not only enjoy immortality (a universal gift to everyone) but also eternal lives in the Celestial Kingdom of glory (D&C 88:4; 132:24).” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Atonement of Jesus Christ,” in Latter-day Saint Essentials: Readings from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. John W. Welch and Devan Jensen (Provo, UT: BYU Studies and the Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2002), 12–7.)
Notice how faithfulness is the ingredient of glory to increase our resurrection to a greater state.
When we read ‘The Family: A Proclamation To The World’, we find that there are roles or separation of divine expectations. When we consider those roles they are actually performed by both.
“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.” ( THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD)
Both nurture and both provide and both preside. If there are conflicts in your heart about women presiding, then consider child birth… who presides there? But don’t forget the caps; the caps of power or authority. The only differing symbol given to us in the robes of the priesthood that both men and women wear. Who else would preside at childbirth than the mother whose authority and priesthood power given by god is the veil (the body)? Would men claim the power over this design due to the portion of the priesthood they hold? The power of God to give birth is as much a power of the priesthood with authority as the melchizedek is the power and authority to give a blessing. She must fill the measure of her creation or she will not be fulfilled in her joy.
The same goes for men. They must fill the measure of their creation or they cannot have a fullness of joy. Men are [being born into mortal bodies] that they might have joy! (2 Nephi 2:25)
What is the depth of joy that is shallow in sacrifice?
In speaking for myself and my thoughts only, not doctrine, I understand there was an estate before this and the estate we enjoy or endure now on earth was given to us after judgment of that first estate. If the capacity of a woman is to exalt mankind through clothing them in mortal bodies and this is a natural effect where they can at will act in this divine work or even be forced to act in this divine work by a man, then what did they do in the first estate that they naturally act as God? If men are to work in faithfulness to beget children spiritually through Christ, what will the next estate bear for men? Will the consequences of being faithful here result in natural godlike abilities for men to give spiritual birth as it is for women here. I know not in what form or way but it just seems logical.
Outside my suppositions, I do know the endowment promises made to women are different than they are for men. The promises of the endowment are given to women through the new and everlasting covenant which include all the ordinances performed by the priesthood and culminates in marriage or the sealing covenant. The sealing covenant is where women receive all the blessings available to man on earth. Men on the other hand are promised, that through their faithfulness, they will be called and brought up to receive these things.
If you are wondering why I don’t include men to receive these things in the sealing covenant… it’s because they have made a covenant to receive those very things through the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. The sealing ordinance is the final step of that priesthood oath and covenant. When the Spirit of Promise seals that sealing covenant to any couple, they both get everything.
It is interesting to note that the covenants the woman makes and the promises to the women in the endowment have changed over the last two decades. From covenanting with her husband, to covenanting to the Lord, to covenanting to Elohim. And the blessings of the endowment for women moved from being promised through their husband to being promised through the new and everlasting covenant. All of these did not change the role or purpose of men and the priesthood within marriage and the family. The new and everlasting covenant of marriage is still the means whereby men and women receive spiritual birth.
When discussing this with Michelle, she delved into conference talks and brought a couple to me to review. She was bothered with the idea that her exaltation depended upon a man. She felt she could receive instruction from God to lead the family shoulder to shoulder with her husband on equal grounds of power and responsibility with her, not having one above the other. She is right, that is how it should be. Here are some important insights to ponder:
The opportunity for Men to enjoy unconditional love from their children is found in the nature of being a man.
Women have suffered more than men in bringing children into this plan of happiness. Childbirth naturally brings sacrifice which in turn brings love. Tons of love. Unconditional love. A relationship that no man can enjoy.
How can a father gain such god-like love from and for their children? By being away withering their bodies in work to provide for them? NO! That doesn’t even compare. The selfless nature of childbirth and its exalting properties cannot be compared to money making and working hard to support himself and his family. What degree of glory will his children obtain because he worked hard at his job and provided for them? None! What will exalt them then? Obviously to have done any work of God upon our children, as a man, it must exalt them in some way just as a body given by their mothers exalted them.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:3-6
How are we born of the Spirit? Christ said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
Quite literally, the measure of the creation of men, the design for men in this plan of happiness, is to provide opportunities of faith for all of God’s children. In acting in faith, the children become spiritually reborn. We cannot tell when or how it happens, but that is the way. We also cannot know when the laws will come and the opportunities to act arise. Just like the wind, but such is being born of the Spirit. Just like my truck that broke down and the law discovered to help Brent gain knowledge that God loves him and is real, we don't know the laws that are around us all the time and the acts we can perform that would unlock incredible blessings that give light to others. The baptism of fire is a long process. Nine months for a mortal body, but a life time for a spiritual one.
The work of faith is to be instructed by God to share new opportunities for blessings and exposing laws that are available for God’s children. That is where the nature of man comes in. The children of God receive these opportunities for miracles from those who have keys and authority in the priesthood. Every husband presides over the family. Not to rule, but to expose opportunities for blessings.
Picture Lehi, telling his wife they must leave their mansion and wealth and live in a tent and leave the promised land to a new promised land. What crazy nonsense. She struggled with it too until she gained her witness that this is actually a working law with grand blessings. Why didn't God instruct Sarah to take the family and leave? Why weren't they joined in this discussion when it was revealed? Lehi was not yet a prophet. Could it be culture? Does God work with cultures or with his own culture? He uses children to teach adults, the rejected of men to reveal his work, the unlearned to translate his words. If every slain prophet isn't enough evidence that God does not work with culture but reveals His culture, then look at Christ Himself who came as the King of Kings born in a stable, despised and rejected, and sentenced to death for his non-cultural methods.
Will we bode well come judgment day ignoring the priesthood and role of men in our families?
So let’s picture our time at the great final judgment. When asked if we filled the measure of our creation, can we exclaim yes!! A woman most definitely can having been forced to bear children by the will of ruling men, but a man must prove it by their faithfulness. More importantly, the estate of a husband and wife is a joint project with joint ownership. Will we have to say to our God and Father in heaven that we stifled or suppressed our partner in their work?
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| Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan of Happiness", October 1993 |
On the other hand, are we going to find out that we stifled the faith opportunities the husband had revealed to him because of unbelief or lack of practice in following inspiration and revelation? Worthiness definitely makes for clearer revelation, but God has never been stopped from revealing things because someone was wicked or less than righteous. He finds those who do hear him and sends them to the sinful person. Consider Alma the younger, Cain, Laman and Lemuel, and every prophet who we have the idea that they were perfect but must be reminded that they were human and made mistakes as they went. Christ himself revealed himself multiple times in his mortal ministry to those who the Jews thought were less deserving of his presence. Sin has never stopped the work of God; "no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing." (Joseph Smith, 1842)
Faith, or the laws of God, are like recipes that if we find and follow the recipe give us the fruit of eternal life. Sin, is throwing dirt and filth into the recipe. Such ingredients do not make for the desired outcome. Sin confuses us and clouds our spiritual selves from hearing him and stops the work of God from happening through our efforts. Sin destroys covenants, meaning the laws we are trying to keep and discover to get every good gift and blessing we can, including the ultimate blessing of eternal life, are altered and destroyed from being the full blessings they could have been.
The work of the priesthood, held by men, is the work of spiritual birth which starts with the baptism of water, affects the resurrection, and culminates in the baptism of fire. This work is the building of glory within a person. The light within them is the fruit of their spiritual strength and the goal is celestial light or the countenance of Christ upon them. If men are capacitated to do this by natural design, then by nature they are capacitated to receive the mysteries of God and to reveal God to mankind on earth. Would we think it wise to diminish that natural design in the name of equality or conventional wisdom? Maybe a wife (or even a husband) might not trust that their husband (or himself) receives revelation or instructions from God. Is it easier to trust that a woman can create a body for a child in her womb even if we don’t know how it works or how life is given to that body than it is to believe that God would reveal spiritually saving things to the husband?
Do we pretend to know how spiritual birth works and what is needed for it?
Regardless of how we study the doctrines, the work of spiritual birth is the work of men.
Baptism cleanses the spirit. The baptized are reborn in the name of Christ. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a spiritual gift that guides us spiritually. The gifts of the spirit are all gifts from the Holy Ghost that affect the real world and magnify when we are given the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The temple covenants are spiritual gifts and powers that affect the real world. Christ’s atonement first cleanses our spirits that we might have perfect bodies later. All these ordinances are brought to mankind through the priesthood held by men and through the authority men give to others to act in this work.
In order to ensure our marriages will enjoy the full blessings of the sealing covenant, we must understand the oath and covenant of the priesthood. Study the nature a man is required to have to enjoy the full power of the priesthood. Study what this power does to the man and what powers the man is able to enjoy because of this covenant, not just the blessings the man is able to give to others. What is the promise given to the man for fulfilling the measure of his creation?
We will find that:
He is sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of his body and becomes like the Son of God (They are spiritually reborn) - D&C 84:33.
He becomes the posterity of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the kingdom of God, the elect of God with all the blessings pertaining to those families - D&C 84:34
He receives the Lord’s presence and the Father’s presence - D&C 84:35-37
He receives all that the Father has - D&C 84:38
He has access to the mysteries of God - D&C 84:19
The doctrines of the priesthood are daily revealed to him (means he will know better how to use the power of God and serve people) - D&C 121:45
The Holy Ghost shall be his constant companion - D&C 121:46
He gains continual strength in all the above traits that grows exponentially that without compulsion it flows to him naturally - D&C 121:46
It might be tempting to equalize these gifts in saying, God can give this to all his children. He does, through the sealing covenant. The covenant of these things is given to the man through the priesthood if they are faithful and become as a child and fill themselves with compassion, charity, patience, long suffering, and mourn with those that mourn and cry with those that cry. They must come to the stature of Christ. There is a very extensive list of character traits required for a man to act in, in order to obtain these blessings of the covenant. They are found in D&C 84 and 121.
It looks to me that the man must become more like a woman in order to obtain the blessings of the priesthood in nurturing, loving, caring, and sacrificing. Almost as though the woman has already earned the rights to godhood and therefore can exalt man at will (by having children) but the man has no such freedom to give spiritual birth at will. The man must become a new creature in Christ and then he can do the work of Spiritual birth among mankind.
Who knows but that women have come to earth to wade through hell hoping their husbands will become like them and take them back. In similitude of Christ leaving heaven to come to earth in hopes that we will follow Him and come back.
Can one be spiritually reborn all by himself? Can a woman do it without a man? Can a man do it without the priesthood? Can a man do it by virtue of just holding the priesthood? The answer to all of these is no.
So it comes back to the couple in marriage. Will they stifle the priesthood that is available in the marriage by trying to create such an equal role for both spouses that they forfeit some instructions from God? Too many husbands are hushed, discredited, or rejected as emissaries of God which is the measure of their creation, the design of their creature and purpose of their existence. Too many men usurp power over the spouse using this role or strength or emotional vs logical rulings. Not enough couples seek the counsel of God together and magnify the priesthood in their marriage by trusting the roles we each play and being willing to suffer the consequences of a possible bad inspiration. God will not leave such a couple alone nor will he allow for honest, selfless mistakes to control the destiny and future of this marriage. A God fearing and faithful estate will be directed and God will communicate with the couple in a manner they understand, giving knowledge that the husband and wife then take and through personal revelation figure out how to complete the instruction. They discover the law together and receive the blessing together.
Always remember that Eve fell for mankind and Adam fell for Eve. Cleave to each other. If that means the man is not allowed to practice or complete some revelations received due to the wife not agreeing, cleave to the wife and make sure you aren't using God’s revelations as a weapon or force for argument or destruction of this union. If the husband is not responsive or practicing the priesthood and receiving this instruction, cleave to your husband. Trust and love him and seek counsel anyway and God will work in mysterious ways to help this union come unto Christ. It can be done and will be done if we don’t give up. If anything is a testimony to this, it’s the countless women that have come into this world enslaved to men and men’s designs yet still working the exalting work of God by clothing the children of God in god-like bodies. There is something exalting with suffering.
The conference talks Michelle gave me were “In Partnership with the Lord” By Elder Ulisses Soares (2022 Oct GC) and President Nelson’s talk, “Spiritual Treasures” (2019 Oct GC).
The first talk spoke of ‘the principle of full partnership’. And then points out that each wife and husband possess “specific attributes and divinely appointed responsibilities”. Meaning that the man and the woman have roles or divinely appointed purpose in the plan of happiness. He describes these roles as “equally relevant and essential roles in God’s plan of happiness for His children.”
He then states, “According to gospel doctrine, the difference between woman and man does not override the eternal promises that God has for His sons and daughters. One has no greater possibilities for celestial glory than the other in the eternities.”
Then this gem… “When spouses understand and incorporate this principle, they do not position themselves as president or vice president of their family. There is no superiority or inferiority in the marriage relationship, and neither walks ahead of or behind the other. They walk side by side, as equals, the divine offspring of God. They become one in thought, desire, and purpose with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, leading and guiding the family unit together.”
Elder Soares did not eliminate the roles. This gem is under the context that the man and the women have different roles, design, purpose, etc. They are not the same but they are equal in thought, desire, and purpose. One’s purpose is not any more or less important than the other. So if a woman is upset that they think this system of men getting revelation from God that helps the family is a form of president and vice president relationship, they need to change that perspective. It is not the man receiving revelation for her and the family that is wrong, but the idea that this revelation makes the man more important, or to have the final say. If you trust God, then you’d trust the priesthood and its power to save. Then you’d trust your husband even with all his faults and suffer with him as you find the correct course to steer your family to exaltation.
Elder Soares then states, “With true participation, husband and wife merge into the synergistic oneness of an ‘everlasting dominion’ that ‘without compulsory means’ will flow with spiritual life to them and their posterity ‘forever and ever.’” (This is a quote from Bruce C. Hafen).
Interdependence = the dependence of two or more people on each other.
“From that point on, they move forward interdependently and in full partnership with the Lord, especially in regard to each of their divinely appointed responsibilities of nurturing and presiding in their family.”
Notice how he does not equalize their roles. They are interdependent on each other and the Lord. One without the other cannot make it! Notice also they both nurture and preside.
“Nurturing and presiding are interrelated and overlapping responsibilities, which means that mothers and fathers “are obligated to help one another as equal partners” and share a balanced leadership in their home.”
Then he defines what it means to preside, “To preside means to “help lead family members back to dwell in God’s presence. This is done by serving and teaching with gentleness, meekness, and pure love.” It also includes “leading family members in regular prayer, gospel study, and other aspects of worship. Parents work in unity,” following the example of Jesus Christ, “to fulfill these [two great] responsibilities.””
Talking about the government of the family and the hierarchy that should exist there he said, “It is important to observe that the government in the family follows the patriarchal pattern, differing in some respects from priesthood leadership in the Church. The patriarchal pattern entails that wives and husbands are accountable directly to God for the fulfillment of their sacred responsibilities in the family. It calls for a full partnership—a willing compliance with every principle of righteousness and accountability—and provides opportunities for development within an environment of love and mutual helpfulness. These special responsibilities do not imply hierarchy and absolutely exclude any kind of abuse or improper use of authority.”
Means we are both accountable for each other’s fulfillment of our roles and responsibilities. This means we are expected to help each other in the work we are to do.
Then this final golden nugget, “My dear brothers and sisters, nurturing and presiding are opportunities, not exclusive limitations. One person may have a responsibility for something but may not be the only person doing it.”
So yes! Women can receive revelation that helps guide the family. Yes, Men can nurture and raise kids. But No! Men cannot bear children, and no! Women cannot receive the covenants of the priesthood without sealing to a man who has made those covenants.
President Nelson's talk was along this same point. He stressed that the heavens are open to women through priesthood covenants as they are to men who hold the priesthood. Then he shared this message, “How do I draw the Savior’s power into my life?” You won’t find this process spelled out in any manual. The Holy Ghost will be your personal tutor as you seek to understand what the Lord would have you know and do. This process is neither quick nor easy, but it is spiritually invigorating. What could possibly be more exciting than to labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power—priesthood power?”
So instead of creating equality by limiting what gifts and powers each have, we should promote the gifts and powers each holds, expect revelation on what to do with them from either partner, toss in the mud what any partner brings to the table. Take instruction, counsel, and revelation from the partner and act on them finding every law placed in your path that your family might have an abundance of blessings and joy in this miserable world. We should live a life willing to submit to our spouses when they demand until hearts are softened and we can act more purely with revelation unfiltered. We should help husbands understand and act in the priesthood as God has described that our families may get to know God. It is how God intended it and the design for this estate.
Love you all,
Bryce
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