Priesthood Keys Sharing time

Priesthood Keys Bless Us All Sharing Time

October 2012 Week 3 theme

 

Show some keys. What are these? Keys, right?!

“With a set of keys, you can do a lot of things that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do—enter buildings, drive cars, and open trunks, among other things.  Keys, basically, mean authority and access. The same is true of priesthood keys.  They control access to the blessings and ordinances of the priesthood.  These keys are mentioned frequently in the Church, but we may not always understand them…” https://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/05/priesthood-keys?lang=eng

I have some locks that need to be unlocked with the correct priesthood keys. Some locks look different, don’t they?  That is because …“There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic… The Melchizedek Priesthood, which is “after the Order of the Son of God” [Jesus Christ], is the greater of these. It also holds “the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church”” http://www.lds.org/topics/melchizedek-priesthood?lang=eng  That is why there are special links on these locks because the Melchizedek Priesthood better links us to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Let’s match the priesthood keys with the correct priesthood and unlock the “spiritual blessings of the church. Remember that “Although the authority of the priesthood is bestowed only on worthy male members of the Church, the blessings of the priesthood are available to all—men, women, and children.” http://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood?lang=eng&query="blessings+of+the+priesthood"

(Have a bag filled with keys that have various responsibilities of the priesthood on them.)

The keys are found on the skydrive link below. They are colored with markers

(Have a child choose a key and read the priesthood duty. Then have the children figure out if this is a key of the Aaronic Priesthood or Melchizedek Priesthood.)

Locks can be found on the skydrive at the end of the lesson. I have the top of the lock fastened with a brad so that it hinges open. I also cut a slit in the keyhole for the key to fit in.

Then try a lock to see if the duty matches the picture on the back. (I used the top of some banker boxes and put the lock one side and the picture on the other. The  Melchizedek links are tin foil.) If not a match, try another corresponding priesthood lock andlook at picture on the back. Have a child put the key in the matching hole, unlock the lock and discuss briefly the picture on the back.)

Melchizedek Priesthood keys and locks

Key - Confirm a member of the church and confer the Holy Ghost

Matching picture on back- Picture packet picture 1-12 (girl being confirmed a member of the church) could use http://www.skepticalthayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gift-holy-ghost-mormon.jpg

“Worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands upon the head of an individual and call him or her by name. Then, by the authority of the holy priesthood and in the name of the Savior, the individual is confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this important phrase is uttered: “Receive the Holy Ghost.”” http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/receive-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng&query="melchizedek+priesthood The Holy Ghost is definitely a blessing in our lives.
 

Key - Bless the sick

Matching picture on back- Primary packet 1-40-(sick boy receiving blessing) could use http://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/images/thumb/8/8d/Priesthood_Blessing.jpg/300px-Priesthood_Blessing.jpg

“A blessing is given by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, by the laying on of hands and by inspiration, to one who is sick or otherwise in need of special counsel, comfort, or healing.  If the blessing is for the sick, consecrated oil is used” http://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood-blessing?lang=eng  Many times, by the power of the priesthood, the person receives a blessing and is healed from his or her sickness.

Key – Eternal marriage and sealing families together

Matching picture on back- (sealing room and alter) could use http://www.moroni10.com/LDS/Temple_Tour/SLC_Temple_Sealing_Room.jpg

“Marriage, however, can be eternal only when authorized priesthood holders perform the sealing ordinance in sacred temples” http://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/what-do-i-study-and-teach/lesson-5-laws-and-ordinances?lang=eng&query="laws+and+ordinances “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven… (Matt 16:19).  So with the Melchizedek Priesthood keys, we are able to have the blessing of being sealed or bound to our spouses and families now and forever.
 

Key - Bless babies

Matching picture on back- Primary packet 3-21 or  could use https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/37108/37108_all_028_01-blessing.jpg

“The father, if he holds the Melchizedek Priesthood and is worthy, or another person who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, holds the baby in his arms, assisted by others who must also hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, and says a prayer. In the prayer, he addresses our Father in Heaven,… and gives the baby a name that is chosen by the parents. He then blesses the baby as the Holy Ghost inspires him.” Chapter 21: Ordinances,” Gospel Fundamentals, 115 http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=11d4cb7a29c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=e1fa5f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Aaronic Priesthood keys and locks

Key - Baptize people into the church

Matching picture on back- Primary packet- 1-11 or http://www.mormonwiki.com/File:Bautismo2.jpg

“Only a person who has the [Aaronic or higher] priesthood can baptize others.  The person who is baptizing calls the one to be baptized by name and says a short prayer. He then puts the person being baptized completely under the water and brings him or her out of the water again.” Chapter 21: Ordinances,” Gospel Fundamentals, 115 http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=11d4cb7a29c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=e1fa5f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Baptism is a sacred ordinance that can only performed by priesthood keys and it is a blessing to be a member of the true church.

Key - Be a home teacher

Matching picture- (Home teaching) Gospel art kit 614 or https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOiVOnjQcYs8wLAEHTLsdWR5cmSLB-36Nto1booo_bIqZyJkV23sYdN8sB5NQB_JxYILB6l6_4lh0FuzxMwQMbQkULNN6PUB1pv1OCIgSugFL2HPd57me8bkcvUkUnprLnA_CGL-yy-M/s1600/8.jpg

“The bishop of each ward in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assigns priesthood holders as home teachers to visit the homes of members every month. They go in pairs; often a youth holding the Aaronic Priesthood accompanies an adult holding the Melchizedek Priesthood.” http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1997/10/home-teaching-a-divine-service?lang=eng  These home teachers visit members in the home, and teach, help, challenge, care for and comfort them. Both the person being visited and those teaching receive blessings.

Key - Prepare, bless and pass the sacrament

Matching picture- (Passing the sacrament) Primary packet- 1-8 or http://store.lds.org/images/estore/products/eng/993_62021000_p_600.jpg

The ordinance of the sacrament is administered by keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. “[The Deacon at 12 years of age] passes the sacrament… [The teacher at 14 years of age] prepares the sacrament.  The honor of administering the sacrament is given to the priests [at 16 years of age], who offer the sacramental prayers.” June 2012 Liahona “Your Aaronic Priesthood Duties” http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/06/your-aaronic-priesthood-duties?lang=eng&query="home+teacher" We have the blessing every week to partake of the sacrament.

CONCLUSION

These same important priesthood keys that were on the earth when Jesus Christ lived and eventually given to Joseph Smith, are still on the earth today so we can have those special ordinances performed that lead us back to our Heavenly Father. I hope we will honor the priesthood and live worthy of its blessings. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

      (You can find a copy of the file named "Sharing time- The Keys of the Priesthood" at my Skydrive for the keys and locks: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=976904c8bfc9a79e&sc=documents&id=976904C8BFC9A79E%21105)