A complete Priesthood

Mother's Day in church often brings about outstanding talks and examples of motherhood. This year, however, our meeting was filled slightly differently. The question posed was, "How does honoring your priesthood honor women?" Hmmm, it sparked my interest. Some of the points this particular speaker raised: 1. After the Lord created the woman, the world was complete. 2. To attain the highest level of paradise when we die, it takes a man and a woman. One cannot make it without the other. 3. Responsibilities of womanhood are so high in the scriptures - making their highest priority to enable God's children to return to him. I listened with interest.

When we read in Genesis and again in Moses, we have a full account of the creation of the world. The one in Moses does seem to give a few more details than the Genesis account - I think from re-translating several times over. I had always known the rough procession of things, though it had never really occurred to me, that the Lord was not done until he had given Adam a woman. Not because she was an after-thought, but because his work was not done and Adam's companionship not complete until he had a way to return to live with the Lord. We know the Lord gives no commandments unless he prepares a way for us to accomplish them, so why would this circumstance be any different?

I was speaking with my neighbor several weeks ago and had a discussion similar to this next point. I realized that this is something you only understand through personal study because our church doesn't REALLY teach it. We know there are three degrees of glory in heaven, or rather that based on what level of spiritual progression you have attained here is also what you will stay with on the other side. It makes sense when you consider the Prophets themselves have often said 'the longer they live, and more they study, the more they know less than they thought they knew'. So while I may strive to listen to the Spirit and choose good over evil, should I attain the same level of enlightenment on the other side as those Prophets? I shouldn't - I'm not ready to handle it, really. So what I learned through study is there are three degrees of heaven. And they are ALL good. It will be as heaven to each person as they are ready. Those with lesser light in their life have a degree that be-suits them, and with those that are more ready - a higher light. Also those spirits that just barely gained a body and returned to God were not contaminated here and therefore can have the highest glory. But as we progress toward heaven, we must have a complete priesthood and know all the keys to get there. You cannot know all of that information without having a man with you as a woman, or vice versa for a man. Men must be tempered by women and women strengthened by man. I'll try to readress this if it doesn't make sense, so let me know.

And finally, we learn that women are beloved of God and given the HIGHEST responsibility as caretakers of the home and children. There are several examples that show the mother is the responsible party in the household.
Genesis 24:60 "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions..."
Genesis 27:13"And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them."
2 Kings 4:19 "And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother."
Alma 56:47-48 "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

I left the meeting with more appreciation in my heart for the responsibility of motherhood and women.

The Lord's University

Grandpa always said we come to motel Earth to gain a body and be tested. What he never specified is where we get our instruction from. Sure, you can say it comes from the scriptures or church or just life lessons, but I heard from a reliable source, that those are more like elementary, middle, and high school. Good resources, but not really able to give you what you need to have. So that begs the question, where is the Lord's University? Good question. First let's examine the evidence: Moses had access to it, the 12 in Jesus' time had access to it, and we have access to it. Have you figured it out? Its the temple. The analogy is great. Not any old schmuck can get in, you have to be worthy or earned it. There is often one near your house, and you don't get dinged if you don't go, but when you do, you are amply rewarded. And most important and best of all, you can receive information and instruction there that you simply cannot receive anywhere else.

Your Light

I was reading a letter I received from a friend of mine who is serving a mission. It stuck me his remarkable words and testimony. He is tasked with a very, VERY challenging job and I love the way he is sticking to the Lord for aid. I'm going to share some of his letter here.

The Lord has taught me many times through the presence of His Spirit. I learn from notes I take and impressions I receive. This though came from a comparison by Justin Martyr nearly two thousand years ago, his explanation of the relationship between God and Christ, before the doctrine of the Trinity was established in Nicaea.

Each one of us carries a light within us, divinely given for the purpose of illuminating our part of the world. We are as billions of torches, casting light and shadow depending on the direction in which we move. When one torch begins to gutter and fade in a strong wind, a more powerful flame can be brought to it and rescue it, offering help without diminishing the stronger torch's light and heat. The Savior is the ultimate torch: His light is infinite, and illuminates all that we will permit. That said, sometimes we must too be torches, and rescue those around us who fall. We may enlighten and inspire those around us, help to bear their burdens, and generally help them, all without ever weakening ourselves. It requires that we let ourselves shine, and not bear ourselves down with unconfidence or sin. In the end, though, we may help many more than we can imagine, for the other torches that we light can then be used to rescue other guttering flames.