Priesthood, Power of

     The power of the priesthood is God's power. It is entrusted to man to do God's work on earth, that through personal purity and righteousness, the priesthood can be used to preach and teach and testify to bring all children to God through the saving ordinances: faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, new names, endowment, sealings, endure - it is what helps us achieve eternal life. It is the power that has been given the final time to men on earth - to build and govern and strengthen Zion, to perform miracles and heal and rule all things. It is what ultimately brings us to Christ and helps us become like God.

*Matt 10:1 - Christ gives apostles power to heal and cast out unclean spirits and power over enemies, they won't be hurt - Luke 10:14, Mark 3:15

*Matt 28:18 - Power of priesthood is all power in heaven and earth

*Acts 4:7 - Power to teach and testify, in every tongue(De 90:11), it becomes scripture (D&C 68:4) - 1 Cor 2:4, 1 Ne 2:14, 2 Ne 1:27, Mosiah 13:6, 3 Ne 7:17, D&C 138:30, Micah 3:8

*Acts 6:8 - With faith, it is the power to do wonders and miracles - Acts 19:11

*1 Cor 4:20 - Building the kingdom

*1 Ne 17:48 - Power = protection against enemies - Moses 8:18

*D&C 45:8 - power of miracles, of the Atonement, of eternal life

*Abr 1:18 - Given to Abraham

*D&C 50:27 - He who has the priesthood is possessor of all things, all are subject to him

*D&C 84:20 - Ordinances(eternal life): endowed, sealing, records D&C 128:8, 132:7, 105:11 - power to teach

*D&C 112:30 - Priesthood given for last time in the last days, Zion puts on her strength - D&C 113:8

*D&C 121:36 - Priesthood power is power of heaven - can only be used through and for righteousness

*Moses 7:31, Moro 10:31 - Zion governed by priesthood - Isa 52:1

*Gen 32:28 - New name with power

Man, Physical Creation of

     God is the Great Creator. Through His word(Christ Eph 3:9)He has created ALL things, first spiritually then physically. He created this world and through its dust He created man and through man He created woman. He created His children for His glory - for them to become His children. He created them, their agency, and their redemption. He knows and loves us because He made us. If we always remember this, we will not murmur, but we will give back to our Creator and find true happiness and become like Him - our own creators to continue His work and His glory.

*Gen 1:26-27 - Man and woman are created in God's image(also image of His spirit - Ether 3:15-16) - given dominion/commandments, Gen 5:1, Col 3:10, Moses 7:27, Moses 6:9, Alma 12:22, D&C 20:18-19, Moses 2:26, Abr 4:26-27

*Gen 2:7 - Formed from dust of the earth and breath of God/life, created first spiritually, then physically. The dust returns to the earth, the Spirit returns to God, dust belonged to Him, so do we(Ecc 12:7, Mosiah 2:25) - D&C 77:12, Moses 3:5,7

*Gen 2:22 - Woman made from man's ribs "bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh" Abr 5:17, 1 Tim 2:13

*Job 4:19 - We are "houses of clay" 

*Isa 43:7 - God has created man and woman for His glory - Isa 45:12, Matt 19:4, 2 Ne 29:7

*Mal 2:10 - We all have only one creator, one father, we are all brothers and sisters - Luke 3:38, Moses 6:22

*Phil 2:6 - Created in His image to become equal with Him

*1 Ne 2:12 - Keep in remembrance who created you and you will not murmur, and you will be a happy people - 4 Ne 1:16 (struggle=not calling on your creator) - Morm 5:2

*1 Ne 17:36 - Created both man and earth that man might possess it

*2 Ne 2:15-16 - Created man AND his agency AND opposition

*Alma 1:4 - God created all men, but He also redeemed all men

*Jacob 4:9 - God created man through His word - Mormon 9:17 - created dust, miracles through His word

*Mosiah 4:21 - God created you and everything you depend on - share and give back

*Alma 18:32 - He knows us because He created us.

*D&C 93:10 - The worlds, men, everything made by, through, and of Him

*D&C 107:43 - As Seth is like Adam, we will be like God

Murmuring, Murmur

     Murmuring seems to be the beginning of all destructive seen. Those who murmur do not understand/have faith in the Lord. They do not understand His powers or miracles and therefore complain for things they do and do not have. They are weak in suffering and assume suffering is because the Lord hates them. They murmur in their hearts and to others until they have grown in hatred and pride and are led to iniquities and bloodshed and become ungodly. Those who murmur will be chastened or destroyed. Those who do not murmur are those who have faith, recognize blessings, power, and love of God and are the favored people.

*Ex 15:24, 16:2, 17:3 - Children of Israel are big time murmurers, Num 14:2, 16:49, Deut 1:27, Psalms 16:25, Josh 9:18 - "because the Lord hateth us" he has ____

*Isa 29:24, 2 Ne 27:35 - Those who murmur will learn doctrine, those who err in spirit will come to understand

*Luke 5:30, 15:2, 19:7 - Pharisees were murmurers

*John 6:41 - Jews during Christ's time were murmurers, John 7:12

*John 6:43 - Jesus said "murmur not among yourselves" do all things without murmuring-Philip 2:14

*1 Cor 10:10 - murmurers are destroyed

*Jude 1:16 - murmurers are ungodly

*1 Ne 2:11 - Laman and Lemuel were the kings of murmuring -17:17 weak in suffering -16:20, 2 Ne 5:4 - to the point of bloodshed, 1 Ne 3:31 - do not know/believe God's powers/miracles, 17:49 - Nephi commanded them to stop

*1 Ne 3:6 - Those who do not murmur are favored of the Lord - you have to learn to recognize blerssings 17:2

*D&C 9:6 - Do not murmur for your circumstances, they are all wisdom in the Lord

*D&C 25:4 - Do not murmur for circumstances you have not had

*D&C 75:7 - You will be chastened for murmurings of your heart

Stiffneckedness

     Stiffnecked people are proud and rebellious against God. Like so many groups throughout history(Children of Israel, Jews who crucified Christ, Nephites before coming of Christ, Nephites before destruction, Lamanites, etc.) they are those who murmur, forget God, do not understand His teachings but demand things they cannot understand, they follow precepts of men and do not believe in miracles or repentance, they resist the Holy Ghost and prophets and persecute the righteous. In order to remove stiffneckedness, the Lord sends tribulations and stumbling blocks, prophets with plain speech to remind them of death and destruction and keep them in remembrance of God's law. Or you could remove your own stiffneckedness simply  by reading the scriptures, repenting, and purifying your heart. That's the way I choose. Remember if you have a stiffneck and are proud, there is no room for repentance or miracles - the only way you can be healed.

*Ex 32:9 - Children of Israel are a stiffnecked people(Ex 34:9, 33:5, Deut 9:6, Mosiah 3:14, Jer 17:23, Jacob 6:4)

*2 Ne 25:28 - Speak plainly to stiffnecked people so that they cannot misunderstand your testimony, will stand as a witness against them - if you deny Christ, you deny prophets and law

*Hel 5:3 - Nephites were stiffnecked people before coming of Christ

*Hel 9:21, Hel 13:29 - The Lord suffers the stiffnecked but they have an awful destruction waiting for them unless they repent.

*Deut 10:16 - Purifying your heart removes stiff necks

*Deut 31:27 - Stiffneckedness=rebellious, 2 Chron 36:13

*2 Chron 30:8 - Removing stiff necks(service)=entrance into the Lord's sanctuary

*Psalms 75:5 - Speak not with a stiff neck

*Isa 48:4, 1 Ne 20:4 - When the Lord knows your stiffneckedness, He gives you humbling experiences

*Ezek 2:4 - The Lord sends prophets to the stiffnecked

*Acts 7:51 - The stiffnecked resist the Holy Ghost, it works according to faith(Jarom 1:4,) stiffnecked won't search knowledge and they refuse to understand(2 Ne 32:7)

*1 Ne 2:11-12 - Signs of those who are stiffnecked = murmuring, no respect for the spiritual, are unfamiliar with the God who created them and His dealings, pride, costly apparel(Jacob 2:13), led by precepts of men(2 Ne 28:14)

*2 Ne 6:10, 10:5 - Jews who crucified Christ = stiffnecked people - Jacob 4:14, looking beyond the mark, demanding things they can't understand, receive stumbling blocks, quick to do iniquity, slow to remember (Mosiah 13:29)

*Enos 1:22-23 - The Nephites were stiffnecked people - nothing could save them except exceeding harshness, plain speech about the death and destruction that awaited them without repentance, continually keeping them in fear of the Lord, don't believe in miracles or repentance, persecute the righteous, delight in bloodshed, love iniquity(all ways of devil) - Alma 26:24, Alma 20:30, Alma 15:15, Alma 9:5, WofM 1:17

*Alma 37:10 - The Book of Mormon made to convince and help the stiffnecked

*Hel 4:21 - Scriptures can remove your stiffneck

*3 Ne 15:18 - Stiffnecked cannot understand prophets/prophets commanded not to speak to them, they build churches for gain, twist scriptures - Morm 8:33

*D&C 5:8 - Stiffnecked kindle God's anger, revokes his commands -D&C 56:6

*D&C 112:13 - God sends tribulations to unstiffen so He can come and heal. *because if you don't believe in miracles or repentance how can you ever be healed?

Dependability

     Dependability is really the thing that will get you through life, helping you endure and serve and maintain your faith. It is a crowning jewel on every trait for someone who is dependable in their faith, their obedience, their charity. Obedience brings you the kingdom immediately but dependability gives it to you in the end. Be dependent on God and His word and you will become dependable, receiving all blessings connected to it.

*Psalms 118:8 -  It is better to trust in God than man

*Prov 3:26 - Lord is thy confidence, shall keep they foot from being taken

*Prov 31:11 - Be the kind of woman who others can safely trust, do others good all your life

*Luke 12:33 - Your good works become a treasure you can depend on

*1 Cor 13:8 - Charity is the one thing you can depend on, everything else falls/fades

*Gal 5:10 - Have confidence in those who will stick to their views/opinions

*2 Thes 3:4 - Be the kind of person others can have confidence in obedience

*Heb 6:11 - Dependability will help you have hope, diligence, AND ENDURANCE

*1 Ne 3:7 - Nephi is one of the most dependable people I know, probably because he has full confidence in the Lord and depends on Him. - 2 Ne 6:2 -many others depended on him because of his confidence -2 Ne 4:19, 34-35 wo to. him who trusts man. 

*Mosiah 5:15 - Dependability(steadfast/immovable) and abounding in good works will bring you heaven, salvation, and eternal life - Abr 3:26. D&C 70:15 - Many blessings D&C 84:80 - temporal blessings - body, limb, joint, mind not wearied or darkened, a hair will not fall unnoticed, never go hungry or athirst.

*Mosiah 7:19 - If you ever have trouble having confidence in God, look at his passed works

*Alma 48:13 - Captain Moroni = dependable(firm in faith of Christ, dedicated to his oaths)

*Alma 53:20 - Armies of Helaman - "true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted" -exceedingly valiant for courage, strength, activity.

*Hel 10:4 - Be dependable as a missionary - seeking God's will and keeping commandments

*D&C 18:3 - Rely on the scriptures

*D&C 82:24 - The kingdom is yours, and will be forever, if you are steadfast

*JSH 1:59 - Sometimes dependability is required for keeping commandments

Thanksgiving

     Thanksgiving can be a consecrated sacrifice for it can be a sacrifice to give up mourning and selfishness and instead develop a glad, humble heart that recognizes God's greatness. Those who are rooted in their faith and testimony of Jesus Christ live close to the Spirit and humility and therefore naturally abound in thanksgiving.  They therefore abound in the blessings of giving thanks - including entering into the gates of heaven, receiving things of the earth more than a hundred fold and being made glorious. It is also a protection from evil and a way to give back to God in a never ending cycle of love. It is what will bring you into the presence of God, both here on earth and in heaven.

*Lev 7:12 -  Thanksgiving is a sacred ritual/sacrifice used to be given through unleavened breads always with oil

*Lev 22:29 - Thanksgiving should be made of your own will

*Psalms 95:2 - Come into God's presence with Thanksgiving - entry into gate - Psalms 100:4

*Psalms 147:7 - Sing your thanksgiving

*2 Cor 4:15 - Everything is for your sake and through thanksgiving it comes back to God

*2 Cor 9:10-12 - Thanksgiving is like the never ending cycle of a bountiful crop, give even more thanksgiving for a beautiful cycle(seed to fruit to food for many to more seeds to more fruit to more ability to feed)

*Phil 4:6 - Let all your requests be made with thanksgiving

*Col 2:7 - Those who are rooted and built in faith abound in thanksgiving

*1 Tim 4:4 - Every creation of God is good - refuse nothing without thanksgiving

*Rev 7:12 - Along with thanksgiving - give to God: blessing, glory, wisdom, honor, power, and might

*Alma 34:38 -  Things to help you live in Thanksgiving daily - the Holy Ghost, taking the name of Christ, humility, sincerely worshipping

*3 Ne 10:10 - Mourning can turn to joy and thanksgiving

*D&C 46:7 - Thanksgiving is a protection against temptations and evils

*D&C 136:26 - Thanksgiving/Happiness - praise with singing, dancing, music, prayer

*D&C 59:15-22 - Those who give thanks with cheerful countenances/glad heart will be rewarded with things of the earth. D&C 78:19 - made glorious, 100 fold and more

*D&C 89:11 - Use everything with prudence and thanksgiving

*D&C 97:12-13 - Temples are a place of thanksgiving

Sacrifice

     Sacrifice is an act of faith, of obedience, of rejoicing, of thanksgiving, of worshipping, a way to show testimony, and a way to receive revelation. It is a way of representing the sacrifice of our Savior, a sacrifice that is infinite and eternal and which we should ponder often and continuously invite into our lives. Without our sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit, Christ's sacrifice does not work. Sacrifices can be part of a covenant, a way to separate ourselves from sin, a cleansing step for true repentance. The sacrifices you make(especially that of service and love to God and his children with all your heart, soul, understanding and strength, through tithes, offerings, time, talents, means, and temple service)will be part of your final judgement. It is a type of priesthood power. Sacrifice with a sincere heart and it will be a protection and a blessing to you, bringing you ever closer to that ultimate sacrifice, the Atonement.

*Gen 22:9 - Abraham to sacrifice Isaac - sometimes God just wants to know what you'd be willing to give up for Him. Heb 11:17(by faith), Jacob 4:5, D&C 138:13

*Ex 3:18 - Sometimes sacrifice requires a separation - go into the wilderness

*Ex 12:27 - Sacrifice can sometimes be made out of gratitude/remembrance

*Ex 20:24 - Make an altar, the sacrifice, then receive blessings. Lev 17:5 - also bring peace, Deut 27:7 - also rejoice

*Ex 22:20 - If you sacrifice to anyone but the Lord - you will be destroyed, do not sacrifice to evil. Deut 32:17, Hosea 11:2, Mal 1:8, 1 Cor 8:4

*Lev 1:3 - burnt sacrifice must be male without blemish and offered voluntarily - similitude - Deut 15:21, 1 Cor 10:20

*Lev 3:1 - Peace offerings can be male or female without blemish - sprinkle blood on altar

*Lev 7:1-11 - Laws/rules regarding different sacrifices

*1 Sam 15:22 - To obey is better than to sacrifice

*1 Kings 18:38 - Elijah sacrifices and people believe

*Ezra 6:11 - make sacrifice to go along with prayer to ask for blessings

*Neh 12:43 - Sacrifice made as a way of thanksgiving

*Psalms 4:5 - Sacrifice made as an act of faith - Heb 11:4 Abram made sacrifice by faith/which is why it was better than Cain's. Moses 6:3 - Also Seth.

*Psalms 40:6, Heb 10:3, 5-8, 12, Heb 7:27 - Christ's sacrifice is superior so once He has made it, they are no longer required.

*Psalms 50:5 - You can make covenants through sacrifice

*Psalms 51:17 - Sacrifices=broken heart and a contrite spirit, D&C 97:8. You have to make this sacrifice or His sacrifice does not work 2 Ne 2:7

*Psalms 106:37 - Do not sacrifice your children to devils/other gods - Ezek 16:20

*Prov 15:8, 21:27 - Sacrifice made by wicked is abomination, make sure you do it with sincere heart - Isaiah 1:11

*Prov 21:3 - To do justly and with judgment is better than to sacrifice

*Dan 11:31 - Evil will take away daily sacrifice

*Amos 5:25(Acts 7:42) - God will ask you about your sacrifices

**Micah 6:7-8 - No matter how much you sacrifice, it will not be good unless you are serving the Spirit, doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly.

*Zeph 1:7 - The Lord has prepared a sacrifice for you.

*Mark 9:49 - Sprinkle sacrifices with salt as a cleansing

*Mark 12:33 - Worth more than all your sacrifices is to love God with all your heart, soul, understanding, strength, and to love your neighbor more than self.

*Luke 2:24 - Sacrifice when a son is born = 2 turtle doves/pigeons

*1 Cor 5:7 - Purge out/sacrifice your sin to become clean - use Christ's sacrifice

*Heb 5:1, Heb 8:3 - Sacrifice is a priesthood ordination - uses the power of God

*Heb 13:16 - God is well pleased with sacrifices requiring doing good and praying

*1 Peter 2:5 - A temple built to do sacrifices in

*Rev 2:14, 20 - Some people corrupt law of sacrifice, eat offerings and commit fornication

*1 Ne 5:9 - Sacrifice is a way of rejoicing

*Mosiah 2:3 - Actual sacrifice/burnt offerings = Law of Moses, 3 Ne 9:19-20 - Burnt offerings no more, only sacrifices now are broken heart and contrite spirit

*Alma 34:10 - An infinite and eternal sacrifice made not by human, but God

*Mormon 4:14-21 - evil=human sacrifices to idol gods

*D&C 59:12 - Sunday is a good day for sacrifices - of time, talents, means, service

*D&C 64:23 - Now is the time of sacrifice and tithe - it is a protection/blessing

*D&C 97:12 - Sacrifice for the temple - D&C 84:31 - and in temple -D&C 124:39

*D&C 132:50 - Sacrifices are a step to repentance

*D&C 138:2 - Reflect on the Savior's sacrifice often

*Moses 5:6 - Sacrifice = an act of obedience(sometimes blind)

*Fac 2, Fig 2 - Revelation comes when sacrificing