Power and Authority

As I was pondering all that I have read in my scriptures this past week and reflecting what I might share, Alma the younger was brought to my mind.  In my readings he had been elected as the first Chief Judge over the Nephites AND he was also ordained by his father, Alma,  as the high priest over the church.

After Alma had served as chief judge for about nine years, he saw that he needed to devote more time to going about among the people teaching the word of God and being in the judgement seat had prevented him from fulfilling that.

Alma takes his journey and teaches the people.  Now this stood out to me that he wasn't just any man going around sharing good inspiring thoughts to the people.  In Alma 5:3 we learn that Alma was the high priest over the church and had "power and authority from God" because he was consecrated by his father who also held that power and authority.

We learn in the Articles of Faith, number 5, "that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."  Alma was called of God to watch over the saints and he did so with all the energy of his soul.

This short clip is a testimony of Elder L. Tom Perry on the priesthood keys and those who hold the keys of the priesthood:

This fills my heart with joy as I know that we have been blessed to have this authority on the earth, restored through Joseph Smith and it continues on as it is passed down through the laying on of hands.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the restored gospel, it is the same organization as existed back in the days of Jesus Christ and his apostles.  The keys that Peter held are now held by President Thomas S. Monson.

Peter the Apostle holding the Keys of the Priesthood
Carved by Bertel Thorvaldsen

Now that we have the Priest on the earth again, as it was in the days of Peter, what do we do with it.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared a story about a Statue of Christ that was damaged during World War II, the statue was able to be fixed, except its hands.  Under the statue a sign read "You are my hands".  (link to article) Through the power and authority of the priesthood we are able to be the Lords hands and spend our times going about doing good just as the Savior did.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38

I am so thankful for the examples of prophets and apostles living and those who have already passed on.  Their example helps me as I journey through this life and I know that I too can go forward and serve and be the Lords hands to all that are around me.  The power and authority of the priesthood are real; I have felt it in my life.