YW Lesson 15: The Melchizedek Priesthood

Last YW's lesson (which was a few weeks ago, due to General Conference & Stake Conference) was on the Melchizedek Priesthood. We followed the lesson in the manual and talked about how the Priesthood was restored to the Earth to Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery by Peter, James & John. We discussed the different Offices, Quorums & Responsibilities in the Melchizedek Priesthood, we read the scriptures that went along with them, to answer some of the girls questions about why they were called a certain name, e.g. Patriarch. Finally, we talked about how receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood is such a great blessing and how important it is, we talked about how every young man in the Church should be preparing to receive this blessing and the oath & covenant the young men take upon themselves when they receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.

There was an amazing quote in the manual that I think struck home for the girls AND myself about how important it really is for the girls to encourage the young men to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and stay true to the covenant they make.

From YW Manual 1 - Elder Marion G. Romney has taught us of the responsibilities that come to those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. He said:
"The status of one who receives the priesthood and then breaks the covenant is explained by the Lord in this language: '... whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world now in the world to come.' [D&C 84:41]
"With such a penalty prescribed for breaking it, one might be prompted to question the advisability of accepting the obligations of the covenant; that is, he might question it until he reads the verse which follows the statement of the penalty. There he learns that those who do not receive the oath and covenant are not much, if any, better off than those who receive it and break it. For in that verse the Lord says: 'And, wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received...' [D&C 84:42]
"Such is the sober import of 'the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood' " (in Conference Report, Apr. 1962, p.18; or Improvement Era, June 1962, p. 416).

I think that really stuck with the girls about how much of a HUGE responsibility the young men are taking on and how important the Priesthood is.

To go along with this lesson the handout I made was of KEYS (below) - 3 keys, Priesthood, Aaronic & Melchizedek. Then a small circle keychain that had D&C 124:123 on it.
"Verily I say unto you, I now give unto the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son." [D&C 124:123]

I have gone to the liberty of attaching the PDF document I created for the keys (as my Mother-In-Law has already asked for a copy of it to use for Primary). I printed my keys on Photo paper so they were a bit sturdier and shinier, so the settings are for 4x6" Photo paper. PDF Here

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