Area Leadership Message
God Has Restored His Priesthood Authority and Power to Bless His Children
On a wonderful Sunday morning, my 12-year-old son King Benjamin Chukwu-Sancho joined us to the chapel.
This particular Sunday was different. He had been looking forward to this day for months, the day he would receive the Aaronic Priesthood. I had often shared stories of how the priesthood had blessed our family. One experience in particular stood out: When young King Benjamin had been gravely ill, the stake president and I had united in faith to administer a priesthood blessing. Miraculously, he recovered.
Ben felt the weight of the responsibility and privilege he was about to receive, a responsibility tied to the restored priesthood authority of God.
The priesthood, God’s power and authority given to worthy men to act in His name, is a central and sacred doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This divine authority enables the performance of sacred ordinances, the preaching of the gospel, and the administration of blessings, all aimed at building and blessing God’s children. In the scriptures, we gain profound insights into the restoration and purpose of the priesthood.
The Restoration of Priesthood Authority
Following centuries of apostasy, during which the fullness of the gospel and priesthood authority were lost, the Restoration began with the Prophet Joseph Smith. In Doctrine and Covenants 13, we read of the visitation of John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. John conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel.
He declared: “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins . . .” (Doctrine and Covenants 13:1).
This restoration laid the foundation for the subsequent restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:12–13). It is the greater priesthood that holds “the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:18).
The Articles of Faith further emphasize this truth: “We believe 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” (Articles of Faith 1:5). This statement underscores the divinely appointed structure through which priesthood authority is conferred and exercised.
Priesthood Power to Bless Lives
The power of the priesthood extends beyond performing ordinances; it is a conduit of God’s love and blessings. Alma elaborated on the eternal nature of the priesthood, teaching that men were “ordained after the order of his Son”—“this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world” (Alma 13:2, 5). This same authority empowers worthy priesthood holders today to bless and serve others in their families, congregations, and communities.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord underscores the vital role of the priesthood in administering His work:
“In the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
“And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:20–21).
Through ordinances such as baptism, confirmation, and temple blessings, individuals come closer to God and receive the divine help necessary for their journey back to Him.
The impact of the priesthood’s power is evident in countless stories of faith and healing. For instance, in the Liahona, Mark L. Grover shared an account of what he learnt about the priesthood and its blessing. He stated: “Slowly I began to understand better how the priesthood and priesthood blessings work. Giving blessings wasn’t a tool to get what I wanted but rather a way to receive needed help. I learned to trust in the Lord and His will instead of what I thought needed to be done.”
Through the priesthood, the Savior can reach us and heal us in our trials. The power of godliness is manifest in our lives when we live worthy of the priesthood’s influence.
Exercising the Priesthood with Righteousness
With great power comes great responsibility. The Lord’s guidance on the proper use of the priesthood is found in scriptures such as Doctrine and Covenants 121. It teaches that the priesthood can be exercised only through righteousness: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41).
Abuse or unrighteous dominion leads to the withdrawal of priesthood power. This principle underscores the need for humility, service, and a Christlike character in all priesthood holders. Elder Yasuo Niiyama, a former Area Seventy in the Asia North Area, in a 2004 Liahona article, emphasized the sacred duty of priesthood holders to uphold righteous behaviours and serve others selflessly: “Righteous behavior . . . is vital. Indeed it is central to our personal progress and the spiritual progress of our families.”
We are all in this together, brothers and sisters. The priesthood of God is not a badge of honor but a call to minister and serve.
A Blessing for All of God’s Children
While the priesthood is conferred upon worthy men, its blessings are for all. Women and men alike benefit from the ordinances, guidance, and blessings of the priesthood. As President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) explained: “The blessings of the priesthood are not confined to men alone. These blessings are also poured out upon . . . all the faithful women of the Church. . . . The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons.”
This inclusive understanding reinforces that the priesthood is not about status but about service: lifting, inspiring, and uniting God’s children in their divine journey. The Lord also teaches that “every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:20), emphasizing the universal nature of priesthood blessings.
The Call to Act
Returning to young King Ben’s story, as he sat to receive the Aaronic Priesthood, he felt a deep sense of peace and purpose. His journey as a priesthood holder would involve growth, faith, and opportunities to serve. Ben’s experience mirrors the invitation extended to all members of the Church to honor and uphold the priesthood in their lives.
Alma invites us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive the blessings of the priesthood: “Humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into [His] rest” (Alma 13:13).
May we strive to understand, honor, and utilize the blessings of God’s restored priesthood in our lives. As we do, we will see His power and love manifest in ways that bring peace, healing, and joy to us and those we serve. In the holy name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, amen.