Oath and Covenant

If they covered it in Young Women's, I was probably talking to Emilee Anderson.

If they covered it in Sunday School, I was probably passing notes with Brant Frank.  (Wish I could have texted back then!)

If they covered in Seminary, there's a good chance I was in the practice rooms helping Topher Affleck throw together a last minute solo and ensemble piece.

Institute?  Yeah... dropped out of college.

Or just as realistically, it could just be that I learned it and forgot it.

But according to Carlos E. Asay of the Seventy, “Of all the holy agreements pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ, few, if any, would transcend in importance the oath and covenant of the priesthood. It is certainly one of the most sacred agreements, for it involves the sharing of heavenly powers and man’s upward reaching toward eternal goals.”

And somehow, I didn't really know about it.

I'm betting its because I'm a girl.  While I was busy studying faith, divine nature, etc., the boys were being instructed in how to use and honor their priesthood.  And whenever that token priesthood lesson came up, I swear it always about how to support the boys in their priesthood and how to sustain church leaders.  I really can't quite say I ever grasped this idea:

“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, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.” -- Joseph Fielding Smith, President   Conference Report, Apr. 1970, 59

Though I didn't say so in my Gospel Doctrine lesson today, I think it's kind of like how the women do all the work of growing and birthing a baby, but the men still get to have all the blessings that come with being a father.  I don't get/have to do the work that goes along with exercising the power of the priesthood.  But I still get to have all the blessings that come along with being a daughter of God.

In other words, I get my own fair shot at promises outlined in Doctrine and Covenants section 84.  Guess I have some studying to do!

Aside from my new-found understanding of my role in the priesthood, my unique, BoyTrapped life makes me listen closely when Spencer W. Kimball says, "This priesthood is... about the most important thing in all the world."  I thought about the picture of the Salt Lake temple and my family proclamation that have hung proudly in my home for almost 12 years.  But nowhere in my home do I have something to specifically represent that the priesthood really is the big deal.

So I decided to change that.

I purposely designed it to mimic the family proclamation, and I included the great truths I've learned in the past weeks of study for my future reference.  My four guys willingly donned suits (at least from the waist up) for a quick photo shoot yesterday, and I framed it all up.  Cost me $12.  

I'm hoping the visual reminder will help keep the principles and promises a bit more in the forefront of my life.  I'm hoping the framed scripture may spark missionary moments in my home.  But more than that, I'm hoping that I can start to live up to the full potential of what Heavenly Father has in store for me.  

I had provided class members with their own printed copy of the quotes and scriptures but promised to make them available online if anyone wanted to share with friends or family.  So if you're interested in printing your own Oath and Covenant for family home evening, for a church lesson, or maybe to display in your home, feel free to download and print as many as you like.

Oh, and did I mention teaching Gospel Doctrine is awesome?  I don't get all splotchy from nerves anymore, and I seem to be getting better at controlling my run-away-train pacing.  I even finished everything I had prepared today at just 3 minutes past the ending time.  

But mostly, I am loving getting to relearn the gospel as an adult.  I'm sure many of you are shaking your head at my lack of spiritual maturity, but as long as I keep uncovering amazing "Hey, I never realized that!" moments in each lesson, I know I am right where I need to be.