Scripture
5- 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.
Hymn
A Young Man Prepared–Primary Song #166 or God of Power, God of Right Hymn 20
1. God of power, God of right,
Guide us with thy priesthood’s might.
Forge our souls in living fire;
Shape them to thy great desire.
2. God of wisdom, God of truth,
Take us in our eager youth;
Lift us step by step to thee
Thru an endless ministry.
3. God of mercy, God of love,
Let thy Spirit, like the dove,
Touch and humble, teach and bless,
As we serve in holiness.
1. Though a boy I may appear,
Yet a man I soon will be.
If I prepare and live clean
in ev’ry thought, word, and deed,
I will be worthy to hold
the sacred priesthood of God.
So I now prepare myself;
I will serve my fellowmen.
Being armed with the truth,
with the scriptures my guide,
I’ll go forward, a young man prepared,
I’ll go forward, a young man prepared.
Lesson
*For Younger Children* Use pictures (listed as links below) and discuss the organization of the Aaronic & Melchezidek Priesthoods. (Or for even younger children you may want to use this simplified explaination)
Aaronic Priesthood
*Who passes the Sacrament in church? (Deacon, 12-14yr olds)
A deacon can also deliver and collect fast offerings
*Who prepares the Sacrament? (Teacher, 14-16yr olds)
A teacher can also deliver fast offerings, be a home teacher and act as an usher during the sacrament.
*Who blesses the sacrament? (Priest, 16-18yr olds)
A priest can also deliver fast offerings, be a home teacher and baptize.
Melchezidek Priesthood
*How old do you have to be to be an elder (a boy missionary)? (19yrs old)
An elder has the authority to give the gift of the holy ghost and to give Priesthood blessings.
*Who do we give our tithing to at church? (Bishopric member)
A high priest can serve as a member of the bishopric, stake presidency and high council.
*Who do we get our Patriarchal blessings from? (a Patriarch)
A patriarch gives Patriarchal blessings.
*Where do we get married for eternity? (a temple)
A sealer can perform eternal marriages.
*Who do we listen to during general conference? (Prophet, First Presidency, Apostles, Seventy, General Authorities)
The Seventy, Apostles and Prophet are all special witnesses of Jesus Christ. The Prophet holds all the rights and powers (Priesthood keys) to lead and direct the church.
Testify of the importance of the Priesthood.
*Discuss these questions as a family*
1- Why is the Priesthood important?
*For Teenagers or Adults* Discuss the Aaronic & Melchezidek Priesthoods. Also discuss the quorums & responsibilities with those priesthoods. (Info taken from LDS.org)
Aaronic Priesthood (Name & Discuss the Quorums)
(If you have family member in these Priesthood Quorums, have them share their Priesthood responsibilites.)
In these priesthood offices, they have the authority to provide the sacrament to the congregation and, in the case of priests, to baptize. The bishop of the ward is the president of the Aaronic Priesthood, and he calls exemplary adult men to serve as the presidency and as advisers in the Young Men organization.
*Who passes the Sacrament in church? (Deacon, 12-14yr olds)
*What are the responsibilities of a deacon?
A deacon can also deliver and collect fast offerings
*Who prepares the Sacrament? (Teacher, 14-16yr olds)
*What are the responsibilities of a teacher?
A teacher can also deliver fast offerings, be a home teacher and act as an usher during the sacrament.
*Who blesses the sacrament? (Priest, 16-18yr olds)
*What are the responsibilities of a priest?
A priest can also deliver fast offerings, be a home teacher and baptize.
Melchezidek Priesthood (Name & Discuss the Quorums)
(If you have family member in these Priesthood Quorums, have them share their Priesthood responsibilites.)
Worthy adult men in the Church receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is authority from God to perform sacred ordinances and to lead in the Church. Men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood can perform ordinances such as bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost and giving blessings to the sick by the laying on of hands. Within a ward, the men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood belong to either the elders quorum or the high priests group.
*What are the responsibilities of an elder?
The duties of elders include teaching and watching over the members of the ward (see D&C 20:42). Home teaching is one way they accomplish this duty. In home teaching two priesthood holders are responsible to visit members in their homes to teach, watch over, and provide service to them. The elders quorum may also be assigned by the bishop or stake president to carry out specific service projects.
*What are the responsibilities of a high priest?
High priests have the same duties as elders (including home teaching). They can also officiate, or preside, in the ward and administer spiritual things (see D&C 107:10, 12). The high priests group can also be given specific assignments by the bishop or stake president.
*What are the responsibilities of a bishop?
*What are the responsibilities of a councilor in the bishopric?
A bishop has many duties. In addition to watching over all ward members, he has special responsibility to guide the ward’s young men and young women. He oversees teaching, missionary work, and spiritual growth in the ward. He is responsible to conduct worthiness interviews, counsel Church members, and administer Church discipline. He is responsible to care for the poor and needy, and he oversees finances, records, and the use and security of the meetinghouse.
In these responsibilities and others, the bishop is assisted by two counselors, an executive secretary, clerks, and the leaders of other organizations in the ward. Leadership meetings are held regularly to allow the bishop and those who help him to counsel together about the well-being of ward members.
*What are the responsibilities of a stake president?
*What are the responsibilities of a councilor in the stake presidency?
A stake is led by a stake president and two counselors. The stake president is the presiding high priest in a stake. These leaders oversee the spiritual and temporal welfare of Church members.
*What are the responsibilities of a high councilman?
The stake presidency calls 12 high priests to form the stake high council. Under the direction of the stake presidency, high councilors help oversee the work of the Church in the stake by fulfilling many advisory and administrative responsibilities.
*What are the responsibilities of a Patriarch?
Stakes also have a patriarch, a man who is ordained to give patriarchal blessings to members of the stake. Patriarchal blessings contain specific, inspired counsel and direction from the Lord to the recipient.
*What are the responsibilities of a sealer?
A sealer can perform eternal marriages.
*What are the responsibilities of an seventy member?
There are currently eight quorums of the Seventy. Each quorum may have up to 70 members. Members of Quorums of the Seventy are often referred to simply as “Seventies.” Seventies are called to proclaim the gospel and build up the Church. They work under the direction of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Presidency of the Seventy
Some Seventies are assigned to headquarters administrative functions, but most live and work within a specific geographic region of the Church. Like the Apostles, they also travel frequently to visit and teach congregations of the Church.
Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are called to serve until the age of 70, at which time they are given emeritus status (similar to being released). Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy typically serve for three to five years; after this time, they are released. Members of the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy are considered General Authorities, meaning that they have authority to serve anywhere in the world. Members of the remaining quorums are called Area Seventies, and their authority is limited to the area where they serve.
First or Second Quorum of the Seventy who are called by the First Presidency and are given authority to preside over the Quorums of the Seventy.
Most presidencies in the Church have a presidency of three: a president and two counselors. However, in accordance with scripture, all are presidents in the Presidency of the Seventy—none are counselors: “And it is according to the vision showing the order of the Seventy, that they should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy; and the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six” (D&C 107:93–94).
*What are the responsibilities of an apostle?
The quorum of the twelve apostles is the second-highest governing body in the Church (the First Presidency being the highest). Apostles are special witnesses of Jesus Christ, called to teach and testify of Him throughout the world. They travel frequently, addressing and encouraging large congregations of members and interested nonmembers, as well as meeting with local leaders.
When they are not traveling, members of the Quorum of the Twelve counsel together and with other general Church leaders on matters affecting the worldwide Church, such as missionary work, temple building, spiritual and temporal welfare, and much more.
*What are the responsibilities of the prophet?
Under the direction of Jesus Christ, the Church is led by 15 apostles, who are also regarded as prophets, seers, and revelators. The man who has been an apostle the longest is the President of the Church, and by inspiration he selects two other apostles as counselors. These three function as the First Presidency, which is the highest governing body of the Church. (For information on the other 12 apostles, see Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which is the second-highest governing body of the Church.)
Members of the First Presidency are special witnesses of Jesus Christ, called to teach and testify of Him throughout the world. They travel frequently, addressing and encouraging large congregations of members and interested nonmembers, as well as meeting with local leaders.
When they are not traveling, members of the First Presidency counsel together and with other general Church leaders on matters affecting the worldwide Church, such as missionary work, temple building, spiritual and temporal welfare, and much more.
Testify & discuss the importance of the Priesthood.
*Discuss these questions as a family*
1- Why is the Priesthood important?
2- Why did God give us the Priesthood?
Treat
Grad Caps or Flower Cupcake in a Cone
Grad Caps
Ingredients:
1 box of cake mix, any flavor
Flat-bottomed ice-cream cones
White frosting
Large gumdrop disks, such as Sunkist Gourmet Fruit Gems
(one 14-ounce bag can decorate 5 cupcakes)
Instructions: (View How To Video)
1- Prepare the cake batter according to the directions on the box. Fill the narrow bottom of each ice-cream cone with the batter. Set the cones on a baking sheet and transfer them to the oven, being careful not to tip them over.
2- Bake at 350º for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let them cool, then frost the tops.
3- To make each candy flower, cut 6 wedges from the edges of a gumdrop disk and cut a green gumdrop disk into slices for leaves. Press the wedges into the middle of the cut flowers for flower centers, then arrange the candies on top of the frosted cupcakes. One box of cake mix yields 34 cupcakes (or make fewer and use the remaining batter for a small cake).
Flower Cupcake in a Cone
Ingredients:
Miniature peanut butter cups
Frosting or peanut butter
Chocolate-covered graham crackers
Fruit leather
Instructions:
1- Place a miniature peanut butter cup, bottom up, on a plate. Top with a small dollop of frosting or peanut butter, then press on a chocolate-covered graham cracker.
2- For a tassel, tightly roll up a small square of fruit leather. Cut fringe on one end and attach the other end to the center of the graham cracker with another dab of frosting or peanut butter.
(Recipes taken from Familyfun.go.com)
