For Strength of Youth Curriculum-Sept. 20, 2026-Learn More About Priesthood Keys

<p>President Oaks has said, “We are not accustomed to speakingof women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, butwhat other authority can it be? When women -young or old- is set apart topreach the gospel as a full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authorityto perform a priesthood function.  Thesame is true when a woman is set apart to function Iwas in training a couple of years ago by the general YW presidency and theytaught us that one of our main jobs is to prepare the youth we serve for theirnext priesthood ordinance.  And Ithought, Ok.  That makes sense we arepreparing them for the temple.  And thenthey taught us that for most of us the next priesthood ordinance we willparticipate in for ourselves is the ordinance of the sacrament. Do the youth weserve understand how the power of Godliness is manifest in the ordinance of thesacrament? Do the Young Men who officiate in the ordinance and the YW whoparticipate in the ordinance understand what priesthood keys unlock for all ofus during the sacrament?</p><p> </p><p>It is so important for us all to understand the truth that is stated in theGeneral Handbook- Each ordinance allows individuals toreceive rich spiritual blessings.—it is not only those whoofficiate in the ordinances that receive blessings-it is every individual whoparticipates in the ordinance! As an officer or teacher in a Churchorganization under the direction of own who holds the keys of thepriesthood.  Whoever functions in anoffice or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercise priesthoodauthority in performing her or his assigned duties.”</p><p>Your class may think it is fun to answer somequestions like this: “Is it ncorrect to thank the “priesthood” for passing the sacrament after the YM haveparticipated in that ordinance?   President Oaks has said, “Men are not thepriesthood.”  “Priesthood is not something we are-It is God’s power that He authorizes His servants to us for the benefit of others.”   Those ym areholders of the Aaronic priesthood but theya re not the priesthood.(BarbaraMorgan Gardner) </p><p>“If a deacons quorum president and a Builders of Truth president are in a planningmeeting, with just their presidency members, who presides?”   The deacon’s quorumpresident does have keys of presidency-but those only apply to those in thedeacon’s quorum.  He has no presiding authority over the Builders of Truth class. The Builders of Truth classpresident has just as much stewardship over her