Week 23: The Relationship Between Women and the Priesthood

Song: The Power of Heaven (Steven Kapp Perry)
(This is the song that is playing in the background of the video that goes along with this lesson.)

Thought: HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed. (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

Object Lesson: Show your family a picture of a husband and wife who have been sealed in the temple. Ask them to look at that picture and think about how important it is that they not only were married in the temple, but that it is a man and a woman; that the man is a worthy priesthood holder and that the woman is prepared to be a worthy mother and wife. Ask your family to share their thoughts on how the priesthood blesses the lives of both the husband and wife in addition to their future children.

Video: Blessings of the Priesthood

Lesson Activity:
Invite your family to read the section titled “Role of Sisters in the Church” from Elder Quentin L. Cook’s talk “LDS Women Are Incredible!” Ask them to share with each other what they learn. How can they use Elder Cook’s message to help others understand the importance of women in the Church?

Another idea to consider would be playing a game of pictionary in which each person is challenged to draw pictures that represent a way that the priesthood blesses them.

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family to thinks of ways that the priesthood can bless their lives this week. If there are family members who hold the priesthood challenge them to be worthy to bless and serve when called upon. For those members who don't hold the priesthood challenge them to find opportunities to call upon priesthood holders for blessings or service this week.