Priesthood Keys and Loving Directions

The priesthood is a gift from God, and these trusted keys are meant to provide sacred guidance to bless His children

In the New Testament we read of conversations between Jesus and the twelve

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Simon, named Peter was given the promised responsibility of being not only the presiding priesthood leader in the Lords church, but the keys to direct the Lords church according to will of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Savior would later confer all priesthood keys pertaining to his kingdom on the Earth on all twelve Apostles.

These priesthood keys are still on the earth among the 15 apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As in the primitive church all 15 men hold all keys pertaining to the kingdom of God on Earth, guided and directed by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ. Only the senior apostle has the authority to exercise all priesthood keys, pertaining to the kingdom of God on the Earth, or in other words the church.

In the Latter-days priesthood keys have been restored to the earth, these keys are those pertaining to the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood, restored during the Book of Mormon translation in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Priesthood keys were also restored in the Kirtland Ohio Temple; these keys being: the sealing keys, the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, and the keys to keys to the gathering of Israel (With the keys of the gathering, the apostles could now “unlock the door of the kingdom in all places,” the gospel could be preached throughout the world)

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, priesthood leaders, exercise, priesthood keys to direct the work of exaltation and salvation. These leaders consist of: the first presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Temple presidents, mission presidents, stake presidents, bishops, and quorum presidents.

I was very blessed during my mission to have a mission president who took the time to teach and testify of the power and functionality of priesthood keys. He wanted us to know what priesthood keys did and how to navigate them within the church. Once I got home I understood more of why this is important. There have been many experiences I’ve had with bishops where we’d counsel together on specific topics. During the conversations the Bishop would get a look in his eyes as if struck by lightning, having received what I know to be an inspired answer.

He received such answers because of these sacred keys. The priesthood is a gift from God, and these trusted keys are meant to provide sacred guidance to bless His children. What a blessing it is to live in a dispensation where we have priesthood keys that can bless our lives and help us return back to live in the presence of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.