Appreciating and Supporting Priesthood Leaders

Read portions of “Partakers of the Glories”–President Elaine L. Jack (November ’96 Ensign p. 76).

Have a play in…Read portions of “Partakers of the Glories”–President Elaine L. Jack (November ’96 Ensign p. 76).

Have a play in which a girl wonders how the priesthood has blessed her life. She then gets to look back on various parts of her life (birth–mother was blessed before she gave birth, name and a blessing, baptism, a time during which she was very sick, issued callings, direction from her father which was benenficial, school blessings–especially when changing schools or moving, patriarchal blessing, help deciding what to do with her life, brother blessed when in an accident, etc.) She then realizes how blessed she has been to have the influence of righteous priesthood holders in her life.

Invite fathers to share what the priesthood is, how they use it, and what it means to them.

Have each girl come prepared to tell stories of how the priesthood has blessed her life.

Read the oath and covenant of the Priesthood and express what a serious commitment it is, either to give great blessings or great condemnation.

Read what the duties and powers are of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Have each girl make a list of who she knows who holds the priesthood and should be supported in this very serious commitment. Remind the girls that the young men hold the priesthood and that they need to be supported and respected in their divinely appointed roles, too. Deacons hold the keys of the ministering of angels, just like older leaders.

Brainstorm ideas for ways the girls can support the priesthood more.

Do something special for the Young Men, Bishopric, or other Priesthood group that could use some support or thanks–cookies, letters of gratitude or admiration, surprise packages to their houses, kindness coupons.

Set a goal to pray for your Priesthood leaders every time you pray.

Teach each girl the names of her Branch President or Bishop, the member of his council to whom the YW president reports, her home teachers, her stake president, her mission president, the members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and the First Presidency. (YW Manual 1, Lesson 13)

Study the biographies of current church leaders. You could even play a “Guess Who” game to see how much the girls know about each leader.

Invite someone who has met a prophet or other General Authority to bear testimony of that leader.

Watch the church video movies with the biographies of the prophets, or testimonies of Jesus Christ by the apostles called Special Witnesses of Christ.

Invite your local patriarch to speak on priesthood blessings.

List some of the duties of a Bishop or Branch president or other leaders. (These may include presiding over and conducting meetings; directing home teaching; approving ordinations and advancements in the Aaronic Priesthood; interviewing; conducting tithing settlement; judging personal worthiness; giving counsel, comfort, and priesthood blessings; recommending mission calls; approving callings to members; issuing temple recommends; being responsible for records, minutes, tithes, and offerings; being chairman of committees responsible for activities, welfare, and buildings and grounds; overseeing the temporal and spiritual welfare of members; helping in the process of repentance; discerning needs. – YW Manual 2, Lesson 11, Appreciating the Bishop)

Teach the class that the blessings of the priesthood extend to all members of the church, whether or not they have a priesthood member in their homes. The priesthood comes to members through home teachers, branch presidencies or bishoprics, patriarchs, the prophet, and others in addition to family members. See Priesthood Circle, from LDS.org, YW Manual 3, Lesson 12, The Blessings of the Priesthood and refer to the current YW Resource Guides for help on these lessons. Sources: All About Mormons, and me, Jenny Smith