Different Words with the Priesthood:
2-Ordained: placed into an office, or a division of duties that go along with having the Priesthood.
- Offices in Aaronic Priesthood: Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Bishop.
- Offices in Melchizedek Priesthood: Elder, High Priest, Seventy, Patriarch, Apostle
3-Set Apart: set apart in a calling.
- Ordained is for life, as long as the man stays worthy -- so, once a bishop, always a bishop, once a deacon, always a deacon. But callings come and go. So when a bishop is called a second time, he doesn't need to be ordained again, only set apart. We don't really need to call him Bishop when he is not the set-apart bishop; it's just a tradition some people have.
- A Stake President is not an office of the priesthood, it's a calling. So it's not once a president, always a president. Cool, huh? Also, there was a tiny, unimportant thing he mentioned offhand, that it's not Young Women's President, because she's not the president of the young women: the Bishop is their presiding authority. It's the Young Women Program's President, so you'd say Young Women President, not Young Women's President. Hard to wrap your head around, but so fascinating.
4-Keys: the right to preside. It takes keys to give keys. It's so important to not overstep your bounds as a priesthood holder. That's why we recognize the "presiding authority" whenever they're in our meetings. Showing respect for the man with the most keys in the room shows respect for God.
5-Titles: Calling people by the right title, and those sorts of things are called the "unwritten order," meaning it's not written anywhere, but are learned from observation and revelation; President Slaughter has learned it from observing the leaders of the church, since he's worked with them closely, and it just shows such respect for the priesthood and that power. Examples: You just call a patriarch "Brother," because he doesn't hold any Priesthood keys. He holds the Priesthood, yes, but he doesn't have the right to preside. You can call any holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood "Elder." All 3 of the presiding bishopric members can be called Bishop, but not so with normal bishoprics; just call ward bishopric counselors "Brother." Only members of specific Quorums call their president of the 70's "President." The rest of us call them Elder, because they don't hold keys that apply to us, well they do, but not they're President over us like the Prophet is, and such. Both the President and counselors of stake presidency can be called President. These were just some odd, fascinating things that make me want to learn more!
Mission Report: We've invited and are helping a wonderful man prepare for baptism on November 29, so pray for him too! And missionary work is so good. I've written too much already, but I love all I'm learning and hope you love learning every day as well!
Quality of Christ: Knowledge. The more I have read about Christ's life this week, the more my testimony of Him grows, and I want to share it even more. Christ is constantly talking about faith, and having unwavering, great faith. When Peter walks on water, his faith wavers and he sinks for uncertainty and doubt. But still, I mean, come on! Peter walked on water! I find it so inspiring that a mortal walked towards Christ on nothing but water with nothing but faith in Christ. What a miracle! So imagine even greater faith than that? Wherefore didst thou doubt? Christ says. I know you have faith, so why did you doubt? Great faith is unwavering. Knowledge doesn't take away from faith; God is light and knowledge. So keep learning and keep focusing on the right place. If Peter didn't turn his focus away from Christ onto the storm, he wouldn't have sunk. (But still, how humbling that Christ will always save us if we call to Him.) So keep focusing on Christ!
Sister Rowley
