Authority

• Spencer W. Kimball “The Lord has given to all of us, as holders of the priesthood, certain of this authority, but we can only tap the powers of heaven on the basis of our personal righteousness. Thus, for the power of the priesthood to be truly felt in a family requires the righteousness of the men and young men therein. Our relationship with our wives, mothers, and sisters is one in which we kneel together, whether at the altars of the temple or in our own homes; we serve together, side by side, a beautiful partnership.” From the Book “Priesthood” printed in 1981
• President N. Eldon Tanner, from the Book “Priesthood” printed in 1981, “The authority of the priesthood cannot be assumed or arrogated to oneself, but must be delegated by God through one having authority. One of the reasons for confusion in the churches today is that man has assumed this authority without proper delegation from the Lord. A man would have no more right to arrogate this priesthood authority unto himself than would one citizen or another decide to be a representative of the king or the parliament or the president of the United States. In fact, if one began to sign papers as their representative without having been properly appointed, he would be accused of forgery and handled by the law.”
• “Priestood holders are called to preach the gospel. Jesus himself commissioned us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (). That great commission was renewed in modern revelation: “Go ye into all the world, preach te gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (D&C 68:8) (Men of Influence, 12-13)
• The Priesthood Allow the young men to respond until someone points out that a man cannot just assume on his own that he will act as a bishop. Explain that even though the bishop’s brother had the priesthood, he had not been given the keys nor had he been set apart to perform the duties of a bishop in his brother’s ward. He must be given these keys and be ordained in order to have this authority. Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1, Lesson 1
• Alma 5:3…Only someone with power and authority from God can consecrate High Priests.
• Mosiah 26:8, 12…Don’t break the line of authority or do others’ callings for them.
• Mosiah 21: 33…Authority is necessary to be able to baptize
• Mosiah 18: 26…Leaders should have knowledge to teach w/ power & authority
• Mosiah 13: 6…No matter what the circumstances (even death) speak with power & authority
• D&C 121:39-40…Some people abuse it
• Numbers 27:18-23…To Moses, & others (hands)
• Acts 6:5-16…Laying on of hands for authority
• Ether 5:6…If you don’t believe, I’ve got authority, you’ll see
• Moses 23:17…The authority to teach and preach
• D&C 49:4…We’re here to teach, not to be taught
• Acts 19:1-6 Baptized without authority (Name of John)
• Acts 19:13-16…Couldn’t cast out spirit
• Moroni 8:16…Be bold, you have authority
• Matthew 7:21,23…Those that did miracles without the authority
• 2 Nephi 1 :25…Leaders don’t seek power  & authority, but help other’s welfare
• Matthew 10:1…Authority comes from Christ
• Acts 8:14-20…Authority by laying on of hands, not by $
• Alma 17: 1-4…1  And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.  2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.  3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. 4 And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him.
• Words of Mormon 1:17 -18 …17  For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness; and there were many holy men in the land, and they did speak the word of God with power and with authority; and they did use much sharpness because of the stiffneckedness of the people— 18  Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul, and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in the land.
• Jacob 4: 41… And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?
• “Man is a gregarious animal, extremely sensitive to authority, if it will only indoctrinate him thoroughly in childhood and youth, he can be made to espouse any orthodoxy whether of belief or feeling.” Learned Hand, Birth: January 27, 1872- Death: August 18, 1961
• “I can trace my priesthood in a direct line to this event. It goes as follows: I was ordained by David O. McKay; who was ordained by Joseph F. Smith; who was ordained by Brigham Young; who was ordained by the Three Witnesses; who were ordained by Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery; who were ordained by Peter, James, and John; who were ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.” Manual, Teachings of the President of the Church: Gordon B Hinckley, Chapter 1 The Restoration of the Gospel the Dawning of a Brighter Day
• “The priesthood is the power and authority of God. It has always existed and will continue to exist without end (see Alma 13:7-8, Doctrine and Covenants 84:17-18). Through the priesthood, God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power, He exalts His obedient children, bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39; see also Doctrine and Covenants 84:35-38).” Manual Handbook 2: Administering the Church, Priesthood Principles