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United in Accomplishing God's Work

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United in Accomplishing God's Work By Jean B. Bingham Relief Society General President found satisfaction and success in learning to labor in love and righ- United in Accomplishing teousness together. As children were born to them, Adam and Eve taught their family God’s Work what they had learned from heavenly messengers. They were focused on helping their children also under- stand and embrace those principles The most effective way to fulfill our divine potential that would make them happy in this life, as well as prepared to return to is to work together, blessed by the power and their heavenly parents after having increased their abilities and proved authority of the priesthood. their obedience to God. In the process, Adam and Eve learned to appreciate their differing strengths and supported one another in their Dear wonderful sisters and brothers, it food, some of the animals considered eternally significant work.2 is a delight to be with you. Wherever them food, and there were difficult As centuries and then millennia you are listening, I extend hugs to my challenges that could be overcome came and went, the clarity of men’s sisters and heartfelt handshakes to my only as they counseled and prayed and women’s inspired and inter- brothers. We are united in the work of together. I imagine there were at dependent contributions became the Lord. least a few times they had differing clouded with misinformation and When we think of Adam and Eve, opinions about how to approach misunderstandings. During the time often our first thought is of their idyllic those challenges. However, through between that marvelous beginning life in the Garden of Eden. I imagine the Fall, they had learned that it was in the Garden of Eden and now, the that the weather was always perfect— essential to act in unity and love. In adversary has been quite successful not too hot and not too cold—and the tutoring they received from divine in his goal to divide men and women that abundant, delicious fruits and sources, they were taught the plan in his attempts to conquer our souls. vegetables grew within reach so they of salvation and the principles of the Lucifer knows that if he can damage could eat whenever they liked. Since gospel of Jesus Christ that make the the unity men and women feel, if he this was a new world for them, there plan operable. Because they under- can confuse us about our divine worth was much to discover, so every day stood that their earthly purpose and and covenant responsibilities, he will was interesting as they interacted with eternal goal were identical, they succeed in destroying families, which the animal life and explored their are the essential units of eternity. beautiful surroundings. They also were Satan incites comparison as a tool given commandments to obey and had to create feelings of being superior or different ways of approaching those inferior, hiding the eternal truth that instructions, which caused some initial men’s and women’s innate differences anxiety and confusion.1 But as they are God given and equally valued. He made decisions that changed their lives has attempted to demean women’s forever, they learned to work together contributions both to the family and and became united in accomplishing in civil society, thereby decreasing the purposes God had for them—and their uplifting influence for good. for all of His children. His goal has been to foster a power Now picture this same couple in struggle rather than a celebration of mortality. They had to labor for their the unique contributions of men and 60 SATURDAY EVENING SESSION organize them “under the priesthood the direction of one holding priest- after the pattern of the priesthood.”4 hood keys operate with priesthood He said, “I now turn the key to you authority in their callings.8 in the name of God . —this is the In October 2019, President beginning of better days.”5 And since Russell M. Nelson taught that women that key was turned, educational, who are endowed in the temple have political, and economic opportunities priesthood power in their lives and in for women have begun to gradually their homes as they keep those sacred expand throughout the world.6 covenants they made with God.9 He This new Church organization for explained that “the heavens are just women that complement one another women, named the Relief Society, was as open to women who are endowed and contribute to unity. unlike other women’s societies of the with God’s power flowing from their So, over the years and around day because it was established by a priesthood covenants as they are to the globe, a full understanding of prophet who acted with priesthood men who bear the priesthood.” And he the divinely interdependent and yet authority to give women authority, encouraged every sister to “draw lib- differing contributions and respon- sacred responsibilities, and official erally upon the Savior’s power to help sibilities of women and men largely positions within the structure of the your family and others you love.”10 disappeared. Females in many soci- Church, not apart from it.7 So what does that mean for you eties became subservient to males From the Prophet Joseph Smith’s and me? How does understanding rather than side-by-side partners, their day to ours, the ongoing restoration of priesthood authority and power activities limited to a narrow scope. all things has brought enlightenment change our lives? One of the keys Spiritual progress slowed to a trickle on the necessity of the authority and is to understand that when women during those dark times; indeed, little power of the priesthood in helping and men work together, we accom- spiritual light could penetrate minds both men and women accomplish plish a great deal more than we do and hearts steeped in traditions of their divinely appointed responsibil- working separately.11 Our roles are dominance. ities. Recently we have been taught complementary rather than com- And then the light of the restored that women who are set apart under petitive. Although women are not gospel shone “above the brightness of the sun”3 when God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith early in the spring of 1820 in that hallowed woodland in upstate New York. That event began a modern outpouring of revelation from heaven. One of the first ele- ments of Christ’s original Church to be restored was the authority of the priesthood of God. As the Restoration continued to unfold, men and women began to realize anew the importance and potential of working as partners, authorized and directed in this sacred labor by Him. In 1842, when the women of the fledgling Church wanted to form an official group to help in the work, President Joseph Smith felt inspired to Syracuse, Utah, USA MAY 2020 61 ordained to a priesthood office, as innumerable ways. In [Church] tandem bicycle in races short and noted previously women are blessed callings, temple ordinances, family long. To successfully compete on with priesthood power as they keep relationships, and quiet, individual that vehicle, the two riders must be their covenants, and they operate with ministry, Latter-day Saint women and in harmony. They have to lean in the priesthood authority when they are men go forward with priesthood same direction at the right time. One set apart to a calling. power and authority. This interdepen- cannot dominate the other, but they On a lovely August day, I was dence of men and women in accom- must communicate clearly and each privileged to sit down with President plishing God’s work through His do his or her part. The captain, in Russell M. Nelson in the reconstructed power is central to the gospel of Jesus front, has control over when to brake home of Joseph and Emma Smith in Christ restored through the Prophet and when to stand. The stoker, in Harmony, Pennsylvania, near where Joseph Smith.”12 the back, needs to pay attention to the Aaronic Priesthood was restored Unity is essential to the divine what is going on and be ready to give in these latter days. In our conversa- work we are privileged and called extra power if they lag behind a little tion, President Nelson talked about to do, but it doesn’t just happen. It or to ease up if they get too close to the important role women played in takes effort and time to really counsel other cyclists. They must support one the Restoration. together—to listen to one another, another to make progress and achieve President Nelson: “One of the understand others’ viewpoints, and their goal. most important aspects that I am share experiences—but the process Alison explained: “For the first reminded of when I come to this results in more inspired decisions. little while, the person in the captain restoration of the priesthood site is the Whether at home or in our Church position would say ‘Stand’ when we important role that women played in responsibilities, the most effective needed to stand and ‘Braking’ when the Restoration. way to fulfill our divine potential is we needed to stop pedaling. After a “When Joseph first started to trans- to work together, blessed by the while, the person who was the stoker late the Book of Mormon, who did power and authority of the priest- learned to tell when the captain was the writing? Well, he did a little, but hood in our differing yet comple- about to stand or brake, and no words not much.
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