Looking Forward to the Son | Article of Faith 5
Written by Christina Judd
“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”
Article of Faith #5
“Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might enter into the rest of the Lord (Alma 13:16).”
The declaration in the fifth article of faith makes it clear that as members of Christ’s church “We believe that a man must be called of God … to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”
The question that remains is, How do they need to be called, and is answered this way: they must be called (1)by prophecy; (2)by the laying on of hands; and (3)by someone who has authority from Jesus Christ to do so.
This weekend we get to listen to those who have been called of God by prophecy, by revelation, and have been set apart, with hands laid on their head.
Prophets are on the earth so we have access to authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ. Prophets are a gift and privilege because we can perform priesthood ordinances. When we participate in ordinances, “the power of godliness is manifest (Doc and Cov 84:20)” and we are given increased priesthood power.
This matters because one day, like Joseph Smith and others, “the veil [can be] taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding … opened (Doc and Cov 110:1)” and, like the Nephites, “whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you (3 Nephi 27:28)” and, like Enoch, “he led the people of God, and their enemies cam to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out to their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness, and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him (Moses 7:13).” I give thanks for prophets on the earth who point us to Jesus Christ and priesthood ordinances that bind us to Him. It is the Savior who fills us with power (by the “power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:5),” who allows us to witness and perform miracles, and who makes us like Him—like our Heavenly Parents—full of “all power … in heaven and in earth (Matt 28:18), ready to welcome Him when he comes again and to “enter into the rest of the Lord (Alma 38:16).”
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