Live Up to Your Privileges
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Recognize the Power of Priesthood Ordinances
President Freeman emphasizes the importance of understanding the power that priesthood ordinances can bring into our lives. She shares a personal experience of taking the sacrament in a hospital room and reflects on the covenant promises that unlock heavenly help.
Priesthood ordinances and covenant promises allow God to sanctify us and then work wonders in our lives.
Partaking of the sacrament would increase my companionship with the Spirit of the Lord, allowing me to draw upon the gift of God’s power.Key Points:
- Priesthood ordinances must be performed with authority from the Son of God.
- The combination of priesthood ordinances and keeping covenant promises allows us to draw upon God’s power.
- Reflect on a time when you felt the power of a priesthood ordinance in your life.
- Share a personal experience of how keeping a covenant has brought blessings.
- Consider how the sacrament has helped you feel closer to the Savior.
Understand Your Divine Identity and Role
The talk highlights the importance of understanding one's divine identity and role in God's plan. President Freeman discusses how Emma Smith was reminded of her place in the Lord's kingdom and her unique role in the Restoration.
First, the Lord reminded Emma of her place in His plan, including who she was and whose she was—a daughter in His kingdom.
Emma was given a sacred role to help prepare the Saints to worship.Key Points:
- Emma Smith was reminded of her divine identity as a daughter in God's kingdom.
- She was given a unique role and purpose, contributing significantly to the Restoration.
- Think about a time when you felt a strong sense of your identity as a child of God.
- Share how understanding your role in God's plan has influenced your decisions.
- Consider how you can fulfill your unique role in your community or family.
Embrace the Process of Inward Sanctification
President Freeman discusses the process of inward sanctification that prepares us for exaltation, using Emma Smith's experiences as an example of how priesthood ordinances and covenant keeping transform us.
The Lord outlined a process of inward sanctification that would prepare Emma for exaltation.
Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances, combined with the keeping of her covenant promises, would increase her companionship with the Spirit and with angels.Key Points:
- Inward sanctification is necessary for exaltation.
- Priesthood ordinances and covenant keeping increase our spiritual companionship and guidance.
- Reflect on how a specific ordinance has helped you feel sanctified.
- Share a personal story of overcoming a challenge through spiritual strength.
- Consider how you can better keep your covenants to invite more divine guidance.
Access God’s Power Through Covenant Keeping
The talk emphasizes that keeping covenants is crucial to accessing God's power in our lives. President Freeman shares insights from President Russell M. Nelson about the importance of covenant keeping as taught to Emma Smith.
We don’t just make covenant promises—we must keep them.
Accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of us to do.Key Points:
- Covenant keeping is essential to accessing divine power.
- Emma Smith's example shows how keeping covenants can transform our lives.
- Think of a time when keeping a covenant brought unexpected blessings.
- Share an experience where you felt strengthened by the power of God.
- Consider what steps you can take to improve your covenant keeping.
Live Up to Your Divine Privileges
President Freeman concludes by urging members to live up to their divine privileges, understanding the power of priesthood ordinances and covenant promises to transform and empower them.
Live up to your privileges.
Learn how priesthood ordinances and covenant promises will allow God’s power to flow into your life with greater efficacy.Key Points:
- Understanding and utilizing priesthood ordinances and covenant promises can empower us.
- We are encouraged to study and ponder the priesthood ordinances and covenants.
- Reflect on how you can better utilize your divine privileges.
- Share how understanding your privileges as a child of God has impacted your life.
- Consider ways you can help others recognize and live up to their divine privileges.
