But priesthood power and priesthood authority function differently in the Church than they do in the family. “The power of directing these labors constitutes the Many in scene one held those keys, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Elias, and Elijah.Scene two pertains to keys of the priesthood during the mortal ministry of the Lord. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity” (President Brigham Young added that the priesthood is “the law by which the worlds are, were, and will continue for ever and ever” (Priesthood is the authority of God delegated to man to minister for the salvation of men. The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the rights to administer all spiritual blessings, D&C 107:8–18. The blessings of the priesthood—such as the fulness of the gospel and ordinances like baptism, confirmation and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, the temple endowment, and eternal marriage—are available to men and women alike.The priesthood we speak of here is the Melchizedek Priesthood, restored at the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel.

Many, if not most, of us carry keys in our pockets at this very moment.But the keys about which I shall speak are far more important. After centuries of apostasy, keys of the priesthood have again been restored. Following the dedication of the first temple of this dispensation in Kirtland, Ohio, three prophets—Moses, Elias, and Elijah—restored “the keys of this dispensation,” including keys pertaining to the gathering of Israel … Some can lock and unlock in heaven as well as on earth. The Savior warned of such “false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (When we think of the fruits of the gospel and the restored Church of Jesus Christ, we rejoice in how the Church, in the lifetimes of its living members, has expanded from local congregations in the Intermountain West to where a majority of its more than 16 million members reside in nations other than the United States. The keys of the kingdom belong always to the First Presidency, D&C 81:2. Once those holding proper authority exercised those keys by granting me a license and permission, then I could perform operations. He was told that he was among rulers chosen—even before he was born (see We know that Adam received priesthood authority before the world was formed (see Joseph Smith, The potential of the priesthood is so vast that our comprehension of it is a challenge. In return, I was obligated to obey the law, to be loyal, and to understand and not abuse the power of a surgeon’s knife. Fathers who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood should exercise their authority “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned” (In these conference meetings, as we seek brief shelter from our mortal concerns with a devastating pandemic, we have been taught great principles of eternity. All of this is according to the principles the Lord has established. Your stake president, quorum president, and bishop hold keys of presidency. Following the dedication of the first temple of this dispensation in Kirtland, Ohio, three prophets—Moses, Elias, and Elijah—restored “the keys of this dispensation,” including keys pertaining to the gathering of Israel and the work of the temples of the Lord (see The most familiar example of the function of keys is in the performance of priesthood ordinances. It also holds “the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church” .

The power of the priesthood exists both in the Church and in the family organization. As had been done for others before me, all the keys of the priesthood were conferred. Service of any type requires preparation.

As it is with each member of the Quorum of the Twelve, some keys are not used until called upon by the Lord, or as directed by his senior Apostle.I feel the weight of responsibility and the burden of timeless trust. Moses, Elias, and Elijah gave Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery priesthood keys, D&C 110:11–16. It “holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church” . In doing so, she exercises the power of the priesthood for the benefit of the children over whom she presides in her position of leadership in the family.If fathers would magnify their priesthood in their own family, it would further the mission of the Church as much as anything else they might do. By families I mean a priesthood-holding man and a woman who are married and their children. With that growth, we have felt increases in the Church’s capacity to assist its members. He has no need to have the direction or approval of one holding priesthood keys in order to perform his various family functions. For example, the holders of the various offices of the Aaronic Priesthood officiate in the ordinance of the sacrament under the keys and direction of the bishop, who holds the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. If I give keys to you, For me as the giver, I have a duty toward your success. In your mind, let them represent keys to something of value in your life—a tractor, an implement, or a powerful instrument. He used the example of our eye, through which we take light into our bodies. They may be called from the local priest’s quorum (Aaronic) or Melchizedek Priesthood quorum, as the main duty of these Evangelists is to travel to congregations within their jurisdiction preach, exhort, and expand upon the scriptures.

I speak of keys of the priesthood.You boys hold what is sometimes referred to as the preparatory priesthood. That long preparation had consumed many years, yet it carried no legal permission. Shortly thereafter they received the Melchizedek Priesthood under the hands of Peter, James, and John (see D&C 27:11–12).