The Purpose of Priesthood Ordinances

In the Church the word ordinances usually refers to rites and ceremonies that the Lord has given us for our salvation,
guidance, and comfort (see Bruce R. McConkie)

These ordinances are physical actions that symbolize spiritual experiences. By taking part in them we receive the
spiritual power we need to change our lives. Heavenly Father requires that the ordinances of the gospel be performed
by men who hold the proper priesthood authority. Only when an ordinance is performed by this authority will our
Father in Heaven approve it. There are two types of priesthood ordinances: those necessary for exaltation and those
performed for our comfort and guidance.

Ordinances Necessary for Exaltation: Baptism and Confirmation, The sacrament, Conferral of the Melchizedek
Priesthood (for men) The temple endowment; Temple marriage.

Ordinances for Comfort and Guidance: Naming and blessing of children, Administering to the sick Given of Patriarchal
blessings, Father’s blessings, Blessings of guidance and comfort, Dedication of graves.

FIRST- Being baptized is like beginning a new life. When we are baptized we are placed under the water. The scriptures
compare this to burying, or leaving behind, our old. When we come out of the water we are washed clean of sin. With
our past sins washed away, we receive greater spiritual power to change our lives and become more like Heavenly
Father.

“The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it, is of no use; they are necessarily
and inseparably connected. An individual must be born of water and the Spirit in order to get into the kingdom of God”
(Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith).

The ordinance of the sacrament reminds us of the promises we made when we were baptized. We renew our
baptismal covenant by partaking of the sacrament. As we partake of the bread and water, we remember our Savior’s
life and His sacrifice. We remember our promise to follow Him. When taken worthily, the sacrament is a source of
spiritual strength. It helps us develop greater power to keep the commandments. With sincere repentance it helps
cleanse us of the sins we commit after baptism.

When a boy progress as member of the church, He should receive the Priesthood. He is not the priesthood but the a
holder of a priesthood. “The Melchizedek Priesthood … is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan
of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven.”

President David O. McKay said to Pres. N. Eldon Tanner several times about our responsibility as a priesthood bearer,
“Whenever you go out amongst a group of our members, tell them, remind them, to remember who they are, and then
act accordingly. Tell them that they have an individual responsibility.” An individual responsibility is the ability to stand
up wherever you are and let the world know that you have a testimony of the gospel, and that you are determined to
live up to it, whether you are out with a girl at night or whether you are out with the boys on the campus, whether you
are out on a fishing trip, or wherever it may be, let those people know who you are and “act accordingly.” You’ll never
regret it. (EXPERIENCE DURING LUNCH IN SCHOOL.)

The priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless
the lives of others. Thomas S. Monson.

On his introductory remark of - Pres. Russel M. Nelson to the priesthood last general conference he said- I am very
grateful for each man who bears the holy priesthood. You are the hope of our Redeemer, who desires “that every man
might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.”2 He wants all of His ordained sons to represent
Him, to speak for Him, to act for Him, and to bless the lives of God’s children throughout the world, to the end “that
faith also might increase in [all] the earth.”
The Lord has told us, “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed,
in all diligence” (D&C 107:99). Priesthood holders should know how to perform priesthood ordinances and be worthy
to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost in performing them.

Our ability to bless the lives of others through priesthood ordinances is determined by our faithfulness and
obedience. Joseph Fielding Smith stated, “I am sure … that we would see more manifestations of the Spirit of God, for
instance in the healing of the sick, if we would live just a little nearer to these fundamental truths [of exercising faith
in God by performing our duties as members of the Church]”

Endowment in the Temple - Having been initiated into the higher order, the participants may now receive greater
blessings of power through the ordinance generally known as the endowment.

The endowment is a sacred ordinance performed only in the temple. President Brigham Young said, “Your endowment
is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this
life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled
to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation”

John K. Edmunds, who at that time was president of the Salt Lake Temple, wrote: "To receive the endowment is to
receive the riches of eternity--the knowledge, the power, the keys to unlock the door to the treasures of heaven. To
receive the endowment is to receive a course of instruction in the history of man from his preexistence to his exaltation
in the celestial kingdom. To receive the endowment is to enter into covenants of righteousness with God and to receive
from him the keys, powers, and ordinances required for celestial exaltation which is eternal life."

The temple ordinances were designed to bring man and woman into a sacred relationship with God where they would
be authorized to use the sacred creative powers to bring forth children. This relationship is known as "the new and
everlasting covenant of marriage" (D&C 131:2). The marriage covenant is the final ordinance of a series of ordinances
designed to put God and His work and glory at the center of the life of the man and woman by covenant.

No man shall receive the fulness of eternity, of exaltation, alone; no woman shall receive that blessing alone; but man
and wife, when they receive the sealing power in the temple of the Lord, if they thereafter keep all the commandments,
shall pass on to exaltation, and shall continue and become like the Lord. And that is the destiny of men; that is what the
Lord desires for his children.

Entering into an ordinance is like signing up for a college class. Credit is not given immediately when one signs up for the
class. Signing up for the class only opens the way to receive credit. Credit is given only after the student fulfills all the
obligations of that class. The same is true with covenants. When one enters into covenants through ordinances, they do
not receive the eternal blessings immediately. They must live up to the promises they have made as part of the
covenants. Then when they have been proven worthy, they will receive the Lord's promised blessings.

Joseph Smith taught: "After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins
and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble
himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon
say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is
determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure . . ." (Teachings of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.150)
On the other hand, Ordinances for Comfort and Guidance: Naming and blessing of children, Administering to the sick
Given of Patriarchal blessings, Father’s blessings, Blessings of guidance and comfort, Dedication of graves.

Naming and blessing of Children-

Administering to the sick- Just as Jesus blessed the sick, faithful Melchizedek Priesthood holders have the power to bless
and heal the sick. Brethren who administer to the sick should seek to know and express the will of the Lord in the
blessing (see D&C 42:43–48).

Patriarchal Blessings

Patriarchal blessings are inspired blessings given to worthy Church members by ordained patriarchs. These blessings give
a person direction and counsel from the Lord. They also reveal the person’s lineage in the royal house of Israel. The
Church records and preserves patriarchal blessings given by ordained patriarchs. These blessings are personal and
sacred and should not be made public.

Father’s Blessings

A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood may give father’s blessings to his children. These blessings may be
especially helpful when a child goes to school, goes on a mission, gets married, enters military service, or faces special
challenges. A family may record a father’s blessing for family records, but it is not preserved in Church records.

Blessings of Guidance and Comfort

A blessing of guidance and comfort may be given by a husband, bishop, branch president, home teacher, or other
Melchizedek Priesthood holder. These blessings are similar to father’s blessings. They help individuals prepare for special
times or overcome problems that require special help from our Heavenly Father.

Dedications of Graves

The dedication of graves is performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder. The dedicatory prayer usually consecrates
the burial plot as the resting place of the deceased, prays that the place will be hallowed and protected until the
Resurrection (where appropriate), includes words of comfort for the family of the deceased, and includes other thoughts
as the Spirit directs.

CONCLUSION-

Heavenly Father has given priesthood ordinances to bless us. These ordinances are accompanied by great spiritual
power that helps us become more like Heavenly Father and prepare to return to Him. To be accepted by God, these
ordinances must be performed by the proper priesthood authority. President Lorenzo Snow said: “There is but one way
by which exaltation and glory can be secured. We have to be baptized for the remission of sins and have hands laid upon
us for the reception of the Holy Ghost. These and other ordinances are absolutely necessary for exaltation and glory”
(Millennial Star, 27 June 1895, 405). We should remember that the promised blessings associated with any ordinance
are realized only through righteous living.