"One of the things I most enjoy in writing fiction, particularly historical fiction, the creation of characters who become like actual people to me," writes beloved author Gerald Lund in the preface of his new book, "Only the Brave". "...I have come to learn that the characters should--perhaps even must--take on lives of their own if they are to be worth caring about."

The concept of priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is unique and perhaps confusing for those who are unfamiliar with it. Even many members of the Church who accept, love, and appreciate the priesthood may find themselves “fuzzy” on the doctrine and principles. Perhaps that is because the term priesthood is used in at least two ways. First, priesthood is the term used to describe the total power and authority of God. Second, priesthood is also the term used to describe the power and authority that God gives to ordained priesthood holders on earth to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children. 1 This second usage is the widely accepted definition of the priesthood. For example, Preach My Gospel defines priesthood as the authority and power that God gives to man to act in the name of Jesus Christ in all things for the salvation of mankind. 2 Thus, the same word, priesthood, refers both to God’s total power and authority and to that portion of His power and authority that He delegates to man on earth.

How can we better understand the connection women have with priesthood power and help them “to step forward,” to “take [their] rightful and needful place in [their] home, in [their] community, and in the kingdom of God—more than [they] ever have before”?1 First, we can humbly seek to understand truths associated with the priesthood, especially the most recent teachings of Church leaders. Second, we can seek to understand why some women don’t fully realize their access to God’s priesthood power. Third, we can be aware of how we can help women more fully participate in the work God accomplishes through His priesthood power.

We all know from Sunday School that the Aaronic Priesthood was restored on May 15, 1829, but what about the Melchizedek Priesthood? Why don't we know more details surrounding that even?

Get the full lesson "The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood" from the Teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith at LDS.org.

In October 2019 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson invited Latter-day Saint women to study section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and “discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you” about how to access God's priesthood power. For those who accepted that invitation, President Nelson gave the following promise:

Instructions for priesthood blessings and ordinances are now available on the Gospel Library app.

Speaking on the importance of every priesthood holder being able to trace his own line of authority, President George Q. Cannon, First Counselor in the First Presidency to John Taylor, said, “I believe the time will come when it will be necessary for every man to trace the line in which he has received the Priesthood that he exercises. It is therefore of great importance in our Church that records should be kept and that every man should know whence he derives his authority—from what source, through what channel he has received the Holy Priesthood and by what right he exercises that authority and administers the ordinances thereof. I believe this is of extreme importance and that where there are doubts as to a man’s legitimately exercising that authority, that doubt should be removed” (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of George Q. Cannon, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist [1957], 224).

The general presidents of the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently participated in a conversation covering a number of topics relating to women in the Church. In the video, Sister Linda K. Burton, Sister Elaine S. Dalton and Sister Rosemary M. Wixom provide insights into their roles in Church leadership, describe the power of the priesthood in people’s lives and provide answers to questions of interest.

I remember the first time someone in my family received the Priesthood. I was 14 and my younger brother was ordained a Deacon. About the same time two years later, when he became a Teacher, I began to take notice of a unique difference in the “feel” of our home environment. My father was Catholic and my Mother had been inactive for many years until we kids came along. There had definitely been a “void” I didn’t know existed. For years though, the “Priesthood” elicited an entanglement of ideas growing up while attending all the meetings in our LDS world and an occasional Catholic Mass.