I am going to take a wild guess that not many women have read Pres. Eyring’s Priesthood address from conference (May 2008). It is called Faith and the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. Let me quote from his talk, with just a few side notes from me.
“Through keeping the covenants…and renewing them in the temple ceremonies, we are promised by an oath made by our Heavenly Father, Elohim, that we will gain the fullness of His glory and live as he lives.” The word “oath” probably throws us women, but it means the same as covenant, which means we have made oaths as well (think baptism and temple covenants), as we receive the blessings of the Priesthood through our faith.
He describes some of the blessings we receive. “…the very fact that you have been offered the oath and covenant is evidence that God has chosen you, knowing your power and capacity.” Women have to get used to the idea that we have power and capacity. We just have to recognize it.
“…as you will try to keep your covenants, the Savior has promised His personal help. ‘There I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.’ (D&C 84:88) It takes faith to go to God with our deepest, most private worries. But who knows more than anyone else our pain?
“You are also promised that you will be given the power to bear testimony and that in the process you will be cleansed and made fit for the eternal life which you have been promised:” “For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you.” (D&C 84:61) So, if we bear a sincere testimony, God will bless us by forgiving our sins? Are you kidding? I would do anything to give away my sins! And that’s all He asks? If He were really willing to take away my sins, my already existing testimony would become fervent and profound and so full of gratitude.
By honoring our oath and covenant with the Lord, Pres. Eyring mentions one more thing we can do. “You can study the word of God, not for yourself alone but to be an emissary of the Lord Jesus Christ to all the world. When you increase your power to teach the gospel, you are qualifying to help Heavenly Father in gathering His children.” Listen carefully here. “As you do that, another blessing will come. Should the need ever come in family life in this world, or in the world to come, to draw back lost sheep, you will have received more power than you may now recognize.” Does that mean what I think it means? By honoring our covenants, bearing testimony to all who will hear, and studying the scriptures well enough to share it with others, God promises to give us enough power to save our loved ones. That’s big. That’s huge.
I think a lot of us are doing those things to a certain extent, but if we don’t realize our part in this oath and covenant, and if we aren’t doing these things with conviction and purpose, and without the knowledge of what blessings are in store, what’s the point? Men have the responsibility of holding and administering the Priesthood with unquestioned righteousness. This is a serious oath they are committed to, but as acknowledged daughters of God, we have made covenants of great importance as well. Together we have the responsibility to receive the Priesthood blessings into our lives, our homes and our families. And did you notice that what little God actually asks of any of us is matched with an astounding blessing of love and mercy?
Read the final paragraph of this talk. He testifies all about understanding that the Priesthood is the oath and covenant God has given us to return to Him, carried out through the hands of the men, but given to all mankind freely.
As a side note: I’m not sure why these important talks are given just to the men. I am forced to conclude that men need this understanding more. Their duty and responsibility is the Priesthood and they are held accountable. Women don’t have that level of accountability, yet we must stand valiant and faithful along with our men, so always, always, always remember: “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” (1 Cor 11:11)