In Doctrine and Covenants 84:20, the Savior revealed that “in the ordinances [of the priesthood], the power of godliness is manifest.” This priesthood power is available to all members of the Church who make and keep baptismal and temple covenants. In Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44, the Savior taught an oath and covenant that govern the use of His priesthood power. This lesson can help students deepen their understanding of the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
Possible Learning Activities
Heavenly Father blesses covenant-keepers with His power
You might begin class by drawing a path on the board that represents the covenant path. You could label the start of the path “birth” and the end “eternal life with Heavenly Father.” Invite students to come to the board and label covenants we make along the path through ordinances such as baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination for men, endowment, and sealing.
If students need help understanding that covenants are two-way promises with God, consider discussing questions such as the following before sharing the statement below from President Russell M. Nelson:
What does Heavenly Father promise us when we strive to obey this covenant?
Study the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson, looking for a blessing Heavenly Father gives to those who make and keep covenants with Him.
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President Russell M. Nelson
Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth!
The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. (Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 96)
Why are the covenant blessings that President Nelson described needed along our path back to Heavenly Father?
The oath and covenant of the priesthood
In Doctrine and Covenants 84, Jesus Christ gave “a revelation on the priesthood” to Joseph Smith (see section heading). As part of this revelation, He described the “oath and covenant” (verses 39–40) of the priesthood. (An oath is a solemn promise.)
In your study journal, write “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood” at the top of a page. Make two columns under this heading. Label one column “Heavenly Father’s promises” and the other “Our promises.”
Students could complete the study activity below individually. They could then share in small groups what they found.
Alternatively, you could place students in pairs, with one partner looking for Heavenly Father’s promises and the other looking for our promises. They could then share with each other and record what they discuss in their study journal.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44. Consider marking in one way the promises Heavenly Father invites us to make and marking differently the blessing He offers to those who keep their covenants. Write what you find in the corresponding columns in your study journal.
This would be a great time to have students practice identifying principles. They could identify a variety of principles. You could have them identify principles using statements that begin with what we promise to do and end with what God promises to do. For example, students might find the following principles:
If we magnify our callings and responsibilities in the Church, God will sanctify us by His Spirit and renew our bodies.
If we faithfully obtain the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and receive God’s chosen servants, Heavenly Father will bless us with all He has.
Give students time to prayerfully learn about the promises they are the most interested in understanding better. Students could work in small groups with other students who chose to study the same promises, or they could study individually.
The handout provides study resources that could help students better understand some of the promises in the oath and covenant of the priesthood. You could provide students with this handout if desired.
If students are interested in studying a phrase not included on the handout, invite them to learn all they can by researching their chosen topic or topics with resources such as these:
Deepen Your Understanding of the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
Sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of the body (see verse 33)
In speaking of Heavenly Father’s promise, President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency explained:
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President Henry B. Eyring
I have seen that promise fulfilled in my own life and in the lives of others. A friend of mine served as a mission president. He told me that at the end of every day while he was serving, he could barely make it upstairs to bed at night wondering if he would have the strength to face another day. Then in the morning, he would find his strength and his courage restored. You have seen it in the lives of aged prophets who seemed to be renewed each time they stood to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. That is a promise for those who go forward in faith in their priesthood service. (Henry B. Eyring, “Faith and the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 62)
Be faithful in obtaining the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods (see verse 33)
To be faithful in “obtaining these two priesthoods” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:33) involves obtaining the power and blessings that come from receiving the ordinances of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and faithfully keeping the associated covenants. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that a person obtains the fulness of the priesthood “by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 419).
For men, this also includes having the priesthood conferred upon them and being ordained to priesthood offices.
Opportunities to receive callings and participate in the Lord’s work of salvation
President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles taught:
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President M. Russell Ballard
As we work to magnify our callings, we should seek the inspiration of the Spirit to solve problems in ways that will best help the people we serve. We have handbooks of instruction, and their guidelines should be followed. But within that framework are substantial opportunities to think, to be creative, and to make use of individual talents. The instruction to magnify our callings is not a command to embellish and complicate them. To innovate does not necessarily mean to expand; very often it means to simplify. (M. Russell Ballard, “O Be Wise,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 19)
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles shared:
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Elder Ronald A. Rasband
To know that we have a Father in Heaven and that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son means we are looking farther down the covenant path than just where we are standing today. It means we appreciate we are heirs to all that the Father has; kingdoms without number are His realm and can be ours. The Savior has promised, “If thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father.” (Ronald A. Rasband, “The Divine Destiny of His Daughters” [BYU Women’s Conference, Apr. 30, 2021], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
After adequate time to study, invite students to share with a partner or small group what they learned. You might use prompts such as the following to help guide the discussion:
Why would this blessing be important to you today?
What does this blessing teach you about Heavenly Father?
Share an example (from the scriptures or your life) of someone you have seen demonstrate keeping the promise you selected.
To conclude class, you could share how you have been blessed by priesthood power as you have tried to faithfully keep the covenants you have made with Heavenly Father. Invite class members to look for opportunities to draw upon the priesthood power God has promised His covenant children.