Chapter 6 - Visit Each House with Ordinances

Key Responsibilities:
- Baptizes individuals.
- Administers the sacrament during worship services.
- Visits the homes of church members.
- Exhorts members to engage in vocal and secret prayer and fulfill family duties.
- Ordains other priests, teachers, and deacons.
- Takes leadership roles in meetings when no elder is present, providing warnings, teachings, and encouragements for members to come unto Christ.

Definition of Priest:
- Generally refers to individuals performing the rites, referred to as ordinances, related to a religion.
- In the restored church context, priesthood is seen broadly as the authority to act in God’s name across all church governance aspects.
- The priest's office specifically includes administering ordinances such as baptism and sacrament blessings.
Role of Teachers and Deacons:
- Can teach and visit members, but only priests are authorized to perform ordinances.

Historical Context:
- Although women may relate to priesthood power similar to deacons or teachers, the role of a priest, which includes sacred ordinances, requires priestly authority.
Potential Involvement:
- Women can participate in priesthood power by understanding historical roles and envisioning how they might be involved in the priesthood, despite not holding the title of priest.

Old Testament Context:
- Under the law of Moses, only those descended from Aaron served as priests performing temple rites.
- Today, the primary ordinance performed by priests is baptism for the dead.
Transition of Meaning:
- The term 'priest' held different implications in the New Testament due to the early Christian church's separation from the Jewish temple practices.
Jesus Christ's Role:
- The epistle to the Hebrews refers to Jesus Christ as the great high priest, who provided priesthood authority to his apostles, that continues in various forms today.

End of Animal Sacrifice:
- Jesus’ sacrifice replaces the need for animal sacrifices and institutes new ordinances, such as baptism and partaking of bread and wine.
Exactitude in Ordinances:
- Ordinances must be performed with precision, using prescribed forms, wording, and under priesthood oversight, reflecting God’s covenant with His people.

Ordinance Definition:
- Ordinances manifest God's covenant to reclaim His people, distinguishing sacred temple roles from casual practice.
Warnings Against Alteration:
- Isaiah warned of consequences for those who alter ordinances or break everlasting covenants, emphasizing adherence and recognition of God and His servants.
Call to Unity in Worship:
- Individuals striving to hear the voice of God and uphold covenants avoid straying away from the meanings of ordinances.

Inclusivity in Priesthood Work:
- Today, both women and men serve in officiating temple ordinances, asserting their participation in priesthood work.
Endowment Meaning:
- This gift is described as power for all who enter the Lord's house, indicating shared responsibility in temple ordinances.
Temple Ordinance Workers:
- These workers are set apart with priesthood authority, yet both patrons and workers bring family names to the temple.

Historical Significance:
- In ancient times, only direct descendants of Aaron were eligible for priesthood; however, women and men today are endowed with similar priestly identities and authority within temples.
Ceremonial Vesting:
- Ancient priests underwent consecration including washing, dressing, and anointing, paralleling the modern practices of temple patrons being vested with priesthood roles.

Family History Work:
- Engaging in family history and proxy ordinances for the dead helps fulfill priesthood duties of order and service in visiting each family.
- Youth encouraged to learn about their ancestors and participate in church-sponsored activities, receiving blessings through family history work.
Research Project Findings:
- Studies demonstrate that children who know their family stories exhibit greater resilience, emotional stability, and family functioning, underscoring the value of family history.

Connecting with Ancestors:
- Personal stories illustrate the spiritual connection and urgency felt when engaging with genealogy.
Prayer and Guidance:
- Numerous instances showcase how spiritual confirmations can guide individuals in their family history endeavors, signaling the importance of these ordinances to ancestor’s spirits.

Angelic Presence in Trials:
- Accounts of individuals in dire situations often mention feeling the presence of comforting angels, whether familial spirits or personal messengers.
Joseph Smith’s Teachings:
- Joseph Smith affirmed that living faithfully can lead to the companionship of angels and divine guidance.

Blended Work of Mortal and Immortal:
- Both immortal and mortal beings play roles in angelic workings, enriching the lives of church members through service and guidance.
Sacred Nature of Ordinances:
- The essential duties and roles of priests doing temple ordinances remain grounded in the understanding that these acts point believers to Jesus Christ’s redemptive power.

Spiritual Engagement:
- Performance of ordinances must be from the heart to connect with heaven meaningfully without reducing them to mere rituals or routine tasks.

Unified Efforts Among Members:
- Both women and men are engaged in preparing and officiating sacred ordinances, highlighting their equal importance in priesthood work.
Encouragement to Seek Spiritual Growth:
- Individuals should strive for a heartfelt engagement with temple practices to deepen connections with God and their ancestors.