Priesthood Lockout

NBA opening week! Ahhh! Professional hoops back again Time for the holiday season! The excitement has been building for big marquee match-ups like Kobe vs. Lebron, Celtics vs. Heat, and to top it all off the debut of the college basketball player of the year, Jimmer Fredette! So quick turn on your TV, grab a soda, and maybe even your thundersticks because it's time for some NBA Basketball!.....

      (chirp).....(chirp)......(chirp)....oh wait.....the nba is in a lockout. 

Due to recent labor desputes between players, owners, and league officials the NBA season has been halted, stopped, and put on hold until the parties can come to an agreement over  revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap. The owners and league have their agenda and will let the players resume play once the players can agree to the terms of a contract.

   Sometimes a similar lockout occurs. God has allowed men to be players in helping him in his eternal work. Using his authority and priesthood power through them, here on the earth, these players are able to baptize, confir the Holy Ghost, administer the sacrement, give blessings of healing to the sick, and perform other ordinances in the temple. 

     In the Doctrine and Covenants section 121 we read these words from God about this Priesthood. He states"That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

   That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."

   So we see that if a holder of the Priesthood of God tries to use it in any other way then God would have him use it or if he tries to use it without being worthy just like the NBA that players priesthood is put into a lockout. Well then how does one receive that Priesthood authority again in his life? Through repentance hopefully he will bring his life back into harmony with the terms of his contract with God to hold and use that Priesthood again. Just like hopefully the NBA players can come to an agreement and take the court sooner then later.   

    

         To read more about the Priesthood of God visit Elder Wahl's blog The Ice Cream Truck and The Squad Car: Authority