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Life is God’s domain. The power of God is the power of Life. It is also the priesthood. The priesthood has the power to command and create living things. How do you think animals got on the ark? How do you think flowers bloom every spring? How do you think creatures have instincts? How do you think it is possible that we were created to be children of our Heavenly Father? It is the priesthood, the power of God.

I do believe the hymns teach true doctrine (see “Identifying Doctrine“). Here’s a bit of “O My Father” (#292, “Hymns”):

I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.

When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you,
In your royal courts on high?

So who bears the life-giving power, it being a power of God? It is certainly not the man. The man cannot bear children. It is the woman – the mother (and consider Mary, the mother of Christ). While man cannot be without the woman, nor the woman without the man, the woman bears the life-giving power, a power of God, which is of the priesthood. While women do not bear the administrative authority of the priesthood, they have an equal role in carrying out the acts of God. Bearing and raising children is an inherent and sacred attribute of what I am sure is the expanse and fullness of the priesthood. So do not think that your role with the priesthood is merely a passerby, one who sits idly back and admires its use and power. In due time and through worthy living you, too, will be exercising a power of God as you create a family, eternally sealed to your husband, and you and him can become like God.

You have more to do with the priesthood than you might think.

Living our life to be like God means to fulfill all the ordinances and make all the covenants required to gain eternal life. These are:

• Baptism
• Confirmation (receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost)
• Obtaining the priesthood (men)
• Temple endowment
• Celestial marriage (sealing)

After worthily completing these, living righteously to the Celestial standard, and enduring to the end, you are guaranteed eternal life in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom, God’s residence. It is promised in Doctrine & Covenants, and then “all that [your] Father has shall be given unto [you].”

Now as you continue to recite the Young Women’s Theme, and consider the attributes mentioned there, also consider your whole and literal role pertaining to the Kingdom of God, the building of Zion, and not only the support of the priesthood in your life, but also the sealing power which will liken both you and your husband to the promises and blessings of the priesthood as you exercise God’s power, delegated to mankind, to raise a family, just as he did. You are chosen daughters of God, a heavenly father who loves you just as and probably more than you will someday love your children. Always strive to live up to this calling. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

This really is a gorgeous hymn. I love to ponder the meaning when I’m outdoors.

Words by Carl Boberg.

“O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: ‘My God, how great Thou art!’

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!”