The priesthood was restored
by Kimberly Roeder / ga04182007

A living prophet holds all of the keys and authority of the priesthood
and leads the Church under the direction of Jesus Christ.
 

Introduction:  Talk about losing things (car keys) and how it is sometimes hard to function without them. It makes us frustrated and feel a little lost ourselves.

Teaching:  Some important keys were lost a long time ago. The Apostle Paul taught that that there would be a falling away. With this falling away, priesthood keys were lost. When these keys were lost so was baptism by immersion; receiving the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands; continuous revelation; and temple work for the living and the dead.

Lost somewhere in this room are two priesthood keys that we need help to find. (Hide the keys before Sharing Time and have the children sing Follow the Prophet, CS 110-11, while a child looks for the keys)

Just like we found these keys, the keys of the priesthood were restored to the prophet Joseph Smith. (Display the picture of John the Baptist with Joseph Smith over the Aaronic Key. Display the picture of Peter, James, and John with Joseph Smith over the Melchizedek Key.) Read Joseph Smith-History 1:68-72 about the restoration of the keys of the priesthood.

The Prophet Joseph Smith was given all of the keys of the priesthood. But when he was killed the keys of the priesthood were not lost. They were given to the next prophet, Brigham Young. And all of the latter-day prophets form a chain from which the keys and priesthood authority have been passed (Sing Latter-day Prophets, CS 134).

Now our living prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, holds all of the keys and authority of the priesthood and leads this church under the direction of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion and Testimony: Testify of the restored priesthood and the blessings it brings us. Testify of a living prophet who holds these keys and authority of the priesthood here on earth. He acts under the direction of Jesus Christ and blesses us with his leadership. If we follow the prophet we will be blessed.