"Our Bishop's Always There"

Hello Sisters!

Hope you had a relaxing Sunday.  

Today, I have been feeling grateful for our good bishop.

What a remarkable man he is.  He’s a pretty humble guy, and kind of a character. :)  He doesn’t claim to be perfect, but he has a true desire to help us along our path to become more like our Savior.  I testify that at his core is a genuine love and concern for every member of his ward.  Every time I speak with him, I feel a confirmation of his sincere desire to strengthen our ward family.  He is a good shepherd over his little flock.  I am grateful he is at the helm.  Bishop Blaylock is a great blessing in my life, and I just want to encourage any sisters who might be struggling with sin, addiction, or pain to go to him.  I testify he holds to keys and the mantle of his calling.  I would also encourage all of us to express appreciation more often for the time and energy he puts into his calling.

Along with those thoughts on our good bishop, I felt it was appropriate to ask him what message he would like to share with the amazing sisters of our ward.  This is what Bishop Blaylock had to say:

“I would like all sisters to realize the power that they have in the church and the priesthood. Families cannot be exalted without a worthy husband and wife working as equals in a family. Women are essential in God's eternal plan.”

He wants us to know that all God’s children have access to priesthood blessings.  He shared a beautiful quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard that supports that thought:

"When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power. While the authority of the priesthood is directed through priesthood keys, and priesthood keys are held only by worthy men, access to the power and blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children."

“In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. … In the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife.”

Isn’t that an enlightening idea?!  What power and potential we have.  What a great bishop to remind us of that.

Thank you for all you do!  I encourage you to visit and check up on your Visiting Teaching sisters.  I need to know how they are doing.  I’m counting on you.  We love and appreciate you so much!  (Special thanks to you sweet sisters who took an extra name or two to visit today.  I feel so grateful!) Have a marvelous week, and a very special Memorial Day tomorrow.

Love,

Lydia