In this episode of Strength to Become, Karen Papin dives into this month’s For the Strength of Youth lesson on becoming a covenant daughter — and covenant son — of God. This FSY lesson draws on the lives of Emma and Joseph Smith to show what it looks like to lead, teach, mentor, and draw on the power and authority of God even in the middle of real hardship.

Karen unpacks the “I am” statements that open this For the Strength of Youth lesson for both young women and young men, then walks through the background of Emma and Joseph’s marriage, the trials they endured — persecution, poverty, the loss of several children, and repeated upheaval — and how the Lord prepared each of them for what lay ahead.

From there, Karen teaches through Doctrine and Covenants section 25, verse by verse, unpacking what it means that Emma was called an “elect lady,” how the Lord promised to forgive her sins, ordain her to expound and exhort, and call her to compile a hymnbook for the Church. She connects this FSY lesson’s themes of meekness, humility, and trust in God’s timing to Proverbs 3:5–6, and shares a personal story of overcoming anxiety about public speaking through faith.

For the young men’s portion of the lesson, Karen turns to Joseph Smith’s history and Doctrine and Covenants section 20, exploring what it meant for Joseph to be called a “fellow servant” of John the Baptist and what that means for young men holding the priesthood today.

Whether you’re a parent, a youth leader, or working through this FSY lesson on your own, this episode offers discussion questions, doctrinal insight, and practical takeaways to help you and the youth in your life feel closer to the Savior.

Scriptures referenced: Doctrine and Covenants 25; Doctrine and Covenants 20:46–59; Joseph Smith—History 1:69; Proverbs 3:5–6

Call to action: For more on Emma Smith’s life and legacy, catch the companion episode on the Divine Worth Podcast, releasing Thursday, September 24th. Next week, Karen shares tips on leading small-group discussions with youth (no FSY lesson that week due to General Conference), and the following Sunday she’ll cover October’s introductory lesson, “Your Body Is Sacred.”*This podcast is not officially endorsed by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The thoughts, opinions, and interpretations shared are Karen's own.

Below are lesson plan outlines you can use for your lesson.

Strength to Become Podcast — Episode Transcript

Welcome to Strength to Become, the podcast where we are diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can become closer to the Savior, Jesus Christ, and have the strength to become who He sees in us. I am your host, Karen Papin, and I’m really excited to dive into this lesson today, because this is the whole reason why I started this podcast.

On my other podcast, the Divine Worth Podcast, I wanted to make the new season I’m currently doing more focused on women in the scriptures. Once a month I dive into a woman within the scriptures and how that relates to our divine worth. Then I found out that the For the Strength of Youth lessons once a month are going to be diving into a woman in the scriptures too. So I thought, well, I can follow along and do this lesson on my podcast — and then I felt impressed that I should actually start a new podcast for the For the Strength of Youth lessons, to discuss all of them, not just this one. That’s why I started the Strength to Become podcast, and I’m really excited to dive into this lesson.

Setting the Stage

One thing I love about this lesson is how it starts out — with an “I am” statement that reminds us of who we are. This lesson is on becoming a covenant daughter of God, and it starts out: “I am a beloved daughter of heaven, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.” That sounds a lot like the Young Women theme — beautiful truths that, if we truly embrace them, can help us overcome anything we’re going through in life.

It continues: “I lead, teach, and mentor others courageously by drawing on the power and authority of God and listening to the Spirit.” So as we dive into this lesson, that’s the focus — that we are people who can lead, teach, and mentor others, and that we have the ability to draw on the power and authority of God as we do so, being guided by the Spirit.

That’s what it says for the young women. The young men’s statement is a little different: “I am a beloved son of God, and He has a work for me to do. I will help others connect with God and Jesus Christ by worthily administering in the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood, including baptism and the sacrament.”

The young men are reminded that they are sons of God and that He has a work for them to do — something young men really need to know and understand. There’s a purpose for them, just as the young women are told they have a purpose to lead and to teach.

Two Lessons in One

This lesson gets a little tricky because there are actually two lessons this week — one for the young women, focused on Emma Smith and becoming a covenant daughter of God, and one for the young men, focused on Joseph Smith and becoming a covenant son of God. I’ll talk about some of what Joseph and Emma went through together, then cover the young women’s lesson, and then the young men’s.

Joseph and Emma’s Story

Joseph and Emma were people who went through a lot. We know Joseph Smith had an incredible vision — he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove and was told the true church wasn’t on the earth, and eventually was told to restore it. Several years after that first vision, he met Emma Hale. Her parents opposed the marriage — he was poor, and had this religious claim of having seen the Savior, while her parents were wealthy and skeptical. Emma married him anyway, showing real strength — she was willing to leave a life of wealth for the uncertainty of a life with Joseph Smith.

It was a very uncertain life. They were driven from place to place, sometimes prospering, sometimes barely scraping by. As you study their lives, you can see how the Lord prepared them for what He had in store. Emma being raised in wealth likely helped prepare her for her role as first lady of Nauvoo and the first Relief Society president — she knew how to interact in society and with grace because of how she was raised.

Together, Joseph and Emma lost several of their eleven children, sometimes because of mobs and persecution, sometimes simply because of the medical limitations of the time. They knew grief intimately, and they experienced it over and over. Joseph was also in and out of jail, and there were times Emma had to pack up the family and leave their home. They went through a lot of hardship.

Diving Into the Lesson

In the For the Strength of Youth magazine, there’s a great discussion question: What opportunities do you have to lead, teach, mentor, expound the scriptures, and encourage others? How has doing this brought you closer to the Savior?

What I love about this question is that it gets youth thinking about the impact they’re already having and are capable of having — in their friend groups, in their families, at school. They have real opportunities to lead, teach, mentor, and encourage others in each of these settings.

When I was a youth, I had opportunities to share the scriptures with others outside our faith, and in seminary we’d give spiritual thoughts and share quotes or scriptures we loved. I love that our church gives kids these kinds of opportunities — to bear testimony, to give lessons themselves, to take an active role in planning — because they are capable of leading, teaching, mentoring, expounding the scriptures, and encouraging others. There have been many times in my life when a youth speaker said exactly what I needed to hear, or my own kids taught me something I hadn’t thought of, or helped me realize I don’t have as much patience as I thought. We can learn from each other, and that’s true of youth as well.

As for how this has brought me closer to the Savior — as I teach, as I testify, as I share my experiences with others, I feel closer to the Lord. As a youth, I really struggled to open my mouth and speak; there were times I just couldn’t get the words out. It’s been a process to get to where I am now — doing a podcast, public speaking, sharing my testimony vocally. The Lord led me step by step. I remember the first time I truly believed the Lord would help me give a talk. I said a little prayer — “Heavenly Father, please help me to do this, help me get the words out” — and as I opened my mouth to speak, peace came over me and I was able to give my talk.

And I felt so close to the Lord. Throughout this whole journey — now with two podcasts, summits, public speaking, a mission served on Temple Square — this has happened again and again. When I open my mouth to share what’s on my heart, to share the truthfulness of the gospel, I feel the Spirit and I feel the Lord with me. In some ways, my anxiety has actually brought me closer to Him. As we put our faith and trust in the Lord, as we seek to become a covenant daughter of the Lord, He is there with us, and He will help us and guide us.

Doctrine and Covenants 25

Now let’s dive into Doctrine and Covenants section 25 and look at what the Lord reveals to Emma about being a covenant daughter of God.

Verse 1: “Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.”

The Lord tells Emma — and by extension, us — “You are my daughter.” He knows her by name, just as He knows us by name. All who receive His gospel are His sons and daughters in His kingdom.

Verse 2: “A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.”

As we walk in paths of virtue, seeking to follow His guidance, He will give us that inheritance.

Verse 3 is one I love: “Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.” How wonderful to hear that phrase — “thy sins are forgiven thee.” That’s a blessing we can all receive because of the Atonement, because of the Savior.

What does it mean to be an “elect lady”? Elect can mean chosen by God, and lady is a title of high respect and honor — one Emma was likely familiar with. So the Lord is saying: you are someone I have chosen, and someone worthy of respect and honor.

Verse 4: “Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.”

I can learn a lot from this verse. Sometimes I don’t have the answer to everything, or understand why certain things happen. But the Lord knows and understands, and it’s not always meant for us to know why something is happening right now. Trust in the Lord and His wisdom — He has a much greater view than we do, and in due time all things will be revealed.

Verse 7: “And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.” Emma is given the opportunity to teach, expound, and exhort.

Verse 8: “For he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.” As members of the church, we too receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide and lead us as the Lord calls us to serve — just as we’ve been talking about the priesthood power and authority given to us as we’re set apart for our callings.

Verse 10: “And verily I say unto thee, that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.” Counsel not to focus on the things of the world that don’t bring eternal happiness — seek first the kingdom of God, and all things shall be added unto us.

Emma is then called to compile a hymnbook. Verse 12: “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” These songs are prayers, and as people sing them, they will be blessed. Emma has a unique opportunity to do something that will help others receive blessings from the Lord.

Verse 13: “Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made. Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride. Let thy soul delight in thy husband, and the glory which shall come upon him. Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.”

In the midst of this calling, there’s counsel: be meek, be humble, watch out for pride, keep the commandments, and you’ll be blessed with a crown of righteousness.

God is calling Emma to a great work — to teach, expound, exhort, and compile hymns so others can receive strength and support. We too have callings the Lord is asking of us. As it says in Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Trust Him. Be humble. Be meek. Beware of pride. Acknowledge Him in all our ways, so that we too can be an “elect lady.”

As you’ve listened, I hope you recognize that you are of worth, and I hope you’ll think about how the Spirit has guided you in doing the work God has asked of you. As women in the church, the Lord is asking us to teach and strengthen those around us — and the same is true for the young men.

The Young Men’s Lesson: Joseph Smith

Doctrine and Covenants 20:46–59 says the priest’s duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and administer the sacrament. Teachers and deacons are to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and help all come unto Christ.

Joseph Smith had a great work to do — he restored the gospel to this earth. The For the Strength of Youth magazine asks: What does Joseph Smith teach us about living as a covenant son of God? Look at what he went through — persecution, false accusation, arrest, jail, beatings, the loss of children, being repeatedly taken from his family, and ultimately martyrdom. And all of this because he could not deny what he had seen. As it says in Joseph Smith—History, “I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it... I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me... I could not deny it, neither dared I do it.”

Joseph Smith—History, verse 69: “Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”

The question that follows in the magazine: How do you think Joseph Smith might have felt to hear John the Baptist call him a “fellow servant”? What does that mean to you, to be fellow servants of John the Baptist? A great question to consider — especially for young men, to help them understand that they too can be fellow servants with John the Baptist, who prepared the world for Christ and baptized the Savior. These young men now have the opportunity to teach and help bring others unto Christ, just as John the Baptist did, and when given priesthood authority, to baptize them as they come unto the Lord.

Wrapping Up

To close out this lesson, the article in the For the Strength of Youth magazine asks — for both young men and young women — As you study the FSY guide this month, what have you learned about the Savior and His priesthood keys and authority, and how does this help you accomplish His work? That really wraps up our entire month: recognizing that priesthood keys and priesthood authority help us move forward with the Lord in our lives, bring others unto Him, and teach, expound, exhort, and serve others.

What a great lesson this has been — diving into the examples of Emma Smith and Joseph Smith, the scriptures in Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith—History, and recognizing that we too are called to this work: to teach others, to lead them, to mentor them, and to share the scriptures with them.

Looking Ahead

Thank you so much for joining me as we’ve dived into this week’s For the Strength of Youth lesson for both the young women and the young men. Next week is General Conference, so there’s no FSY lesson — instead, I want to dive into tips for preparing, guiding, and teaching youth, especially for leading small-group discussions around the questions in these lessons.

If you’re interested in hearing more about Emma Smith’s life, and how we can see God’s love for us through her example and through Doctrine and Covenants section 25, I have a companion episode diving even deeper into Emma Smith over on my Divine Worth podcast — that comes out on Thursday, September 24th.

I’ll see you there, or next week for the lesson on teaching our youth to lead. The following Sunday after General Conference, we’ll focus on the week one lesson for October — the introduction lesson, “Your Body Is Sacred.”

This week on Strength to Become, with host, Karen Papin, we’re diving into the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) lesson for the week of September 20, 2026 — all about priesthood keys and the blessings they unlock in our lives.

In week one of this FSY lesson series, we looked at how we’re blessed by priesthood keys and authority. In week two, we explored blessings specific to the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. Now, in this September week 3 FSY lesson, we go deeper — exploring what delegated priesthood authority really means, what it looks like to represent God and act in His name, and the blessings the Lord unlocks for us through priesthood keys.

We’ll walk through the “For the Strength of Youth” magazine’s comparison of priesthood keys to the keys of a car, and what that teaches us about preparation and permission in receiving God’s blessings. Then we’ll dig into scripture together — Doctrine and Covenants sections 13, 27, 107, and 110 — tracing each heavenly messenger (John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John, Moses, Elias, and Elijah) and the specific priesthood keys each one restored to the earth.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

* For the Strength of Youth magazine, September 2026 issue (Week 3 lesson)

* Quote from Elder Gary E. Stevenson, For the Strength of Youth magazine

* Quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2005 General Conference (referenced via a May 2015 article)

* Doctrine and Covenants 13; 27:12–13; 107:8, 18–19; 110:11–16

* Gospel Topics entry on the Abrahamic covenant

Next week, we’ll continue this FSY lesson series with a discussion on becoming a covenant daughter or son of God.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to have you follow along with more reflections and teaching over on my Substack, and be sure to check out the Divine Worth Podcast for more on faith, purpose, and becoming who God sees in you.

If you'd like to hear more from Karen, check out the Divine Worth Podcast → https://karenpapin.substack.com/listen/divine-worth-podcast

Karen Papin’s substack: Beloved & Becoming: karenpapin.substack.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is not produced, endorsed, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All views, opinions, and interpretations shared are my own.

Transcript:

Welcome to Strength to Become, the podcast where we are diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can become closer to the Savior Jesus Christ and have the strength to become who He sees in us.

This week we are learning more about priesthood keys. This is September 2026, and we are on week three in the lessons. The first week we did a little overview of the things we’ve been learning this month — how we are blessed by priesthood keys and authority. The second week we really dived into blessings specific to the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood, and how much we are blessed by those. And this week we are learning more about the priesthood keys, which actually deepens the blessings that we receive as well.

The questions brought up in the lesson can be found in the For the Strength of Youth magazine, September 2026 — week three’s lesson. Within that, there are several different questions you can discuss, and then an activity where you can dive into the scriptures and learn even more together.

Discussion Questions

What is delegated priesthood authority?

Great question to really help us understand that we are given delegated priesthood authority when we are set apart for a calling or we receive an assignment under someone who has those priesthood keys within that assignment.

Discuss what it means to represent God and act in His name.

I love that, because what if — when we are serving in our callings — we came from this place of “I am representing God, and I am acting in His name”? Before we go and do, we become centered in why we are doing these things, in this idea that we are representing God. So I think that is a great question to really discuss: what does that mean to you, and what does it mean to act in His name?

That’s something we’re already striving to do when we are baptized — we take upon us Christ’s name — and when we take of the sacrament, we renew that promise that we are taking upon Him His name. This question is applicable to all of us.

I know as a missionary, taking upon His name felt even more tangible in a way, because when we serve a mission we wear our name tags, and right there it says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on it. We are literally putting a name badge on to represent Him.

I remember how I felt being able to wear my name tag in those moments when I remembered who I was representing. Because it’s not just about making a commitment to act in a way the Savior would like me to act — it is also a strength. As we take upon us His name, He is there with us. And when we are mindful of who we are representing, we can feel that the Lord is there with us, helping us fulfill that promise.

What blessings does the Lord unlock for us through priesthood keys?

The magazine compares the priesthood keys to physical keys — how physical keys unlock things and allow you to do things when you have that key. The priesthood is the same way.

There’s a quote from Elder Gary E. Stevenson in the For the Strength of Youth magazine:

“Priesthood authority and priesthood keys start the engine, open the gates of heaven, facilitate heavenly power, and pave the covenant path back to our loving Heavenly Father.”

What I love about the magazine is that it takes this a little further and asks: why can’t you drive your neighbor’s car? What would you need to do in order to do so? And what does this comparison teach you about priesthood keys?

To drive another person’s car, you need permission. You show up, you prove that you are responsible. There are certain things we do in order to unlock the blessings that Heavenly Father wants to give us.

As a mom, as a parent, there’s so much I want to give my kids, and yet I also know they need to go through certain lessons so that, in order for them to receive the rewards I may have for them, they need to do certain things. The same is true when it comes to priesthood keys and the blessings associated with them. We prepare ourselves to be able to receive those blessings — we do the things we need to do in order to open the gates of heaven. And it’s all done in the love of our Heavenly Father, who wants us to learn and grow.

This reminds me of a time on my mission. I served on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. We would take people to the Christus statue and play a recording of scriptures the Savior spoke, and then bear our testimonies afterward. I remember my companion pointing out the scripture where Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” She talked about how God gives us commandments because He loves us.

I thought that was such an interesting way to look at it — God gives us commandments because He loves us. Our Heavenly Father knows the things that will bring us the most joy, the things that will set us up for the most success in life. He has given us commandments to help us bring more joy into our lives, to become more resilient, so that when hard times come, we can overcome them. That’s what commandments do for us — they are given to us because God loves us.

Sometimes we feel like these commandments, or needing to do things in order to receive priesthood blessings, are restricting — when in actuality they are there to help us feel God’s love more, and to help us live in a way that makes us more resilient and able to create more joy in our lives.

So that’s why I particularly love that question: What do you need to do in order to drive your neighbor’s car? What do you need to do in order to access the priesthood authority Heavenly Father gives you when you are called, set apart, or receive an assignment from one of your leaders? What do you need to do in order to receive even greater priesthood blessings — the ones that come from the temple?

The temple is a place we prepare ourselves to enter. Everyone is invited to go to the temple; however, in order to actually enter, we prepare ourselves to be able to do so. That preparation exists to help us be prepared and ready.

What priesthood keys has the Lord restored to the earth today?

Last week we talked about the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood and the blessings that come from each. This week’s question asks: what priesthood keys has the Lord restored to earth today?

Scripture Activity

This activity involves reading scripture and identifying the heavenly messengers who restored priesthood keys, and specifically which keys were restored.

Doctrine and Covenants 13 (John the Baptist)

“Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. And this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”

John the Baptist came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them these keys. We talked a little about the keys of the ministering of angels last week. This also restored the priesthood authority to baptize in the name of the Savior, and the authority to be baptized by immersion and receive a remission of sins through repentance.

Doctrine and Covenants 27:12–13 (Peter, James, and John)

“And also with Peter and James and John, whom I sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles and special witnesses of my name... and bear the keys of your ministry... unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times, and for the fullness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven and which are on earth.”

I did a little more research on what’s meant by the priesthood keys Peter, James, and John gave Joseph Smith. I found an article from May 2015 quoting Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s April 2005 General Conference talk:

“Peter, James, and John returned to restore the keys and powers of the Melchizedek priesthood, including the keys of apostleship.”

Part of what they restored was the keys of apostleship — giving Joseph Smith the authority to reorganize the Church of Jesus Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 107:8, 18–19

“The Melchizedek priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things... The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church — to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.”

When Peter, James, and John came to give the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph Smith, they were giving him the authority to restore Christ’s church onto the earth again.

That’s not all that happened. After the Kirtland Temple was built, more heavenly messengers came to give additional keys.

Doctrine and Covenants 110:11 (Moses)

“After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us, and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.”

Moses restored the power and authority to gather Israel, to bring all unto Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 110:12 (Elias)

“After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.”

Elias — which can be a title, not necessarily a specific name — committed the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham. He restored the keys to the Abrahamic covenant.

What were the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant? According to Gospel Topics, under Abrahamic covenant:

“Among these promises made to Abraham were the following: his posterity would be numerous, his seed or descendants would receive the gospel and bear the priesthood, and through the ministry of his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed, even with the blessings of the gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.”

So through the gospel, all nations will be blessed in some way.

Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16 (Elijah)

“After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi — testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.”

Elijah came to restore the sealing power that enables us to continue our relationships beyond the grave. That’s why it’s so important for us to do our family history work — because of the sealing power that connects us to our families, not just our current earthly family, but all who came before us. That’s the turning of the hearts from the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers.

Closing Thoughts

Each of these keys that were received are things that help us draw closer to the Lord. He shows His love for us by allowing us to have these priesthood keys in our lives, and all the blessings that come from having them.

We are so blessed to have the gospel on this earth today, and to have these priesthood keys on this earth today. I am so thankful for the sealing power, for the gospel of repentance, for the ability to continually take upon His name — Christ’s name — and make those promises with Him each week through the sacrament, and all the other blessings that come from these priesthood keys.

Next week we get to dive more into becoming a covenant daughter or son of God. As I mentioned, yes, there are some things we are asked to do — we are asked to take upon ourselves the name of the Lord and live as He would have us live. As we do so, we are becoming a covenant child of God. These priesthood keys and authority lead us and guide us in becoming that covenant person our Heavenly Father sees within us.

We’ll discuss more about becoming a covenant child of God in next week’s lesson. See you then!

Episode Description

This week on Strength to Become, we’re digging into the For the Strength of Youth lesson on the restoration of the priesthood — and why it matters so much for our relationship with the Savior. We’ll walk through the history of the priesthood being lost and then restored through Joseph Smith, and unpack what the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods actually mean for us, including what it looks like to hold “the keys of the ministering of angels.” Grab your scriptures and your September For the Strength of Youth magazine and let’s study together.

🎧 Love this episode? Check out my other podcast, Divine Worth, for more on faith, fear, and becoming who God sees in you: karenpapin.substack.com/listen/divine-worth-podcast

Transcript

Welcome to the Strength to Become podcast, where we are diving into the For the Strength of Youth lessons so that we can strengthen our relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ, in order to become who He sees in us.

This week we are talking about the restoration of the priesthood, and why it’s so important that there was this restoration. During Christ’s visit here on earth, He gave that priesthood authority to His apostles. Over a thousand years later, in the 1800s, Joseph Smith had his remarkable vision and then received these priesthoods — the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood.

So over a period of time, the priesthood was lost from the earth. One thing I find interesting is that they even refer to that gap in time as “the dark ages.” And then after that, all of this progress begins to happen — and it’s interesting to see that history, because you can see how the Lord prepared the world for His gospel being restored onto this earth today.

The United States of America being created so we could have religious freedom, setting the stage for Joseph Smith to be able to have his vision, to receive the Aaronic priesthood and then the Melchizedek priesthood — it’s kind of cool to look through that historical timeline and see how the Lord really does reveal things when we are ready to receive them. And that was the case with this restoration of the gospel that we now have here on this earth.

So let’s look at the lesson you can find in the magazine, For the Strength of Youth, the September edition, week two, which is where we’re at. It splits into two questions: How does the Savior bless us through the Aaronic priesthood, and how does the Savior bless us through the Melchizedek priesthood? Let’s talk about the Aaronic priesthood first.

The Aaronic Priesthood

There are two scriptures listed for this. Let’s open those up. The first is Doctrine and Covenants section 13, verse 1:

Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for remission of sins, and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do again offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

There’s a beautiful blessing there. Because really, as you look throughout history, there are periods of time where we’d have a prophet on this earth, and then a period of darkness. Then a prophet would come again and lead the people to righteousness, and then there’d be another falling away. You see that throughout the entire history of man. Here we are given this promise that that’s not going to happen again — the gospel is going to remain upon this earth. A beautiful promise, and that can give us so much hope.

In the scripture it talks about the blessings we receive from having the Aaronic priesthood in our lives: first, the keys of the ministering of angels; then the gospel of repentance; and also the baptism by immersion for remission of sins.

Section 107:20 goes into that as well:

The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments.

It mentions those things again — the keys of the ministering of angels — and it adds a little more, saying to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, and the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Now, what do all of these things actually mean? I had to search a little more, because I thought, what does it actually mean to hold the keys of the ministering of angels? What does that mean, and how does that apply to me as a woman in the gospel as well?

In October 1998, then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk titled “The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament”. In it he says:

How does the Aaronic priesthood hold the key to the ministering of angels? The answer is the same as for the Spirit of the Lord. In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication are only available to those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants, we will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost, but also to the ministering of angels. For angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, wherefore they speak the words of Christ. So it is that those who hold the Aaronic priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels.

Because we have the Aaronic priesthood, and we have this great blessing of being able to repent and be baptized and continually partake of the sacrament, we have the key to the ministering of angels.

Another important thing to note is that there are different ways we can experience the ministering of angels. President Oaks also goes into that:

Nephi described three manifestations of the ministering of angels when he reminded his rebellious brothers that, one, they had seen an angel; two, they had heard his voice from time to time; and three, that an angel had spoken unto them in a still, small voice, though they were past feeling and could not feel his words. The scriptures contain many other statements that angels are sent to teach the gospel and bring men to Christ. Most angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen.

So as members of the Church — as those who have been baptized, who are renewing those promises of baptism each week as we take of the sacrament, as we can repent and learn and grow through the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ — we are able, most of the time not seen, to be guided by these ministering angels.

Another blessing of the Aaronic priesthood is the baptismal ordinance and being able to be cleansed from our sins because of the Savior Jesus Christ, and making those covenants with Him through baptism. That is truly one of the greatest blessings we have: knowing that our mistakes do not define us. Our mistakes are not what’s keeping us from being able to return to live with our Heavenly Father again, because we can overcome them as we humble ourselves and repent and turn to the Savior. There is so much peace, joy, and happiness that comes from that repentance. It’s beautiful, too, to know that my family can also go through that repentance process and return to live with the Savior again.

Another blessing of the Aaronic priesthood is being able to partake of the sacrament — each week we have the sacrament to help us renew those baptismal covenants.

The Melchizedek Priesthood

Now let’s dive a little more into the Melchizedek priesthood. How does the Savior bless us through the Melchizedek priesthood?

Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Doctrine and Covenants section 107, verses 18–19 talks about the Melchizedek priesthood:

The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church — to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

How beautiful is that? To me, that is a promise that we will have the Savior with us and that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father. We can feel His presence in our life. We can definitely see that as we go to the temple and worship there, and we can feel of that Spirit. I remember the first time I went to the temple and just the sense of homecoming I felt there, knowing that it is the house of the Lord.

So there are blessings from the Melchizedek priesthood: we can go to the temple, we can feel closer to the Lord both at the temple and in our daily lives as we continually seek to have Him in our life. Because of the Melchizedek priesthood, the mysteries of God can be unfolded unto us as we continually turn and seek and strive to have them in our lives. And then we have that sealing ordinance that makes it possible for us to be with our families for all eternity.

So these two priesthoods work together — the Aaronic priesthood is the preparatory priesthood that helps us gain an understanding that we can repent and learn and grow. Then we can go deeper and deepen that connection through the ordinances of the Melchizedek priesthood.

Why Does God Share His Priesthood Power With Us?

Why does God share His priesthood power with His children? This is another question within the lesson, and you can have a great discussion about it. Why do you feel it’s important that God shares His priesthood power with His children?

For me, it is a reminder that He loves us, that He wants us to have all of these blessings, and He wants us to return to live with Him. Each one of these is a way for us to draw closer to Him and return to live with Him. It also helps us reach the potential that He sees within us.

A Closing Question

I love this last question: How would your life be different if the priesthood hadn’t been restored? It’s a more personal question, and a great way to wrap up the lesson — because here we’re looking at all of these different blessings, and then at the end, thinking, what would it be like if I didn’t have these blessings in my life?

For me, I am extremely thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and for the knowledge that I can repent, be baptized, and each week renew those promises — continually repent and have the Lord and Savior with me, and those ministering angels to guide me. There is hope, and there’s peace, and there’s light. I’m so thankful for each of these things.

Thank you for joining me today in talking about the restoration of the priesthood and how it blesses us. Next week we will be diving more into these priesthood keys and learning more about what they mean for us in our life. So be sure to join me then, and also take a moment and leave a review — let me know, and let others know, what you’re gaining from this podcast. I will see you next week.

Source referenced: Dallin H. Oaks, “The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament,” General Conference, October 1998.

Listen to more: Catch my other podcast, Divine Worth, for more conversations on faith, fear, and becoming who God sees in you.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views and opinions expressed are my own.

Here is a pdf that includes some discussion questions for the lesson:

Welcome to the very first episode of Strength to Become — a weekly study through the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) guide! Karen kicks things off with September’s Fast Sunday lesson: You Are Blessed by Priesthood Keys and Authority.

In this FSY discussion, Karen walks through the three eternal truths for the month — that all priesthood keys and authority come from Jesus Christ, that Christ has restored His priesthood in our day, and that priesthood authority blesses all of God’s children — sharing personal stories along the way, including how tracing the blessings of the Restoration in her own life led her to an eternal family, comfort after the loss of her younger brother, and a deeper love for the Book of Mormon.

She also breaks down how these For the Strength of Youth lessons are designed to work: choosing one eternal truth to focus on, inviting real discussion instead of a lecture, and applying an invitation — whether that’s accepting a calling, sustaining those who serve, or fulfilling an assignment — so the lesson becomes something lived, not just learned.

Whether you’re teaching this FSY lesson yourself or simply want to go deeper as you prepare your own heart and home, this episode is a starting point for feeling God’s love through the priesthood keys He has placed on the earth for us.

Walking through the For the Strength of Youth (FSY) guide alongside our youth.

If you'd like to hear more from Karen, check out the Divine Worth Podcast → https://karenpapin.substack.com/listen/divine-worth-podcast

Disclaimer: This podcast is not produced, endorsed, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All views, opinions, and interpretations shared are my own.

Transcript:

Introduction

Karen Papin (00:00) Welcome to the FSY with Karen Papin podcast where we are coming to feel God’s love for us as we dive into the For the Strength of Youth booklet. recently we’ve got some big changes coming up where we are now going to be meeting every week for Sunday school and then for young men, young women.

Society and Elders Quorum I I love that we’re gonna be doing this and being able to gather together again each week and with that I’ve got two two girls who one is already in young women’s one will be joining young women’s in January and so I watched the introduction video for this new for the strength of youth program and and just thought wow this is something that we can all learn from and so I want to invite you to join me as we study the for the strength of youth and really dive in to what our youth are learning but also to see how it applies to us and to also see just God’s love. which is apparent within these lessons.

And so with that, let’s go ahead and dive into September’s Fast Sunday lesson. And the way that this works is that ever the Fast Sunday, the first Sunday of every month, is a lesson that is focused on introducing the topic for that month. And so this month’s theme is

This Month’s Theme: You Are Blessed by Priesthood Keys and Authority

you are blessed by priesthood keys and authority, and so the scripture that this is kind of based off of is in Matthew sixteen, verses eighteen through nineteen, and this is what it says, And I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

And so here Christ is talking to Peter about this priesthood authority and giving him the priesthood keys to be able to be able to buy both on earth and in heaven a beautiful gift so what exactly is the priesthood that is the power and authority of god

Sometimes life is so chaotic and so it is nice to know that in God’s church there actually is this sense of order that we can find through the the priesthood keys and through the the authority that comes from them.

so for the month of September we will be focusing on these priesthood keys and authority and really seeing how that applies to each of us. And so just the fact that Heavenly Father has placed on this earth a way for us to be able to access those priesthood keys and authority shows us that he loves us and that he is there for us and that he is helping us to be able to To be able to have everything that we need to learn and to grow and to walk in his light and to return to him.

How the Lessons Work

And so the way that these lessons work is that though that you choose, one of the eternal truths and then you are diving into those eternal truths and discussing them with each other within this class setting. And and so the eternal truths for this month, and like I said, you just choose one of them. These these lessons are like twenty five minutes long and they’re meant to be discussions and so it’s not just someone getting up there and giving all the info it is about bringing up the topic and then discussing the topic with each other and figuring out how it’s relevant to us and also how we can apply these things

And so if you in the four of the strength of youth guide, and they it has the eternal truths, then there’s invitations so that you can actually think, okay, how can I act on what it is that we discussed today? and then it has promised blessings. So it’s not just a matter of okay, now go and do this, but it’s also a matter of here are the ways that you will be blessed as you apply. These things into your life.

And then another cool thing about the guide is that it does have a little questions and answers section to help us gain a greater understanding of the principles therein, as well as some suggested scriptures. And then at the very end, there are temple recommend questions for us to be able to prepare ourselves to enter into the temple. And and so each each lesson is doing just that. It is helping you to continually prepare yourself to enter into the temple and receive even more great blessings.

So the internal truths for this month that you can choose from are are these. The first is all priesthood keys and authority come from Jesus Christ. Isn’t that wonderful?

Eternal Truth 1: All Priesthood Keys and Authority Come From Jesus Christ

that is such an important truth for us because it helps us to know that Christ is at the head of this church. Christ is like this is all about his church, his gospel, and his priesthood authority. It is the savior that is in charge. like he does ask things of us and asks us asks us to serve in various ways within the church. And when we are called and set apart, we are given that priesthood authority to be able to act within those callings.

And and yes, we are not perfect, right? We don’t always follow promptings, we don’t always know The ways that are gonna be best to be able to serve within our callings and we are gonna make mistakes. That is just that is a part of life, right? that’s why we have a savior, and yet he still allows us to be able to have these opportunities to serve, and he still gives us that authority to be able to do so. and so if we can just trust in the Lord and allow him. To guide us as we accept our callings and as we continue to serve faithfully within our callings, He does guide us.

And he helps us to learn and he helps us to grow and and he gives us opportunities to be able to feel God’s love, not only the love that he has for us, but also the love that he has for those who for whom we serve. another eternal truth that you might want to focus on is Jesus Christ has restored his priesthood in our day.

Eternal Truth 2: Jesus Christ Has Restored His Priesthood in Our Day

On my mission, I remember that this was something that we taught a lot on my mission. We talked about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how the how the Lord’s priesthood has been restored on this earth.

And I remember just taking time to start listing all all of the blessings that I’ve received from the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And and while I say I wrote down all of them, I know that that was just a small list compared to how many blessings there actually are. But it was amazing once I got started. I think I gave myself like five minutes to start writing down the the blessings and then I kept going. because I started to realize just how how much that spread to other parts of my life like not just being able to be baptized by the priesthood authority not just being able to have an eternal family but that it really impacted all areas of my life.

think I ended up writing like over fifty things that I recognized as blessings that Happened because of the restoration of the gospel. Because of the restoration of the gospel, we have the Book of Mormon which has been such a pivotal, foundational thing for me in my life and it has really helped me through some of the hardest moments of my life. It has given me strength, it has given me peace because it has brought me closer to the Lord and helped me to see his hand in my life.

brought in me that priesthood authority to be held to be with my family for time and all eternity which was something that on my mission I felt very keenly because because when I was fifteen years old my younger brother passed away and and So that knowledge that I would see him again, that knowledge that we were forever brother and sister, was something that I found so comforting and that gave me so much strength.

And and now that I am older and I have my husband and my own kids as well, I have an even greater love and appreciation for that. I am thankful for all the knowledge that I’ve learned from being able to have the gospel in my life, the knowledge that I do have a savior who loves me, who has suffered all things, that that we might be able to overcome all things and that and just the the power and the beauty that comes from that because not only does it apply to me, but it applies to all those that I love as well. Jesus Christ’s atonement applies to all of us. And I am thankful for that knowledge that I have been given as a result. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives today.

so those are just some of the blessings that I have seen from the restoration of the priesthood in our day. And that’s also something that we dive more into next week, learning more about the restoration of the priesthood and breaking it down from Aranic priesthood and Melchizedek priesthood and and why God shares his priesthood power. Jesus Christ has restored his priesthood in our day. What a comforting thought that we have that power here on earth and that Jesus Christ is the leader of this church.

okay the third eternal truth that you can choose from for your discussion this week is priesthood authority blesses all of God’s children. And I feel that as a woman within the church, that is something that is important for me to know.

Eternal Truth 3: Priesthood Authority Blesses All of God’s Children

There’s a great book up on how the priesthood power applies to women. It’s written by Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner and it’s called The Priesthood Power of Women. And so that is a great book to be able to dive into to better understand that the priesthood power is very much a part of women within the church.

And so this s this eternal truth of priest or authority blesses all of God’s children is a great one because you can dive into how we can receive ordinances and we can make covenants with God and all these ways that the priesthood applies to each of us. so those are the three eternal truths that you can choose from to be the guide for your discussion on Sunday. And there’s also some great invitations.

Invitations for This Month

First is to accept church callings and serve faithfully. And so as you do this, some things that you can invite those who are participating in the discussion with you to do is to really think about okay, why is it important for us to accept church callings and to serve faithfully? How can you, how can we benefit from them, and how can others benefit as well? And the amazing thing is that sometimes Sometimes see a calling and we can feel the this great weight of it. However, if we all stepped in and if we all accepted church callings and if we all served faithfully within those church callings, that weight diminishes Because we are working together for a common purpose, for a common goal that helps us to be able to strengthen those around us. It’s not all on us. We can have that strength and support as we all come together. And even more powerful is that we have the savior there with us to strengthen us.

Even in those times that we feel like we are inadequate or that we are not able to move forward, or we feel like we have made mistakes within those callings, we have the savior there with us to be able to help us overcome those mistakes, and to continue to move forward in that love and that faith that. he has for us and for those whom we are called to serve.

Okay, so that’s one invitation. Another invitation that you could up that you can take on from this lesson is to sustain those who God has called to serve. Just recently I kind of there there was a lesson that happened and I was kinda critical of how how it turned out ‘cause it was different from what was planned and I just found myself being really critical. And I realized that I was not following this invitation to sustain those who God has called to serve.

and I just realize that that I could do better. and I started giving that person who had led that lesson just the benefit of the doubt, right? And started to see that there could be more to the story than the story that I had come up with in my own mind. And started to just gain a great love for for that person and also just a great understanding that it’s like, yeah, there are people in these callings who do make mistakes and That is part of the process of this earth life is learning how to overcome those mistakes and coming to love others and understanding that God still loves us even when we have made those mistakes.

And then the third invitation that this lesson provides is to fulfill assignments from your church leaders. When they ask something of us, that’s actually one way that we can sustain those church leaders and those within the callings that God has called them to is to is to do what you can to be able to fulfill those assignments that they are giving you. so those are the the invitations. remember this isn’t about covering everything within the time frame that you have. It is about creating a discussion and

Leading a Meaningful Discussion

One thing that I’ve learned from being a life coach is the importance of just narrowing down what it is that you are going to do taking action from there. because sometimes we’re like, I want to do all of the things and then we don’t do anything because it seems overwhelming.

And so what I love about how this for the strength of youth is set up is it’s not about talking about all of the eternal truths. It’s not about doing all of the invitations and it it is not about you getting up there and just speaking in front of everyone and filling up the time. It is about creating that discussion, it is about focusing in on one truth that you can really deep dive into and really learn how to apply and really discuss and see where each of those within your discussion where they are at in relation to these principles and and where they could use a a little more instruction and guidance as well. And the amazing thing about discussions is that we all come together and we all learn.

And there was a There was a scripture, Doctrine and Covenant, section eighty eight, verse one twenty-two that was shared in on this introduction page to how to how we would be doing these these lessons. And it’s in Doctrine Covenants, section 88, 122. And it says, appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be smokes spokesmen at once, but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken, that all may be edified of all. And that every man may have an equal privilege.

Okay, so many things that I like about that. Yes, you have someone who is appointed to be the teacher or the leader of the discussion. yet at the same time, we are encouraging all to speak. And what happens as we do this within this a prayerful setting where we are all coming together to bring the spirit into the room and to learn and grow together and in seeking to have the savior with us in those moments, we become edified. and we learn and grow together.

and so there’s some great suggestions as to how to to facilitate such a discussion. and the for the strength of youth magazine goes into some of those things where it suggests to choose an eternal truth to discuss. and like I said, it’s not about getting all of those eternal truths in during your twenty five minute lesson but narrowing down right and and focusing in on the one that you feel is needed for that week. and then you can read a scripture that goes along with that truth and talk about how that applies or you can share a personal story about how you were able to live that principle for that week and encourage others to be able to share personal stories as well.

And you can testify. And if there is more time, you can choose another eternal truth to discuss. And then at the end, choose one of those invitations. Or you may feel that there’s another invitation that it that the Lord is asking you to do. And take action

Promised Blessings

do that invitation as well. and then there’s these beautiful promise blessings that you can share. first that you can trust that the ordinances you receive are authorized by Jesus Christ. And then the other one is that you will become an instrument in the Lord’s hands. Wow, have I seen that? As I have learned to serve the Lord under that guidance of priesthood keys Here are

Temple Recommend Questions

Okay, and then the temple recommend questions there’s three of them. The first one is Do you sustain the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a prophet, seer and revelator, and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? The second is do you sustain the members of the first presidency and the quorum with 12 apostles as prophetseers and revelators. And the third is do you sustain the other general authorities and local local leaders of the church?

And so you can dive into those recommend questions as well. And and so I just love how this is all set up, helping us to better understand what it actually means to be blessed by the priesthood keys and authority and why it’s important for us to know.

Looking Ahead

Said that is something that we get to focus on throughout this month. next week we dive more into learning about the restoration specifically. on the third Sunday of the month, we learn more about priesthood keys, and then what I love is on the fourth Sunday of the month we’re gonna dive into studying about someone who has lived these principles.

And so the young women will be studying becoming a covenant daughter of God and talking about Emma Smith. And then the Aranic Priesthood Quorums will be talking about becoming a covenant son of God and learning more about Joseph Smith. and how these people lived. Disciples of the Savior Jesus Christ. I look forward into diving more into each of these lessons with you as we study and prepare ourselves and our youth to be able to better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and the strength of youth, who is the Savior Jesus Christ.

Closing

Karen Papin (20:05) And if you are wanting to hear more from me, I do have a podcast that is specific to being able to recognize and understand what God sees within you. And that is called the Divine Worth Podcast. And I will put a link in the show notes so you can check that out as well. And I I will see you next week.