The Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 16-17

Elder David A. Bednar: “I invite each of you to consider how you would respond to the following question posed by President David O. McKay: ‘If at this moment each one of you were asked to state in one sentence or phrase the most distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, what would be your answer?’ “The response President McKay gave to his own question was the divine authority of the priesthood. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands apart from other churches that claim their authority is derived from historical succession, the scriptures, or theological training. We make the distinctive declaration that priesthood authority has been conferred by the laying on of hands directly from heavenly messengers to the Prophet Joseph Smith” (“The Powers of Heaven,” Ensign orLiahona, May 2012, 48).

Where is this? Matt 16:13-15 How would you answer that question? Matt 16:16-19 What is the rock? Why is it important to receive a testimony through revelation than by some other way?

What percentage of Israelites were bitten? Where do you look when you are getting bitten by poison? Social media? Friends? Family? Google? (Everyone who looked around died. Those that looked up, lived). Who sent the snakes? Why?

Why Peter? Matthew 16:18 “Upon this rock I will build my church” “As the Savior taught Peter about revelation, He used a wordplay on Peter’s name, declaring to Simon [Peter], ‘Thou art Peter [Petros], and upon this rock [petra] I will build my church’ (Matthew 16:18). The Greek word petros means an isolated small rock or stone. The Greek word petra can also mean ‘a stone,’ but in addition it can refer to stony soil, bedrock, or a large mass of rock. From these words we learn that it was not upon Peter as a man that the Church would be built, but upon the bedrock of revelation” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 53).

Bertel Thorvaldsen ( )

In 1976 an area general conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Following the closing session, President Spencer W. Kimball desired to visit the Vor Frue Church, where the Thorvaldsen statues of the Christus and of the Twelve Apostles stand. He had visited there some years earlier and wanted all of us to see it, to go there. To the front of the church, behind the altar, stands the familiar statue of the Christus with His arms turned forward and somewhat outstretched, the hands showing the imprint of the nails, and the wound in His side very clearly visible. Along each side stand the statues of the Apostles, Peter at the front to the right and the other Apostles in order. Most of our group was near the rear of the chapel with the custodian.

I (President Boyd K. Packer) stood up front with President Kimball before the statue of Peter with Elder Rex D. Pinegar and Johan Helge Benthin, president of the Copenhagen stake. In Peter’s hand, depicted in marble, is a set of heavy keys. President Kimball pointed to those keys and explained what they symbolized. Then, in an act I shall never forget, he turned to President Benthin and with unaccustomed firmness pointed his finger at him and said, “I want you to tell everyone in Denmark that I hold the keys! We hold the real keys, and we use them every day.” I will never forget that declaration, that testimony from the prophet. The influence was spiritually powerful; the impression was physical in its impact.

We walked to the back of the chapel where the rest of the group was standing. Pointing to the statues, President Kimball said to the kind custodian, “These are the dead Apostles.” Pointing to me, he said, “Here we have the living Apostles. Elder Packer is an Apostle. Elder Thomas S. Monson and Elder L. Tom Perry are Apostles, and I am an Apostle. We are the living Apostles. “You read about the Seventies in the New Testament, and here are two of the living Seventies, Elder Rex D. Pinegar and Elder Robert D. Hales.” The custodian, who up to that time had shown no emotion, suddenly was in tears. I felt I had had an experience of a lifetime.” (President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, April 2008)

What are ‘the keys of the kingdom’? “‘Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to priesthood holders to direct, control, and govern the use of His priesthood on earth’ [Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 2.1.1]. Every act or ordinance performed in the Church is done under the direct or indirect authorization of one holding the keys for that function” (“The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49). What power did the keys that Jesus promised Peter have?

Why would Jesus say Matt 16:21-23

“By focusing only on the Savior’s coming death, Peter failed to understand Jesus Christ’s true mission—the redemption of all mankind. The Savior rebuked Peter and referred to him as ‘Satan’. The Hebrew word satan means ‘adversary or tempter.’ Thus, Christ recognized that at that moment Peter had put himself in an adversarial role, in opposition to the Savior’s ultimate saving mission. “Peter probably meant well when he objected to the teaching that Jesus Christ would have to suffer and be killed. However, if Jesus had accommodated Peter’s wishes by avoiding the suffering of the Atonement, there would have been no redemption from sins and no Resurrection conquering death. All mankind would unavoidably have perished (see Alma 34:9). All this would have served the destructive aims of Satan. In the moment of his impulsive protest, Peter was unwittingly siding with the adversary” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 122).122

Matt 17:1-9

Mt Tabor Transfiguration refers to “the condition of persons who are temporarily changed in appearance and nature—that is, lifted to a higher spiritual level—so that they can endure the presence and glory of heavenly beings” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Transfiguration,” scriptures.lds.org). What is transfiguration?

Matt 17:1-9 “(1) Jesus singled out Peter, James, and John from the rest of the Twelve “(2) Peter, James, and John, were themselves transfigured (Teachings [of the Prophet Joseph Smith], p. 158).... “(3) Moses and Elijah... appeared on the mountain; and they and Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter, James, and John. (Teachings, p. 158.) “(4) John the Baptist, previously beheaded by Herod, apparently was also present.... “(5) Peter, James, and John saw in vision the transfiguration of the earth... that is to take place at the Second Coming when the millennial era is ushered in. [ D&C 63:20–21.]...D&C 63:20–21

Matt 17:1-9 “(6) It appears that Peter, James, and John received their own endowments while on the mountain. ([Joseph Fielding Smith,] Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, p. 165.)... “(7) Jesus himself was strengthened and encouraged by Moses and Elijah so as to be prepared for the atonement. ([James E. Talmage,] Jesus the Christ, p. 373.)... “(8) The apostles were taught in plainness ‘of his death and also his resurrection’ [ JST, Luke 9:31 ]....JST, Luke 9:31 “(9) The past [symbolized by Moses and Elijah] had faded away.... “(10) God the Father, overshadowed and hidden by a cloud, was present on the mountain (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:399– 401).

D&C 110 Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836 What is significant about that date?

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys What these keys direct

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel What these keys direct

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel What these keys direct Missionary work

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel What these keys direct Missionary work

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham What these keys direct Missionary work

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham The keys of this dispensation What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham The keys of this dispensation What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity Temple and family history work How have you personally seen these Priesthood Keys in Action?

Matt 17:1-9 Who holds the keys today Priesthood line of authority - who has it?

ldschurch.org Phone: Eric Richards High Priest Ordination: 21 Sep 2000 Ordained By Michael Floyd Cooley Frank Gregory Woidka Philip Alma Petersen Sterling Welling Sill Henry Hooper Blood Hyrum Mack Smith Joseph Fielding Smith Brigham Young Oliver Cowdery David Whitmer Martin Harris Joseph Smith, Jr Peter, James, & John Who were ordained Apostles by Jesus Christ Read Matt 17:14-21

Why Mount Mt. Tabor for transfiguration? 1 Kings 18:17-18 Who met whom? 1 Kings 18:21What great question was posed? 1 Kings 18:22-28 What challenge was issued? 1 Kings 18:33-35 What was the outcome? 1 Kings 18:38-40 What was the aftermath? – What do you know about Elijah based on this story? Prayer in private leads to boldness in public The bigger the obstacle, the bigger the opportunity – Do you have any wet lumber in your life? Set me on fire!

Matthew GIRLS: What difference should the priesthood make to the young men? In what subtle ways to young men dishonor their priesthood? How important is it for your to have a faithful priesthood honoring husband? BOYS: How should holding the priesthood make you different? How important do you think the priesthood will be for your future spouse? What does Matt 16:24-26 have to do with honoring the priesthood?

PETER Resurrected body The name Simon means “He that hears” He denies Christ (Matt 26:33-35,58,69-75) just before Jesus cries, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus first appearance after Mary is to Peter (Luke 24:32-34) “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt 16:13-17) A SYMBOL OF HEAVENLY FATHER

JAMES Resurrected body James means “Supplanter” Jesus’ only recorded brother’s name was James James was beheaded John 20:6-7 James is not invited to prepare the Passover meal (Luke 22:7- 8) James does not come to the tomb (John 20:2-4) James is not mentioned at the sea following the resurrection (John 21:6-8) Plays a role in the temple A SYMBOL OF JESUS CHRIST

JOHN Translated body Brother to James The unnamed disciple Mary’s guardian (John 19:26-27) His nickname is The Revelator Only author to include discourse about the Holy Ghost (John 14-16) Only to mention Nicodemus (John 3:1-10) His mission is to tarry on the earth (John 21:20-24) Does not mention the 40 day wilderness experience Was banished (Revelation 1:9) A SYMBOL OF THE HOLY GHOST

Matt Priesthood Keys