In this video, Young Women leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talk about the doctrine of the priesthood and how it relates to young women of the Church.

For those not of our faith, some of the lingo may feel unfamiliar. If you would like to understand more about the priesthood, you can read more at Mormon.org about our beliefs about how priesthood keys and authority have been restored to earth — just as such keys and authority were given to Peter, James, and John in New Testament time, or to prophets in Old Testament times.

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Do we as members of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in healing? Absolutely.

Our seventh Article of Faith reads: “We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.”

The scriptures are full of stories of miraculous healings — those performed directly by the Savior during his mortal ministry and during his post-mortal visit to the American continent, and also those performed by His servants. There are also myriad stories from people’s personal lives, from latter-day church history, and from our family histories.

Just recently, we heard such a story about one of my husband’s ancestors. John Tanner had a mysterious disease take over his leg. The doctors could do nothing for him.

He had decided to attend a meeting given by Mormon missionaries, with the intent to protect his friends and neighbors from what he thought would be heresy and to set those young men aright. Their message, however, ended up touching his heart, and he invited the missionaries to his home. By 11:00 that night, he was ready to be baptized. The condition of his leg, however, prevented him from entering water.

The elders asked him if he believed in the power of healing in the ancient gospel. Yes, he did. Could that same power be present now? he was asked. John Tanner discovered that it was. The elder commanded him in Jesus‘ name to stand up and walk. John Tanner describes what happened next. “I arose, threw down my crutches, and walked the floor back and forth, praising God.”

I share that story to illustrate that yes, we believe in healing, and sometimes that healing can be dramatic, instantaneous, and an obvious miracle that others can witness in a tangible way.

But I am coming to understand how the Lord’s healing power can come to us in different ways as well.

I have suffered from undiagnosed, chronic illness for seven years now. It has been a difficult trial. It started when my children were very small. For quite a while, I was afraid I might be dying, and the resulting fear was paralyzing. My heart has ached to listen to my children’s prayers (coupled with the ones in my heart) for another child to join our family, but to not have my health improve enough for that to happen. It’s also extremely difficult to not have answers for what is going on, and to often not have relief from the symptoms.

I have had numerous priesthood blessings that have talked of healing. And yet, physical healing has not yet come. Sometimes I have struggled to read stories of the Savior’s miracles, wondering why such instant, miraculous healing has not taken place in my life.

At a time when I was struggling with this, Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk that has had a significant impact on me. I recommend the entire talk, but will quote one small part of it here. He said:

Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a “healing” cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are “healed” by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.

As I have worked to let go of my preconceived notion of what *I* want healing to mean, I have come to recognize how real His healing power has been in my life these past years. My journal is filled with experiences where I have known that God has been aware of me, known that He was giving me strength, understanding, peace, and patience. He has brought people into my life who have helped me, given me opportunities to serve that have changed me, brought my little family together in remarkable ways.

I am reminded of a scripture where the Lord says this:

And after their ^atemptations, and much ^btribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and ^cstiffen not their necks against me, they shall be ^dconverted, and I will heal them.

And as much as I continue hope for physical healing, I am deeply grateful for the many evidences of healing I am witnessing in my life. I feel they are helping me come to and trust the Savior more, helping me become more converted, enabling me to feel His love and power in tremendous ways.

I testify that you can find that healing power, too, whatever your affliction may be.

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**Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of individuals. Although here at Mormon Women: Who We Are, we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

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I am a youth Sunday School Teacher for children ages 13 and 14. I love teaching Sunday School, it is by far my favorite calling in the church. And 13-year-olds are my favorite age to teach, so I’m in “calling heaven” right now.

In a recent class, I asked each member of my class if there was a time when they knew that God was real and He loved them. I started with the girls, because they looked like they were actually paying attention. Some answered that they felt God’s love while reading the scriptures or after praying intently. The girls gave very good answers. When I looked over to the two boys in my class they were tipping their chairs backward and pushing on the accordion-style wall that separated us from the classroom behind us. One was chomping gum loudly and the other was itching to play with his cell phone. (I don’t allow use of any electronic devices in class.) But when I got to these boys, their chairs settled down and I repeated the question. I addressed them by name and asked: “When did you know that God lives and loves you?”

Almost in unison they replied, “The day I was given the Aaronic Priesthood.”

They took my breath away. My eyes misted up. I had not anticipated such an honest and heartfelt answer from the chair-tipping, gum-chomping dynamic duo.

At age 12, young men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood spoken of in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. This is a preparatory priesthood, designed to prepare boys to be spiritually mature men. The Aaronic Priesthood gives young men opportunities for temporal and spiritual service. At age 12, they are ordained to the office of Deacon. At 14, to the office of Teacher, and at 16 to the office of Priest. Duties of the Aaronic Priesthood include preparing and passing the sacrament, collecting fast offerings, being a home teacher. Priests also have the authority to baptize.

One diligent young man bore his testimony recently at church. He is twelve and is in middle school. I’ll do my best to capture what he said.

“When I was little, I wondered why I had to wait until I was 12 to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. But now I understand why. When I turned 12 I realized that I was at a crossroads. I went to middle school and found that there were so many more choices. Kids are not as good in middle school as they are in grade school. People at school say words that make me shudder. (Referring to profanity.) I realized that I was in a fork in the road. I needed to make the right choices. I needed to live up to the responsibilities of the Priesthood.”

All the Kleenexes came out then. There was a free flow of tears from the Bishop’s stand to the last pew. This young man spelled out for our ward the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood in that critical time of life for young men.

The experience reminded me of some favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon. The context is a father teaching his young son to be and do good.

O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth: yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. Alma 37:35 – 37

There is no pomp or ceremony that surrounds ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood for these Young Men. Just a simple ordinance where the hands of those who have authority are placed on a young man’s head and a prayer is spoken that confers the priesthood and sets the young man apart for service unto God and his fellow man.

I believe in the youth of this world, that they can make good choices amongst the sea of filth that surrounds them. Just like my 12-year-old exemplar taught to my congregation in his testimony recently, there is no better time than at the crossroads of childhood, to choose God over the profane.

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A fireside was held to commemorate this significant event. You can watch a rebroadcast of that fireside by clicking here.

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