Great lesson week!

Keys are significant!

This week I had several “aha” moments. One thing that really stuck me was the significance the “keys” were in Jesus’ time. (Matthew 16:19). We often hear the phrase “keys of the priesthood”, but unless we understand how significant keys were in those times, the “keys” word is just a word, at least they were to me. I know that they keys of the priesthood are important and a privilege but I didn’t realize the significance until I read this in the Student Manual, “…keys were typically made of iron and were bulkier, more expensive, and less common than modern house keys. To hold the keys of a house was a position of great trust. Thus, keys were a fitting symbol of special authority, responsibility, and purpose…. they represent the power to lock and unlock, open and shut, and permit or prevent entrance.”

So, to hold the “keys” to something, especially the priesthood, is significant. Not just a play on words. I have always had respect for the priesthood and those that hold the priesthood. I am grateful to the men that take this responsibility seriously. I am thankful that we now have the priesthood in our home. I didn’t even know what this was when I was growing up.

Can you imagine the experience?

Another cool thing I learned in Matthew 17:3-9 is that Peter, James and John received their endowments and priesthood keys on the Mount of Transfiguration, however they couldn’t mention the keys to perform for the dead until after Christ's resurrection. During this experience there were some amazing people there, including Heavenly Father behind a cloud. In order to witness this, Peter, James and John also had to be transfigured along with Jesus. I never really knew what the Mount of Transfiguration was all about.

Be a good example!

Even though there were some good things in the other scriptures, my last one is still in Matthew 17:24-27. I have never heard of the story of Payment of the Temple Tax. Jesus was exempt from paying temple tax but if He didn’t then others would follow His example. So, to be a good example He paid the tax. In order to get the money to pay, He sent His disciples to go catch a fish and when they open the fish’s mouth, they would find the coin for the tribute.