Our Heavenly Father is so merciful.

Right now, many women in the Church are questioning doctrine these days and many of these questions appear to go unanswered.

I personally believe it is no accident and therefore call it a miracle and a mercy that in the Teachings of Presidents of the Church manual there are two lessons on the priesthood that are back to back—two Sunday’s in a row—where sisters can ask questions and be taught truths. How’s that for timing?

The information that is in those two lessons is vital for our day and I hope every LDS woman is looking through those choice lessons and gaining a deeper understanding and testimony of what our Heavenly Father has given us as sisters in the Church.

Everyone is allowed their agency and many of us have made our choices public, but what of those who remain silent, but thoughtful? Dear friends could actually be questioning and we may not even know it. But the Lord knows their hearts and He is providing options for them to learn for themselves. That is true mercy.

Besides these two lessons, using great quotes from a prophet of God, we also have some very overt conference addresses that have taught directly the principles in question. Again, these are tender mercies.

Right now is a good time to call down the powers of heaven as we get on our knees and humbly ask. Our Heavenly Father is always listening and He is anxious for us to ask, with a humble voice, what His will is so that we might know, through the power of the Holy Ghost, the answers we must receive.

We all have power. Sisters, each one of you have power to call down the Holy Ghost to rest your troubled mind. The gift of discernment can show you what path to follow, warning you of danger and false leaders. We all must check ourselves and see that our testimonies are solid, firm, with no holes that might let faith slip away.

In this day and age, we absolutely need a prophet, seer, and revelator. We need someone called of God, who speaks with God, who reveals His word, who sees into the future to warn us, and who prophesies of all things. That prophet today is Thomas S. Monson. As a servant of God, Pres. Monson will keep righteous people safe, prepared, and worthy if we but obey him.

The prophet of the Lord is not only the prophet over the Church, but is literally the prophet for the entire world, whether people believe him, and his position, or not. The following story reminds us of this:

“In 1976 following a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, President Spencer W. Kimball invited us to a small church to see the statues of Christ and the Twelve Apostles by Bertel Thorvaldsen. The Christus stands in an alcove beyond the altar. Standing in order along the sides of the chapel are the statues of the Twelve, with Paul replacing Judas Iscariot.

“President Kimball told the elderly caretaker that at the very time Thorvaldsen was creating those beautiful statues in Denmark, a restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ was taking place in America with apostles and prophets receiving authority from those who held it anciently.

“Gathering those present closer to him, he said to the caretaker, ‘We are living Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ,’ and pointing to Elder Pinegar he said, ‘Here is a Seventy like those spoken of in the New Testament.’

“We were standing near the statue of Peter, whom the sculptor depicted holding keys in his hand, symbolic of the keys of the kingdom. President Kimball said, ‘We hold the real keys, as Peter did, and we use them every day.’

“Then came an experience I will never forget. President Kimball, this gentle prophet, turned to President Johan H. Benthin, of the Copenhagen Stake, and in a commanding voice said, ‘I want you to tell every prelate [religious leader] in Denmark that they do not hold the keys! I hold the keys!’”

The significance of this story is that there is only one person who holds all the keys necessary to bless the world; only one person on the earth and that is the prophet who is called of God. Because we have the priesthood we have a prophet and because we have a prophet, we have access to the powers of heaven and the blessings of our Heavenly Father and especially the blessings of the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our Heavenly Father is so merciful. He has provided everything for us to question, to ask, to learn, to receive personal knowledge, to discern, to have faith, to believe, to testify, and to ultimately stand as a witness to others.

Follow the prophet. His answers will keep you on the path of righteousness. Ask in faith, believing, and you will receive a personal witness of truth necessary that your faith will grow. If any of your worries, thoughts, or feelings conflict with the prophet remain humble as you pray and await resolution. Your faith will carry you and your Savior will sustain you. You are never alone.