Young Women · Aaronic Priesthood · 25 minutes
Chapter 9: You are blessed by priesthood keys and authority · Matthew 16:18–19
Recommended path
Open Gospel Library as you teach. Mix and match below to build one 25-minute class.
This class in one line
Because Jesus Christ personally restored His priesthood authority and keys, every ordinance you have received is real, and you can act in His name today.
Skip the secondary principle entirely if discussion runs long; one deep conversation about ordinances beats two shallow ones.
If a youth is teaching
Open Chapter 9 and this Sunday's lesson in Gospel Library before class, have both tabs ready. Start with the key object or the opening question (pick one), then go straight to this Sunday's lesson intro paragraph and D&C 13:1; have someone else read, not you. Let the discussion questions do most of the work, your job is to ask and then get out of the way. If you only get through one big discussion, that's a success; skip the secondary principle. Close by reading the Invitations from Chapter 9 and asking everyone to pick one silently.
Before Sunday
Sunday prep: priesthood keys and YOU
Before Sunday, open Chapter 9 of the For the Strength of Youth guide (Gospel Library → For the Strength of Youth → Chapter 9). Read the section called 'Eternal Truths', it's short. Then open this Sunday's lesson and glance at the first question about the Aaronic Priesthood. Ponder: what is one ordinance you have received, and what would your life look like without it?
Pick one opening
Before we open anything, just think out loud with me for a second. Imagine you received a letter in the mail, and it said you were being called to represent the President of the United States. What would make that letter feel real and trustworthy to you? What would you want to see? [Let two or three people respond.] Today we're going to talk about how God solves exactly that problem, how He makes sure His authority is real and traceable.
Before we open anything, just think out loud with me for a second. Imagine you received a letter in the mail, and it said you were being called to represent the President of the United States. What would make that letter feel real and trustworthy to you? What would you want to see? [Let two or three people respond.] Today we're going to talk about how God solves exactly that problem, how He makes sure His authority is real and traceable.
Hold up a key, a house key, a car key, any key. Ask: what does a key do? [Let them answer.] It doesn't do the work itself. It opens access to something. Then open Chapter 9 in the Gospel Library and have someone read the anchor scripture, Matthew 16:18–19, where Jesus tells Peter He will give him the keys of the kingdom. Point out: Jesus is handing authority to a specific person. That chain from Christ to Peter didn't stop. It runs all the way to our ward today. That's what this lesson is about.
Teach this first
Open this Sunday's lesson in the Gospel Library and have someone read the brief intro paragraph, it explains that after the Apostles died, priesthood authority was lost, then restored in the early 1800s through heavenly messengers. Then stay in the same lesson and read aloud Doctrine and Covenants 13:1 together. Ask the class what it means that John the Baptist, a resurrected being, physically came to restore this. Let that land. Then open Chapter 9 and have someone read the first Eternal Truth: 'All priesthood keys and authority come through Jesus Christ. Every priesthood holder can trace his authority back to Him.' The point is not information, it is trust. You can trust your baptism. You can trust the sacrament. The authority behind those moments is real.
For the Strength of Youth teaches: 'You can trust that the ordinances you receive are authorized by Jesus Christ. This is one of the things that makes the Church of Jesus Christ unique.'
Ask the class
If time remains
Only go here if you have at least seven minutes left. Open Chapter 9 and read the Invitation 'Fulfill assignments from your Church leaders.' Then read the Q&A answer to 'How do men and women serve with priesthood authority?' The short version: when you are set apart or assigned, that delegation is real authority from God.
Ask the class
Last 3–5 minutes
Open Chapter 9 and read the three Invitations together as a class, 'Accept Church callings,' 'Sustain those God has called,' and 'Fulfill assignments.' Ask each person to silently pick one and decide on one specific thing they will do this week. You don't have to share it out loud, just make the decision before you leave the room.
Chapter 9 promises: 'As you serve the Lord with His authority and under the direction of His servants who hold priesthood keys, He will help you know how to serve others in His work. Jesus Christ is your strength.'
Your witness: Share briefly what it means to you personally that this authority is real, not abstract, but present in your ward and in the ordinances of your own life. You don't need to be eloquent. Just be honest.