Ruth L. Renlund

During a worldwide devotional for young adults, Elder and Sister Renlund spoke about the newest volume of Saints and had some special artifacts with them to help share their message.

“This history is our shared heritage, whether we descend from early pioneers, later pioneers, or if we are pioneers in the faith.”

The upcoming devotional will focus on Church history found in ‘Saints,’ vol. 3, paired with historical and personal accounts.

Recently the Ensign shared a beautiful article byBarbara Morgan Gardiner about connecting daughters of God to His priesthood power. This article has been shared by several apostles on Facebook, along with messages about the power of women and how they access priesthood power in their lives.

Elder Renlund and his wife, Sister Ruth L. Renlund, spoke in tandem during the devotional Sunday night which originated from the Brigham Young University–Hawaii campus in Laie, Hawaii, and was broadcast via satellite for young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world.

On January 13, 2019, Elder and Sister Renlund will speak at a worldwide devotional for young adults focused on doubt and faith. "When is a time in your life that you have chosen to 'doubt not, but be believing?' There are times in both of our lives when we have had to rely heavily on our faith," the Renlunds shared on Facebook along with this video invitation:

“I did not hear a voice, but it was as if God told me, ‘I have been telling you all along that it is true,’” Elder Renlund said. “That experience changed me. It changed my life. It began a process of belief, a process of being on the covenant path and trying to do more and trying to do better.”

The following is an excerpt from The Melchizedek Priesthood. While Elder and Sister Renlund are addressing priesthood holders in this passage, the council is true and imperative for every member of the Church.

We know the First Presidency and apostles sacrifice much to serve the Lord and members around the world, but sometimes we fail to recognize the women who travel with them, stand beside them, and sacrifice just as much for our Church. Learn a little more about the wives of the apostles.

All blessings come from God’s total priesthood power and authority. Priesthood power and blessings, by that expanded definition, have been and always will be available to all who qualify for them, without restriction based on gender, birth order, or lineage. This principle can readily be seen from multiple examples in which God’s power was manifest at a time when conferred priesthood did not exist on the earth. Many spiritual and devoted individuals complied with laws that govern reception of God’s blessings, without having received any priesthood ordination. Christian reformers such as William Tyndale, Martin Luther, and John Calvin received God’s power as they translated the Bible and participated in other inspired activities.

The concept of priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is unique and perhaps confusing for those who are unfamiliar with it. Even many members of the Church who accept, love, and appreciate the priesthood may find themselves “fuzzy” on the doctrine and principles. Perhaps that is because the term priesthood is used in at least two ways. First, priesthood is the term used to describe the total power and authority of God. Second, priesthood is also the term used to describe the power and authority that God gives to ordained priesthood holders on earth to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children. 1 This second usage is the widely accepted definition of the priesthood. For example, Preach My Gospel defines priesthood as the authority and power that God gives to man to act in the name of Jesus Christ in all things for the salvation of mankind. 2 Thus, the same word, priesthood, refers both to God’s total power and authority and to that portion of His power and authority that He delegates to man on earth.

As a keynote speaker at the Reuben Clark Law Society’s annual fireside on Friday, Sister Ruth Renlund shared inspiring stories from her own life.