Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Six

Eternal Families in the Patriarchal Order

The family, organized under the patriarchal order of the priesthood, is central to God’s kingdom both on earth and in heaven. When we refer to the patriarchal order of the priesthood we should think “eternal families”. From Adam to Noah, God’s Church on earth was organized through families under the patriarchal order of the priesthood This order of priesthood continued and blessed the families of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Through apostacy the blessings of the patriarchal order was generally lost from the time Israel was in Egypt until the ministry of Jesus Christ. There were exceptions, which include:

- Jethro, the father of Moses’ wife, lived in Midian in the patriarchal order of the priesthood. Jethro ordained Moses to the Melchizedek Priesthood. There is reason to believe that other Old Testament prophets enjoyed the sealing blessings of the patriarchal order of the priesthood.

- Nephi built “a temple” and “lived after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:16, 27). Righteous Nephites, living after the manner of happiness, enjoyed the blessings of the temple and the sealing blessings of the patriarchal order of the priesthood.

Jesus restored the patriarchal order of the priesthood. Peter, James, and John received the keys of the priesthood on the Mount of Transfiguration. The sealing blessings of the patriarchal order was in the Lord’s Church until it was lost in apostacy.

The patriarchal order of the priesthood has been restored in the latter days. The keys of the gospel of Abraham, meaning the patriarchal order of the priesthood, also known as the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, was given to Joseph Smith by Elias in the Kirtland Temple. President Nelson explained why these keys are so important: “Priesthood keys [delivered by Elias] gives us the authority to extend all of the blessings promised to Abraham to every covenant-keeping man and woman” (Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys, April 2024 general conference).

The keys of the patriarchal order of the priesthood, delivered by Elias, and the sealing keys, delivered by Elijah, work together to create eternal families. Both keys are necessary to create eternal families. Eternal families are the crowning blessing of the temple and the ultimate purpose of the House of the Lord.

President Dallin H. Oaks, who holds all the priesthood keys, delegates these keys to be used in missions, stakes, wards, and branches everywhere the Church is organized. However, the keys that he most closely guards are the sealing keys where he authorizes the use of them to seal eternal families in the patriarchal order of the priesthood.

We live at a most remarkable time in the history of the world where the breadth, depth and scope of the Lord’s work includes all those who have ever lived on the earth. In preparation of the Second Coming of the Lord, the gospel of Jesus Christ is being taken to all the world. But even more amazing is that Temples are being built world-wide so that the blessings of the patriarchal order of the priesthood given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are available not only to those who are now living, but also to all those who have ever lived on the earth.

The Founders and many others eminent people in history appeared in the St. George Temple. These righteous people were allowed to come back so they could receive their temple blessings. Temple blessings culminate by entering into the patriarchal order of the priesthood, also known as the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. When seeking their temple blessings this certainly was the Founders greatest desire, and it should also be our greatest desire. An discussion of what took place in the St George temple can be found in Lessons on Freedom and Patriotism, Lesson 8.

Released on February 15th. 2026.