In The Shadow of My Savior Jesus Christ

Provo City Center Temple

I have a constant companion these days since Patsy died. It is my Savior, symbolically represented here. There are many times since her death that I have longed for her company, even as I am driving to various destinations, but particularly when I attend a temple session without her. Despite that, I still attend the temples in Utah as often as I can, since I draw so much inspiration and peace from the attempts.

Yesterday, I was in the Provo City Center Temple for an endowment session. I was officiating for an ancestor from Derbyshire, England, who was born in 1604. My ancestors emigrated from England, many bearing the scars, the wrath of mobs who smeared their bodies with tar and feathers, and the complete rejection of their company in their neighborhoods because they had joined the Mormons. James Munns, a grandfather in our family, was bent over the rest of his life from the beatings he sustained before leaving England. They emigrated to the empty desert valleys of Utah near what is today Lehi, Utah. They were part of the "sugar beet mission" in those days, barely eking out an existence. Fortunately for me, they survived and we are now thriving because of their sacrifice.

I am blessed with many temples throughout Utah, where I can choose which one to attend week to week. Patsy and I were ordinance workers in the Salt Lake Temple before it closed for renovations. That coincided with the discovery of a meningioma brain tumor that required surgery for removal in March, 2020. Of all the eventualities that could have happened to me, a brain tumor was remote in my thinking back then. 

Following my recovery, we were offered new positions as ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple. We discussed it and decided together we would rather do the actual ordinance work for our ancestors instead. I have continued to carry on without her in that seminal work of the Restoration. Temple ordinance work was pre-eminent in the earliest days of this seventh dispensation. The Salt Lake Temple construction took 40 years to complete, but the pioneers persisted until it was finished. Such is our heritage in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I am routinely reminded of the sacrifices of those ancestors who came here under Brigham Young's stewardship to settle these remote mountain valleys. I imagine to myself what their lives must have been like when I contemplate their existence in those formative days in Utah, even before it was accepted as a state into the United States of America. It's what motivates me to accomplish all I can in the temples for their blessing.

Right now, we are in what is all-too-familiar territory for us. We are lacking the critical moisture we need. It is a winter without snow that provides the life-giving water we will need in spring and summer. Our Utah Governor Spencer Cox has invited us to fast and pray this coming weekend for more snow. WHAT? Pray for God to mitigate the weather for our benefit? What a novel idea that is! It might even seem incomprehensible to those who are unfamiliar with our beliefs as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in these last days!

However, we believe we are children of a God who loves us unconditionally, and sent His Beloved Son Jesus Christ as a propitiation for sin by allowing His Atonement to be carried out by the most wicked people in His Son's generation on earth to effect His brutal crucifixion and burial in a borrowed tomb. Let this thought sink in for just a moment. Jesus Christ conquered sins for sinners yet unborn in His voluntary Atonement. All of us living on planet Earth today are in that category, aren't we?

As we have begun our Old Testament studies this year in Come, Follow Me curriculum, I am once again made aware of a long history of faithful followers of the Jehovah who was yet to come. No matter which dispensation in which we live, or have lived, or may yet live, the eternal Atonement of Jesus Christ remains the most obvious reality of God the Father's love for each of us, no matter what our present extremities might represent in suffering. Remember, He descended below them all!!

1 The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;

2 While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.

3 And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.

4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.

5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever. (D&C 122, from the Prophet Joseph's revelation in Liberty Jail as he sought comfort for himself and the suffering saints).

Yes, it is true we are in a drought this winter in Utah. I treasure the memory of Joseph Smith, who was suffering in Liberty Jail as few of us ever will through a torturous winter under different circumstances. It helps me to put into perspective what we are experiencing in our sequestered mountain home. 

Home Fireplace Always Works

Recently, my propane tank supplying fuel for my boiler ran empty and I had it refilled. Sadly, the boiler was not firing again after two cold nights. Fortunately, my home storage includes an ample supply of firewood for just such emergencies. I called for a technician to come and see if he could get it going again. He came in armed only with a screwdriver, and I escorted him into the crawl space where the boiler is located. He removed the front panels, then gently tapped the side of the housing for the pilot light with his screwdriver, and amazingly, the boiler fired off on its auto-ignition. As he had suspected, there was an air bubble that had developed in the line from the propane tank that was blocking the fuel from flowing into the boiler. Problem solved. His comment with a smile was, "I thought I might be able to solve it with my screwdriver." And he did! He was the master of the pilot light. I needed his help. Similarly, we worship the Master of the Weather and all of the Universe, and we need His help.

Dear Readers of this poor page, now hear this: The God of the Universe has made ample provisions for all of us, unworthy as we may be. When we exercise our faith, offer our prayers and fasting to Him, do not believe for one second that our appeals for help fall on deaf ears. 

I testify of the reality and the divinity of our Father in Heaven, His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the direction of the Holy Ghost, all three separate and distinct Beings anxious to bless and deliver all those who come and partake at the banquet table of Their offerings for us. . .

Even those humble Goates beet farmers from England who settled in Utah County near Lehi, Utah.

If you could hold on to just one memory from your life forever, what would that be?

On a periodic basis I receive questions from my family they would like me to answer as I compile my memoirs. This one came to me the other day from eldest daughter Dianne. Here's my response:

You want me to single out a single favorite memory from my whole life? Well, I find that request nearly impossible to fulfill. Why? Because at this stage my memories are flooding my brain almost continually. I look back with great fondness on all the events of my life. I tend to remember all the good things that happened, and I have been blessed with a memory that auto-erases all the bad ones. Call it selective memory if you wish, but that’s reality.

Life is such a blessing to me and to all of us. Mortality is a gift from our loving Father in Heaven. We yearned for it in the pre-existence, and we were in that vast throng of eager spirits who couldn’t wait to be born. I suspect we all knew we would have to wait a little longer than most, since we were selected to come here in the last dispensation.

We were told we were among the “noble and great ones” (see Abraham 3:21-23) who would be tasked with being valiant in preparation for the Lord’s triumphant return in the glorious Second Coming. If you’ve been asleep lately, you may have missed President Russell M. Nelson speaking directly to you as he urges and invites us to prepare for that day. He has done that in EVERY talk he has given since becoming the President of the Church. And he has spearheaded the building of temples worldwide to hasten our preparations spiritually.

I often refer to the writings of Elder Neal A. Maxwell for his perspectives on gospel topics, who offers this in relation to our first and second estates:

“Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we were chosen ‘there and then,’ surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now.’ …

“In fact, adequacy in the first estate may merely have ensured a stern, second estate with more duties and no immunities! Additional tutoring and suffering appears to be the pattern for the Lord’s most apt pupils. (See Mosiah 3:19; 1 Peter 4:19.) Our existence, therefore, is a continuum matched by God’s stretching curriculum. …

“Agreeing to enter this second estate, therefore, was like agreeing in advance to anesthetic — the anesthetic of forgetfulness. Doctors do not deanesthetize a patient, in the midst of what was previously authorized, to ask him, again, if it should be continued. We agreed to come here and to undergo certain experiences under certain conditions” (“Premortality, a Glorious Reality,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 17).

William Wordsworth (1770-1850), famous poet, wrote:

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
  Hath had elsewhere its setting
  And cometh from afar;
  Not in entire forgetfulness,
  And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
  From God, who is our home.

(Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood).

All those memories of our pre-existence were wiped from our memory at birth into this world. We can’t remember them for now, only so that we will learn in our tests of mortality to choose and to serve God. There must be an atmosphere of “entire forgetfulness” to prove our fidelity to God and to ourselves. Moral agency reigns supreme in this world, or the freedom to choose for ourselves without compulsion of any kind.

That said, however, reading and embracing the scriptures over the years has taught me there are brief glimpses through the veil into those pre-mortal realms. I have had persistent impressions, enough to convince me of my origins and the promises made and kept before I was born. I suspect it is the same of all of us if we will admit it to ourselves. So maybe we could say “partial forgetfulness” to open the door to understanding our divine nature.

Okay, good preamble, but you haven’t really answered the question posed to you. What’s that ONE memory you would hold with you forever? Put in those terms it’s really a simple choice for me.

It’s that very first date with Patsy Hewlett I would like to preserve in my mind forever. She was so pure, so radiant, and so filled with hope for the future. Her testimony of her Savior shone in her countenance, and that beauty radiated from her every moment of her life with me for as long as I can remember. Her whole soul, it seems to me, was reflected in her eyes. I felt as though I had always known her. I defined beauty in knowing who she was up close and personal. I reflect on that reality now every moment we are apart temporarily. I cling to that memory and that knowledge we will be together FOREVER.

On a social media platform the other day the question was posed to the community, “Are you happy being alone?” It was prescient, and hit me at one of those moments when I could accurately describe myself as ANYTHING but happy. So I answered with a declaration of my understanding of eternal marriage and my testimony of being together eternally with my companion of a lifetime. Many sent responses to me directly, thanking me for my candor. I will probably never change the world with my digital profile, but maybe I could reach one soul out there in cyberspace, and that would be worth my effort.

Only a few moments before I had noted an entry from a woman who purportedly had sexual intercourse with 1000 men in a 24-four period, and she was boasting of her achievement with her “after” picture. (I had to double-check for accuracy). She claimed to have had 24 abortions in her lifetime, and wasn’t the least bit concerned about her behavior. Instead, she claimed “happiness” had been achieved in her life. Another poster challenged, “Is she happy?” This is the world in which we find ourselves today. Do not be deceived, my dear ones.

Patsy and Melanie

This is the face of pure happiness, and it is a woman fully possessed in her knowledge of her divine purpose. You could substitute any of her children in that snapshot and it would have been the same. Oh, that face!!

This world today in its present state is where we reside physically, however it is NOT our spiritual destination eternally. That ultimate goal for each of us is where Patsy and all our progenitors are beckoning us to come. We live in their spiritual presence, and they are nearby to assist us in whatever extremity we may find ourselves. I feel routinely comforted by that knowledge and testify of their investment in our success.

Resurrection Morning

The Savior has prepared the way ahead for us, and we may trust Him in all we do. His plan is eternal in its nature, even though it appears sometimes to be unachievable. I give you my assurance as one who steps closer to eternity every day now, that it IS possible to live the plan of salvation fully and completely. We walk by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I can feel it reverberating in my aging bones.

Any memories beyond that very first and most endearing one of Patsy for me are merely more frosting on my many-layered chocolate cake of life. I love you all.

The 1st Anniversary of Patsy's Death

It's almost a year since my beloved Patsy's death. It will be a year tomorrow - July 25th, 2024. I have been pondering the lessons learned since her passing. It's Pioneer Day in Utah, the statewide holiday when we commemorate the arrival of those noble pioneers who traversed the American wilderness in 1847 to settle in these valleys of the mountains in what would later become the great state of Utah. 

In so many ways, Patsy's life embodied the finest qualities of her ancestry who carved out their homes here. In 1976, we laid the footings and the foundation of our mountain home in Woodland, Utah, in her ancestral summer home of Pine Valley. In every way she was a modern pioneer woman blazing a trail for those who would follow after her in this idyllic setting.

I suppose it is not surprising that someone near and dear to me in the ward asked me recently what I’ve learned in the last year since Patsy’s death. Today I will boldly and publicly answer that question. I can now offer some lessons that have quietly distilled upon me.

Most will tell you to wait at least a year after the death of a loved one before making any major decisions. I have seen the wisdom of that advice. Here are some obvious observations:

1. I can’t imagine re-marrying anyone else. Patsy is cemented in my heart and soul as my eternal companion, and I’m not sure I want to muddy those waters by seeking a new relationship anytime soon. I watched it happen to others and it’s always appeared to be a complex situation when blending two new families. I'm opting for simplicity.

2. Thoughts have taken shape over this past year about what to do with the house. I’ve asked my attorney son, Rich, to put together some legal paper work to effectively transfer title to an entity yet to be determined, and owned by those who are willing and desire to take ownership in the future. Some will opt in and others will opt out. I want to make certain that we entertain everyone’s wishes and accommodate as many as possible in whatever contingency may arise. Stay tuned for details to emerge. I continue to welcome and solicit your input.

3. That brings up the outstanding mortgage. I wish I were debt-free, but that is not the case. Son Steve recently estimated that if every family - 12 in number - contributed $100 per month that could be applied directly to principal, the mortgage would be retired completely in 9 years! Of course, that contribution would be strictly voluntary, but it illustrates the power of a large number of contributors. This is just to plant a seed for discussion for now.

4. I’ve learned to be more loving, more patient and more forgiving than ever before. It’s because I am closer to following in Patsy’s footsteps than I ever envisioned until now. My weaknesses are many, and I continue to seek improvement in these specific areas. I have always believed the best in others, and this has sometimes been a weakness that has hurt me and our family.

5. There have been some amazing happenings in which I have learned I was correct in my earlier decision making, even though the outcomes were unknown back then. At the top of that list was my recent lunch with an old co-worker who confirmed my choices. Who knew it would take this many years to reach closure? A lesson in patience and faith for sure.

6. I have been more grateful than ever for good health. My recent doctors’ appointments have been affirming to me. There has been improvement in my brain, my eyes and my overall health profile as confirmed by the doctors. Of course, I am not unaware my mortal overall outcome will be death, as it is for each of us, but for the moment I am happy to be alive and thriving to the extent I am.

7. I’ve learned to savor my memories, which explains why I never seem to run out of topics about which I can write. My personal physician told me yesterday he believes writing helps my brain to continue to function well. He encouraged me to keep doing it. I agree, and hope you do too.

8. My life with Patsy was joyful and fulfilling in every way imaginable. My testimony of the gospel was enhanced and buttressed in every way by my eternal companionship with her. I still savor that last road trip we took out to Minnesota and back, stopping as we did in six temples in six states in six days. It was the fitting culmination of our lives together in loving and worshipping in the temples.

9. My lessons in loneliness continue unabated. “Is it good for man to be alone? It is NOT good that the man should be alone.” (See Abraham 5:14). Those words from scripture resonate in my heart every night and every day. I have settled into routines that are not nearly as complete and joyful as they were when we were still together in the flesh.

10. I have been asked about whether or not I still “feel” her nearby. The answer is “Yes.” It’s so real sometimes I expect to see her walking into the room at any moment. I still imagine hearing her bath water running in the other room while I am laying in bed at night. I am still waiting for her to join me when I realize I am drifting off to sleep all alone.

11. How would you summarize the last year without her? It’s simple. I miss her every moment of every day. The emptiness I feel is very tangible, and it’s a physical phenomenon having little or nothing to do with my faith and the spiritual truths I hold inviolate. It’s root-bound in my physical world that has been altered. I know the gospel is true, I know my Redeemer lives and died to take away all my sins, and I know the plan of salvation includes the hope of a resurrection and eternal life. All that said, however, there is a physical dimension in which I live that demands my ongoing attention. That includes meals, laundry, cleaning, chores, repairs, managing resources, and embracing the changing seasons. It’s all different now without her.

12. I know she lives on in the spirit world. I am thankful for the spiritual manifestations I have received that give me that assurance. Sometimes it is just a quiet prompting to do something good for someone. I’ve have dreams about her now. I often find myself envisioning what it will be like to go through the veil to be greeted by her and all my family members who have preceded me in death. I dreamt about that last night.

* * *

There may be other lessons learned I have not written yet, and to that end I may amend this post in future days, but twelve is enough for now. By putting myself "out there" I only hope to inspire others who may be in similar circumstances, not to suggest I have all the answers. I've decided I'm just not that smart to qualify as a guru quite yet.

Please know how much I cherish each of you, my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who receive these updates. I hope they may be useful to you. That’s the only reason I write what I do so there may be a lasting testament that will outlive me.

I watched her funeral services again this morning. I was reminded how incredible each of you is as I shared that sacred hour with all of you a year ago. Her life was the embodiment of discipleship to her Savior Jesus Christ as a true and devoted pioneer. In you I see her. May each of us continue to follow the path she has set before us, the covenant path, with hearts brimming with faith and assurance that she will never be far from us. Of that fact I am a witness. 

"Hope Cometh in the Morning"

We have all recently been reminded of the sagacious wisdom of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon: 

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Mosiah 2:41).

I am headed to the new Orem Temple for an endowment session this afternoon. I find these days filled with a constant desire to be in the Lord's House, no matter which one. I love the constant reminders of His goodness. I am anxious to learn more each time I go. I will never get to the end of all there is to understand and believe. It is an endless pursuit in mortality.

There are so many sources to which we can look for inspiration. Grief has been my constant companion since last July, when we bade a temporary farewell to my beloved companion of a lifetime, Patsy. But there is a corollary that goes with grief - the more we loved the more intense our grief may be. Saddened as I have been for my loss, my heart lifts in perpetual gratitude for the richness Patsy has brought into my life. 

I came across a statement this morning from someone named Frank O'Connor, who said: "All I know from my own experience is that the more loss we feel the more grateful we should be for whatever it was we had to lose. It means we had something worth grieving for. The ones I'm sorry for are the ones that go through life not even knowing what grief is." 

I can hardly conceive of someone going through life without knowing grief. It seems to be the very stuff of our existence. 

But then I remembered this verse also:

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5).

That ultimate morning of the first resurrection is what I focus on now more than ever. The fulness of joy will be unimaginable if we live for it, of that I am certain. There is no doubt we will all experience weeping at times in our lives, and that's when the darkness seems deepest. When we "lose" our spouse, it may be the most wrenching and devastating tragedy we can imagine. But I intentionally placed quotes around the word lose in that sentence. Nothing is ever really lost to us, maybe just temporarily displaced for a season.  

My children are all grieving for the absence of that maternal influence in their lives. There isn't a day that passes without one of them sharing with all the others what new discovery they are making. I am heartened as I read and hear their experiences. They are determined to go forth on their journeys in hope and trust in the Lord. What have they got to lose? And how much joy to gain!

Yesterday, I waded into my Google Photos account, and discovered a memory treasure trove. For an hour I indulged myself, locked alone in my thoughts of her. I found every stage of our lives being relived in all those pictures. Those momentary journeys into the past always include a way back into the present with a knock at the door from a well-intentioned someone who lives in the present with me. I am enriched by both.

At the altitude in Utah's mountains where I live (7333 ft.), I have been enduring four straight days with snow in the air and on the ground. The temps have plummeted too, forestalling what was suggested might be an early Spring. This morning I can finally see a break in the clouds overhead, and streaks of blue sky occasionally. There is nothing like the hope of a new Spring that stirs my soul. It is God's promise of renewal to me. It is as if He whispers, "Don't worry, David. I still remember Spring, and I will be generous to you."

Ministering of Angels

In our family recently, we witnessed the death of my wife, the mother of our children and grandchildren. I explained to all of her posterity when I was asked if she is now a ministering angel in these words:

"And whoso ^areceiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go ^bbefore your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my ^cSpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine ^dangels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88).

The short answer is "yes," your mother (and grandmother) is one of those angels the Lord refers to here. She is always going to be with you from this day forward, even though you may not always see her or feel her as much as you would like. Be assured that she is aware of you, she sees you, and she knows your hearts perfectly. She will be a gift to you from a loving Heavenly Father. The spirits of our deceased ancestors are deeply concerned about us and they love us more than you can imagine. When you pray to your Father in Heaven for guidance or comfort or a special need you may have, I give you my witness that those answers will come. Often they are referred to as the "whisperings" of the Spirit, or "the still, small voice," describing the Holy Ghost. But it has been my experience that the answers may also come quietly from our beloved family members who have preceded us in death and now reside in the world of spirits, as Mom (and Grandma) now does. She may come quietly and even uninvited when you least expect her to show up in a dream. She will settle in your heart with soft, loving and even imperceptible nudges of inspiration about what you should do next. She may just whisper peace to your troubled or anxious heart, but never doubt her reality in your lives. She will always be found "round about you" even when you don't even know it or feel it. I know that is true.

Section 13 of The Doctrine and Covenants consists of the words John the Baptist spoke, as he conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery: “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels. . .”

Those who have the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon them, we are frequently taught in the Church, thereby have right to the ministering of angels. The implication is those who do not hold this priesthood have no right to the ministering of angels. We have misunderstood, and obtaining a proper knowledge of these things is absolutely fundamental to the establishment of the latter-day Zion if we will ever be enabled to come into the presence of an “innumerable company of angels.” (See TPJS, 325).

John said the Aaronic Priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels. However, John did not say what that key was. What is the key of the ministering of angels?

The Prophet Mormon revealed this first Aaronic Priesthood key:

. . . it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men. . . (Moroni 7:37).

The key is faith, specifically faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the key by which angels appear and minister unto men and women. It is the first spiritual key of power. Like “the Hebrew Church [we must come] to an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant.” (TPJS, 325).

Upon reflection, this makes perfect sense. Acting in his editorial role in the compilation of the records comprising The Book of Mormon, Moroni reflected on the faith of his forefathers:

I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers. . .
Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith. . .
It was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God. . .
By faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.
And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad. . . (Ether 12:6-22).

All the mighty works recorded in holy writ have come by faith without exception. Without faith nothing happens. Of course it is the first key of power! No other possibility qualifies. From the “Lectures on Faith” in Joseph’s School of the Prophets, we learn:

Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation, nor existence! (Lectures On Faith, 1:24).
[Faith] is the principle of power in the Deity as well as in man. . . and without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence! (Lectures on Faith, Questions & Answers, Lecture First; also see Hebrews 11:3).

We may be given authority to act in positions in the Church, but without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we really have no power in the priesthood because without faith we can do nothing. (D&C 8:10).