Through the infinite fairness and love of God, all men and women were given equal partnership, gifts, blessings and potential through priesthood ordinances and spiritual gifts, said Sister Julie B. Beck, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency.
"Because of the priesthood, which is woven in and around and through our lives, every power, every covenant we need to do our life's work and walk back to our heavenly home has been poured out upon our heads."
Speaking Saturday morning, Sister Beck shared her joy in the blessings that have been "poured out upon the heads of my people" since the remaining keys of the priesthood were restored in the Kirtland Temple.
"All faithful members of the Lord's Church are equally blessed by priesthood ordinances," she said.
The same baptismal ordinance is performed for a young girl and a young boy who are baptized in the same font. Each is equal in partaking of the sacrament. Each is equally entitled to a priesthood blessing. Each is endowed with power from on high. Each shares equally in the blessings of temple covenants.
"We also share equally in the blessings of spiritual gifts," she said. "The Lord gives us spiritual gifts for our own benefit and to help each other."
To some is given a believing spirit, to others the gift of wisdom, or the ability to use knowledge in righteous ways, to work miracles, to heal, or to discern.
"Priesthood blessings are the great equalizer," she said. "Those blessings are the same for men and women, for boys and girls; they are the same for married and single, rich and poor, for the intellectual and the illiterate, for the well-known and the obscure."