I’ve always given the Old Testament a little less (well, maybe a lot) attention than the rest of the scriptures. I’m not totally sure why, but I usually blame it on my Isaiahophobia. Because let’s be honest—if you stay in the Old Testament long enough, you’re eventually going to run straight into Isaiah.
But lately something’s shifted. For the past couple of weeks, a single word has been jumping off the page and making my Old Testament study feel surprisingly alive. I’m kind of loving this new spark.
This week, the word was “season.” Not like fall or spring, but a chapter of life—a stretch of time when your responsibilities, abilities, and opportunities to serve take on a certain shape. And as life shifts—jobs, health, kids, callings—that season shifts too, and the Lord helps us grow step by step.
Priesthood Seasons (Life Chapters, Not Weather)
Thinking about it this way has helped me see what I’d call “priesthood seasons”—times when our covenant responsibilities and chances to help others look a little different than before. As Ecclesiastes puts it: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
A priesthood season isn’t about being noticed; it’s about stewardship: what the Lord has put in your hands right now.
Not all seasons are problems
When I say “seasons,” you might picture hard times. But some seasons are full of joy: you feel spiritual progress, your marriage feels close, your calling fits just right, you’re learning fast, and you see good fruit from your efforts. These seasons are just as spiritual—they’re gifts from God.
Doctrine and Covenants 84 helps explain why good seasons matter: “in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest” (D&C 84:20). Some seasons feel bright because the Lord lets you experience that power in uplifting ways—through worship, covenants, and service that feels strengthened by the Spirit.
Even in hard seasons, Christ can give real joy. Elder Brian K. Taylor quoted the Book of Mormon, which promises that afflictions can be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ” (Alma 31:38; see Elder Brian K. Taylor, “Swallowed Up in the Joy of Christ,” Apr. 2024). Pain is still real, but it doesn’t have to be the deepest part of your experience.
1) Personal priesthood seasons (the inner work)
Some seasons are all about who the Lord is helping you become.
Preparation seasons: learning to repent quickly, be honest, control your temper, keep your promises, and be spiritually dependable.
- Rebuilding seasons: times when your confidence drops or you feel spiritually dry. In these chapters, success might just mean sticking to the basics—pray, study, keep the Sabbath, take the sacrament, and keep showing up.
- Refining seasons: learning that priesthood power always belongs to the Lord and is used in His way. D&C 84 shows the purpose: the priesthood and ordinances are meant to bring us to God—“the power of godliness” made manifest (see D&C 84:19–20)—not to boost our own egos.
A good question for these personal seasons is: What does the Lord want me to become—not just what does He want me to do?
2) Family priesthood seasons (the homework)
Family seasons are where priesthood living gets real, showing love and serving, over and over again
- New marriage seasons: “leading” looks like counseling together, serving, and being quick to repent.
Little kids seasons: family prayer and scripture time might be short and a little wild. That’s probably just right for this stage. - Teen seasons: focus less on control and more on listening, inviting, and showing steady love.
- Caregiving seasons: maybe you’re dealing with illness, aging parents, or mental health struggles. Priesthood service might be quiet—giving rides, making meals, handling paperwork, and showing patience and endurance.
A good question to ask is: Do the people in my home feel emotionally and spiritually safe with me
3) Church Service Seasons
Church service seasons can swing from busy to quiet. Both matter.
- Service Priesthood Seasons (Ward & Community)
- High-demand calling seasons: serve with heart, but protect your home life by keeping things simple wherever you can.
- Hidden seasons: having fewer visible assignments doesn’t mean you aren’t needed. Keep worshipping, keep serving in small ways, and keep your covenants.
- Support seasons: sometimes your job is to help and lift others as they carry their responsibilities.
It helps to remember that some seasons really are temporary. The Book of Mormon even says some people have joy “for a season” (3 Nephi 27:11). That’s a warning, but also a reminder that things change. You won’t always be where you are now.
A simple “season check-in”
Try these in prayer:
- What stewardships has the Lord clearly given me right now?
- What should I simplify so I can endure well in this season?
- Is this a season to build—or to heal?
- Who is one person the Lord is putting in front of me to lift this week?
Seasons, or chapters, always change. Some feel like growth and progress. Others feel like endurance and healing. If you stay close to Jesus Christ, especially through the ordinances where “the power of godliness is manifest” (D&C 84:20), no season is wasted. If you’re in a hard season, don’t give up. Stay in the Church, keep your covenants, and keep trying.
This work was created with the help of AI as a tool for research, proofreading, and checking doctrinal accuracy—much like many writers rely on researchers and editors to strengthen clarity and correctness. However, the thoughts, interpretations, and overall message are mine, and the vast majority of the writing is my own.
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The content on this website is for entertainment and faith-building discussion. Any comparisons made between movies, books, current events, or other media and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are personal commentary and illustrative only[…]
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