In a Women's Conference workshop Thursday, Susan Jones and BYU law professor D. Gordon Smith instructed women about a subject that is not often discussed in Relief Society lessons: priesthood blessings.

The workshop, entitled "Calling Upon the Powers of Heaven: Seeking Priesthood Counsel and Priesthood Blessings," encouraged women to have faith, increase worthiness and trust in the Lord to receive the full blessings available through priesthood blessings.

Smith, who joined the church as a student at BYU more than 25 years ago, encouraged women to apply the Book of Mormon scripture Mormon 9:27 to the faith required for receiving priesthood blessings.

"...Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart..."

Smith said this scripture sums up the attitude needed to receive the promises that come through priesthood blessings.

Jones added that trust in the Lord's timing is essential when receiving a priesthood blessing.

"We cannot have complete faith in the Lord unless we have complete trust in his timing," Jones said, quoting Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

Jones understands better than many that promised priesthood blessings come in the Lords time. To illustrate this, Jones shared that her son, born with severe food allergies, waited more than 18 years while receiving multiple priesthood blessings before these promised blessings were realized.

Jones also emphasized that worthiness is vital to receiving priesthood blessings.

"We must have the courage to conduct a personal spiritual inventory," Jones said.

To help women more fully receive priesthood blessings, Jones offered five points that can help women improve their worthiness: obeying with exactness, increasing our worthiness by improving our personal prayers, feast upon the word and expanding our worthiness by standing in holy places.