Restored priesthood
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Because Mormonism believes that the early church fell into apostacy, they also conclude that the priesthood authority was not passed down.
There are two main priesthoods that are considered important: the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood.
- "This matter of the two orders of priesthood in the Church of Christ, and lineal priesthood of the old law being in the church, all originated in the mind of Sydney Rigdon. He explained these things to Brother Joseph in his way, out of the old Scriptures, and got Joseph to inquire, etc. He would inquire, and as mouthpiece speak out the revelations just as they had it fixed up in their hearts....according to the desires of the heart, the inspiration comes, but it may be the spirit of man that gives it.... This is the way the High Priests and the 'priesthood' as you have it, was introduced into the Church of Christ almost two years after its beginning--and after we had baptized and confirmed about two thousand souls into the church." - David Whitmer, An Address To All Believers In Christ, p. 64
- "The important details that are missing from the 'full history' of 1834 are likewise missing from the Book of Commandments in 1833. The student would expect to find all the particulars of the Restoration in this first treasured set of 65 revelations, the dates of which encompassed the bestowals of the two Priesthoods, but they are conspicuously absent... The notable revelations on Priesthood in the Doctrine and Covenants before referred to, Sections 2 and 13, are missing, and Chapter 28 gives no hint of the Restoration which, if actual, had been known for four years. More than four hundred words were added to this revelation of August, 1829 in Section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the additions made to include the names of heavenly visitors and two separate ordinations. The Book of Commandments gives the duties of Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons and refers to Joseph's apostolic calling but there is no mention of Melchezedek Priesthood, High Priesthood, Seventies, High Priests, nor High Councilors. These words were later inserted into the revelation on Church organization and government of April, 1830, making it appear that they were known at that date, but they do not appear in the original, Chapter 24 of the Book of Commandments three years later. Similar interpolations were made in the revelations known as Sections 42 and 68." - La Mar Petersen, Problems in Mormon Text, pp. 7-8)
This article is a stub. Please edit it to add information.
[edit] Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptize one another
[edit] Power to give the Holy Ghost and ordain elders
[edit] The Aaronic priesthood
[edit] The visitation of Peter, James, and John
"I never heard one word of John the baptist, or of Peter, James, and John's visit and ordination till I was told some year afterward in Ohio." - Apostle William E. McLellin
[edit] The "Melchizedek" priesthood
[edit] A principle more eternally constant in the past than the fullness of God himself
- "It is recorded in the Book of Alma regarding the Priesthood, that the ordinances of the Priesthood and the calling to the Priesthood were without beginning or end. There may be a beginning to the person who is called, but that Priesthood existed before that person was called, and there was no beginning to the calling, no beginning to the ordinances of the Priesthood, no beginning to the Priesthood itself, being handed down from all eternity, being in existence in all of the worlds that were worthy of having the Priesthood and authority from God. The reason for my making this observation is to clear up one point which may perhaps trouble the minds of some of the Latter-day Saints." - Orson Pratt, "The Divine Authority of the Holy Priesthood, etc.", Journal of Discourses, pp. 28-29[1]
- "The priesthood or authority in which we stand is the medium or channel through which our Heavenly Father has purposed to communicate light, intelligence, gifts, powers, and spiritual and temporal salvation unto the present generation." - Lorenzo Snow, Millennial Star 2:39, May, 1841
- "Our Heavenly Father performs all His works-the creation of worlds, the redemption of worlds-by the power of the eternal priesthood. And no man on the earth, from the days of Father Adam to the present time, has ever had power to administer in any of the ordinances of life and salvation only by the power of the Holy Priesthood. You will find this to be the case in the whole history of the prophets of God." - Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses 24:242, July 20, 1883
- "There is no change in the eternal and everlasting priesthood. It is without beginning of days or end of years. It is from eternity unto eternity. By the power of that priesthood God, our Eternal Father, has organized all worlds and redeemed all worlds that have ever been redeemed." - Wilford Woodruff, Deseret Weekly News 38:450, March 5, 1889
- “Shall I startle you when I say that our Father himself controls the universe and occupies His exalted station because of the Priesthood? Whether it is startling or not, it is nevertheless true.” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, chapter 19)
- "The priesthood of the Son of God is from everlasting to everlasting; it is without beginning of days or end of years, or time. It is without father, without mother, without descent; it is the power by which the worlds are and were created and the power by which they are now held in existence and by which all that are yet to come will be organized, governed, controlled and sustained." - Brigham Young, "Brigham Young" by Nibley, p. 453, October, 1869
- "The Priesthood of God, that was given to the ancients and is given to men in the latter days, is co-equal in duration with eternity—is without beginning of days or end of life. It is unchangeable in its system of government and its Gospel of salvation. It gives to Gods and angels their supremacy and power, and offers wealth, influence, posterity, exaltations, power, glory, kingdoms and thrones, ceaseless in their duration, to all who will accept them on the terms upon which they are offered." - Brigham Young[2]
[edit] Notes
- ↑ Available online here.
- ↑ http://gospelink.com/next/doc?doc_id=200626&highlight_p=1
[edit] External links
[edit] Non-Mormon
- The Priesthood of Melchizedek (LetUsReason.org)
- When was the Mormon priesthood restored? (lds-mormon.com)
- Priesthood (UTLM.org) - Mormon Claims Answered, chapter 6
- The Evolution of Authority, by D. Michael Quinn - Chapter 1 of The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power
[edit] Mormon
- Melchizedek Priesthood (LightPlanet.com)
- Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood (FAIRWiki.org)
- The Restoration of the Priesthood, by Larry C. Porter
- Date of the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood (FAIRWiki.org)
- Jesus is the only Melchizedek priesthood holder (FAIRWiki.org)
- Our Foundation Stories Part VI: The Laying on of Hands, by John Nilsson
[edit] Gospelink
- Definition and Nature of the Priesthood (Latter-day Prophets Speak)
- Priesthood and Church Government, by John A. Widtsoe