Priesthood
"[The
priesthood] is nothing more nor less than the power of God delegated to man by
which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family, in the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and act legitimately; not assuming
that authority, nor borrowing it from generations that are dead and gone, but
authority that has been given in this day in which we live by ministering
angels and spirits from above, direct from the presence of Almighty God."1
After Christ's
apostles died the priesthood power was lost and no longer existed upon the
earth. But John the Baptist restored the lesser priesthood to the prophet Joseph Smith
and Oliver Cowdery when he appeared to them and said,
"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, and of
the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of
Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." 2
At a later date the higher priesthood was
conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by
Peter, James, and John, ordaining them "to be apostles and special
witnesses of Jesus Christ to bear the keys of the ministry of his kingdom, and
a dispensation of the gospel for the last times and for the fullness of
times." 3
It is through
the authority of the priesthood that sacred ordinances of the Mormon Church are
administered. It is the power by which baptisms, confirmations, priesthood
ordinations, and temple sealings are performed. It is
also the power by which healing blessings can be given, revelations can be
received, and the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley
leads the Church.
There are two
priesthoods within the church; one lesser and one higher. Bruce R. McConkie teaches that, "The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory
priesthood, a schooling priesthood, a lesser priesthood, a divine system that
prepares men to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood." 4 It is
given to all worthy young men at the age of twelve. Those who receive the Aaronic Priesthood promise to serve the Lord, forsake the
world, and to live a worthy life.
"The Melchizedek
Priesthood is the highest and holiest order ever given to men on
earth. It is the power and authority to do all that is necessary to assist God
in saving and exalting the children of men. It is the very priesthood held by
the Lord Jesus Christ himself and by virtue of which he was able to gain
eternal life in the kingdom of his Father." 5 All worthy men in
the Church are allowed to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood and are ordained at
age eighteen preparatory to becoming a missionary.
Those who receive this priesthood covenant with God to magnify their callings,
keep the commandments, marry in a Mormon temple,
and serve as Christ did.
The priesthood
is to be used for the blessing of all men, women, and children around the
world; both Mormons
and nonmembers alike.
1. Gospel Doctrine [Deseret
Book Co., 1939 ed.], pp. 139–40.
3. N.
Eldon Tanner, "The Priesthood of God", Ensign, June 1973, 3
4. Bruce
R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the
Priesthood", Ensign, May 1982, 32
5. Bruce
R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the
Priesthood", Ensign, May 1982, 32