Suggest a Site
Now accepting banner ads!
Search this site!
TYLER - Is there any other reference you're aware of as to why we call the priesthood after Melchizedek? I'm trying to understand it better, since we call the church by the Lord's name and end every prayer, talk, testimony in his name why would stating our priesthood authority after his name be considered frequent repetition?
I saw some other answered questions why using "holy priesthood" in a blessing is an abbreviation and not harmful if they are a Melchizedek priesthood holder...I can't quite grasp how in the context of using the priesthood it could be considered frequent repetition in our day with how much we use him name in church affairs and worship.
JOEL - There isn't much else that explains this except what is said in the Scriptures:
"Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.
Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.
But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood." (D&C 107: 2-4)
It sounds more like tradition that the ancient church decided to refer to it as Melchizedek priesthood. "The Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God" is quite a mouthful, so it's understandable that they would want a shorter name for it and not just for avoiding the repetition of the name of God.
According to Alma:
"Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention. (Alma 13: 17-19)
Because of this they honored Melchizedek by using his name to identify the high priesthood.Also, because this has been canonized in the D&C scripture, we can assume that God the Father Himself approves this name for the priesthood, so it is an instruction that we should honor and follow.
A similar reasoning is used for the Aaronic priesthood. Aaron's family was selected for the lesser priesthood, which priesthood was made hereditary (Exodus 28), and Aaron became the head of this order. Therefore as a memorial to him in all generations, his name is used to identify the lesser, Levitical, or Aaronic Priesthood. (D&C 84:18-27; 107:1, 20)
Because all priesthood is Melchizedek (or the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God), having these two alternate names(Aaronic and Melchizedek) makes it easier to differentiate between the two levels of priesthood.
Besides all this, I have seen no other explanations.
Return to top
Return to Questions
HOME
| 