"Now I have a priesthood": Part 1

Fun Times

A primary president, a high councilor, and a bishop sat on the front row of an airplane during a flight that was hijacked. When the hijackers' demands were refused, they threatened to shoot the passengers, starting with the first row.

The primary president asked for one last wish: to sing her favorite primary song. The hijacker said that would be fine.

The high councilor requested that after the song he be allowed to stand and give the talk he had prepared to give in sacrament meeting that next Sunday.

The hijacker agreed, then turned to the bishop. The bishop motioned for the hijacker to come closer and whispered in his ear, "Please shoot me after the song."

"Abraham rejoiced, saying, Now I have a priesthood."

On the day Joseph Smith organized the Church of Christ, he received these words:

   [Joseph] Being inspired
   of the Holy Ghost
   to lay the foundation
   thereof [the church],
   and to build it up
   unto the most holy faith.

(D&C 21:2)

What is the difference between the church being built up into "the most holy faith" as opposed to the church being built up "unto the most holy faith?"  And speaking of The Most Holy Faith . . . which "faith" is that?

   Which church [Church of Christ]
   was organized and established
   in the year of your Lord
   eighteen hundred and thirty,
   in the fourth month,
   and on the sixth day of the month
   which is called April.

(D&C 21:3)

Wow!  That is specific.  We could set our watches to it. 

Why make such a big deal about the date of inception of the church?  This reminds me of something Joseph said, "This is good logic. . . . As the Lord liveth, if it had a beginning, it will have an end." (Joseph Smith, "King Follett Discourse", April 7, 1844.)

​Contrast the beginning of the church with something else:

   This high priesthood
   being after the order
   of his Son, which order
   was from the foundation
   of the world; or in other words,
   being without beginning
   of days or end of years,
   being prepared from eternity
   to all eternity.

(Alma 13:7)

So we can make some logical conclusions here:

   1.  Priesthood existed before the organization of the church; in fact, it existed before the foundation of this world.

   2:  Priesthood will survive after the organization the church has been dissolved, into all eternity.

   3.  Therefore, Priesthood may exist in the church but it is separate from, and does not depend upon, the church for its existence.

As an example: the Three Nephites have priesthood authority but they do not hold an office or keys in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (that I know of, at least).

So one way we could interpret this scripture is that the church (beginning = temporal) is built up to bring us "unto" something that is "most holy," meaning the holy order of the priesthood after the order of the Son of God (no beginning = eternal).

The Whole Enchilada

Where do we obtain, or from whom do we obtain, the priesthood belonging to "the most holy faith?"

As opposed to some other, or lesser, priesthood? Like the "priesthood" belonging to Satan.  I mean, does the devil actually have any authority now that he has been cast down to earth? 

Well, he has a kingdom, doesn't he?

   It is the kingdom of the devil,
   which shall be built up
   among the children of men,
   which kingdom is established
   among them which are in the flesh --

   For the time speedily shall come
   that all churches
   which are built up to get gain,
   and all those who are built up
   to get power over the flesh,
   and those who are built up
   to become popular 
   in the eyes of the world,
   and to do all manner of iniquity;
   yea, in fine, all those who belong
   to the kingdom of the devil . . . 
   
(1 Nephi 22:22-23)

If the kingdom (or church) of the devil is about getting "gain" and "power" and "popularity", then we can safely assume that the kingdom (and church) of God is about the opposite. 

   What is the opposite of "gain"?  (POOR) 

   What is the opposite of "power"?  (MEEK) 

   What is the opposite of "popularity"?  (PERSECUTED)

You know, this church is starting to sound a lot like the one Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount ("Blessed are...").  But who would want to belong to that church?!

Anyone brave enough to belong to a poor, meek and persecuted people, here's a priesthood for you:

   The Melchizedek Priesthood
   holds the right from
   the eternal God,
   and not by descent
   from father and mother;
   and that priesthood is as eternal
   as God Himself, having neither
   beginning of days nor end of life.

(Joseph Smith, TPJS, 323)

Surprise!  The high priesthood does not come "by descent from father and mother"; meaning it is not passed down along earthly lines, like the Aaronic or lesser priesthood, which is lineal.  The Aaronic Priesthood can be passed down, but the priesthood of the most holy faith is not fungible. 

According to Joseph, the high priesthood comes from "God Himself."  What?  How does that work?  How do we get a priesthood from God? 

No worries!  I am sure there's an internet site we can download a certificate from.  But if not: "The Priesthood of Melchizedek is by an oath and covenant." (Joseph Smith, TPJS, 323.) 

Let's see how this worked for Melchizedek, a terrific guy whose name has become synonymous with the high priesthood (kind of like how Kleenex has become synonymous with tissues: can't trademark either):   

   [Melchizedek] was ordained
   an high priest after the order
   of the covenant
   which God made with Enoch,
   It being after the order
   of the Son of God;   
   which order came, not by man,
   nor the will of man;
   neither by father nor mother;
   neither by beginning of days
   nor end of years; but of God;

   And it was delivered unto men
   by the calling of his own voice,
   according to his own will,
   unto as many as believed on his name.
   For God having sworn unto Enoch
   and unto his seed with an oath by himself...

(JST Genesis 14:27-30)

It says that Melchizedek was "ordained an high priest."  But who ordained him?  

   All the prophets had
   the Melchizedek Priesthood
   and were ordained
   by God himself.

(Joseph Smith, TPJS, 181)

Waaaait a minute.  How do we get "ordained by God himself"?   

   Through the "Oath and Covenant" of the priesthood.

The Powers of Heaven

Before we look at the Oath and Covenant, let's look at a few scriptures that talk about the "powers of heaven."  

What are the "powers of heaven?"  That seems a crucial question since "the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled" (D&C 121:36).

What if the "powers of heaven" referred not to some abstraction, but referred instead (hear me out here) to actual, breathing, heavenly beings?  

Curious: the Lord referred to these "powers of heaven" three times (!) in his speech to the Nephites.  

   [This land] shall be a New Jerusalem.
   And the powers of heaven
   shall be in the midst of this people;
   yea, even I will be in the midst of you.

(3 Nephi 20:22)

Hmmm.  In case we missed it, the Lord repeats this idea in the following chapter:

   Then shall they assist my people
   that they may be gathered in,
   who are scattered upon all the face
   of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.

   And then shall the power of heaven
   come down among them;
   and I also will be in the midst.

(3 Nephi 21:24-25)

Is Jesus referring to himself as the "power of heaven?"  Is he saying he will "come down" and be "in the midst" of his people?  

The third and final time we find "the powers" in 3 Nephi is when Jesus ministers to the Three Nephites (who, from what I have heard, spend an inordinate amount of time loitering around Interstate 15 and telling strangers to get their food storage in order): 

   Ye shall live to behold
   all the doings of the Father
   unto the children of men,
   even until all things 
   shall be fulfilled
   according to the will of the Father,
   when I shall come in my glory
   with the powers of heaven.

(3 Nephi 28:7)

Here it sounds like the "powers of heaven" are actual people who accompany the Lord at his Second Coming.  Could this have something to do with Enoch's Zion?  

   And Enoch beheld angels
   descending out of heaven,
   bearing testimony of the Father
   and the Son; and the Holy Ghost
   fell on many, and they were
   caught up by the powers of heaven
   into Zion.

(Moses 7:27)

Are we seeing a connection between the powers of heaven and the New Jerusalem-slash-Zion?  Are we thinking there may be something going on that involves the covenants and oaths God made to Enoch (and the other patriarchal Fathers)?

Are we thinking that authority, or power in the priesthood, comes when we connect with the "powers of heaven"? 

Blessings and More Blessings

"But didn't Abraham receive the priesthood from Melchizedek?" someone may ask.  "Didn't Melchizedek use the laying on of hands to ordain Abraham?"  I am so glad you asked!

   Melchizedek lifted up his voice
   and blessed Abram.

(JST Genesis 14:25)

   And he [Melchizedek] lifted up his voice
   and he blessed Abram,
   being the high priest.

(JST Genesis 14:37)

   And he [Melchizedek] blessed him,
   and said, Blessed be Abram
   of the most high God, possessor
   of heaven and earth.

(Genesis 14:19)

​Okay, I think we get the message.  Melchizedek did not "ordain" Abram; he blessed him.  That's the whole point: the high priesthood is meant to impart blessings.  

This gives a whole new light to Abraham's own account:

   I sought for the blessings
   of the fathers, and the right
​   whereunto I should be ordained
   to administer the same. 

(Abraham 1:2)

The ordination (from God) is meant to give those who are high priests of the holy order the ability to administer "the blessings" unto others.  And remember, Jesus is our Great High Priest.  

Now we need to dissect the following language:

   It [the right belonging to the the fathers]
   was conferred upon me from the fathers.

(Abraham 1:3)

Hold on.  We know that someone "conferred" the right on Abraham.  D&C 84:14 says "Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek."  It does not say, though, "conferred upon me [by] the fathers."  It was conferred "from" the fathers.  What's the difference?

   It [the right] came down from the fathers,
   from the beginning of time, 
   yea, even from the beginning,
   or before the foundation of the earth.

​Hmmm.  What did Alma say "before the foundation of the earth" meant?  He said it meant "being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity" (Alma 13:7).  And what is this "right" Abraham is talking about?

   Even the right of the firstborn,
   or the first man, who is Adam,
   or first father, through the fathers
   unto me.

So it appears the right Abraham sought was something that passed "from" or "through" the fathers, and thus through Melchizedek to Abraham.  
​
   I sought for mine appointment
   unto the Priesthood according to
   the appointment of God
   unto the fathers concerning the seed.

(Abraham 1:4) 
   
How did Abraham receive the holy priesthood and receive the right of the firstborn?  Who is "the seed" who receives the right of the fathers?  

   And the Lord appeared unto me,
   and said unto me: Arise. . . 
   My name is Jehovah, and I know
   the end from the beginning. . . 
   And I will make of thee a great nation,
   and I will bless thee above measure . . . 
   and though shalt be a blessing
   unto thy seed after thee,
   that in their hands they shall bear
   this ministry and Priesthood
   unto all nations.

   And I will bless them through thy name...
   And I will bless them that bless thee.

(Abraham 2:6-11)

From Abraham's example, we find that he received his "appointment" from the Lord himself, who blessed him by an oath and a covenant.  

So it was from the beginning, or with the first man Adam:

   So the Gods went down
   to organize man
   in their own image,
   in the image of the Gods
   to form they him,
   male and female
   to form they them.

   And the Gods said:
   We will bless them.

(Abraham 4:27-28)

   This holy priesthood holds the "blessings" of the family of God.

The Voice

So we've looked at both Melchizedek and Abraham, and how Abraham received his "appointment unto the Priesthood" (Abraham 1:4).  Just to drive home the point:

   Abraham received all things,
   whatsoever he received,
   by revelation and commandment,
   by my word, saith the Lord.

(D&C 132:29)

How about Joseph Smith?  How did he receive his "appointment" unto the high priesthood?  

   For all who will have a blessing
   at my hands
   shall abide the law
   which was appointed
   for that blessing,
   and the conditions thereof,
   as were instituted 
   from before the foundation
   of the world.

   I have appointed 
   unto my servant Joseph
   to hold this power
   in the last days.

   Will I receive at your hands
   that which I have not appointed?
   And will I appoint unto you,
   saith the Lord, except it be by law,
   even as I and my Father
   ordained unto you,
   before the world was?

   I am the Lord thy God,
   and I gave unto thee,
   my servant Joseph,
   an appointment,
​   and restore all things.

(D&C 132:5, 7, 10, 11, 40)

The pattern is remarkable.  God's oath and covenant is delivered by his "word," at his "hands"; even the appointment of the right belonging to the fathers, which is the "right of the firstborn", which Joseph received from God.

   The voice of Peter, James, and John
   in the wilderness between Harmony,
   Susquehanna county, and Colesville,
   Broome county, on the Susquehanna river,
   declaring themselves as possessing
   the keys of the kingdom, and of the
   dispensation of the fulness of times!

   And again, the voice of God
   in the chamber of old Father Whitmer,
   in Fayette, Seneca county, and at
   sundry times, and in divers places
   through all the travels and tribulations
   of this Church of Jesus Christ
   of Latter-day Saints!

   And the voice of Michael, the archangel;
   the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and
   of divers angels, from Michael or Adam
   down to the present time, all declaring 
   their dispensation, their rights, their keys,
   their honors, their majesty and glory,
   and the power of their priesthood.

(D&C 128:20-21)

Whoa, slow down.  What does it mean for these powers of heaven to "declare" their rights and keys and honors?  Does their declaration confer authority, or power, upon us?

Laying on of hands

Isn't it interesting that the ordination of Joseph and Oliver to the Aaronic Priesthood was accompanied by the laying on of hands (see JS-H 1:68), but we have no account of the laying on of hands being used by Peter, James and John?  Instead, we have "the voice" being referenced.  

In fact, a big deal is made about the manner of ordination to the Aaronic priesthood, but we know next to nothing about the manner of ordination to the higher priesthood. 

   Which John I have sent
   unto you, my servants,
   Joseph Smith, Jun., 
   and Oliver Cowdery,
   to ordain you
   unto the first priesthood
   which you have received,
   that you might be called
   and ordained even as Aaron.

(D&C 27:8)

Well, that makes me wonder, "How was Aaron ordained?" 

   And Moses brought Aaron and his sons
   and washed them with water.
   And he put upon him the coat,
   and girded him with the girdle,
   and clothed him with the robe,
   and put the ephod upon him...
   and he put the breastplate upon him:
   also he put in the breastplate
   the Urim and the Thummim.
   And he put the mitre upon his head...
   
   And Moses took the anointing oil...
   and he poured of the anointing oil
   upon Aaron's head, and anointed him,
   to sanctify him.

(Leviticus 8:6-12)

Whoa.  If that is how Aaron was ordained, and if John ordained Joseph and Oliver "even as Aaron", then I must have missed something in the Cliff Notes.

An Important Principle

Joseph Smith said, "There are three grand orders of priesthood." (TPJS, 322.)  He mentioned 1) Melchizedek, 2) Patriarchal, and 3) Levitical.   

It's interesting that ordination to the lesser or Aaronic priesthood is a public production.  It is on display for all to see.  That's the point!  It is the priesthood of "outward ordinances."  

   And gather thou all the congregation
   together unto the door of the tabernacle
   of the congregation.  

   And Moses did as the Lord commanded him;
   and the assembly was gathered together...

   And Moses said unto the congregation,
   This is the thing the Lord commanded 
   to be done.  And Moses brought Aaron
   and his sons, and washed them with water.

(Leviticus 8:3-6)

In fact, we carry paperwork to describe our ordination to the Aaronic priesthood.  

   Each priest, teacher, or deacon
   who is ordained by a priest,
   may take a certificate
   from him at the time,
   which certificate, when presented
   to an elder, shall entitle him 
   to a license, which shall authorize him
   to perform the duties of his calling.

(D&C 20:64)

That makes sense: we want to ensure that those who perform the "duties of his calling" are authorized.  

The principle is that those things done in the church, by the church, are done by common consent and by the laying on of hands.   Article of Faith 5 states that we use the "laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof." 

Well . . . 

Okay, is it possible that Joseph, being a busy guy, asked one of his many friends to respond to John Wentworth and just sort of "rubber stamped" the letter that was sent back to the Chicago Democrat?  After all, could he have dreamt that we would adopt a sort of catechism from some things written in a letter sent to a non-member?  Because why does Article of Faith 5 mention "pastors" and "evangelists" when we don't use those terms for offices in the church?  And isn't Article of Faith 3 weird, too, stating that we are saved "by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel," which is pretty works-based, when the Articles and Covenants state the church's official soteriology as "we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true; And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true" (D&C 20:30-31); and I have to throw a flag on Article of Faith 12, which states we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates . . . because that is not the case from my reading of church history at all, and it certainly does not square with Joseph's attempt at creating the Kingdom of God; and we are talking about red-blooded Americans in Jacksonian America for whom the idea of kings . . . you get the idea.

And while we're talking shop, the lack of historical information we have concerning Peter, James and John and the ordination Joseph and Oliver received from them, and when, and where, and how, is a big historical debate and I do not wish to wade into it.  One of the issues is that the verses in Section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants that mention the ordination by Peter, James and John are not found in the original revelation as recorded in Revelation Book 1; nor are those verses found in The Evening and Morning Star and Book of Commandments when the revelation was published in 1833, but they appear for the first time in the published 1835 Doctrine and Covenants without explanation of where they came from, or from whom, or why.  What further muddies the water is that the added verses also refer to Moroni, when Joseph's own accounts credited Nephi as the angel . . . never mind, that is another historical debate I do not wish to take sides on, but merely to point out that are some interesting things that need to be sorted out. 

Anyway . . . 

Example of Paul

Yes, Paul traveled to Jerusalem 14 years after his conversion on the Road to Damascus, after he had been preaching the gospel and performing miracles all over the world, and was accepted by the 12 Apostles at that time . . . but the apostles did not "give" Paul his authority.

   But I certify you, brethren,
   that the gospel which was preached
   of me is not after man.  [He had no certificate]

   For I neither received it of man,
   neither was I taught it,
   but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

   But when it pleased God,
   who separated me from my mother’s womb,
   and called me by his grace,

   To reveal his Son in me,
   that I might preach him among
   the heathen; immediately
   I conferred not with flesh and blood:

   Neither went I up to Jerusalem
   to them which were apostles before me;
   but I went into Arabia,
   and returned again unto Damascus.

(Galatians 1:11-17)​

But there were many people who rejected Paul's authority and his claim to the apostleship.  Not Peter, who referred to Paul as a "beloved brother" (2 Pet. 3:15-16), but there was enough opposition to Paul that he had to "defend" his unorthodox apostleship in 2 Corinthians chapters 10 thru 13. 

   For in nothing
   am I behind
   the very chiefest
   apostles, though
   I be nothing.

   Truly the signs
   of an apostle
   were wrought
   among you
   in all patience,
   in signs,
   and wonders,
   and mighty deeds.

(2 Cor. 12:11-12)

Paul's authority did not come through the Church, although he was acknowledged by the Church; it was given him by God and confirmed by the "signs," "wonders," and "mighty deeds" he performed in the name of the Lord. 

A is for Apple

When a child learns to read, they begin by learning their "letters."  Then we put those letters together into words.  And then we start adding punctuation to create strings of words into sentences.  Likewise, Joseph Smith spent a lot of time trying to organize and set in order the priesthood for the church.  The structure and offices and roles evolved over his lifetime, but the one thing that seems to have remained the same was Joseph pointing us towards that priesthood which belongs to "the most holy faith," which comes from God himself.    

The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
​
​So let's look at the the Oath and Covenant.

   All those who receive [this] priesthood,
   receive this oath and covenant
   of my Father, which he cannot break,
   neither can it be moved.

   But whoso breaketh this covenant
   after he hath received it,
   and altogether turneth therefrom,
   shall not have forgiveness of sins
   in this world nor in the world to come.

   And wo unto all those who come not
   unto this priesthood which ye have received,
   which I now confirm upon you
   who are present this day,
   by mine own voice out of the heavens;
   and even I have given the heavenly hosts
   and mine angels charge concerning you
   [think: "powers of heaven"].

   For you shall live by every word
   that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

   For the word of the Lord is truth,
   and whatsoever is truth is light,
   and whatsoever is light is Spirit,
   even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

   And the Spirit giveth light to every man
   that cometh into the world; and the Spirit
   enlighteneth every man through the world,
   that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

   And every one that hearkeneth
   to the voice of the Spirit
   cometh unto God, even the Father.

   And the Father teacheth him
   of the covenant which he has renewed
   and confirmed upon you,
   which is confirmed upon you for your sakes,
   and not for your sakes only,
   but for the sake of the whole world.

(D&C 84:40-48)

Clearly the Oath and Covenant and receiving the fullness of the priesthood involves knowing the Father.

Example of Alma

How did Alma the Elder receive his authority?

   And it came to pass that Alma,
   having authority from God,
   ordained priests; even one priest
   to every fifty of their number.

(Mosiah 18:18)

Look at the words Alma used when he baptized in the Waters of Mormon:

   I baptize thee,
   having authority
   from the Almighty God.

(Mosiah 18:13)

Remember how the high priesthood is to administer blessings?  Look at what happened to Alma:

   And it came to pass
   that after he had poured
   out his whole soul to God,
   the voice of the Lord
   came to him, saying:

   Blessed art thou, Alma,
   and blessed are they who were baptized
   in the waters of Mormon. 
   Thou art blessed because of thy 
   exceeding faith in the words alone 
   of my servant Abinaidi.

   And blessed art thou 
   because thou has established
   a church among this people.

    Yea, blessed is this people 
    who are willing to bear my name.

   Thou art my servant, and I covenant
   with thee that thou shalt have
   eternal life.

(Mosiah 26:14-20)   

Conclusion

Come unto Christ, come unto God, even the Father.  Receive the words of life from his mouth.  Enter into his covenant.