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Introduction |
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The first priesthood mentioned by Joseph Smith is the "High Priesthood"
(June 1831). |
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1829 offices
1832 priesthood
1835 Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods |
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The terms and concepts of “Aaronic Priesthood”
and “Melchizedek Priesthood,” universally used by the LDS and
Community of Christ [formerly RLDS] churches today, were not adopted until
1835 and underwent significant changes as late as 1844, the year of Joseph
Smith’s
death. Three offices—elder, priest, and teacher—were present
within the Restoration by August 1829, as were the ordinances of baptism,
confirmation, and ordination, but the word “priesthood” in
reference to these offices and ordinances did not occur for another three
years. |
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Authority, 14. |
| Angelic restoration late |
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Finally, while important steps in this developmental process
were early associated with divine or angelic visitations, specific roles
for John the Baptist and Peter, Joseph, and John were first identified only
several years later. |
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References dropped after 1840
Primacy of Elijah |
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Though today still associated with the restoration of Aaronic
and Melchizedek priesthoods, during Joseph Smith’s lifetime they became
completely overshadowed by the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Indeed, after
1840 Smith never associated John the Baptist or Peter, James, and John with
the concept of priesthood, opting instead to emphasize the primacy of Elijah. |
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| June, October 1831 |
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High Priesthood |
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| High Priesthood 1831 |
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First bestowed on elders by Joseph, then Lyman Wight, June
3–6, 1831. |
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Minutes
of June [3–6], 1831 |
| Sealing power |
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Joseph: High Priesthood is the "power … to seal
up the Saints unto eternal life. And said it was the privilege of every
Elder present to be ordained to the Highpriesthood." |
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¶
Minutes of October 25–26, 1831 |
| Restoration |
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Texts referring to priesthood restoration. |
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Priesthood
Restoration |
| Possible influence |
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Text of an 1810 book whose author was known to Joseph about
the Aaronic and Melchezidek priesthoods. |
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Gray's
Priesthoods |
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| September 1832 |
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Holy Priesthood ancient, eternal |
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Line of authority in Holy Priesthood from Moses back to Adam. |
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¶ D&C
84:6–17 |
| High Priesthood continues with church |
17 |
Which priesthood [High Priesthood] continueth in the church
of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years. |
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Priesthood of Aaron |
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| Priesthood of Aaron |
18 |
And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also
upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood
also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the
holiest order of God. |
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¶ D&C
84:18, 26–27 |
Lesser priesthood continued
Ministering angels |
26 |
And the lesser priesthood continued,
which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory
gospel; |
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| Repentance, baptism, carnal commandments |
27 |
Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism,
and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the
Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the
children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the
Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. |
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Greater priesthood keys, ordinances, and authority |
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| Greater priesthood |
19 |
And this greater priesthood administereth
the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the
key of the knowledge of God. |
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¶ D&C
84:19–25 |
| Power of godliness |
20 |
Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness
is manifest. |
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| Ordinances |
21 |
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of
the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; |
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| See God |
22 |
For without this no man can see the face of God, even the
Father, and live. |
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| Moses: see God |
23 |
Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in
the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might
behold the face of God; |
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| Israel hardened hearts |
24 |
But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence;
therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them,
swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness,
which rest is the fulness of his glory. |
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| Holy Priesthood taken |
25 |
Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and
the Holy Priesthood also; |
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Oath and covenant of the priesthood |
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Two priesthoods
Spirit sanctifies |
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For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods
of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified
by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. |
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¶ D&C
84:33–42 |
| Church and kingdom |
34 |
They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of
Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. |
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| Receive priesthood, receive the
Lord |
35 |
And also all they who receive this priesthood
receive me, saith the Lord; |
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36 |
For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; |
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| Receive the Father |
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And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; |
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| Father's kingdom |
38 |
And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom;
therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. |
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| Oath and covenant |
39 |
And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth
to the priesthood. |
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40 |
Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive
this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can
it be moved. |
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| No forgiveness for covenant breakers |
41 |
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. |
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Voice confirms priesthood
Angels have charge |
42 |
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. |
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| December 1832 |
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Lineage |
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Therefore thus saith the Lord unto you, with
whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers,
for ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from
the world with Christ in God: therefore your life and the priesthood have
remained, and must needs remain, through you and your lineage, until the
restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets
since the world began. |
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¶ D &C
86:8–10
Royal Lineage
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To be continued … |
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Priesthood Restoration
Book of Mormon Priesthood and Offices
Offices
Priesthood
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