Mormon Priesthood

The Priesthood

To the Mormon the matter of priesthood authority is very important. It is believed that without the priesthood authority certain
acts such as baptism are meaningless. They claim that the Aaronic and Melchezidek priesthood were restored and exist only
within the Mormon Church. Furthermore they claim that the same organization that existed in the primitive Church prevails now
in the L.D.S church. The problem is that that the Mormon Church is not patterned after the early church as we see in the New
Testament. Added to this according to the Bible the Aaronic priesthood after the order of Aaron properly referred to as the
Levitical priesthood became obsolete. This is due to the complete fulfillment of the priesthood by Jesus Christ dying on the
cross and being our only mediator with God the Father. Furthermore the Melchizidek priesthood is only stated to be in
existence now in Jesus Christ. Jesus is said to hold this office forever. Therefore we have no need for this priesthood to be
passed to a successor since Jesus lives forever.

Following are some references from the Mormons showing their view of the priesthood.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.3, PRIESTHOOD
The word "priesthood" has several meanings for Latter-day Saints:
1. Priesthood is power, the power of God, a vital source of eternal strength and energy delegated to men to act in all things for
the well-being of mankind, both in the world and out of it (DS 3:80; Romney, p. 43).
2. Priesthood is authority, the exclusive right to act in the name of God as his authorized agents and to perform ordinances for
the purpose of opening certain spiritual blessings to all individuals.
3. Priesthood is the right and responsibility to preside within the organizational structure of the Church, but only in a manner
consistent with the agency of others.
4. Sometimes the word priesthood is used to refer to the men of the Church in general (as in "the priesthood will meet in the
chapel").

The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.494
Priesthood is only in the restored Church. There is no priesthood anywhere else today than in this restored Church. There is
priestcraft, but no priesthood

Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie p.140
"the same organization that existed in the primitive Church prevails now. (Sixth Article of Faith.)"

Mormon missionary handbook,
A Uniform System For Teaching Investigators, pg.15.
"Elder: Why is the Priesthood so important?
"Brown: Because a man must have it to do those things.
"Elder: He certainly must. Suppose a priest or minister baptizes without the priesthood, what does that mean in the sight of the
Lord?
"Brown: It doesn't mean anything.
"Elder: Why is that?
"Brown: Because he would lack the necessary authority.
"Elder: Right. So even though a minister might be sincere, unless he has the priesthood, will the Lord recognize a baptism
performed by him?
" Brown: No.

In the Bible Jesus once rebuked John for having a belief similar to this.

Luke 9:49-50 And John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to
hinder him because he does not follow along with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you
is for you."

As previously stated the Mormon Church is not patterned after the early church in the New Testament. For example the L.D.S
Church is led by First Presidency, The Bible says nothing about a First Presidency. Even if we accept that there should today
be 12 Apostles this still presents the problem that the L.D.S Church has 3 men in addition to the Council of the 12. How is this
patterned after the primitive church? In the L.D.S Church 12 year old boys are ordained Deacons. But in the Bible we find.

1 Tim 3:12 Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

Ironically even the Mormons own scripture would suggest that Deacons should be older than 12 years of age.

D&C 84:111 And behold, the high priests should travel, and also the elders, and also the lesser priests; but the deacons
and teachers should be appointed to watch over the church, to be standing ministers unto the church.

L.D.S scripture claims that an Elder is an office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Although the Melchizedek priesthood is never
associated with the office of an elder in the bible.

Doctrine & Covenants 107:7 " The office of an Elder comes under the priesthood of Melchizedek."

It is interesting that although the Mormons claim that the priesthood is absolutely necessary none of the leaders in Mormon
Church had it in the beginning.

The following is a statement by Joseph Smith concerning a conference held in June, 1831, History of the Church, Vol.1, Ch.
15, p.175 "the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the
Elders."

This is confirmed by John Whitmer. He was the Church Historian.
John Whitmer Book of John Whitmer, typescript, BYU-A, p.8-9
June 3, 1831, a general conference was called, and a blessing promised, if the elders were faithful, and humble before him.
Therefore, the elders assembled from the East and the West, from the North and the South. And also many members.
Conference was opened by prayer and exhortation by Joseph Smith, Jr., the Revelator. After the business of the Church was
attended to according to the covenants. The Lord made manifest to Joseph that it was necessary that such of the
elders as were considered worthy, should be ordained to the High Priesthood. The spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph
in an unusual manner. And prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the ten tribes of Israel who had been led away
by Salmanasar King of Israel [should be Assyria], to prepare them for their return, from their long dispersion, to again possess
the land of their fathers. He prophesied many more things that I have not written. After he had prophesied he laid his hands
upon Lyman Wight [and ordained him] to the High Priesthood after the Holy Order of God. And the spirit fell upon Lyman, and
he prophesied, concerning the coming of Christ, he said that there were some in the congregation that should live until the
Savior should descend from heaven, with a shout, with all the holy angels with him.

If the Melchizedek priesthood is really necessary it is certainly odd that the Elders were able to function from the organization of
the church until June 1831 without it.

The historian B.H Roberts made the following admission concerning the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood.

B.H. Roberts, The Seventy's Course in Theology, Second Year, p.218
The Line of the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood: The promise to confer upon Joseph and Oliver the Melchizedek
Priesthood was fulfilled; but as there is no definite account of the event in the history of the Prophet Joseph, or, for matter of
that, in any of our annuals, the evidences of the fact of their ordination to the higher or Melchizedek priesthood promised them
by John the Baptist, are presented now, together with a consideration of the place where, and the time when, the great event
occurred.

One should keep in mind that the Melchizedek Priesthood could only be passed on by someone who had it. Only Jesus and
Melchizedek are ever said to have had it in the Bible. Neither Jesus, nor Melchizedek are said to have been the ones to
restore it to the L.D.S Church.

Journal of Discourses, Vol.10, p.371-372 Heber C. Kimball, November 29, 1864
"Joseph was a kind-hearted, obedient, good boy. He was fourteen years of age the third day of last April, and was an excellent
scholar;............ Joseph was never cross, he was always pleasant to all persons. Eight years ago he came near dying; I was
impressed to ordain him a High Priest. I ordained him, and I do know that had a saving effect upon the boy"

Notice that we are told he is 14 years old. 8 years before this he ordained a High Priest. That means this boy Joseph was
ordained a High Priest at 6 years old. This is not patterned after the primitive church as claimed in McConkie's book Mormon
Doctrine and the 6th Article of Faith.

The fact that the structure is not patterned after the primitive church is only the beginning of the problems. Lets look at what the
Bible says in Hebrews Chapters 7-10. It says the Levitical priesthood which is after the order of Aaron ended. Our High Priest
after the order Melchizedek is Jesus Christ and nobody else has this priesthood. The only other priesthood mentioned in the
Bible after the priesthood ended is called a holy or royal priesthood. This is found in 1 Peter 1:23-2:9 in the context born again
believers have this priesthood.

First I will start with Hebrews and Genesis. What ended here in the book of Hebrews is the Levitical Priesthood after the order
of Aaron. There is nothing called the Aaronic priesthood in the Bible. In fact the word Aaronic is not in the Bible. The word
Melchizedek or Melchisedec as in the KJV is only found in Gen.14:18, Ps.110:4 and the book of Hebrews 5:6&10, 6:20, 7:
1,10,11,15,17. The one in Psalm is a prophetically speaking concerning Jesus. In Genesis we have an actual person called
Melchizedek.

Nothing is said about Melchizedek's origin in Genesis. We have no mention of his Mom or Dad. This is strange because
Genesis is a book of families. When we see a man mentioned who is important in the genealogical line (as this man
Melchizedek seems to be) his Dad and Mom are mentioned "he is the son of so and so" or these are the generations of so
and so". But we do not have the generations of Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that the reason there is no
record of Melchizedek's family line is because the priesthood of Jesus Christ in its inception is after the order of Melchizedek.
The priesthood of Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek in the practical sense as Jesus is our mediator Heb.9:15. Just as the
priest in the Old Testament acted as a mediator by entered the holy of hollies to offer sacrifice for the peoples sins. Jesus
offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins and is the mediator between Christians and the Father. Christ in his priesthood
does perpetually what was done in the Levitical priesthood after the order of Aaron. In his person Jesus had no beginning or
ending of days Jn.1:1, Micah 5:2, Rev. 1:7-8, 1:17-18, 21:6, 22:13-16. Jesus has always existed.

In the person Melchizedek we have a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus had no beginning or ending of days and neither
did Melchizedek.

Heb 7:1-3 (1)For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from
the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, (2) to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils was first of all,
by the translation of his name king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.(3) Without father,
without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a
priest perpetually.

We are told here Melchizedek is a priest perpetually. The same is true of Jesus Heb 7:17 For it is witnessed of Him "Thou art
a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." Another contrast is Melchizedek is king of peace Heb.7:2. Jesus is
called prince of peace. Melchizedek was called a great man Heb.7:4, Jesus certainly fits this description also. These two
Melchizedek’s who seems to be a picture of Christ and Jesus are the only ones in the Bible to hold the Melchizedek
priesthood.

Why do you suppose Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine in Gen. 14:18?

Gen 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he
blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tenth of all.

I believe it is because as it says in 1 Cor 11:26 "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's
death until He comes." The Sacrament is taken today in symbolism of the Lords death. It stands to reason that it was taken
then as a symbolic gesture of what was to come. (Christ death for all sins) The Lord Jesus is the great High Priest for the world
today. The Lord Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek not after the order of Aaron. The Levitical priesthood after the order of
Aaron was for Israel and the sacrifices were done away with. There is no more need for sacrifice because the blood of Jesus
covers all sin 1 John 1:7.