1. Priesthood: What It Is, Chapter 25
How It Works
Introduction 3. Priesthood holders are called to build up, to
strengthen, and to bless the Church (see D&C
“Members of the priesthood belong to the 42:11; 20:38–60; 107:33–39; Ephesians 4:11–12).
greatest fraternity, the greatest brotherhood in all 4. Those who hold the priesthood administer gospel
the world—the brotherhood of Christ—and they ordinances and spiritual blessings (see 3 Nephi
have the obligation to do their best each day, all 11:21; 18:5; D&C 20:38–51; 107:18–20, 23, 25).
day, and to maintain the standards of the E. Through the keys of the priesthood, God directs
priesthood” (David O. McKay, “Priesthood,” and coordinates His work.
Instructor, Oct. 1968, 379). 1. The keys of the kingdom are the rights of
presidency (see D&C 81:2; 107:21).
Doctrinal Outline 2. John the Baptist descended from Aaron and
received his keys as a firstborn son (see D&C
A. The priesthood is divine power and authority. 68:16–18; 84:26–27).
1. Priesthood is the power and authority to act for 3. John the Baptist bestowed the keys of the Aaronic
God (see D&C 112:30; 121:36; 107:8). Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver
2. The power to bind and seal on earth and have it Cowdery (see D&C 13; Joseph Smith—History
correspondingly bound and sealed in heaven 1:68–69).
requires priesthood authority (see Matthew 16:19; 4. Peter, James, and John received keys of the higher
D&C 128:8–9; 132:46; Helaman 10:7). priesthood from Jesus Christ (see Matthew 16:19;
B. Priesthood authority is conferred only by the D&C 7:7).
laying on of hands. 5. Peter, James, John, and others bestowed keys of the
1. Divine authority is received only by ordination higher priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver
through the laying on of hands by commissioned Cowdery (see D&C 27:12–13; 110:11–16; 128:20–21).
servants of the Lord (see Articles of Faith 1:5; 6. The keys of the priesthood are held by Church
Alma 6:1). leaders and are exercised in the Church today (see
2. Those who hold priesthood power are D&C 112:30–32; 65:2; 68:19; 81:2; 28:7).
commissioned to act in God’s name for the
salvation of mankind (see D&C 20:73; 138:30). Supporting Statements
C. There are two orders of priesthood.
1. The Aaronic Priesthood is called the lesser A. The priesthood is divine power and authority.
priesthood because it is an appendage to the ■ “What is the Priesthood? It is nothing more nor
Melchizedek Priesthood (see D&C 107:13–14; less than the power of God delegated to man by
Joseph Smith—History 1:70). which man can act in the earth for the salvation of
2. The Aaronic Priesthood administers outward the human family, in the name of the Father and
ordinances and is a preparatory priesthood (see the Son and the Holy Ghost, and act legitimately;
D&C 84:26; 107:20; 13). not assuming that authority, nor borrowing it from
3. The Melchizedek Priesthood is a greater power, generations that are dead and gone, but authority
a priesthood of presidency, holding the right to that has been given in this day in which we live by
administer in spiritual affairs (see D&C 107: 8–9, 18). ministering angels and spirits from above, direct
4. The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the keys to the from the presence of Almighty God. . . . It is the
mysteries of the kingdom of God and performs same power and Priesthood that was committed to
the ordinances that pertain to godliness (see D&C the disciples of Christ while he was upon the earth,
84:19–22; 107:18–19). that whatsoever they should bind on earth should
D. The work of God is performed by the power of be bound in heaven, and that whatsoever they
the priesthood. should loose on earth should be loosed in heaven”
1. Those who hold the priesthood may preside over (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 139–40).
■ “What is priesthood? . . . It is the government
and direct the affairs of the kingdom of God on
earth (see D&C 107:8, 60–66, 85–95; 102:9–11; of God, whether on the earth or in the heavens,
Alma 6:1). for it is by that power, agency, or principle that
2. Bearers of the priesthood teach and instruct all things are governed on the earth and in the
others in the truths of God (see Alma 17:3; D&C heavens, and by that power that all things are
28:3; 42:12; 2 Nephi 5:26; Ezekiel 3:17). upheld and sustained. It governs all things—it
directs all things—it sustains all things—and has
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2. Chapter 25
to do with all things that God and truth are D. The work of God is performed by the power of
associated with. It is the power of God delegated the priesthood.
to intelligences in the heavens and to men on the ■ “The Priesthood after the order of the Son of
earth” (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, 129). God is the ruling, presiding authority in the
B. Priesthood authority is conferred only by the Church. . . . In other words, there is no government
laying on of hands. in the Church of Jesus Christ separate and apart,
■ “God’s ministers are ordained. They have above, or outside of the holy Priesthood or its
the holy priesthood conferred upon them and are authority” (Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 144).
ordained by the laying on of hands to officiate in ■ “The priesthood or authority in which we stand
specific offices and callings” (Bruce R. McConkie, is the medium or channel through which our
Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:748). Heavenly Father has purposed to communicate
■ “Ordination of men to the ministry, as light, intelligence, gifts, powers, and spiritual and
sanctioned by scriptural precedent and established temporal salvation unto the present generation”
by direct revelation of God’s will, is to be effected (Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 85).
through the gift of prophecy and by the imposition ■ “Our lives are wrapped up with the lives of
of hands by those who are in authority” (James E. others. We are happiest as we contribute to the
Talmage, The Articles of Faith, 182). lives of others. I say that because the priesthood
C. There are two orders of priesthood. you hold means that you are to serve others. You
represent God in the field to which you are
■ “The Aaronic Priesthood is named after Aaron,
assigned” (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 168).
who was given to Moses as his mouthpiece, to act
■ “What is the priesthood for? It is to administer
under his direction in the carrying out of God’s
the ordinances of the gospel, even the gospel of our
purposes respecting Israel. For this reason it is
Father in heaven, the eternal God, the Eloheim of
sometimes called the Lesser Priesthood; but
the Jews and the God of the Gentiles, and all he has
though lesser, it is neither small nor insignificant”
ever done from the beginning has been performed
(Talmage, Articles of Faith, 204).
■ “The Church has two characteristics—the
by and through the power of that priesthood”
(Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford
temporal and the spiritual, and one is not without
Woodruff, 67).
the other. We maintain that both are essential and
that one without the other is incomplete and E. Through the keys of the priesthood, God directs
ineffectual. Hence, the Lord instituted in the and coordinates His work.
government of the Church two Priesthoods—the ■ “It is necessary that every act performed under
lesser or Aaronic, having special charge of the this authority shall be done at the proper time and
temporal, and the higher or Melchizedek, looking place, in the proper way, and after the proper order.
to the spiritual welfare of the people” (Smith, The power of directing these labors constitutes the
Gospel Doctrine, 150). keys of the Priesthood. In their fulness, these keys
■ “The lesser priesthood is a part of, or an are held by only one person at a time, the prophet
appendage to the greater, or the Melchizedek and president of the Church. He may delegate any
priesthood, and has power in administering portion of this power to another, in which case that
outward ordinances. The lesser or Aaronic person holds the keys of that particular labor”
priesthood can make appointments for the (Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 136).
■ “[Joseph Smith] lived until he received every key,
greater in preaching; can baptize, administer the
sacrament, attend to the tithing, buy lands, settle ordinance and law ever given to any man on the
people on possessions, divide inheritances, look earth, from Father Adam down, touching this
after the poor, take care of the properties of the dispensation. He received powers and keys from
church, attend generally to temporal affairs; act as under the hands of Moses for gathering the house
common judges in Israel, and assist in ordinances of Israel in the last days; he received under the
of the temple, under the direction of the greater hands of Elias the keys of sealing the hearts of
or Melchizedek priesthood. They hold the keys the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the
of the ministering of angels and administer in children to the fathers; he received under the hands
outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, and the of Peter, James and John, the Apostleship, and
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” everything belonging thereto; he received under the
(Taylor, Gospel Kingdom, 155). hands of Moroni all the keys and powers required
■ “The Melchizedek priesthood holds the of the stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim; he
mysteries of the revelations of God. Wherever that received under the hand of John the Baptist the
priesthood exists, there also exists a knowledge of Aaronic Priesthood, with all its keys and powers,
the laws of God; and wherever the gospel has and every other key and power belonging to this
existed, there has always been revelation; and dispensation, and I am not ashamed to say that he
where there has been no revelation, there never was a Prophet of God, and he laid the foundation of
has been the true gospel” (Taylor, Gospel the greatest work and dispensation that has ever
Kingdom, 139). been established on the earth” (Wilford Woodruff,
in Journal of Discourses, 16:267).
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