 Priesthood
Biblical Framework
The Priesthood
The priesthood is the power and authority of God. God has delegated
this power and authority to certain men at certain times. At the
time of Abram (before he became Abraham), there was a priesthood
which ministered in bread and wine, performed blessings, and managed
tithing (Genesis 14:18-20). Later the Lord introduced the Levitical
priesthood and referred to it as an “everlasting priesthood” (Exodus
40:15 and Numbers 25:13).
The Priesthood and the Apostles
The priesthood was well established during the time of the apostles.
Peter spoke of “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5) and “a royal
priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
The Levitical Priesthood—The
Priesthood of Aaron
The Levitical Priesthood, also known as the Aaronic Priesthood (or
the Priesthood of Aaron), was in place during the time of Christ;
however, it was not possible for man to reach his spiritual
potential (perfection in Christ) through the Levitical Priesthood
alone. A greater priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood, was
necessary (Hebrews 7:11-12).
The Melchizedek Priesthood and
Christ
Jesus Christ is the great eternal priest after the order of
Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 7:15-17). The Savior is
referred to in the New Testament as the “high priest” in the
Melchizedek Priesthood (Hebrews 5:5-10, Hebrews 6:20, and Hebrews
8:1)—the high priest of an “unchangeable priesthood” (Hebrews
7:24-26). Jesus Christ is a “merciful and faithful high priest” like
unto his brethren (Hebrews 2:17). He set the ecclesiastical example
for all men to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood (Hebrews
5:1) as part of the “profession” of ministry in the Lord and Savior
(Hebrews 3:1).
Ordination and Setting Apart
It is an honor to hold the priesthood, and those who do so must be
called of God and set apart, just as Aaron was set apart by the Lord
through his servant Moses (Hebrews 5:4). The ordination and setting
apart of a priesthood holder is accomplished by the laying on of
hands by those in authority (Numbers 27:18-19). This method of
ordination and setting apart was continued by Christ and his
apostles.
Priesthood Power and Authority
While God may grant anyone the opportunity to perform healings and
other ministerial duties through the gifts of the spirit (1
Corinthians 12:28 and 1 Corinthians 12:9), priesthood holders are
set apart specifically to do so as part of their spiritual and
ecclesiastical calling. Acting for the Lord on earth, priesthood
holders cast out devils and lay hands upon the sick to heal (Mark
16:17-18), often using the ordinance of anointing with oil (James
5:14). Following the example of Jesus in ordaining his apostles,
priesthood holders are given “power and authority” to minister in
the name of the Lord (Luke 9:1-2).
Priesthood Qualifications
The Lord requires faith and worthiness in the men he calls to the
priesthood. The Lord uses the foolish and weak things of the world
to accomplish his work (1 Corinthians 1:27). There are instances in
the scriptures where specific requirements have been given to hold
an office in the priesthood. For example, Paul provided counsel to
Titus about elders who are married (an “elder” is an office in the
Melchizedek Priesthood). Paul said that elders are only to have one
wife and faithful children (Titus 1:5-6). Paul also gave specific
counsel to Timothy on the requirements of a bishop (an office in the
Aaronic Priesthood, but an office typically held by Melchizedek
Priesthood holders as high priests), ensuring the individual was
faithful and worthy to serve (1 Timothy 3;1-7).
Mormon Doctrinal
Clarification
Priesthood Power and Authority
By the power of the priesthood, God created the heavens and the
earth and maintains the universe in its perfect order. Through the
power of the priesthood, the Lord achieves his purpose, which is to
bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Priesthood
authority is required to perform ordinances such as baptism,
confirmation, blessing and passing the sacrament, administering to
the sick, giving special blessings, and administering temple
ordinances.
A Capacity, Not a Person
The priesthood is a capacity, not a person or group of people. It is
“held” and “exercised” by men on whom it is properly conferred.
Women share in the spiritual blessings of the priesthood, but are
not burdened by the ecclesiastical duties of the priesthood. The
efficacy of the priesthood in any given circumstance depends on the
faith and worthiness of the priesthood holder, the recipient of
priestly ministrations, and the will of the Lord.
Origins
There was a priesthood on the earth long before Christ came in the
flesh. While modern day scriptures teach of a priesthood during the
time of Adam, the first biblical reference appears in Genesis 14:18,
where Melchizedek, king of Salem, is identified as “the priest of
the most high God.”
The Levitical priesthood, also known as the priesthood of Aaron or
the Aaronic Priesthood, was introduced shortly after the departure
of the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 28:1). The Levitical priesthood
was passed on by lineage to members of the tribe of Levi. Moses and
Aaron were members of this tribe and held this priesthood. Men who
held this priesthood in the time of Moses were responsible for
administrating the Mosaic Law and the tabernacle sacrifice
ceremonies.
Jesus and the Priesthood
The Levitical Priesthood was on the earth when Jesus was born.
During his public ministry, Jesus ordained apostles to lead his
church. He gave them the authority and power to perform miracles and
act in his name (Mark 3:13-15 and John 15:16). By this means and
with his fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, Christ established the
“Royal Priesthood,” which came to be known as the Melchizedek
Priesthood. The Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood remained, but as a
preparatory priesthood, a lesser included priesthood, leading to the
Melchizedek Priesthood.
The Priesthood in the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Today the priesthood is divided into the Aaronic Priesthood (the
lesser priesthood) and the Melchizedek Priesthood (the greater
priesthood). The Aaronic Priesthood is sometimes referred to as the
“preparatory priesthood” and is an appendage to the Melchizedek
Priesthood.
A bishop presides over a ward, the basic congregational unit of the
Church except where congregations are quite small. If a congregation
is too small to constitute a ward, it is called a branch and is
presided over by a branch president. (With a few exceptions,
references to wards in this book include branches, and references to
bishops include branch presidents.)
The offices within the Aaronic Priesthood include deacon, teacher,
priest, and bishop. The Aaronic Priesthood is organized into a
deacons quorum (usually young men twelve and thirteen), teachers
quorum (usually young men fourteen and fifteen), and priests quorum
(usually young men sixteen and older). The bishop of the ward is
also president of the Priests Quorum.
Offices within the Melchizedek Priesthood include elder, high
priest, patriarch (i.e. evangelist), seventy, and Apostle. The
Melchizedek Priesthood within each ward is organized into an elders
quorum and a high priest group. The high priest group is part of a
stake-wide high priest quorum. The stake president is president of
this quorum. An elders quorum president is called by the stake
president to preside over the elders quorum in each ward. The bishop
of each ward, as the local presiding high priest, supervises both
the high priest group and the elders quorum at the ward level. All
wards (local congregations) in a stake are presided over by the
stake president.
The priesthood is available to all worthy male members of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The priesthood is passed from
one priesthood holder to another by the laying on of hands by one
having the authority to confer the priesthood. It is not passed on
as a birthright or by lineage. There are no academic or professional
requirements to hold the priesthood, nor are there any such
requirements to hold any leadership position within the Church.
However, readiness for any leadership calling takes into account
reliable evidence of such readiness, and this evidence can include
educational and professional achievements. Spiritual worthiness,
however, remains the fundamental requirement.
See chapter13 in The Biblical Roots of
Mormonism for a more comprehensive explanation, scriptural
references and commentary on the Priesthood
See the Sword SeriesTM paper Priesthood and Ministry for a summary |
