The Mormon Priesthood ...The Mormon Authority
The LDS Church functions under two Priesthood classifications. The first, or lesser priesthood (See D&C 85:11) is called the Aaronic Priesthood, which includes the Levitical priesthood (See D&C 107: 1,6 ).
Mormons believe that the same priesthood that was conferred upon Aaron functioned until and including John The Baptist. They teach that it was restored to the earth on May 15, 1829. The Introduction and single verse of D&C 13 describe the event.
These two priesthoods are an authoritative figure that holds the keys and rights to spiritual wisdom and the authority to baptize.
The lower priesthood known as the "Aaronic Priesthood," manages "Preparatory Gospel" levels.
"The Priesthood of Aaron ’ is called the lesser priesthood...
...faith repentance, and baptism, comprising as they do the preparatory gospel fall within its province." -Mormon Doctrine[1]
The Melchizedek priesthood manages the "Fullness Gospel" levels.
"The power and authority of the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven..." -Mormon Doctrine[2]
"...where the Melchizedek priesthood is, there is the kingdom, the Church, and the fullness of the gospel. This higher priesthood is designed to enable men to gain exaltation in the highest heaven in eternity." -Mormon Doctrine[3]
"...the higher priesthood holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God." -Doctrine And Covenants[4]
The LDS system claims that you can only come to know certain critical truths through the Holy Ghost, which is administered by the LDS Priesthood. Notice the above statement about the gospel in its fullness required the power of the Priesthood and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
This makes the Priesthood a powerful information control mechanism because as a prerequisite to getting the Holy Ghost, an LDS person must be obedient to certain priesthood regulated processes. The Holy Ghost is of course required in order to receive information (knowledge). Information is required for one’s salvation.
"The process of gaining exaltation consists on growing in knowledge until a state of godhood is reached.-
...A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge.-
...The Holy Ghost is the revealer of saving knowledge.-
...In fact, the Melchizedik Priesthood is the key to the knowledge of God because it is and through that priesthood that men receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." -Mormon Doctrine[5]
Founder and president Joseph Smith, was asked how the Church differed from the other religions of the day. He replied that, "...we differed in mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost..[and] that all other considerations [of differences from other churches] were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost."[6] In Mormonism having the Priesthood as an authoritative figure is extremely important. This is verified in the following statement:
"Without the Melchizedek Priesthood salvation in the kingdom of God would not be available for men on earth, for the ordinances of salvation—the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, for instance—could not be authoritatively performed, Thus, as far as all religious organizations now existing are concerned, the presence or absence of this priesthood established the divinity or falsity of a professing church." -Mormon Doctrine[7]
"As pertaining to eternity, priesthood is the eternal power and authority of Deity by which all things exist; by which they are created, governed and controlled; by which the universe and worlds without number have come rolling into existence;...
As pertaining to man’s existence on this earth, priesthood is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of men. It is the power by which the gospel is preached, by which the ordinances of salvation are performed so that they will be binding on earth and in heaven, by which men are sealed up into eternal life." -Mormon Doctrine[8]
"The priesthood is the power and authority of God. By his priesthood power the heavens and earth were created."
...Our Heavenly father shares his priesthood with worthy male members of the church." -Gospel Principles[9]
"Everything on earth is subject to the power and authority of the Melchizekek Priesthood. When He reigns who right it is , this power will manifest without restriction and all nations will bow to the gospel rod." -Mormon Doctrine[10]
This claim that the LDS church has so boldly announced in the references above, does not seem to fit traditional christianity when looking at these claims from a biblical perspective.
First of all, when looking to the book Hebrews we can see the shoes that need to be filled in order to fulfill this "Melchizedek priest."
"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. -Hebrews 7:1-3
Perhaps a devout faithful priesthood holder of the LDS church should consider the above passage and ask himself:
-Are they a "King of righteousness?"
-Are they a "King of peace?"
-Are they without mother or father"
-Are they without genealogy?
-Are they without beginning of days or end of life?
We think it's clear that this priesthood is reserved for the one who could fill it and seems to be non-transferable.
Notes
________________________________________________
[1]Mormon Doctrine pg. 595
[2]Mormon Doctrine pg. 476
[3]Mormon Doctrine pg. 480
[4]Doctrine & Covenants 84:19-22
[5]Mormon Doctrine pgs. 426, 427
[6]Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Volume 4, pg.42
[7]Mormon Doctrine pg. 479
[8]Mormon Doctrine pg. 594
[9]Gospel Principles pg. 81
[10]Mormon Doctrine pg. 476
