Priesthood

Today was Nathan's priesthood preview. He doesn't turn 12 until July, but under the jurisdiction of the Primary, a meeting was held for all those boys who will be turning 12 sometime during this year to give them an overview of what the priesthood is and what their responsibility will be.

As the deacon's quorum president, Erik had to give a short little talk outlining the duties of a deacon. I was impressed with him. He did some research, wrote out a talk, practiced it for me, and actually presented it well for a 13-year-old boy.

Brother Douglas, a member of our bishopric, also gave a short little discourse. He said something that made me pause for a moment. I've always known the priesthood, which is the power to act in God's name, is used to bless the lives of others. He mentioned how these boys will one day receive the Melchizedek priesthood and be able to lay their hands on others to bless them. He then took his own hands and put them on his head and said that the priesthood is not used to bless ourselves. How that rang true to me. Hands are always laid on others.

Priesthood Lesson Notes (from a Relief Society lesson I gave 8 years ago)

Alma 13:8

Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end.

Order: to put in proper sequence
Ordain: the process of putting things in proper relationship
Ordinances: the ceremony by which things are put in proper order

Priesthood Authority (comes through ordination)

Priesthood Power (comes through righteousness)
(there are limits to priesthood power than can only be unlocked with the proper keys) 

Priesthood Keys (unlocks the authority over certain jurisdictions or stewardships; pertains to the priesthood workings in the church; no keys are given for priesthood in the family; keys are conduits of power and revelation) 

Analogy: Priesthood Authority is likened to having a driver's license. That license gives the driver the authority to drive a car. In order to drive a car, the driver must have the right key to unlock the horse power that is under the car's hood. Without authority and the right key, that power is useless.

keys of sealing authority
keys of resurrection
keys of eternal life
keys of commanding the elements
keys of the gathering of Israel
keys of the Abrahamic covenant
keys over a mission, temple, stake, ward, branch, district, quorum
keys of translation
keys of presidency
keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times 

(only the president of the church has the authority to exercise all the keys at one time)

Melchizedek Priesthood (Alma 13)
*The power of the Melchizedek Priesthood is to have the power of “endless lives”; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 322
 
*The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right from the eternal God and not by descent from father and mother (not patriarchal or handed down from father to son)

*Administers in spiritual ordinances made with an oath
 
*Must have to be in presence of God (D&C 84:22)
 
*Within this priesthood are the offices of Apostle, Seventy, Patriarch, High Priest, Elder (Angels are an office–Moroni 7:31)


Patriarchal Priesthood (D&C 107:40-57)
*Patriarchal authority (handed down from father to son)

*Has reference to the Abrahamic covenant. In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith he says, “Go and finish the temple, and God will fill it with power, and you will then receive more knowledge concerning this priesthood.” (sealing ordinance)

*Is an appendage of the Melchizedek priesthood


Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood
*Administers in temporal or outward ordinances made without an oath

*Prepared for the Melchizedek priesthood

*Within this priesthood are the offices of Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Bishop

*Levitical order does not function today but its privileges and authority are embraced within the Aaronic for whatever future use the Lord may direct; has reference to the tribe of Levi and their priestly duties surrounding the temple 

*****

The fulness of the priesthood can only be acquired by keeping the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the temple. The culminating priesthood power is that of sealing families together. You can only receive the keys of exaltation in the temple.

The highest order of the Melchizedek Priesthood is patriarchal authority" and that "the patriarchal order of the priesthood is the right of worthy priesthood‑holding fathers to preside over their descendants through all ages; it includes the ordinances and blessings of the fulness of the priesthood shared by husbands and wives who are sealed in the temple. (Daniel H. Ludlow)

Priesthood is an eternal principle. It is everlasting and has been from the beginning.

“It should not disturb either men or women that some responsibilities are bestowed upon one and not the other. Duties of the priesthood are delegated to men and are patriarchal, which means “of the father.” From the very beginning this has been so. The scriptures plainly state that they were “confirmed to be handed down from father to son. … This order was instituted in the days of Adam.”—Boyd. K. Packer, Tribute to Women, July 1989 Ensign