Priesthood

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Towards a Mormon Concept of Social Justice

August 25, 2010 in Priesthood by Greg | 16 comments

Below is an intriguing excerpt from a book written by Hyrum Andrus about a Mormon concept of social justice and the need for the regenerating powers of the gospel in order to achieve that ideal. After quoting the last half of Doctrine and Covenants 78:14, he wrote the following:

It should be stressed that to be independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world the Saints must, among other things, be independent above the state-sponsored welfare measures. Latter-day Saints cannot consistently advocate the socialization of the state. For them true economic independence must be achieved through the gospel and its socio-economic law. Under this program the individual may be enlightened and regenerated by the Holy Spirit¹ to where he becomes an independent agent under God and is enabled to act freely, intelligently, and in enlightened union with others to establish a program of true security and economic independence. By contrast, man-made systems that attempt to establish social justice lack these enlightening and regenerating spiritual powers. Consequently, to achieve union they must be manipulated like puppets, by various artificial devices. Such regimentation results in a loss of freedom for the individual. The creative powers of man are also stifled and initiative suppressed in such systems; and like lifeless bodies they are subject to forces of deterioration, so that greed, graft, and corruption are perennial problems among them. Finally, the security which men seek through such systems is but a fleeting and evasive substitute for that which may be obtained within the kingdom of God.²

Recently, Carl Youngblood tweeted that the “political tone” of this blog no longer fit the title of it and stated that the blog “unnecessarily link[s] politics with faith, negating any benefit to be had from either.”³ In order to remedy this situation Carl suggested that two blogs be set up – one on faith and the other on politics – in order for readers to obtain benefit.

Towards a Mormon Concept of Social Justice »»

Ed. – See for example, Titus 3:5.↩
Liberalism, Conservatism, and Mormonism. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1965. 30.↩
Dated 20 Aug 2010.↩

Unlocking the Treasury of Heaven

June 20, 2010 in Priesthood by Greg | 1 comment

Recently, Boyd K. Packer spoke about the keys and power associated with the priesthood.¹ Denver Snuffer also wrote an important post about the Keys and Assignments associated with the priesthood.

Although much has been said and written about this important subject, in 1856 Brigham Young seemed to capture the purpose of the priesthood among the Latter-day Saints. In particular, he pointed out that the priesthood was given as a “means for trial” and suggested that if the people could understand the nature of the priesthood they could unlock the treasury of heaven:

If we could understand the nature of the Priesthood—could comprehend it fully, this people, as a community, the Elders, as Elders of Israel, quorums, as quorums, when they present themselves before the Lord, would possess keys to unlock the treasury of heaven, and we could receive as one person receives from another. To us, as a people, the keys of the rich storehouse of the Lord are committed, yet we do not fully know how to unlock and receive. We receive a little here and there, and the hearts of the people are comforted by the very Priesthood we are in possession of, which has been given to this people for the express purpose of their receiving that which God has given them, though not yet to possess it independently, but as means for trial.

This Priesthood is given to the people, and the keys thereof, and, when properly understood, they may actually unlock the treasury of the Lord, and receive to their fullest satisfaction. But through our own weaknesses, through the frailty of human nature, we are not yet capable of doing so.

We have to humble ourselves and become like little children in our feelings—to become humble and childlike in spirit, in order to receive the first illuminations of the spirit of the Gospel, then we have the privilege of growing, of increasing in knowledge, in wisdom, and in understanding. This is a great privilege, while the world, excepting this people who inhabit these valleys, and those that are associated with us in different parts of the earth, are destitute of this principle and privilege. Still, many of us, and I may say comparatively all of us, are upon the same ground, situated precisely like other professors of religion, in order that we may struggle, wrestle, and strive, until the Lord bursts the veil and suffers us to behold His glory, or a portion of it.

If we did fully understand the principles of the Gospel—the keys of the Priesthood, it would be familiar with us, and be easy to be understood and to act upon and perform, and be no more of a miracle to know how to receive the things of God by revelation, than it is now a miracle to cast seed into the ground, after it is prepared, and reap our crops.

Unlocking the Treasury of Heaven »»

“The Power of the Priesthood”. April 2010. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.↩

Esau and Jacob

January 23, 2010 in Priesthood by Greg | 10 comments

Recently, a friend pointed me to an interesting account of how the birthright blessings of the patriarchal priesthood were given to Jacob, and not Esau. According to the biblical account,

And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. (Genesis 25:21-26).

Commenting, Bruce H. Porter wrote:

The mother of the twins learned that “two nations” were within her, and that “the elder shall serve the younger.” It must be noted that the revelation concerning the birthright came to Rebekah, and not to Isaac the father of the children. Rebekah, knowing that Jacob was the chosen one of the Lord and the one who should receive the birthright blessing from Isaac, began the preparations.

Twice Rebekah commanded Jacob; “. . . obey my voice . . .” (Gen. 27:8, 13). Holding a position of authority, the matriarch directed her son in the arrangements that were to be made and the information that would be given to Isaac during the ritual blessing. She appeared not only to be fully acquainted with the liturgy, but also played a key role in the blessing itself. Jacob’s fears are manifested in his concern that he might appear to be the “deceiver” (vs. 12) and that there would be “a curse…and not a blessing.” This foreboding of Jacob was quickly silenced when “his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice . . .” Only in a position of authority may one be responsible for the actions of another, as Rebekah promised she would be. Had this been a deception, Rebekah as well as her son Jacob would be held accountable. Yet neither are reprimanded in the scriptural text by Isaac or the Lord. Jacob’s mother accepted full responsibility for the correct or incorrect (as it seemed) performance and acceptability of this priesthood ordinance as executed by the patriarch.

Esau and Jacob »»

Holy Order in the Book of Mormon

August 20, 2009 in Priesthood by Greg | No comments

Part 6 of 8 in the series Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Dedication

The Book of Mormon contains a number of references to the holy order – or the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God -¹, many of which are found in the book of Alma. In “The Holy Order of God”, Robert L. Millet wrote:

To the wayward people of Ammonihah, Amulek had delivered a poignant testimony of Christ as God, had borne witness of the necessity of repentance, and had held out the hope of redemption from sin and death through the merits and mercy of the coming Messiah (see Alma 11:26-46). Alma then delivered a companion and confirming witness of the reality of the Savior and the manner in which men and women can, through faith, pass from death unto eternal life. “Therefore,” he said, quoting the Lord to the ancients, “whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.” Alma then pleaded: “And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, . . . but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word” (Alma 12:34, 37). It is in the context of Alma’s discussion of how the Saints can, through applying the atoning blood of Christ, enter into the rest of God, that Alma begins a discussion of the holy order of God. His discussion is a deep and ponderous and insightful prophetic declaration as to how, through the blessings of the priesthood—those called and prepared from the foundation of the world—the people of God may be sanctified from sin and enjoy the “words of eternal life” in this mortal sphere, all in preparation for eternal life with God and holy beings hereafter (see Moses 6:59).²

Holy Order in the Book of Mormon »»

See D&C 107:3; for a more thorough review of the priesthood and its orders, see Ellsworth, Richard G. “Priesthood”. 1992. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. 2009.↩
Millet, Robert L. “The Holy Order of God”. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., eds. Alma, The Testimony of the Word. Provo, Utah: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1992. 61-86.↩

Priesthood of the Nephites

February 23, 2009 in Priesthood by Greg | 6 comments

A number of years ago I came across this article about the priesthood of the Nephites by Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. At the time, I wasn’t really looking for information about this topic. Rather, I was studying references to the holy order.

As I reflected on the information contained in this “answer” by then Elder Smith, I wondered if there are not also “priests and teachers” in our day who have been called to “teach, direct, and admonish the people.” Here is the complete text to this article:

Question: “While studying our Book of Mormon lesson in our Sunday School class our attention was called to the statement in the Teachers’ Supplement which says that the Nephites did not have the Aaronic Priesthood. Members of the class questioned the authenticity of this and called attention to the words in Moroni, chapter three, which clearly state that they ordained priests and teachers, to preach repentance and remission of sins. Then we read in II Nephi 5:26, that Nephi consecrated Jacob and Joseph ‘that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.’ Will you kindly put us straight on this matter?”

Answer: After the tribes of Israel were brought out of Egypt the Lord proposed to make them a royal priesthood, conferring on members of all the tribes the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood; but when they made a golden calf to worship in the absence of Moses and were in constant murmuring and rebellion, the Lord denied them this great honor and took Moses and the Higher Priesthood from them, and decreed that this priesthood should not be given them and that they “should not enter into his rest, while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.”¹ From that time until the coming of our Redeemer, Israel was subject to the Aaronic Priesthood and the “carnal law,” which was added. Instead of taking the firstborn of the families, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi and made them the priests of the people.

For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying,