The Restoration of the Priesthood

1. The Restoration of the Priesthood D&C 13; 20; 84;107

2. For the strength of the Hills Hymn of the Vaudois Mountaineers in Times of Persecution • For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, • Our God, our fathers God: • Thou hast made Thy children mighty • By the touch of the mountain sod. • Thou hast fixed our ark of refuge, • Where the spoiler's foot ne'er trod; • For the strength of the hills we bless thee, • Our God, our father's God. • -Felicia Hemans • Story, James E. Faust, “The Keys That Never Rust,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 72

3. For the strength of the Hills • We are watchers of a beacon, • Whose light never dies • We are guardians of an altar, • 'Midst the silence of the sky. • The rocks yield founts of courage, • Struck forth as by Thy rod; • For the strength of the hills we bless thee, • Our God our fathers' God. • Story, James E. Faust, “The Keys That Never Rust,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 72

4. What is the priesthood? • The potential of the priesthood is so vast that our comprehension of it is a challenge. • Russell M. Nelson, “Keys of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 36

5. What is the Priesthood? • “The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. ” • (TPJS, p. 157). Priesthood

6. What is the Priesthood? • (The priesthood) is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven. • TPJS, 166

7. …the priesthood is “the law by which the worlds are, were, and will continue for ever and ever” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, p. 130).

8. Happiness and Felicity. • "The Priesthood . . . is a perfect order and system of government, and this alone can deliver the human family from all the evils which now afflict its members, and insure them happiness and felicity hereafter." • Brigham Young, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 18

9. Priesthood is the authority of God delegated to man to minister for the salvation of men. • Russell M. Nelson, “Keys of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 36

10. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “All Priesthood is Melchizedek, but there are different portions or degrees of it? (TPJS, 180) What do you think he meant by that statement? • D&C 107:1,5-7,14

11. D&C 107:5 • “All Priesthood is Melchizedek, but there are different portions or degrees of it (TPJS, 180) Melchizedek Priesthood Aaronic Priesthood

12. Lower Spires Aaronic Priesthood Higher Spires Melchizedek Priesthood

13. 4 windows Deacon Teacher Priest Bishop 5 windows Elder Seventy High Priest Patriarch Apostle

14. “The priesthood is greater than any of its offices. No office adds any power, dignity, or authority to the priesthood. All offices derive their rights, prerogatives, graces, and powers from the priesthood. This principle may be diagramed by dividing a circle into segments. The priesthood is the circle; the segments of the circle are the callings or offices in the priesthood. Anyone who serves in a segment of the circle must possess the power of the whole circle. No one can hold an office in the priesthood without first holding the priesthood. • Bruce R McConkie (Mormon Doctrine, 595–96). A HP D T P 70 P B E

15. Appendages • “Thus it is that priesthood is conferred upon worthy individuals, and they are then ordained to offices in the priesthood; and thus it is that all offices in the priesthood and in the Church are specifically designated as appendages to the priesthood; that is, they grow out of the priesthood, they are supplemental to it, they are less than the priesthood in importance. . . . • “Further, there is no advancement from one office to another within the Melchizedek Priesthood. Every elder holds as much priesthood as an apostle or as the President of the Church, though these latter officers hold greater administrative assignments in the kingdom” • Bruce R McConkie (Mormon Doctrine, 595–96).

16. Confer -A priesthood Aaronic Priesthood MelchizedekPriesthood Ordain -to a specific office Elder Apostle Bishop Deacon High Priest Seventy Priest Teacher Patriarch Set Apart -For a calling

17. Aaronic Priesthood May 15,1829D&C 13; JS-H 1:68-72 Online video • In response to a question about baptism in 3 Ne 11

18. Video Historic SitesHarmony PennsylvaniaJoseph Smith Commemorative program

19. D&C 13; 107:20JS-H 1:68-72 • UPON you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of: • the ministering of angels, • and of the gospel of repentance, • and of baptism by immersion for the • remission of sins;

20. Two different usages of the term keys are found in the revelations. • One has reference to the directive powers whereby the church or kingdom and all its organizations are governed, the keys of the kingdom being the powers of presidency. • The other usage refers to the means provided whereby something is revealed, discovered, or made manifest. • Mormon Doctrine, 410

21. Keys • There is a symbolism involved in the word "keys," a key being an instrument designed to unlock or open a door. Thus, the keys of the kingdom or the keys of the priesthood constitute the power by which the kingdom is opened or unlocked for men. In other words, the keys of the priesthood constitute the power by which the priesthood is made available for the use of men in building up the Church and kingdom of God here on this earth. IE 1954

22. The Keys Held by the Aaronic Priesthood • In stating that the Aaronic Priesthood "holds the keys" of the gospel of repentance, etc., reference is being made to the rights and privileges associated with the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood and not to the directing keys of the priesthood. This is a second and more general usage of the word "key" as used in the scriptures. It is with this broader sense of the word "key" in mind that, in response to the question "What is a key?" Joseph F. Smith explained, "It is the right or privilege which belongs to and comes with the Priesthood. . . . It is the right to enjoy the blessing of communication with the heavens, and the privilege and authority to administer in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to preach the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. That is a key. . . . We ordain boys . . . to that Priesthood which holds the keys of the ministering of angels and of the gospel of repentance and baptism by immersion for the remission of sin." 12Gospel Doctrine, p. 142, italics added. • Thus every holder of the Aaronic Priesthood has certain rights and privileges (i.e., keys) according to his calling in that priesthood. • Studies in Scripture, Vol. 1: The Doctrine and Covenants 89-90

23. Why John the Baptist?How do Aaronic priesthood holders today use these keys? • Key of ministering of angels • Key of repentance • Key of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins

24. What does it mean to hold “the keys of the ministering of angels”? • “That means, as I interpret it, that if you live worthy of the priesthood, you have the right to receive and enjoy the very power of heavenly beings to guide you, to protect you, to bless you” • Gordon B Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1982, 45

25. World’s view of angels • On a recent news show an author who had just written a book about belief in God was being questioned about whether he personally believed in God. • The author answered with something like this: “If I knew whether or not I believed in God, I wouldn’t have had to write this book. I have no idea whether there is a God, but I do know that religion has gotten a bad name from people who do things like worship cactus and believe in angels.” That was it. That was his whole response. He didn’t know whether he believed in God or not, but believing in angels was clearly equal to worshipping cactus. • (Jeffrey R. Holland, “For a Wise Purpose,” Ensign, Jan. 1996, 12)

26. How? • 1 Nephi 17:45 • Nephi described three manifestations of the ministering of angels when he reminded his rebellious brothers that (1) they had ‘seen an angel’ (2) they had ‘heard his voice from time to time’ and (3) also that an angel had ‘spoken unto [them] in a still small voice’ though they were ‘past feeling’ and ‘could not feel his words’…Most angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen. • Dallin H. Oaks(Ensign Nov 1998)

27. How? • “Those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to . . .” • Enjoy the companionship of the spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels. • Dallin H Oaks,Ensign, Nov 1998, 39

28. Holy Ghost and Angels • As explained earlier, through the Aaronic • Priesthood ordinances of baptism and the • sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants we will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost but also to the ministering of angels, for“angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ”(2 Ne. 32:3). So it is that those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels. • (Dallin H. Oaks – Ensign Nov 1998)

29. Where do angels come from? • D&C 130:5-6 • “there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it.” Note: This verse uses two tenses, the present (do belong) and the past perfect (have belonged). It appears that humans can now be angels.

30. Righteous men and Women as Ministering Angels • Wilford Woodruff age 27 two year mission • 3248 miles, 170 meetings, baptized 43 people • “God has provided a means that man through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings”

31. Spencer J. Condie • When Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Aaronic Priesthood under the hands of the resurrected John the Baptist, they received “the keys of the ministering of angels,” and so did you when you were ordained. I pray that you wonderful young men will not only be worthy to receiveministering angels, but that you, like young Wilford Woodruff, will becomea ministering angel in the lives of others as you exercise your faith in working “mighty miracles,” thereby becoming a “great benefit” to your fellow beings. (Ensign, May 2002)

32. Melchizedek Priesthood D&C 27:12;107:8-9,18; 84:19-21 • Right of the presidency • Keys of all spiritual blessings of the church • Authority to administer the gospel of Jesus Christ • Key of the mysteries of the kingdom and knowledge of god • Power of godliness manifested in the ordinances

33. An ordinance is a mini drama of a portion of the plan of salvation Nicodemus: John 3

34. Paul/ Romans 6:1-6

36. 'I want you to tell everyone in Denmark that I hold the keys. We hold the real keys, and we use them everyday'". President Kimball went on to tell a custodian in the church, "These are the dead apostles, we are the living apostles".Boyd K Packer

37. Keys that will never rust • The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray.” • The keys given by the Savior to Peter, James, and John, and given by them to the Prophet Joseph, have not rusted. They will open all spiritual doors of the dispensation of the fulness of times. • James E. Faust, “The Keys That Never Rust,” Ensign, Nov. 1994,

38. Next Week:

40. Isaiah 24:1,3-6; D&C 1:14-15 • An ordinance is a doorway, opening up to further light and knowledge • Endowment – ordinance • Endowment - Blessings and powers received because endowed • D&C 38:32-33 endowed with power from on high 43:16 endowed with power, 105:11-12 • HC 2:107? Don’t go until ye receive endowments, fountain of wisdom, knowledge and intelligence that ye have never had good quote35:40 on ipod

41. Isaiah 24:1,3-6; D&C 1:14-15 • An ordinance is a mini drama of a portion of the plan of salvation • Baptism – reenacting our birth from our mother’s womb, Nicodemus • Paul Rom 6;1-6 reenacting our death, burial and resurrection • Sac – taking of His flesh and blood , he becomes part with us • Set in order the plan of salvation

42. D&C 84:19-21 • Notice how both male and female are equal under the priesthood in this manner. Notice the important thing as indicated here is not holding the priesthood, but having the power of godliness which is manifest in the ordinances. That’s very critical. • Equal access to the ordinances

43. The Priesthood Through Earth’s History But, dear brother, think, further think for a moment, what joy filled our hearts, and with what surprise we must have bowed…when we received under his hand the Holy Priesthood as he said, ‘upon you my fellow-servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer this Priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon the earth, that the Sons Of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness (Joseph Smith History, Oliver Cowdery Footnote) The Holy Priesthood Melchizedek Abraham Moses Savior Noah Peter Elijah Adam Millennium Joseph Smith Sons of Levi Offering John the Baptist Priesthood Of Aaron …and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi [the sons of Moses and Aaron] do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. The “Aaronic” Priesthood

44. Its institution was prior to the “foundation of the earth…”, and (it) is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled and directed by it….

45. D&C 84:2

46. Prior to the martyrdom, no doubt with a sense of foreboding, the Prophet Joseph prepared for his death. President Joseph Fielding Smith states: • “The Prophet declared that he knew not why, but the Lord commanded him to endow the Twelve with these keys and priesthood, and after it was done, he rejoiced very much, saying in substance, ‘Now, if they kill me, you have all the keys and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the powers of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will be able to build it up, and upon your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people rest.’ ” 5 • Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56), 1:259.

47. “How has your life been blessed through the Melchizedek Priesthood?”

48. The Priesthood is Restored song

49. The Church of Jesus Christ can be compared to a building with Christ as the chief cornerstone and the Apostles and prophets as the foundation.

50. The Priesthood is Restored song • Said the Lord to His chosen Apostles: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19.)