Saturday, February 12, 2022

Priesthood Power without "Ordination"

This is a blog that I must preface with a disclaimer. I have spent a long time dwelling on this subject, and I feel peace about the conclusions I have drawn. And I will link to sources that help support those conclusions. However, once again, I speak only for myself and my beliefs, and not necessarily for the Church, or anyone else. This topic requires quite a lot of foundation work, so forgive me if it seems like it takes a while for me to build up to my primary points.

So, to begin. I would like to cover a simple definition of "the priesthood."

  • The priesthood is God’s eternal power and authority.
  • Priesthood is the power by which our Heavenly Father works through men
  • God accomplishes His work by the priesthood.
  • Priesthood power is the power by which God blesses His children
So, we see that the big picture of the priesthood is God's power and authority. It is the means by which God accomplishes all things. However, in the context of our life here on earth, we often speak of the priesthood in regards to the power that God delegates to mankind to accomplish his work. What is the work of God? 

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

 The work of God is to bring people to Christ so that they may believe on him, and enjoy the eternal blessings that stem from that belief. This of course, can be a rather wide spread thing. Many would argue that Benjamin Franklin was aiding in the work of God by discovering electricity which now enables widespread gospel learning via means of electronics and the internet. Or that the "founding fathers" of America were aiding the work of God by fighting for religious freedom. Were Benjamin Franklin, or the founding fathers then offered priesthood power, to bring to pass the work of God? But, one might counter, they were not priests...

I would ask that we ponder the difference between the Holy Ghost, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. And whether we can make a similar association with priesthood power. Power meted out by God per his wishes and grand design, versus the gift of the priesthood being the privilege given to God's people when they have made covenants with him and are upholding their end with righteousness?

"The gift of the Holy Ghost is the privilege—given to people who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, been baptized, and been confirmed as members of the Church—to receive continual guidance and inspiration from the Holy Ghost." Gospel Principles Chapter 21

We also know that men may feel the Holy Ghost without having been baptized or having received the "Gift of the Holy Ghost" Moroni's promise that by the Holy Ghost we may know the truth of the Book of Mormon, certainly did not apply to baptized and confirmed members only. We also know that God can lend out priesthood power without ordination. Think about the fact that Joseph Smith translated the gold plates, well before he received the priesthood. How did he translate them? "By the gift and power of God" (Doctrine & Covenants 135:3) What is the power of God? Priesthood power.

Now, before I continue, I would like to refer back to that last bullet point regarding "priesthood power" regarding the power by which God blesses his children. How does God bless his children? He blesses us through gifts. What are some of the gifts of God? Obviously this list will absolutely not be exhaustive, but, to name a few...

So, can I now make the leap, that each of these gifts, are manifestations of priesthood power, which is God's power? The power by which he blesses us, that we may bless his children?

How do we receive these gifts? 
Moroni 10:8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.

There is more than one way that these gifts are administered. But all are given through the Holy Ghost, aka the Spirit of God. Whether the "gift" of the holy ghost has been "received" or not. And even having received the gift of the holy ghost, we do not all receive all the same gifts. And, some people receive more gifts than others. Might I use the example that men in the church have the priesthood "conferred" upon them, whereas women do not? I'll talk about that in a minute. But first, let me reference one more scripture regarding gifts of the spirit:

Doctrine & Covenants 46:29 That unto some it may be given to have all those gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby.

Some gifts are given specifically to create order within the church.  

Doctrine & Covenants 132:8 Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.

Now, separate from the "power" of God, I would like to talk for a minute about the "authority" of God. Which is another branch, if you will, of the "priesthood." When young men have the priesthood "conferred" upon them. Can I argue that they are not given any additional "power" ? What they are given is "authority." Authority to act in God's name, authority to officiate in the ordinances. Some of you may be chafing at this notion. So let me explain further. Let's first reference a definition of the word "confer."

Confer: to give an official title, honour, or advantage to someone (Cambridge Dictionary)

What do we think of, when someone has been given a title? Well, I think of authority. And yes, power. But not supernatural abilities. Rather, power to act in certain contexts. When reading in Doctrine & Covenants 20 about the various priesthood offices, you do not see a list of gifts offered to each office. It's not a list that reads like "deacons will have the gift of tongues, and teachers will have the gift of prophesy, and priests will have the gift of healing." That is not what is stated. What is spelled out are their duties, or the areas in which they have the authority to officiate. They are promised the right to gifts that will aid them as they carry out those responsibilities. But they are not granted power by virtue of ordination.

So how then, do those that hold priesthood offices, receive "priesthood power" if not by virtue of having had the priesthood "conferred" upon them? Well, the same way the rest of us do.

"God’s priesthood power flows to all members of the Church—female and male—as they keep the covenants they have made with Him." General Handbook

"The source of the power of the priesthood is God, who works through the Holy Ghost. To have the Holy Ghost direct us in using the priesthood, we must keep the commandments and live worthily. Power in the priesthood comes to us only from our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost." General Handbook

Let's think about that a little longer please. 

Priesthood power comes by virtue of having made covenants with God. What is the first covenant that we make as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Baptism. (Which, let's remember, both men and women are baptized, even children). When we are baptized and confirmed members of the Church, and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we covenant to:

As we are faithful to those promises, he in return promises:
Baptism is one of the first ordinances we participate in.
Doctrine & Covenant 84:20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
What is the power of godliness if not priesthood power? I want to dwell for a minute on what it means to be "members" of His Church. I think it is critical to note that "member" is one of the titles listed in Doctrine & Covenants 20. The duties of elders, priests, teachers, deacons and members. Could we consider for a moment that baptism, and confirmation into the church, when hands are laid on our heads by those with proper priesthood authority is the moment that all members of the Church are welcomed into the Order of the Priesthood, and that the most foundational ordination is that of "member" ?

1 Peter 2:9-10 is part of a letter by Peter to the Saints of the Church. Pay attention to how he refers to these members:
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

By virtue of having been baptized and confirmed members of the Church, we enter a "royal priesthood."  

Romans 8:14,16-17 states that those that are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. And if we are the Children of God, then we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. What does it mean to be an heir? To inherit all that the Father hath, including his power and priesthood. That is our right and privilege.

I loved reading the book of Moses this year, and reading the story of Adam's baptism. This is what is said immediately after Adam was baptized in Moses 6:

67 And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.

68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen.

The footnote on the word "order" is a reference to "priesthood." Any time we see the phrase "order" we should be reminded of the priesthood when reading the scriptures. So, by being baptized, we enter the Order of the Priesthood, a right and privilege of being heirs of Deity, children of God. 

Can you think for a moment, the power and effect that this may have on the lives of our children? To teach them that as they are baptized and found righteous, the Holy Ghost, their constant companion, can be the bridge that allows them access to priesthood power?  Can you think for a moment, the effect that it has when you change the covenants that we make at baptism to "responsibilities of our priesthood" instead of just the things "good mormons do" ? Can you think for a moment the peace that can come when we share with our daughters, that they have just as much a right to priesthood power as our sons? The responsibility and authority to officiate in the public ordinances of the priesthood has been given to men. But responsibility and authority to stand as witnesses of God, and use priesthood power to further the work of God, has been given to all members. That priesthood power is not determined by ordination, but by righteousness and faithfulness. When we are not ordained, we utilize that priesthood not by virtue of "priesthood authority" but by virtue of our authority as children of God, followers of Christ. But let us not forget where God's power comes from. The power is the same. Priesthood power.

Going through the temple to receive our endowments allows us to make further covenants which (by our faithfulness) enables us to access more of God's power, priesthood power, which is the promised result of making covenants. What is priesthood power for? Furthering the work of God, to bring people to Christ (to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of mankind, Moses 1:39). How may our understanding of the blessings promised in the initiatory and endowment be changed, if we ask ourselves, "How can I use this blessing, to further the work of God?"  

We normally talk of the Holy Ghost as being there to guide us by testifying of truth. But, I'd like to call the story of Adam and Eve to your mind, when Satan is talking to Eve about the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. He says "ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5) I would use this as evidence that the ability to discern truth, knowing good from evil, is a godly power. The light of Christ is given to all mankind by virtue of having been made in His image. The gift of the Holy Ghost works through that light of Christ in us to testify of, clarify, and magnify that knowledge of good and evil and is a branch of priesthood power. Just as the gift of eternal life (the other named tree in the Garden of Eden) is yet another branch of priesthood power. 

Ours is a church full of "priests", in the sense that we have access to priesthood power. And so, I want to end with this reference, one more time:

"God’s priesthood power flows to all members of the Church—female and male—as they keep the covenants they have made with Him." General Handbook

Let us remember where priesthood power comes from (God) and that we have been commanded to become like Him. And let us dwell on the ways we aspire to be like Him. How are the ways that we aspire to be like Him, ways that we can utilize that power? I believe that examples of priesthood power may be found in all things that we know about Christ, and we are commanded to follow His example. That includes utilizing His power. As members, we take upon ourselves the name of Christ. We follow in His footsteps, and join Him in His work. How does he accomplish His work? Through priesthood power.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps (1 Peter 2:21)

Be willing to pray to pray for priesthood power and the Lord will teach you. And as you become willing to pray, fast, study, seek, worship, and serve, you will be afforded more than you may now realize.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. Doctrine & Covenants 6:8




 

 

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