Does Mormonism Restore the Biblical Priesthoods?
Is the Mormon temple system a restoration of ancient biblical worship—or a complete reinvention? The LDS Church claims to restore the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods along with temple ordinances, but when compared with Scripture, the differences are profound.
In the Old Testament, God gave Israel very specific instructions for priesthood and temple worship. Only men from the tribe of Levi could serve as priests, and only descendants of Aaron could be high priests (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:10). At any given time, there was only one high priest, who alone could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:32–34). Women, youth, and men from other tribes were not permitted to perform priestly duties.
In contrast, the LDS Church ordains multiple high priests simultaneously and allows men, women, and even youth to perform various temple ordinances. This directly contradicts the biblical pattern God established.
Even more significant is the biblical teaching on the Melchizedek priesthood. Scripture presents Jesus Christ—not human leaders—as the eternal High Priest:
- “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Psalm 110:4)
- “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” (Hebrews 7:24)
- “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
Unlike the LDS system that multiplies priesthood offices, the New Testament makes it clear that Jesus alone holds the Melchizedek priesthood eternally, and no one else can share or assume it.
Furthermore, with Christ’s sacrifice, the temple system itself was fulfilled and brought to an end:
- “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” (Matthew 27:50–51)
- “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:18)
This tearing of the temple veil signified that through Christ, access to God was now open to all believers without priests or temple rituals. The New Testament never commands Christians to build new temples, perform ritual ordinances, or restore priesthoods—because Jesus fulfilled them once and for all people and for all eternity.
This video compares the LDS version of priesthood and temple practices with the Bible’s clear teaching. Are Mormon temple rituals truly a restoration of God’s ancient pattern—or are they a fundamental reinvention, disconnected from the worship God established and fulfilled in Christ?
