Priesthood

.:PRIESTHOOD – THE RESTORATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD

• The Aaronic Priesthood, Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith
• The Aaronic Priesthood authority nullified
• The non-transferable Melchizedek Priesthood
• The Priesthood authority of all Christian believers

Mormon.org states:

“Throughout time, God has given His servants, the prophets, the authority to act in His name. This authority is called the priesthood… John the Baptist appeared and conferred upon Joseph Smith and his associate Oliver Cowdery the Aaronic Priesthood… Later, Peter, James, and John… conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, restoring the same authority given to Christ’s Apostles anciently.”

WHAT MORMON.ORG DOES NOT TELL YOU ABOUT PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY

The Aaronic Priesthood, Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith

• Jesus Christ could not hold the Aaronic Priesthood because He was not of the Levitical lineage of Aaron, so neither could Joseph Smith receive this priesthood. Joseph Fielding Smith claimed that: “…the Prophet Joseph Smith… was of the lineage of Joseph through the loins of Ephraim.” 4. Since Smith was not of the tribe of Aaron, it would have been impossible for him to be ordained to the Biblical Aaronic priesthood. Hebrews 7 explains:

  “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham… For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”—Hebrews 7:5, 14

The Aaronic Priesthood authority nullified.

• The Aaronic Priesthood authority was nullified by the greater Melchizedek Priesthood. According to the Bible, only one priesthood authority exists in power at one time. When Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, the Aaronic Priesthood didn’t exist. Then, when the Aaronic Priesthood came into power, one no longer heard about the Melchizedek Priesthood until Jesus came to spiritual power and operated under the authority of this Melchizedek Priesthood. Because Jesus lives forever (Hebrews 7:24), the Aaronic Priesthood authority has been forever been done nullified!

  “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” —Hebrews 7:11-12

The non-transferable Melchizedek Priesthood

• The Melchizedek Priesthood is non-transferable because Jesus Christ is the ONLY one who fulfills the qualifications to hold this Priesthood. There is only one High Priest who can exist at one time (see Numbers 35:25, 28 and 2 Kings 12:10; 23:4). Thus, when Jesus became the Christians’ High Priest as One who holds the power of an endless life, He demonstrated that He alone fulfills the Melchizedek Priesthood Authority’s qualifications. He as God existing from eternity (having neither beginning of days, nor end of life) and is the only one who is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” As our only High Priest, He holds an “unchangeable” (non-transferable) Priesthood Authority.

  “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils… But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 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. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”—Hebrews 7:3-4, 24-26

The Priesthood authority of all Christian believers

• The non-Aaronic and non-Melchizedek priesthood authority of all Christian believers is available to ALL who call upon the name of Jesus for salvation. This authority is not limited by race, citizenship, nor gender:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” —John 1:12

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. …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.”—1 Peter 2:5, 9

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” —Galatians 3:28

As we have seen above, neither Joseph Smith, nor current Mormon leaders fulfill the Biblical qualifications to hold the discontinued Aaronic Priesthood Authority, nor do they currently hold the occupied Melchizedek Priesthood. Therefore, we must ask: What do you call men who claim to be “Apostles,” but who do not have the proper Authority? You call them a “false apostles!”

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” —2 Corinthians 11:13

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4. Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p. 247