Chapter Eleven- The Melchizedek Priesthood

Before we talk about ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood, it seems important to establish, emphasize, and clarify again that Priesthood is God’s. Ordination to priesthood is delegated authority and the power or magnified ability so that one can accomplish the work that has been authorized. In the case of Melchizedek Priesthood, the work is to bring the ordinances of salvation to mankind and to guard and direct the Church that houses those ordinances. 

President N. Eldon Tanner stated this succinctly, “It is evident that the source of the priesthood is the Godhead, and the priesthood held by man is delegated authority.” (1)

Priesthood is God’s

Priesthood is the name attached to the power that God the Father has because of His perfect character. He can do anything and He knows everything. He is the source. Every, single person with godly power has been given access to it by Him. This is really important so I am going to restate it. The wellspring of power is God the Father, and even the Savior was dependent on God’s capacity for the ability to accomplish His mission. This doctrine is taught concisely in the Book of Mormon by Helaman, “And (Jesus) hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance.” (2)

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught, "The power by which the heavens and earth were and are created is the priesthood. Those of us who are members of the Church know that the source of this priesthood power is God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ. Not only is the priesthood the power by which the heavens and the earth were created, but it is also the power the Savior used in His mortal ministry to perform miracles, to bless and heal the sick, to bring the dead to life, and, as our Father’s Only Begotten Son, to endure the unbearable pain of Gethsemane and Calvary..." (3)

So, again, Priesthood is God’s. It isn't given away to men or women like you would share a cake where each person has a piece of their very own. The power belongs to the person who generated it-- Heavenly Father. When one is ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood it is first “conferred”, which means “to bestow upon as a gift.” Then the man is ordained, which means “to appoint to an office or assignment”. One is authorized to "borrow" priesthood’s possibilities from God. I know that "borrow" is an imperfect word here but I used it because I want to emphasize that priesthood isn't ours and we don't get to keep it as though it is our real estate or possession. 

This means that we probably shouldn't talk about priesthood as possessive: "my priesthood", "my husband's priesthood", "the priesthood" (in reference to the men), or I have even heard, "women's priesthood". Especially if you are using the phrases as defining statements of possession that vaunts you and gives you an additional layer of power from God. Here is the truth, the Kingdom of God is just chock-full of "authorizations" to act in the name of God.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks clarified one more thing. He taught that collective men of the Church nor the priesthood quorums hold any keys. Keys of presiding and guarding the priesthood rest in individuals who are called and set apart for a specific purpose. He said, “Keys are conferred on individuals, not organizations. The same is true of priesthood authority and of the related authority exercised under priesthood direction. Organizations may channel the exercise of such authority, but they do not embody it.” (4) This insight is important to remember so that we don’t make sweeping statements or have erroneous ideas about the collective men of the Church and their authority. 

Ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood 

In God the Father’s perfect divvying up or allocation of assignments, it is righteous men on this earth who have been given the direct responsibilities of the Melchizedek Priesthood. By premortal appointment (5), it is their obligation to make available to all of mankind the blessings of ordinances and covenants, and to administer the Church which shelters them. Elder Hales confirmed the duties of priesthood holders, “As God’s authorized agents, men are commissioned to go forth and bless others through the power and authority of the (Melchizedek) priesthood, making all priesthood covenants, ordinances, and blessings available today.” (6) 

Luke tells us a story in Acts of the Apostles that highlights how carefully ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood is protected. The Apostle Phillip was in Samaria, performing miracles and baptizing men and women, when a man, Simon, approached him. Simon had fame in the region as “a great one” because he used sorcery to bewitch people. Simon was fascinated by what Phillip was doing: ordinances, miracles and signs. He, too, chose to be baptized.

Soon thereafter, Peter and John joined Phillip in Samaria and they conferred upon those who had been baptized, the gift of the Holy Ghost. This beautiful work of the Melchizedek Priesthood, done by proper authority, must have seemed very powerful to Simon because he, too, wanted the ability to do it. “And when Simon saw that through (the) laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.’ But Peter said unto him, ‘Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.’” (7)         

Simon knew that the priesthood, which makes the ordinances of salvation available to mankind, was a wonderful gift. To him, it was worth buying. But Peter made clear that the power was protected both in permissions through conferral, and also in use.

In the October 2017 priesthood session of General Conference, Elder Dale G. Renlund taught about the Melchizedek Priesthood and its purposes in sharing the blessings of ordinances with mankind. He did so with an analogy that was visual and wonderful.            

He described the blessings of the Atonement, i.e. a remission of sin, worthiness for the companionship of Holy Ghost, and exaltation, as a “payload”. This payload, or package or haul, contains the blessings and opportunities that are available through Christ.            

Elder Renlund said that “the payload” is transported or “rocketed” to mankind through the use of the Melchizedek Priesthood. (29) The blessings need to be delivered to mankind for salvation to be possible.            

Men are not the rocket, nor the payload. Ordained holders of the priesthood are riding in the rocket, bringing those blessings to all of Heavenly Father’s children. (8) 

Melchizedek Priesthood is work. It is responsibility. It is a duty. President David O. McKay declared: “Priesthood means service.” (9) There is nothing in priesthood that is vaunting or would cause the brethren of the Church to strut and crow. Melchizedek Priesthood is never about the holder. Everything he does is outward-focused. Ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood is the opposite of self-serving. Instead, it means that the man has a responsibility. The covenants of his ordination to the priesthood mean accountability to God, specific to the obligation of delivering ordinances to all. As a man comes closer to Christ through his own ordinances and covenants, it is as if Christ reaches out, holds him by the shoulders, and turns him around to see the people of the world. The priesthood holder then becomes aware that there is a great need for the same ordinances and covenants he is prospering from to be made available amongst our Heavenly Father’s children. It is his covenanted duty to do that work. (10)           

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni said this so well, “And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.” (11) 

President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, “The blessings of the Atonement are offered to the Saints and to the world through the ministrations of those who hold His (Melchizedek) Priesthood…Holding the priesthood is not a light or small thing. We are dealing with the Lord’s power and authority, which he has given to us by the opening of the heavens in this day so that every blessing might again be available to (the men and women of the earth).”(12)

The Holy Ghost is the Powerline 

The Holy Ghost is the conduit to God that men use to effectively serve in Melchizedek Priesthood roles. Melchizedek Priesthood holders receive their capacity for miracles as defined by the first definition of God's total priesthood. (13) They function on principles of righteousness, which are enabled by the Atonement of Savior Jesus Christ, and ferried to them through the Spirit. (See Chapters One through Three) Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained, “The Lord’s legal administrators on earth serve by virtue of their callings and ordinations in the Holy Priesthood and as they (are) guided by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (14)

Men who are ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood do not have God's total priesthood power and authority because of that ordination. Remember that men had access to God's total priesthood and power before that-- that opportunity was available when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism. It is also good to remember that the covenant to bear Christ’s ministry came at baptism, thus before priesthood ordination.           

Melchizedek Priesthood ordination is defined differently. It is men covenanting to the work of helping mankind return to Heavenly Father through ordinances. The priesthood holder is ordained, which gives him the authorization to perform these ordinances. The source of the power to accomplish that work is again, God the Father through the Holy Ghost. The Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood manual makes this clear: “The source of the power of the priesthood is God, who works through the Holy Ghost…Power in the priesthood comes to us only from our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost. With the power of the priesthood, we can do the Lord’s work; without that power, we cannot.” (15)       

In priesthood service, and in all service for that matter, the Doctrine and Covenants teaches that, “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means, it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.” (16) 

Power in the Priesthood Comes with Righteousness

To have the Holy Ghost’s gifts and direction, one must keep the commandments and live worthily. There is nothing effective or operative in a man (or woman, for that matter) who is laden with sin or pride. For a man to function in a priesthood capacity or calling, he must be righteous. He must repent of pride, any desire to dominate or dictate, or to force behaviors out of God’s children. Any degree of unrighteousness disqualifies him from productivity in his responsibilities. He must be more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish and more anxious to exercise compassion then to exercise dominion. (17)           

The Doctrine and Covenants section 121 makes it clear that “The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and … the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.” (18)           

In my personal study recently I read 35 years of General Conference priesthood session talks.  In them, I found a pattern: The prophets and apostles of this dispensation first emphasize how vast and grand God the Father’s total priesthood power and authority is. Then they marvel that men on earth can have part and parcel in the workings of God’s plan through Jesus Christ and the Melchizedek Priesthood. There is a sense of wonder that imperfect but striving men can be tools in God’s hands. There is a tone of reverence at the responsibility. But the heart and soul of most of these discourses were a call for men to stand taller, to rise to the responsibility, to be repentant, to be humble, and to be clean. They urge men to work harder, to care more, and to serve with greater intensity. 

Goodness and strength is an outcropping of all men and women who are covenant-makers and covenant-keepers. A man, like a woman, obtains a remission of sin through baptism and promises a life of discipleship and Christ-like service. Through the conferral of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, he is given access to God the Father’s total priesthood power for sanctification, inspiration, revelation and power through spiritual gifts. When he is ordained to the priesthood, he is further obligated to serving his fellow men, specifically to bring the ordinances of salvation to his family and to mankind. But good men do not desire to be called to an office or to leadership, they are simply filled with the desire to take Christ’s ministry as their own with full purpose of heart. (19) 

Melchizedek Priesthood Blesses Everyone 

In a stirring discussion about priesthood conferral, Alma tells Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon that, “priests were ordained after the order of His Son…that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to His Son for redemption.” (20) Moroni taught similarly that the office of the priesthood ministry is to call mankind unto repentance and to do the work of the covenants of the Father. (21) 

The blessings of “the covenants of the Father” are laid out nicely in Doctrine and Covenants section 107 where we are taught what it is that ordinances bring into our lives. The verses remind us that Melchizedek Priesthood has the delegated authority to bring the spiritual blessings of the Church to individuals and families. Then the scripture lists those universal blessings: “To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” (22) 

These promises could be restated in this way: Christ’s ordinances aid us in becoming members of Christ’s Church (baptism), working together “communing” for the good of mankind (baptism), having the heavens opened by the Holy Ghost’s communications so that you understand the mysteries of heaven (confirmation), being blessed by the mediation and advocacy of Jesus Christ (the cleansing blessings of repentance, the Sacrament, and the temple ordinances), and eventual communion in the presence of God the Father (exaltation). This is how all of God’s children are blessed, equally, gender-free, and abundantly, by Melchizedek Priesthood. 

Melchizedek Priesthood ordination is not about the male-holder being extra powerful or exalted in station. It is about his duty to make the blessings of the Atonement available. To clarify, men who have been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood get the above blessings not by priesthood ordination itself, but from their own covenants and ordinances, by their service to mankind, and through the companionship of and communication from the Holy Ghost. This same pattern is true for women. That is why President Joseph Fielding Smith said that the blessings of the priesthood (meaning the opportunity to make promises with God through ordinances) are blessings that are poured out upon men and women. “The Lord offers to His daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by His sons.” (23) Elder M. Russell Ballard agreed, “…access to the power and blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children.” (24) 

Some time ago I embarked on a careful study of the said “priesthood sections” of the Doctrine and Covenants, specifically sections 84 and 107. I did so with the intention of understanding men and priesthood and power. What I found was me! I found the universal access to ordinances and their blessings. This was surprising, but wonderful. I can picture myself ringing my sister on the telephone, reading her the verses out loud, and sharing the hard-fought insight that the blessings were for all. 

Recently I read that Sister Rebecca Craven of the General Young Women’s Presidency had a similar experience. “It wasn't until I was an adult that I started to understand the Oath and the Covenant of the Priesthood, which is found in the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants…I began to realize that it actually had everything to do with me.” (25) I was also interesting to read an almost identical experience by Sister Sheri Dew where she studied Doctrine and Covenants 84 and realized that men and women  have claim on “all blessings that emanate from priesthood keys, priesthood authority and priesthood power.” (26)

A righteous, humble, consecrated priesthood holder is promised that he will have the opportunity to bring the ordinances of salvation to mankind, in the similitude of Moses and Aaron. (27) This is his scriptural duty. This service is the reason for his ordination. In this way, the delegated power and authority on the earth today blesses all of mankind.