The Priesthood Is The Power of God On Earth

Gospel Basics Series: Laws And Ordinances

The priesthood is the power God gives man to act in His name. The prophet holds all the keys of the priesthood necessary for the salvation of the world. Think of keys in terms of authority.

Jesus Christ is the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, and He leads it on earth through apostles and prophets. God calls the apostles and prophets and gives them His priesthood and all the keys necessary for salvation. Christ also ordained apostles and prophets in His time and gave them the priesthood. The priesthood was eventually lost when His apostles and prophets were killed, bringing in the apostasy.

John the Baptist (the same one that baptized Jesus Christ) visited Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them the priesthood, which authorized them to give it to other worthy men. John the Baptist conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.

Later, three of Jesus Christ’s apostles who were in His presidency, Peter, James and John also visited Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them the Melchizedek Priesthood which is the higher priesthood.

You can only receive the priesthood through faithfulness and worthiness. You can’t get it through study or earning degrees through any college or university. You can also only receive it through ordination and by the laying on of hands. Only males are ordained to the priesthood.This does not mean that God withholds blessings from females. God loves his daughters just the same as His sons and will not deny women anything that they are worthy of.

To prove this, the temple is where you receive the highest blessings concerning your salvation. Both men and women receive the same blessings in the temple. The temple is possible only because of the priesthood.

There is a big difference between priesthood authority and priesthood power. Your Bishop may determine you are worthy to receive the authority of the priesthood. It is up to you if you have the power in the priesthood. You obtain power in the priesthood through personal righteousness and righteous action.

There are two priesthoods, the Aaronic and the Melchizedek. The Aaronic is the lower priesthood and it prepares you to receive the higher priesthood, which is the Melchizedek.

The Melchizedek priesthood allows you to bless your family and others around you in unique and special ways.

Bishops and Stake Presidents are judges in the church and have the keys for salvation in their congregation. The keys they hold allow them to receive revelation for you. Your bishop is the Lord’s instrument. Even though the scriptures will give you personal revelation and help, you can visit with your bishop when your life is especially hard. Your bishop has the authority to receive divine revelation from heaven to help you. If you have sinned in a serious manner, your bishop will help you in your repentance process and return you to peace and happiness.

The Relief Society of the church is a tremendous organization of the church for women. When women turn 18 they graduate from the ranks of youth and become part of the Relief Society for the remaining of their lives. Charity is their clarion call.

Bishops typically have their calling for five years and then released. Many members become very close to the bishop during that five years and are saddened when he is released. Always remember that the keys or authority remain with the calling not the person. This means that the new man called to be the bishop will have the same access to heaven that the previous bishop had.

Chapel Address and contact information: 1928 E. South Campus Drive, Salt Lake City; (University of Utah, next to the institute) 801-562-8089. You can also call 801-259-6709 for the mission home in Midvale if you want to talk to someone.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a worldwide church. Most likely there is a chapel near you.

Go here to find a chapel near you if you don't live in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.

Back to Back Issues Page