The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds a special authority known as the Priesthood. Many unfamiliar with the LDS Church may wonder what this authority allows a Priesthood holder to do.
First you have to know what the Priesthood is. The Priesthood is the authority of man to act with the power of God. There are two levels, the Melchizedek and Aaronic. I will only talk about the Aaronic Priesthood in this though. There are different names for it. The Priesthood of Aaron is also known as the “Lesser Priesthood.” This is due to the Melchizedek having more authority in spiritual matters. It’s known as the “Levitical Priesthood” due to Aaron being one of the sons of the Levi lineage. A last name it’s known by is the “Preparatory Priesthood.” This is due to it being a predecessor of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It allows you to practice the duties of the Lesser Priesthood to prepare you grasp the power and duties of the Higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood. Most often, however, it is just called the Aaronic Priesthood.
There are three offices of the Aaronic Priesthood. There’s a deacon, a teacher, and a priest. Each of these successive offices adds more duties and assignments to a priesthood holder. A man can obtain the priesthood at the age of 12, starting as a deacon, and gaining experience as he moves from deacon, to teacher, to priest.
“The offices are a part of the priesthood, but the priesthood is greater than any of the offices within it...The priesthood is yours forever unless you disqualify yourself through transgression.”
The transgressions referred to in this are the greater sins, not the small daily mistakes we all make, but serious transgressions that require fervent repentance.
Gifted speaker, Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once said in an April 2009 address:
“You have been ordained to an office in the priesthood of God and given divine authority that is not and cannot be held by the kings and magistrates and great men of this earth unless they humble themselves and enter through the gate that leads to life eternal. “
The priesthood is a gift from God of the greatest kind. It shows that He trusts us as His children, to allow us to act in His name, and do what he would do, continuously striving to build up His kingdom. As a holder of the priesthood myself, I am truly amazed and grateful that the Lord would allow me to act in His name. He is my rock and my redeemer, and I hope to make Him proud by exercising this Holy power to the greatest of my abilities.
First you have to know what the Priesthood is. The Priesthood is the authority of man to act with the power of God. There are two levels, the Melchizedek and Aaronic. I will only talk about the Aaronic Priesthood in this though. There are different names for it. The Priesthood of Aaron is also known as the “Lesser Priesthood.” This is due to the Melchizedek having more authority in spiritual matters. It’s known as the “Levitical Priesthood” due to Aaron being one of the sons of the Levi lineage. A last name it’s known by is the “Preparatory Priesthood.” This is due to it being a predecessor of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It allows you to practice the duties of the Lesser Priesthood to prepare you grasp the power and duties of the Higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood. Most often, however, it is just called the Aaronic Priesthood.
There are three offices of the Aaronic Priesthood. There’s a deacon, a teacher, and a priest. Each of these successive offices adds more duties and assignments to a priesthood holder. A man can obtain the priesthood at the age of 12, starting as a deacon, and gaining experience as he moves from deacon, to teacher, to priest.
“The offices are a part of the priesthood, but the priesthood is greater than any of the offices within it...The priesthood is yours forever unless you disqualify yourself through transgression.”
The transgressions referred to in this are the greater sins, not the small daily mistakes we all make, but serious transgressions that require fervent repentance.
Gifted speaker, Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once said in an April 2009 address:
“You have been ordained to an office in the priesthood of God and given divine authority that is not and cannot be held by the kings and magistrates and great men of this earth unless they humble themselves and enter through the gate that leads to life eternal. “
The priesthood is a gift from God of the greatest kind. It shows that He trusts us as His children, to allow us to act in His name, and do what he would do, continuously striving to build up His kingdom. As a holder of the priesthood myself, I am truly amazed and grateful that the Lord would allow me to act in His name. He is my rock and my redeemer, and I hope to make Him proud by exercising this Holy power to the greatest of my abilities.
RSS Feed