Contents:

           The Prophet Joseph Smith  -  Defining the Melchizedek Priesthood

            Graphic: The Orders of the Priesthood

            Dictionary definitions for power, authority, and keys

            Insights on the Oath and Covenant:  Definitions for Receive, Magnify, Let, Learn, and Distil

            Graphic: Priesthood Organization in the Church
 

The Prophet Joseph Smith
Defining the Melchizedek Priesthood
Teachings,  p. 166

 
... the Melchizedek Priesthood ... holds the highest authority which pertains to the priesthood, and the keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth; ...

[the Melchizedek Priesthood] is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven.  Its institution was prior to the "foundation of this earth...", and [it] is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and  all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it. ...

[the Melchizedek Priesthood] is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of the earth, and through which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men
to the present time, and through which He will make known his purposes to the end of time.

The Orders of the Priesthood (D&C 107:1, 5-8, 18-20)

Dictionary Definitions for Power and Authority

      Power

• The ability or official capacity to exercise control
• Capability of acting or of producing an effect
• A delegated right or privilege; a prerogative
• A position of ascendancy

     Authority

• The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, or judge
• Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience
• Confidence derived from experience or practice
• Public [agent] with delegated power over others

Authority implies the granting of power for a specific purpose and within a carefully delineated frame of reference; it may also refer to the influence derived from public sanction

Notice that these definitions for power and authority strongly suggest action (i.e. exercise, operate), knowledge, and process (experience, practice)

• A means of access, control, or possession
• Something that serves to reveal or solve a problem, difficulty, or mystery
• Spiritual authority in a Christian religion

To hold a "Key" suggests the possession of a "permission" to perform specific labors using the priesthood

It also implies the possession of a "mechanism" that may help "unlock" hidden knowledge, or mysteries (D&C 84:19; 107:19-20)

Insights on the Oath and Covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood:
Dictionary Definitions for Key Terms:  Receive, Magnify, Let, Learn, Distil

     To Receive  (D&C 84:35-38)

• To take or acquire something that is given, offered, or transmitted
• To have something (like a title) bestowed upon oneself
• To hear or see; to meet with; to experience
• To have inflicted or imposed; to bear the weight or force of
• To admit; to greet or welcome
• To perceive or acquire mentally
• To listen to and acknowledge formally and authoritatively

    To Magnify  (D&C 84:33)

• To increase the importance of
• To cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
• To make greater; to intensify

• Characterized by wonderful achievements
• Having dignity or stateliness (i.e. formality, or elevated style)
• Brilliant;  Splendid;  Noble
• Impressive to the imagination;  Inspiring
• Exceptionally fine

      To Let  (D&C 107:99)

• To make or cause
• to allow or permit

      To Learn  (D&C 107:99)

• To gain knowledge--or understanding of, or skill in--by study, instruction, or experience
• To develop an ability to or readiness for by practice, training, or repeated experience
• To memorize

     To Distil  (D&C 121:45)

• To send or pour forth in small quantities; to let fall or precipitate in drops
• To subject to or to transform by distillation
• To obtain an extract by distillation; to make concentrated by abridgment and purification or by the extraction of an essential or typical portion

• The process of driving off vapor from liquids or solids by heating and then condensing once again into liquid
• Process used for purification, fractionation (D&C 6:2; 33:1), or the formation of new substances

Priesthood Organization of the Church (D&C 107:21-27, 30)

This web page was published only as a support for classroom discussion.
For more information, contact Dr. Marcus Martins at: MartinsM@byuh.edu