Church News article: Transcript of Interview with President Oaks and President Eyring about Revelation in Councils  (Feb 2022)

Pres. Boyd K. Packer: Ordinances (1980)

Video: Introduction to Priesthood and Family - https://youtu.be/urZd30UUkSA (YouTube - 2020)

Essay: Insights on Names and Ordinances (2018)

Optional video:  Insights on the Priesthood (2017 - in case you have not watched it yet, or if you would like to review a few concepts)

Optional: read my essay: "The Doctrine of the Priesthood and Gender Issues" (2016)

- The priesthood is eternal (17-18)

Despite the temporary names we may assign to the priesthood, it has no beginning.  And the priesthood of Aaron exists within the eternal (or Melchizedek) priesthood.

"[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." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.166)

"The Priesthood of God, that was given to the ancients and is given to men in the latter days, is co-equal in duration with eternity—is without beginning of days or end of life. It is unchangeable in its system of government and its Gospel of salvation. It gives to Gods and angels their supremacy and power, and offers wealth, influence, posterity, exaltations, power, glory, kingdoms and thrones, ceaseless in their duration, to all who will accept them on the terms upon which they are offered." (Discourses of Brigham Young,  p.49)

- The privileges of the greater priesthood: (19)

• Administer (i.e. conduct, manage, govern, distribute, dispense) the gospel
• Hold the key of the mysteries of the kingdom
What could be the difference between "receiving the mysteries" and "holding the key of the mysteries"?

• Hold the key of the knowledge of God

- The power of godliness is manifested through the ordinances of the greater priesthood (20-22)

- The "rest of the Lord" means "the fulness of His glory"  (24)
 
- The privileges of the lesser priesthood: (26)

• Hold the key of the ministering of angels
• Hold the key of the preparatory gospel
• Repentance, baptism, remission of sins (27)

- A few necessary appendages to the priesthood: (29-30)

• Elders and bishops
• Teachers and deacons

- The Oath and Covenant of the Melchizedek priesthood:  (33-42)

- "To Magnify": to increase the importance of; to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect; to make greater; to intensify

- "Magnificent":  characterized by wonderful achievements; having dignity or stateliness (i.e. formality, or elevated style); brilliant; splendid; noble; impressive to the imagination; inspiring; exceptionally fine

In light of these dictionary definitions, how should we view our callings in the Church?  And how should we take care of our many responsibilities in quorums and organizations?

- "To Receive:"  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

How do these definitions expand our understanding of what it means to "receive the priesthood", "receive the Lord's servants", and "receive the Lord"?

The Orders of the Priesthood
Doctrine and Covenants 107:1, 5-8, 18-20

President Russell M. Nelson
Women's Access to the Priesthood
Conference Report, Women's Session - October 2018

More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple.

For those of you who don’t live near a temple, I invite you to study prayerfully about temples in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets.

Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before.

- Beware concerning yourselves (43-44)

- Whatsoever is truth is .. the Spirit of Jesus Christ (45)

Not his spirit body, nor the Holy Ghost (for more explanations, wait for section 88)

- "The Spirit giveth light ..." (46-48)

- To Enlighten - to give spiritual or intellectual insight to; to give information to; inform, instruct

- Insight: the capacity to discern the true nature of a situation; act or outcome of grasping the inward or hidden nature of things or of perceiving in a intuitive manner

These definitions suggest that those who are enlightened have the ability not only to be instructed but to become instructors themselves, thus becoming apt to speak in the name of God (D&C 1:20)

- Darkened minds because of unbelief and light regard for sacred things (54)

- Obedience to precepts in the Book of Mormon avert condemnation (57)

- Plus, solemnity and spirit of prayer (61)

- Do not boast of spiritual gifts (73)

Remember what Ammon, the great missionary of old, said in this regard: read Alma 26:11-12

- There is no alternative for the gospel in the event of unbelief (74-75)

- The gospel is unto all who have not received it (75)

- A promise to full-time missionaries (80-85,88,90-91)

. These promises seem also to apply to all of us, to a certain extent, in our many church callings

. We need all types of Mormons, not only the strong and firm

- Use the holders of the lesser priesthood (107)

Definitions of "Priesthood": power and authority to perform the Lord's work (D&C 107:8,18)

"Power:"

• The ability or official capacity to exercise control
• the energy or motive force by which a physical system ... is operated
• a position of ascendancy
• military force or its equipment
• capability of acting or of producing an effect
• mental or physical ability or aptitude
• a delegated right or privilege
• a prerogative
• performance measured without consideration of the element of speed

"Authority:"

• The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge
• public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field
• power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience
• confidence derived from experience or practice
• firm self-assurance
• convincing force
• delegated power over others

Authority implies the granting of power for a specific purpose and within a carefully delineated frame of reference

Authority may also refer to the influence derived from public sanction, or in our case, the sustaining vote of the congregation at the ward, stake, or church-wide level, depending on the nature of the calling

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

"Key:"

• 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

The concept of "holding a key" suggests the possession of a "permission" to perform specific ordinances, labors, or assignments 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)

- The importance of keeping an accurate history of the Church (1-3)

Our lives (including its mortal phase) are an integral part of the history of the plan of salvation. Consider these words from President Spencer W. Kimball:

"Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity.  Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies.  Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events." ("The Angels May Quote from It," in New Era - Oct. 1975 - The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.351)

- I personally believe our lives may already be part of future scriptural accounts:

"Three hundred years from now our names and our most--if not all--of our actions will be known by perhaps thousands of our descendants. At this moment our lives (including all our accomplishments, challenges, joys, disappointments) are already part of history.  If we feel that we have any reason to be ashamed of some of our current choices and actions, we must remember that through the power of the atonement of Christ we can be cleansed and those past actions will no longer be remembered (D&C 58:42-43). " (Marcus H. Martins, Unpublished Speech, September 22, 1994)

- Those who would not consecrate their possessions could not belong to the covenant society (3-5; 78:5-7)

- The still small voice (6)

- Be careful with false claims to leadership (7; Read the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual (2017), chapter 32; p.456 -- commentary on 85:7-8)

A few reminders from previous revelations:

Speak by wisdom, not commandment (see 28:5)
Ordinations must be performed by those who are recognized to have authority (see 42:11)

- Don't try to steady the ark (8; see 2 Samuel 6:6-7)

Questions for Review

1. What blessing is included in the greater priesthood? (84:19)

2. What is the "Rest of the Lord"? (84:24)

3. John the Baptist "was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power ..."  What specific power--or assignment--did John receive? (84:28)

4. What is a blessing included in the oath and covenant of the priesthood? (84:33-38)

5. Some of the early missionaries were reproved by the Lord because they treated lightly: (84:54-57)

6. Why don't we hear so much about miracles in our days? (84:64-73)

7. Will those who never accept the gospel still inherit eternal life because of the Lord's perfect love and mercy? (84:74-75)

8. Do we need to prepare talks or lessons? (84:85)

9. In what manner should holders of the Aaronic Priesthood be used? (84:107-108)

10. In the Lord's clarification of the Parable of the Wheat and of the Tares, why weren't the tares plucked out early on? (86:6; D&C Student Manual (2017), chapter 32, p.459)