The Restoration of the Priesthood Lesson 5 Student

The Restoration of the Priesthood ~ Lesson 5 Student Readings: • Joseph Smith – History 1: 68 -72 • Doctrine & Covenants 13: 1; 84: 18 -22; 107: 1 -19 • Thomas S. Monson, “The Priesthood-A Sacred Gift”, Ensign, May. 2007 1

How would your life be different without these sacred ordinances? 2

Major Events of the Restoration Spring 1820 First Vision received September 1823 Moroni’s visits began May/June 1829 Priesthood restored June 1829 Book of Mormon translation completed April 6, 1830 Church organized 3

Oliver Cowdery Born: October 3, 1806 in Wells, Vermont Died: March 3, 1850 in Richmond, Missouri Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery 4

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Joseph Smith - History 1: 68 -73 6

What does it mean that the Aaronic Priesthood holds ‘the key of the ministering of angels’ and of the ‘gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins’? 7

What does it mean that the Aaronic Priesthood holds ‘the key of the ministering of angels’ and of the ‘gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins’? The meaning is found in the ordinance of baptism and in the sacrament. Elder Dallin H. Oaks Baptism is for the remission of sins, and the sacrament is a renewal of the covenants and blessings of baptism. Both should be preceded by repentance. 8

Not one of [us] has lived without since [our] baptism. Without some provision for further cleansing after our baptism, each of us is lost to things spiritual. We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit Elder Dallin H. Oaks and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. 9

We cannot overstate the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood in this. All of these vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament. Elder Dallin H. Oaks 10

How does the Aaronic Priesthood help us access the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ? 11

I come now to the subject of priesthood authority. I begin with the three principles just discussed: (1)priesthood is the power of God delegated to man to act for the salvation of the human family, (2) priesthood authority is governed by priesthood holders who hold priesthood keys, and (3) since the scriptures state that “all Elder Dallin H. Oaks other authorities [and] offices in the church are appendages to this [Melchizedek] priesthood” (D&C 107: 5), all that is done under the direction of those priesthood keys is done with priesthood authority. 12

The Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood 13

D&C 84: 19 -22 D&C 107: 8, 18 -19 Look for how these verses describe the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. 14

The Melchizedek Priesthood • • • Administers the gospel Holds keys of the mysteries of the kingdom Holds keys of the knowledge of God Holds keys of the spiritual blessings of the Church Holds keys to receiving revelation Holds keys to communing with heavenly hosts and dwelling with the Father and the Son The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the keys of all the ordinances and spiritual blessings of the Church. 15

The word “priesthood” has several meanings for Latter-day Saints: 1. Priesthood is power, the power of God, a vital source of eternal strength and energy delegated to men to act in all things for the well-being of mankind, both in the world and out of it (DS 3: 80; Romney, p. 43). 2. Priesthood is authority, the exclusive right to act in the name of God as his authorized agents and to perform ordinances for the purpose of opening certain spiritual blessings to all individuals. 3. Priesthood is the right and responsibility to preside within the organizational structure of the Church, but only in a manner consistent with the agency of others. 4. Sometimes the word priesthood is used to refer to the men of the Church in general (as in “the priesthood will meet in the chapel”). 16

…the LDS doctrine of priesthood differs from all other views. Priesthood is not vocational or professional. It is not hereditary, passed by inheritance from father to son (even the levitical priesthood was conferred by ordination). It is not offered for money. It is not held by a group of specialists who are separated from the community (all worthy Latter-day Saint men are eligible to be ordained to the priesthood). And yet it is not a “priesthood of all believers, ” as in the Protestant conception (Encyclopedia of Religion, 11: 529). 17

President James E. Faust “What is the key of the knowledge of God, and can anyone obtain it? Without the priesthood there can be no fullness of the knowledge of God. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that the ‘Melchizedek Priesthood … is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven’. ” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 108]” (“The Key of the Knowledge of God, ” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 52). 18

D&C 84: 20 -22 What ordinances can be administered only by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood? • • Confirmation Conferral of Melchizedek Priesthood Temple ordinances Blessing babies Administering to the sick Patriarchal blessings Setting a person apart for a calling 19

D&C 84: 20 -22 • How can priesthood ordinances help a person experience “the power of godliness? ” • How can the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood prepare us to see the face of God? • How have priesthood ordinances helped you to become more like God? 20

What experiences have contributed to your appreciation for and testimony of the priesthood? 21

We are laying the foundation of a work that God angels have contemplated with delight for generations past; that fired the souls of the ancient patriarchs and prophets; a work that is destined to bring about the destruction of the powers of darkness, the renovation of the earth, the glory of God, and the salvation of the human family. 22

The First Vision Continued Revelation The Book of Mormon The Priesthood The New and Everlasting Covenant Gifts of the Spirit Ordinances The Church of Jesus Christ 23

The Organization of the Church ~ Lesson 6 Student Readings: • Doctrine & Covenants 1: 30; 20: 1 -3, 17 -37, 68 -69. • Henry B. Eyring, “The True and Living Church”, Ensign, May. 2008 24

Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith “While the sisters have not been given the Priesthood, it has not been conferred upon them, that does not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority. … A person may have authority given to him, or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation, such as the work that our sisters do in the House of the Lord. They have authority given unto them to do some great and wonderful things, sacred unto the Lord, and binding just as thoroughly as are the blessings that are given by the men who hold the Priesthood. ” 25

Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith “Relief Society – an Aid to the Priesthood”, Relief Society Magazine, Jan. 1959 “You can speak with authority, because the Lord has placed authority upon you. ” …the Relief Society “[has] been given power and authority to do a great many things. The work which they do is done by divine authority. ” “[The Lord] has given to them this great organization where they have authority to serve under the directions of the bishops of the wards … , looking after the interest of our people both spiritually and temporally. ” 26