The Priesthood: Power and Authority in the Plan of Salvation
God’s eternal authority delegated to man — for the salvation and exaltation of His children
Understanding the Priesthood
At its core, the priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God. It is the means by which He created the universe, governs the heavens and the earth, and exalts His children. The prophet Joseph Smith taught that “the Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 157). This divine power is unchanging and infinite, enabling the accomplishment of God’s work and glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).
In mortality, the priesthood is the authority God gives to man to act in His name for the salvation of His children. It is not merely a title or position but a sacred trust to serve others and build up the kingdom of God on earth. Through the priesthood, ordinances such as baptism, confirmation, and temple covenants are performed, binding us to God and each other while unlocking the blessings of heaven — if we are but willing to exercise faith, and act in accordance to that faith while being penitent and obedient disciples of Him.
In the plan of salvation, the priesthood fulfills two essential roles: one within the Church — ecclesiastical authority — and one within the home — patriarchal authority. This dual function reflects both the administrative and eternal purposes of God’s priesthood.
The Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood and the Family
As a child grows up and separates from their family they form a single-member family — they are responsible for themselves and have the right to preside in their own home. When a couple is married they together enter into an order of the priesthood when they enter into the covenant of marriage.
Key References — The Patriarchal Order
- D&C 131:1–4 — When a couple enters into the covenant of marriage they both enter into an order of the priesthood — they have authority to act in God’s name on behalf of their children
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World — Couples have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and their children; fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness; mothers are equal partners who sustain that presiding role
- D&C 132:15–18 — If a man marry a wife in God’s covenant, they will remain married in the next life and continue in this order of the priesthood, with power to bring children to earth and fulfill God’s plan
An individual is never released from being a parent — it is an eternal responsibility that cannot be abdicated or given to another. It is worth noting that a spouse is not equally called when their companion receives a Church calling; for example, a bishop’s wife is not called with her husband — he retains that calling unto himself.
On the Church website, a Gospel Topics essay on priesthood states the following:
“When a man and a woman are sealed in the temple, they enter together, by covenant, into an order of the priesthood. If they are faithful to their covenants, they receive ‘honor, immortality, and eternal life,’ ‘exaltation and glory in all things,’ and ‘a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.’”
“The priesthood authority exercised by Latter-day Saint women in the temple and elsewhere remains largely unrecognized by people outside the Church and is sometimes misunderstood or overlooked by those within. Latter-day Saints and others often mistakenly equate priesthood with religious office and the men who hold it, which obscures the broader Gospel concept of priesthood.”
Apostolic Teachings on Women and Priesthood — Ensign, Aug. 2016
- Elder M. Russell Ballard — “When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which by definition is priesthood power.”
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks — “We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be?”
- President James E. Faust — “Every father is to his family a patriarch and every mother a matriarch as coequals in their distinctive parental roles.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained this distinction between family and ecclesiastical authority with particular clarity in his October 2005 general conference address (Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church):
Dallin H. Oaks — October 2005
“When my father died, my mother presided over our family. She had no priesthood office, but as the surviving parent in her marriage she had become the governing officer in her family. At the same time, she was always totally respectful of the priesthood authority of our bishop and other Church leaders. She presided over her family, but they presided over the Church.
One important difference between its function in the Church and in the family is the fact that all priesthood authority in the Church functions under the direction of the one who holds the appropriate priesthood keys. In contrast, the authority that presides in the family — whether father, mother, or single-parent — functions in family matters without the need to get authorization from anyone holding priesthood keys. This family authority includes directing the activities of the family, family home evenings, family prayer, teaching the gospel, and counseling and disciplining family members. It also includes ordained fathers giving priesthood blessings.”
The family is ordained of God and is central to His plan. The priesthood plays a pivotal role in strengthening families and guiding them toward eternal life.
The Two Orders of the Priesthood within the Church
There is only one priesthood of God; however, in the current dispensation, it is administered through two distinct but related orders: the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Aaronic Priesthood. Each order carries specific roles, responsibilities, and authorities, working in harmony to carry out God’s work among His children. The Lord Himself set forth this pattern of two priesthoods:
“There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. … The second priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.”
The Aaronic Priesthood
Named after Aaron, the brother of Moses, who was ordained by God to serve as a priest (Exodus 28:1), the Aaronic Priesthood is the lesser priesthood. It is an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood and focuses on the preparatory gospel. This order of the priesthood is received without an oath and is a preparatory priesthood that leads to the receipt of the Melchizedek Priesthood (Hebrews 7:20–21).
The Lord defined the nature and authority of this lesser priesthood plainly. It is the appendage to the higher priesthood, and holds the authority to administer the outward ordinances — the letter of the gospel:
“The second priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations. Why it is called the lesser priesthood is because it is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances. … The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
This Aaronic Priesthood is also termed the preparatory gospel, for it prepares God’s children to receive the higher things. It holds the key of the ministering of angels:
“And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up.”
That “John” was John the Baptist, who held the Aaronic Priesthood by lineal descent and would later restore it to the earth in the latter days. The Apostle Paul likewise distinguished this lesser, Levitical priesthood from the perfecting priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, teaching that a change of priesthood was necessary because perfection could not come by the Levitical order:
“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
Offices of the Aaronic Priesthood
Within the Aaronic Priesthood are the offices of deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. The Lord set forth the specific duties of each in the revelation on Church government:
- Priest — to preach, teach, expound, exhort, baptize, administer the sacrament, visit the house of each member, and ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons (D&C 20:46–52).
- Teacher — to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen the members; to see that there is no iniquity, hardness, backbiting, or evil speaking; and to see that the church meets together often (D&C 20:53–59).
- Deacon — to assist the teacher in all his duties in the church, warning, expounding, exhorting, and teaching, and inviting all to come unto Christ (D&C 20:57–59).
- Bishop — the bishop is the president of the Aaronic Priesthood in his ward and holds the keys of that priesthood. A bishop who is a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to the presidency of this priesthood (D&C 107:13–17).
Responsibilities of the Aaronic Priesthood include:
- Administering Ordinances: Baptism and the sacrament are performed under this authority.
- Ministering to Members: Priests, teachers, and deacons serve the congregation by assisting in temporal needs and fostering fellowship.
- Preaching Repentance: They are called to invite others to come unto Christ through repentance and obedience.
“Those of you who hold the Aaronic Priesthood have not yet received this oath and covenant which belongs to the Higher Priesthood, but you do have great power and authority given you from the Lord. The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood that schools and trains us to be worthy of these other great blessings that come later.”
The Aaronic Priesthood is the preparatory priesthood and leads individuals to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.
The Melchizedek Priesthood
Named after Melchizedek, the great high priest and king of Salem who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18–20; Hebrews 7:1–3), the Melchizedek Priesthood is the higher priesthood. Initially known as the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God, it was renamed out of reverence for the divine name. This priesthood is given according to an oath and covenant that those who receive it enter into (Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44).
The Lord revealed why this higher priesthood bears the name of Melchizedek and what authority it holds. It administers in spiritual things and holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church:
“Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood. … The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things. … The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church — to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.”
The Book of Mormon prophet Alma testified that this same priesthood was held anciently by high priests ordained after the order of the Son of God — men called and foreordained from the foundation of the world on account of their exceeding faith and good works, and ordained after the order of Melchizedek himself:
“The Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption. … This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things — now they were ordained after this manner — being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end.”
The Apostle Paul taught that Melchizedek’s priesthood is an unending priesthood — that Melchizedek, “king of Salem, priest of the most high God,” was made “like unto the Son of God” and abideth a priest continually, even after the power of an endless life:
“For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him … without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. … Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
The original encounter between Abraham and Melchizedek — in which Melchizedek, as priest of the Most High God, blessed Abraham and received his tithes — is recorded in Genesis:
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
This priesthood holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church. It authorizes holders to administer in spiritual things, including:
- Leading the Church: Apostles, prophets, and other general authorities operate under the Melchizedek Priesthood, guiding the Church under Christ’s direction.
- Performing Ordinances: Temple ordinances, blessings of healing, and bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost are administered by this priesthood.
- Teaching and Exhorting: Holders are called to teach the gospel, perfect the saints, and serve as shepherds to God’s flock.
- Power of Godliness: The power of God in influencing the lives of men — the receipt of forgiveness, healing, and the ability to stand in the presence of God.
Offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood
Within the Melchizedek Priesthood are the offices of elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and apostle. Each is an appendage to this one higher priesthood (D&C 107:5):
- Elder — a standing minister with authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, bless, and administer in spiritual things.
- High Priest — holds the right to officiate in all the offices of the Church and to preside.
- Patriarch — ordained to give patriarchal blessings, declaring lineage in Israel.
- Seventy — called to be especial witnesses and to preach the gospel to all the world under the direction of the Twelve.
- Apostle — a special witness of the name of Christ in all the world, holding all the keys of the kingdom of God on earth.
What Is the Oath and Covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood?
In Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44, the Lord outlines the oath and covenant of the priesthood. Those who receive the Melchizedek Priesthood enter into a sacred covenant with God:
- The Priesthood Holder’s Covenant:
- To be faithful and magnify their callings — and receive Him
- To receive the priesthood with a grateful heart
- To obey God’s commandments and live righteously
- God’s Oath:
- To sanctify the priesthood holder by the Spirit
- To grant them all that the Father has, including eternal life
- This is God’s solemn promise — an immutable oath
- To renew and empower their bodies
The Restoration of the Priesthood
Just as Jesus Christ introduced a new dispensation of the gospel in His time, He also instituted a different administration of the priesthood. He conferred priesthood authority upon individuals who were not of the tribe of Levi and therefore not eligible by lineage to hold the Aaronic Priesthood under the law of Moses. These disciples were sent out two by two, authorized to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils, and perform the works that Jesus Himself would have done, for they had been given divine authority to do so. In a similar manner, we now operate under a restored administration of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods — an order that differs from the patterns found under the Mosaic law and even from the New Testament structure.
After centuries of apostasy in which the keys of priesthood authority were taken from the earth, the Lord restored that authority in our day through heavenly messengers — resurrected and translated beings who had held that very priesthood in their mortal ministries. This restoration came in stages, each messenger conferring the keys he had held.
Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood — John the Baptist
On May 15, 1829, as Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery prayed for guidance on baptism while translating the Book of Mormon, John the Baptist appeared to them as a resurrected being and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood. Joseph Smith recorded the event in his own history:
“We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying: Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. … The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which Priesthood, he said, would in due time be conferred on us.”
The words John the Baptist spoke as he conferred this priesthood are preserved in their entirety as a revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants:
“Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”
This event restored the authority to baptize and laid the foundation for the Church’s organization. Immediately afterward, Joseph and Oliver baptized one another, as John had directed.
Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood — Peter, James, and John
As John the Baptist had promised, the ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John — who held the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood in their mortal ministry — appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and conferred upon them the higher priesthood and the keys of the kingdom, ordaining them Apostles and especial witnesses. The Lord later recounted this visitation:
Doctrine and Covenants 27:12–13
“And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them; unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.”
Through these divine visitations, the fullness of the priesthood was restored, reconnecting earth with heaven, ordaining Joseph and Oliver as Apostles, and authorizing the organization of the Church on April 6, 1830.
Further Keys Restored in the Kirtland Temple — Moses, Elias, and Elijah
The restoration of priesthood keys continued. On April 3, 1836, in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, the Savior appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and following Him came three ancient prophets who restored additional keys necessary for the work of the last dispensation. Moses committed the keys of the gathering of Israel; Elias committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham; and Elijah committed the keys of the sealing power, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers:
Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16
“After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.”
With these keys restored, the priesthood on earth held the full authority necessary to gather Israel, to administer the ordinances of the temple, and to seal families together for eternity — fulfilling ancient prophecy and binding heaven and earth in the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Keys of the Priesthood
The priesthood functions through priesthood keys, which are the rights of presidency and governance. These keys are essential for maintaining order and ensuring that the priesthood operates according to God’s will. (See also: Priesthood Keys)
Understanding Priesthood Keys
- Authority to Preside: Keys grant the right to direct the work of the priesthood within a specific jurisdiction, whether in a congregation or the entire Church.
- Delegation from Christ: Jesus Christ holds all priesthood keys (Revelation 1:18), and He delegates authority to His servants on earth.
- Role of the President of the Church: The senior Apostle, as President of the Church, holds all priesthood keys necessary to govern the Church. Other leaders receive keys appropriate to their callings, such as bishops and quorum presidents.
Importance of Priesthood Keys
Priesthood keys ensure that ordinances are performed correctly and that the Church functions harmoniously. They prevent confusion and unauthorized actions, aligning the work of the Church with divine direction.
Authority and Power in the Priesthood
A crucial distinction exists between priesthood authority and priesthood power. Individuals can be ordained to the priesthood and given specific callings by authorized individuals, but if their actions and behavior are not in accordance with God’s will — amen to the priesthood and the authority of that man. Authority can be given, and yet it can be exercised without power.
It is worth remembering that ordinances performed by those who are unworthy are still valid and of effect, although the sin of performing them unworthily rests upon the individual who does so knowingly while under condemnation.
Priesthood Authority
- Conferred by Ordination: Authority is granted through ordination by those who hold the proper keys, enabling individuals to act in God’s name.
- Right to Perform Ordinances: This authority allows holders to administer ordinances and fulfill priesthood duties.
Priesthood Power
- Derived from Righteousness: Power in the priesthood comes through personal worthiness, obedience, and faithfulness.
- Influence of the Holy Ghost: It is manifested through the guidance of the Spirit, enabling priesthood holders to act with divine power.
- Limitations of Unrighteousness: As taught in Doctrine and Covenants 121:36–37, unrighteous dominion and sin cause the heavens to withdraw and the priesthood becomes ineffective.
Synergy of Authority and Power
For the priesthood to be effective, both authority and power must be present. A holder may have authority, but without righteousness he cannot exercise the power of the priesthood fully. Conversely, one cannot access priesthood power without proper authority.
The Need for the Priesthood in the World
The priesthood is essential for the salvation and exaltation of God’s children. It serves multiple vital functions:
Performing Saving Ordinances
- Baptism and Confirmation: These ordinances are gateways to the path of discipleship and require priesthood authority.
- Temple Ordinances: Sacred covenants and ordinances performed in temples bind families together eternally and are essential for exaltation.
Teaching and Edifying
- Proclaiming the Gospel: Priesthood holders are called to teach, testify, and invite all to come unto Christ.
- Strengthening Members: Through service, counseling, and ministering, they build up the Church and support individual members.
Administering the Church
- Leadership Roles: From local congregations to global administration, priesthood holders are responsible for the governance of the Church.
- Maintaining Order: Priesthood keys ensure that the Church operates according to divine patterns and revelation.
Blessing Lives
- Administering to the Sick: Priesthood blessings offer comfort and healing according to God’s will.
- Providing Service: Following Christ’s example, priesthood holders serve those in need, embodying charity and compassion.
Embracing the Priesthood in Our Lives
The priesthood is a sacred gift from God, a manifestation of His love and trust in us. It is through the priesthood that we are invited to participate in His work, to serve others, and to draw closer to Him. Understanding the priesthood enriches our faith, deepens our commitment, and inspires us to live more Christlike lives.
By honoring the priesthood, we align ourselves with God’s purposes. We become instruments in His hands, blessing our families, communities, and the world. The priesthood connects heaven and earth, bridging the gap between the divine and the mortal.
As we reflect on the profound significance of the priesthood, may we strive to:
- Live Worthily: Cultivate personal righteousness to access the power of the priesthood fully.
- Serve Faithfully: Use our authority to bless others, following the Savior’s example of selfless service.
- Seek Understanding: Study the scriptures and teachings to deepen our knowledge and appreciation of the priesthood.
- Unite in Purpose: Collaborate with all members of the Church, recognizing that together we build the kingdom of God.
In embracing the priesthood, we embrace our divine heritage and destiny. We accept the invitation to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, progressing on the path toward eternal life. The priesthood is not merely a function or duty; it is a sacred journey of transformation and love.
This understanding of the priesthood provides clarity, purpose, and inspiration. It invites us all — men and women, young and old — to participate in God’s marvelous work. Through the priesthood, we find meaning, direction, and the promise of eternal joy.