The Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods
The two divisions of God's authority, what each does, and how both were restored.
Two Priesthoods, One Authority
The priesthood is the authority and power of God, delegated to man to act in His name. In the restored Church it is organized in two divisions: the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, and the greater, or Melchizedek Priesthood. They are not two separate powers but two parts of one authority, each with its own duties and keys.
“There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic … Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.”
No man takes this authority on his own. It must be given by God through those He has authorized — the same rule that governed the priesthood anciently.
“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
The Aaronic Priesthood
The Aaronic Priesthood is the preparatory priesthood. It holds the keys of the ministering of angels and of the gospel of repentance and baptism. Its offices are deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. Deacons pass the sacrament and assist in temporal service; teachers prepare the sacrament and serve as ministering brothers; priests may bless the sacrament, baptize, and ordain others in the Aaronic Priesthood. The bishop presides over the Aaronic Priesthood in a ward.
It was restored first, on 15 May 1829, when John the Baptist — who held it in his mortal ministry — appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and conferred it upon them.
“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.”
The Melchizedek Priesthood
The Melchizedek Priesthood is the higher priesthood, named for the great high priest to whom Abraham paid tithes. It holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church and the authority to administer in the ordinances of exaltation. Its offices are elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and apostle. Elders confer the Holy Ghost and ordain; high priests hold authority to preside; patriarchs give patriarchal blessings; seventies and apostles are special witnesses of Christ. It was restored by Peter, James, and John, the apostles who held it anciently, not long after the Aaronic.
This priesthood carries an oath and covenant. Those who receive it and are faithful are promised everything the Father has; the covenant is among the most sweeping promises in all of scripture.
“For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods … and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit … and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.”
Key References
- D&C 107:1–20 — The two priesthoods and their divisions
- D&C 13 — The restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood
- D&C 84:33–40 — The oath and covenant of the priesthood
- Hebrews 5:4 — Called of God, as was Aaron
Why the Distinction Matters
The two priesthoods are a pattern of order, not of rank for its own sake. The lesser prepares; the greater administers the fulness. A young man ordained a deacon and a senior apostle hold portions of the same authority, exercised according to their office and calling. The whole structure exists so that God's power can be administered on earth in an orderly way, by those He has actually authorized — not claimed, not inherited, not purchased, but conferred by the laying on of hands from someone who held it before.
This is the priesthood the early Church held and lost in the Apostasy, and it is exactly the priesthood the Restoration brought back — by the very messengers who held it anciently.