TWENTY PRIESTHOOD LAWS AND EVIDENCES, Ch 8 P3 of The Church and the Priesthood

TWENTY PRIESTHOOD LAWS AND EVIDENCES, Chapter 8 Part 3 of The Church and the Priesthood by Ogden Kraut

Conferring and ordaining to Priesthood

Priesthood has been defined as the authority to act in God’s name, which entails officiating in the ordinances and operations of the Gospel. Joseph Smith said that Priesthood “is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven.” (TPJS, pp. 166-167)

The Church, on the other hand, is the organization through which this authority, or Priesthood, can function in an orderly manner.

However, obtaining the Priesthood and obtaining an office in the Church are two different procedures. For instance, we don’t ordain a man to an office in the Church and suppose he has obtained the Priesthood.

There is a definite set of words to be used for baptism (See D & C 20:73) and for the Lord’s Supper (See D & C 20:77-79). The Prophet Joseph explained, “There are certain key words and signs belonging to the Priesthood which must be observed in order to obtain the blessing.” (TPJS, p. 199) When John the Baptist gave the Priesthood to Joseph and Oliver, he used certain key words. According to Joseph Smith, John the Baptist said:

Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, . . . (DHC 1:39)

Joseph added that,

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. . . . (DHC 1:40)