Melchizedek: LDS Sources
As a king and high priest of the
Most High God (Gen. 14:18), Melchizedek holds a place of
great honor and respect among Latter-day Saints. An
example of righteousness and the namesake of the higher
priesthood, he represents the scriptural ideal of one who
obtains the power of God through faith, repentance, and
sacred ordinances, for the purpose of inspiring and
blessing his fellow beings.
Melchizedek Priesthood Origins
A discussion of ancient texts mentioning
Melchizedek
Melchizedek
Priesthood Powers and Offices
The Melchizedek Priesthood is the authority,
responsibility, and power to act in the name of Jesus
Christ and to organize and direct part of his work.
Through the opportunities of this priesthood, men and
women in partnership with God can conduct the work of the
family and the Church.
Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
Among the most important covenants is the oath
and covenant of the priesthood, a set of mutual promises
between God and those who receive the Melchizedek
Priesthood.
Restoration of the Melchizedek
Priesthood
To act for God in organizing his Church and
administering all the ordinances, Joseph Smith received
the Melchizedek Priesthood in the divinely established
way
Apostle
President Brigham Young said, "The keys of
the eternal Priesthood, which is after the order of the
Son of God, are comprehended by being an Apostle. All the
Priesthood, all the keys, all the gifts, all the
endowments, and everything preparatory to entering into
the presence of the Father and of the Son, are in,
composed of, circumscribed by, or I might say
incorporated within the circumference of, the
Apostleship" (JD 1:134-35)
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Seventy
Seventy is a priesthood office in the
Melchizedek Priesthood reserved since 1986 for General
Authorities called to assist the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles in the administration of the Church
worldwide.
Elder
'Elder' is an office in the Melchizedek
Priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints to which worthy male members may be ordained at
the age of eighteen or older. The name elder is also used
as a general title for all bearers of that priesthood,
regardless of the specific priesthood office they hold
(D&C 20:38; cf. 1 Pet. 5:1; 2 Jn. 1:1; 3 Jn.
1:1).
Patriarch
Each stake in the Church has at least one
patriarch ordained, as the
Prophet Joseph Smith wrote, "for the benefit of
the posterity of the Saints as it was with Jacob in
giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons" (WJS,
p. 6). Age is not a factor, and the call, which is for
voluntary service in giving patriarchal blessings to
stake members, may come to any worthy, spiritually mature
high priest.
High
Priest
The term "high priest" refers to an
office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Men must be
ordained high priests to serve as bishops, on high
councils, or in stake presidencies, or as General
Authorities.
Evangelist
I
n an address on June 27, 1839, the
Prophet Joseph Smith identified the office of
evangelist as a patriarch, who as "the oldest man of
the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham" was
to bless "the posterity of the Saints" as Jacob
blessed his sons (TPJS, p. 151). This was the office of
Patriarch to the Church
FIrst Council of the Seventy
The First Council of the Seventy, comprised of
the first seven presidents of the First Quorum of Seventy, was
organized on February 28, 1835, at Kirtland, Ohio, by Joseph
Smith in response to revelation regarding the organization of
priesthood offices. Later, when it was determined that five high
priests had been ordained seventies, the First Council was
reorganized in April 1837, using only priesthood members who were
seventies (HC 2:476). |
