What Are the Blessings of the Priesthood?

My Come Follow Me Studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 12-17 and Joseph Smith – History 1:66-75 in a lesson titled “Upon You My Fellow Servants.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Most people around the world have probably never heard of Harmony, Pennsylvania. The Lord often chooses humble places for the most significant events in His kingdom. In a wooded area near Harmony on May 15, 1829, John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. He placed his hands on their heads and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon them, calling them “my fellow servants” (Doctrine and Covenants 13:1).

John the Baptist was the trusted servant of God who baptized the Savior and prepared the way for His coming (see Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17). To these two young men in their twenties, it must have been humbling, perhaps even overwhelming, to be called John’s fellow servants. At the time, Joseph and Oliver were relatively unknown, much as Harmony was. But service in God’s work has always been about how we serve, not about who notices. However small or unseen your contribution may seem at times, you too are a fellow servant in the Lord’s “great and marvelous work” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:1).

This scripture block contained several principles: (1) I can participate in God’s “great and marvelous work” (Doctrine and Covenants 12; 14), (2) Jesus Christ sent John the Baptist to restore the Aaronic Priesthood (Doctrine and Covenants 13), (3) Ordinances give me access to God’s power (Joseph Smith – History 1:66-75), (4) Bringing souls unto Christ is of great worth (Doctrine and Covenants 15-16), and (5) The Lord uses witnesses to establish His word (Doctrine and Covenants 17). This essay will discuss principle #3, Ordinances give me access to God’s power.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be with Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as they experienced the major events of the Restoration? They received great blessings when John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood and gave them authority to baptize each other. Later, Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek Priesthood.

I have received great blessings because the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood have been restored. Every single Sunday, I have the opportunity to partake of the bread and water of the sacrament to renew my baptismal covenant with God and to make a new covenant with Him. These blessings come to me through the Aaronic Priesthood held by the young men in my ward (congregation).

I have received many priesthood blessings under the hands of men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, blessings of healing and comfort as well as help to provide service in the Church of Jesus Christ. I received the greatest of priesthood blessings in holy temples when I received an endowment and was later sealed to my husband. This sealing seals my family together for eternity if we prove worthy of such a blessing. Also, I can return to the temple as often as I desire to do proxy work under the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, work that blesses me as well as the person for whom I do proxy work. 

What Are Priesthood Keys and How Important Are They?

            I learned a lot about priesthood authority, priesthood keys, and priesthood power this week as I studied the fifth Article of Faith. Articles of Faith 1:5 states: “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” The two main doctrines contained in this Article of Faith are priesthood authority and priesthood keys.


            The lesson material for this week provided three separate statements about the priesthood authority. I combined the three into the following: “The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God” (True to the Faith) given to worthy male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to bring the blessings of the priesthood to all people.” I am amazed at the number of sisters in the Church who feel left out because they do not hold the priesthood. I look at the situation a bit differently: I carry enough responsibility in my family and Church callings that I do not desire to carry priesthood responsibility too. In fact, I have all the blessings of the priesthood without any of the responsibilities that a priesthood holder does. I believe that I have the best of both worlds.


            Joseph Smith-History 1:68-72 tells us that John the Baptist ordained Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood on May 15, 1829. This priesthood includes “the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins” (verse 69). John told them that he acted under the authority of Peter, James, and John and that the Aaronic Priesthood would not be taken from the earth until the sons of Levi make an offering to the Lord in righteousness. Joseph and Oliver baptized each other but could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost because that authority is not part of the Aaronic Priesthood. The power and authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost comes through the Melchizedek Priesthood. 


            An article titled “A House for Our God” gave some interesting perspectives about the Kirtland Temple. For one thing, I did not previously realize that this temple took so long to build. Joseph Smith was rebuked on June 1, 1833, for disobedience to a commandment five months earlier to build it, and the Kirtland Temple was dedicated on March 27, 1836. This means that the temple took more than three years to build. Another insight I gained from this article is that the story about the Saints “sacrificing” their china to make the temple shine is not true. Yes, broken dishes were added to the stucco, but they were fragments taken from refuse piles and not from the cupboards of the sisters. In other words, they were dishes that were already broken. Another insight for me is that the Lord did not specify everything about the temple. He specified the dimensions and functions of the building and some of aspects about its appearance, but he left other details to the leaders and builders to determine by their experience and ideas.


            “A House for Our God” from Revelations in Context was enlightening on several levels. I was originally surprised that the Saints took so long to build the Kirtland Temple. Then I read where the Saints thought that they were building something more like a schoolhouse than a temple. It took chastisement from the Lord to put them on the right track. I wonder how often I receive revelation and do not understand the importance of it. I could be building “schoolhouses” instead of “temples” in numerous areas of my life!


            In studying D&C 84:6-43 this week, I noticed several things that I did not remember seeing previously. The thing that I noticed was that the line of the Melchizedek Priesthood was given from Moses to Adam. We are told that this priesthood is without beginning or end and that another priesthood was bestowed on Aaron and his posterity. Verse 20 tells us that the power of godliness is in the priesthood ordinances and that “no man can see the face of God, even the Father and live” without the power of godliness. This scripture teaches us that Moses tried to prepare the Israelites to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, but they hardened their hearts. When Moses was taken out of their midst, the Melchizedek Priesthood was also taken. This means that the Israelites were left without the ordinances that bring the power of godliness. 

            This scripture also teaches that John the Baptist was ordained to the priesthood when he was eight days old and baptized in his childhood. It supports the Brethren in their decision to allow young men to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood at age 11 rather than wait until age 12 because there apparently is no exact age to be ordained. However, John must have been 8 years old when he was baptized because there is a designated “age of accountability” before one can be baptized.


            Every man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood has the power and the authority to use that priesthood. However, the keys of the priesthood are held by specific individuals. Keys are held by the presidents of the Deacons Quorum, the Teachers Quorum, and the Elders Quorum. The Bishop holds the keys to the Priests Quorum and the ward, and the Stake President holds the keys to the High Priests Quorum and the stake. The Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds all the priesthood keys that have been restored to earth. The person holding the keys designates how the other members of a quorum will use their power and authority. For example, a father who is a member of the Elders Quorum has the power and authority to baptize his child; however, he must receive permission from the Bishop to perform the baptism. While priesthood authority and priesthood keys must be bestowed upon a man, his priesthood power depends on his personal righteousness.