God’s work is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). God and Jesus Christ have given men authority and power to do Their work on earth. “[The priesthood] is nothing more nor less than the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and act legitimately” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 139–40). • Display visual 11-a, “Peter, James, and John conferring the Melchizedek Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.” John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on 15 May 1829 and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood. Soon after, Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon them. Then on 6 April 1830 Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery ordained each other elders in the priesthood. The priesthood is conferred upon worthy male members of the Church. Then, as in the case of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, they may be ordained to an office in the priesthood. After the Aaronic Priesthood is conferred, they may be ordained to the office of a deacon, teacher, or priest. After the Melchizedek Priesthood is conferred, they may be ordained to the office of an elder or high priest; high priests may be ordained by special calling to the office of bishop, patriarch, Seventy, or Apostle. These offices are all callings in the priesthood, and each office has different responsibilities. When men hold the priesthood they can perform the sacred ordinances of the gospel, such as baptism, confirmation, administration of the sacrament, and others.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:54:23 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015