The Priesthood and its Offices

Today I read Doctrine and Covenants section 107. This section is all about Priesthood and the various offices in the Priesthood and their duties. I was actually intrigued by the section heading which stated that this section was not given all at one time. Rather the Prophet had been given this section in parts. And this is not the only section that he received that way. There are a few others that the section heading state the prophet had received certain parts of the section at an earlier time.

Nothing really stood out to me in this section today, rather instead I was impressed with the whole section and how it talks about the Priesthood and its offices. It also talks about the two Priesthoods and what they are responsible for. It is a great lesson on the Priesthoods and just last weekend in General Conference, President Uchtdorf advised all the brethren in the Priesthood session to re-read this section along with sections 20, 84 and 121.

The Aaronic Priesthood is the priesthood that was given to Aaron, the brother of Moses, and is responsible for administering the outward ordinances of the gospel. It is primarily concerned with the sacrament and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. I have always been fascinated that the Priesthood is first given to 12 year old boys. I think it is really neat that the Lord wants men to exercise their Priesthood and to learn their duties so completely that He essentially let's us use our whole lives to perfect our service in using the Priesthood.

Similar to all other aspects of the Gospel, young men are given responsibility line up on line and precept upon precept. Young men are given more responsibility every two years until they are given the Melchizedek Priesthood. Each office in the Aaronic Priesthood is given a little bit more responsibility. A deacon is allowed to pass the sacrament, acting in the stead of the Savior as He also passed the sacrament that first time at the Last Supper. A teacher is allowed to prepare the sacrament, also acting in the stead of the Savior. A teacher is also called as a home teacher and is able to act as a minister to those members of the church under his stewardship. A priest is allowed to bless the sacrament, also acting in the place of the Savior. A priest is also a home teacher, he may also baptize people for the remission of sins and may also ordain other priests, teachers and deacons by conferring upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.

The Melchizedek Priesthood can be conferred upon a young man as early as 18 but most of the time is conferred upon the young man once he has received his mission call, or when he is about to go to the temple for his own ordinances. The Melchizedek can perform all the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood but in addition can also give the Gift of the Holy Ghost, perform temple ordinances, confer the Melchizedek Priesthood, and give Priesthood blessings. Unlike the Aaronic Priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood does not progress in offices by age, but rather by calling. A Melchizedek Priesthood holder is ordained an Elder and could conceivably stay in the office of an Elder until he dies. However, if that Elder is called to a calling that requires it, such as a Bishop or a Stake President, he will be ordained to the office of High Priest.

The other offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood are Seventy, Apostle and Patriarch. A member of the Seventy are a traveling high council, according to the section and are to assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in whatever need they may have. An Apostle is a special witness of Christ and is the presiding High Council of the Church. The Lord in this section states that the Quorum of the Twelve hold the same authority of the Presiding Presidency, or the First Presidency. Finally, a Patriarch is a special office whose only duties are to bless the lives of the members of a stake by giving them their patriarchal blessing and reveal the will of the Lord to them.

Now, for most of us, this is not new. For those of you raised in the church, especially the men who may read this, you have known it all your lives. But as President Uchtdorf said just one week ago, it is good to review from time to time and the Lord may have something new to teach you about your own duties, especially if you are a President in one of the quorums mentioned above in your own ward or branch. I urge you to re-read this section yourself and see what the Lord wants to teach you and what you can learn from Him about the Priesthood you, your husband or father holds and what you can do to magnify it. He will tell you, I promise. Until tomorrow.