The Organization and Order of the Priesthood

WHAT?
The second section of the Articles of Faith deals with the priesthood.  Elder Perry compared the doctrines of the Church with the battery of a cell phone.  A battery is a good analogy.  Extended that thought I would say that the priesthood is to the Church as a battery is to a cell phone - or any other battery powered item.  If you remove the battery, the cell phone won't work.  If you remove the priesthood - which is the power to act in God's name - then the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is no different from any other organization.  It is the priesthood that turns the keys of God's power on earth.

II. Organization and Order of the Priesthood

After we start to understand the basic doctrine of Christ, the fifth and sixth articles of faith teach us about the organization and order of the priesthood. Under the direction of the Lord, Joseph Smith organized the Savior’s Church using priesthood authority—the power of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same organization that Christ organized and directed while He was on the earth.

5. 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.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

 

SO WHAT?
The apostle, Paul, wrote to the Hebrew Saints: And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron (Hebrews 5:4)  Even Jesus Christ was called of God and ordained to his calling.  He held the priesthood.  Paul tells us that Jesus Christ was called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedek. (Hebrews 5:10)

The only two Christian Churches of which I know that claim divine authority directly from God are the Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They claim to have it directly from Jesus Christ through Peter.  The Latter-day Saints understand that the authority was lost through apostasy and was restored through the resurrected John the Baptist and Apostles Peter, James, and John.

Paul also wrote to the Ephesians that Christ's Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner (Ephesians 2:20).

I don't know of any other Christian Church which has a foundation of living apostles and prophets.

A living Prophet with his Counselors
and the Quorum of living Twelve Apostles

NOW WHAT?

I'm still looking for my copy of The Articles of Faith by Talmage.  I may have to order a new copy.

 

Text copyright November 2013, Gebara Education

 

Pictures:

Restoration of the Melchesidek Priesthood from www.lds.org

Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood from www.lds.org

Apostles and Prophets from www.lds.org/Ensign