Patriarchal Priesthood
Encyclopedia
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the patriarchal priesthood (or Abrahamic priesthood) is sometimes understood as one of types or "orders" of priesthood
. The two commonly known orders are the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood. The patriarchal priesthood should not be confused with the calling of the patriarch. The patriarchal priesthood is associated with the patriarchal order found in the restored gospel
and is especially connected with celestial marriage
.
Boyd K. Packer
, Apostle of the LDS Church, has explained that the patriarchal priesthood is included in the Melchizedek priesthood: "There are references to a patriarchal priesthood. The patriarchal order is not a third, separate priesthood. Whatever relates to the patriarchal order is embraced in the Melchizedek Priesthood. 'All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to [the Melchizedek] priesthood.' (D&C 107:5.) The patriarchal order is a part of the Melchizedek Priesthood which enables endowed and worthy men to preside over their posterity in time and eternity."
on August 27, 1843, while the Nauvoo Temple
was being constructed, Joseph Smith, Jr., the first president of the restored Church of Christ, taught, using Hebrews as background material, the "Three Grand Orders" of priesthood
:
Eight years earlier, the prophet had dictated a revelation
that declared, "There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood". At the time of the 1843 Nauvoo discourse, the temple was under construction and Joseph declared that knowledge of the "patriarchal authority" would be revealed in the temple.
The Nauvoo Temple
was constructed by 1844 and dedicated to the Lord in 1846 by Orson Hyde
. It was the first Latter-day Saint temple where the ordinance of Eternal Marriage was practiced.
The oath of the Priesthood referenced in , was revealed to Joseph Smith in a revelation in Kirtland, Ohio
on September 22 and 23, 1832. This revelation is contained in the section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants
and is referred to as the oath and covenant of the priesthood. It includes the following promise that has relation to the doctrine of exaltation.
Bruce R. McConkie
famous Latter-day Saint scholar and an apostle wrote in his work Mormon Doctrine regarding the subject.
The word Patriarch means "Father-Ruler" and part of the doctrine is that there cannot be a Patriarch without a Matriarch. Latter-day Saints believe that a man and a woman can be joined in marriage for all eternity if done with the proper authority and in the holy temple
. This eternal marriage is the at the heart of the patriarchal order of the priesthood.
Priesthood (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God, including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform ordinances, and the power to perform miracles. A body of priesthood holders is referred to as a quorum.Priesthood denotes elements...
. The two commonly known orders are the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood. The patriarchal priesthood should not be confused with the calling of the patriarch. The patriarchal priesthood is associated with the patriarchal order found in the restored gospel
Mormonism and Christianity
Mormonism and Christianity have a complex theological, historical, and sociological relationship. Mormons express the doctrines of Mormonism using standard biblical terminology, and have similar views about the nature of Jesus' atonement, bodily resurrection, and Second Coming as traditional...
and is especially connected with celestial marriage
Celestial marriage
Celestial marriage is a doctrine of Mormonism, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and branches of Mormon fundamentalism.Within Mormonism, celestial marriage is an ordinance associated with a covenant that always...
.
Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer
Boyd Kenneth Packer is an American educator and religious leader, and the current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of...
, Apostle of the LDS Church, has explained that the patriarchal priesthood is included in the Melchizedek priesthood: "There are references to a patriarchal priesthood. The patriarchal order is not a third, separate priesthood. Whatever relates to the patriarchal order is embraced in the Melchizedek Priesthood. 'All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to [the Melchizedek] priesthood.' (D&C 107:5.) The patriarchal order is a part of the Melchizedek Priesthood which enables endowed and worthy men to preside over their posterity in time and eternity."
History
In Nauvoo, IllinoisNauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
on August 27, 1843, while the Nauvoo Temple
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...
was being constructed, Joseph Smith, Jr., the first president of the restored Church of Christ, taught, using Hebrews as background material, the "Three Grand Orders" of priesthood
Priesthood (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God, including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform ordinances, and the power to perform miracles. A body of priesthood holders is referred to as a quorum.Priesthood denotes elements...
:
- There are three grand orders of priesthood referred to here.
- 1st. The King of ShiloamMelchizedekMelchizedek or Malki Tzedek translated as "my king righteous") is a king and priest mentioned during the Abram narrative in the 14th chapter of the Book of Genesis....
(Salem) had power and authority over that of AbrahamAbrahamAbraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, holding the key and the power of endless life.... The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right from the eternal God, and not by descent from father and mother; and that priesthood is as eternal as God Himself, having neither beginning of days nor end of life.
- The 2nd Priesthood is PatriarchPatriarchOriginally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
al authority. Go to and finish the temple, and God will fill it with power, and you will then receive more knowledge concerning this priesthood.
- The 3rd is what is called the Levitical Priesthood, consisting of priests to administer in outward ordinanceEcclesiastical ordinancesEcclesiastical ordinances are the bylaws of a Christian religious organization, especially that of a diocese or province of a church. They are used in the Anglican Communion, particularly the American Episcopal Church and Roman Catholic Church....
s, made without an oath; but the Priesthood of Melchizedek is by an oath and covenant.
- The Holy Ghost is God's messenger to administer in all those priesthoods.
Eight years earlier, the prophet had dictated a revelation
Revelation (Latter Day Saints)
Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a Revelation from God . They also teach that revelation is the foundation of the church established by Jesus Christ and that it remains an essential element of His true church today...
that declared, "There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood". At the time of the 1843 Nauvoo discourse, the temple was under construction and Joseph declared that knowledge of the "patriarchal authority" would be revealed in the temple.
The Nauvoo Temple
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...
was constructed by 1844 and dedicated to the Lord in 1846 by Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
. It was the first Latter-day Saint temple where the ordinance of Eternal Marriage was practiced.
The oath of the Priesthood referenced in , was revealed to Joseph Smith in a revelation in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
on September 22 and 23, 1832. This revelation is contained in the section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
and is referred to as the oath and covenant of the priesthood. It includes the following promise that has relation to the doctrine of exaltation.
- "They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
- "And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
- "For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
- "And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
- "And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
- "And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood."
Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death...
famous Latter-day Saint scholar and an apostle wrote in his work Mormon Doctrine regarding the subject.
- "Those who shall hereafter rule and reign in eternity as exalted beings will form a patriarchal chain which will begin with Father Adam and spread out until every exalted person is linked in. Exaltation consists in the continuation of the family unit in eternity, and every family which so continues will find its proper place in the eternal organizational framework which the Almighty has ordained. None will be forgotten. Unworthy mortal links will be dropped in eternity, for there is no family in which all generations will attain exaltation; later generations of worthy families will be welded into the links formed by their ancestors who became worthy of a like exaltation with them. All those after the day of Abraham (of whatever literal lineage they may be) who so live as to be worthy of a place in this great patriarchal chain will be welded into Abraham's lineage and shall rise up and bless him as their father."
The word Patriarch means "Father-Ruler" and part of the doctrine is that there cannot be a Patriarch without a Matriarch. Latter-day Saints believe that a man and a woman can be joined in marriage for all eternity if done with the proper authority and in the holy temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
. This eternal marriage is the at the heart of the patriarchal order of the priesthood.
See also
- Eternal Marriage
- Priesthood (Mormonism)Priesthood (Mormonism)In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God, including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform ordinances, and the power to perform miracles. A body of priesthood holders is referred to as a quorum.Priesthood denotes elements...
- Patriarch (Mormonism)Patriarch (Mormonism)In the Latter Day Saint movement, Patriarch is an office of the Priesthood whose main duty is to give Patriarchal blessings to church members. It is considered to be either an office of the Patriarchal Priesthood or the Melchizedek priesthood...
- Lineal Succession (Mormonism)Lineal succession (Mormonism)Lineal succession was a doctrine, largely abandoned in many denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, whereby certain key church positions are held by right of inheritance. Most frequently the offices connected with lineal succession are those of the President of the Church and the Presiding...