Who holds the keys to the priesthood in the LDS Church?
The Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie had this to say about the keys of Mormon priesthood;
“President Joseph F. Smith said: “What is a key?’ It is the right or privilege which belongs to and comes with the priesthood to have communication with God. Is not that a key? Most decidedly. We may not enjoy the blessings, or key, very much, but the key is in the priesthood. It is the right to enjoy the blessing of communication with the heavens, and the privilege and authority to administer in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ…You who hold the priesthood have the key or the authority, the right, the power or privilege to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ…” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., p. 142.)” – Mormon Doctrine, pg. 410
So if the Mormon Church holds the keys to the priesthood, thereby giving us access to God and enjoying a relationship with Him through communication, worship, being in His presence, what of the passage in John 10? John 10:7 says; “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”
If Jesus is the door what do we make of the Mormon temples, the ordinances therein and the many oaths one must take part in so they can have salvation? Jesus certainly didn’t mention the doors of the Mormon temples when He told the Pharisees they were the false shepherds leading the sheep astray.
And what about the veil being ripped in two when Jesus died? Scripture leaves no room for second guessing on this passage – Matthew 27:51 clearly states the veil in the temple was torn in two; top to bottom! This act of God signified we had direct access to Him. No longer were we to wait for the priest to take in our guilt offering for it was done with the selfless act of giving His Son as the sacrifice! Now we can go directly to God Himself and approach His throne without fear.
Joseph Smith clearly tried his best to sew that veil back together by introducing false ordinances and teachings such as the o ne presented here today.
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