Mormon Doctrine, pg 410; “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.)”
First of all, Jesus is the sole proprietor, if you will, of the priesthood. While we’re members of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), no one but Jesus holds the Melchizedek priesthood.
Hebrews 7:24; “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”
The entire reason Jesus came here to earth was to do the will of the Father in fulfilling the Law. The old system through the Levitical Priesthood was merely a foreshadow of things to come. In order for the Law to be fulfilled another (priest) had to come after the order of Melchizedek so that we can be seen as righteous and perfect in the eyes of God.
That perfection can only be had through the covenant of grace so we can made complete in Him. As our friend Margaret reminded me a few weeks ago while the law came through the line of Levi, Jesus being the fulfillment came through the line of Judah! To falsely proclaim to the world that you hold the Melchizedek priesthood is obviously wrong while making it worse (if that were even possible) by claiming you are the Savior. Now if that aint scary, nothing is!
Look, anyone can have conversations and communication with God. He listens to the prayers of those asking for salvation and listens to the prayers of every single one of His children. No special color-coded keys are needed and no secret words are required when you pray to the Lord. That goes for those in heavy-duty prayer to the chat you might have with him when you’re driving through rush hour traffic.
Furthermore, Jesus told the disciples (that includes you and me!) to go out and make disciples of men – Matthew 28:18-20. This isn’t a privilege reserved merely for those who just so happen to be Mormon.
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