Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood
D&C 128:20; “…The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!”
Hebrews 7:11-17; “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Obviously the Lord knew so much better than we do! In all the years of trying to live up to the Law it was impossible for man to live up to the righteousness God expected from His people.
When will the Mormons take this as an example the system they’ve implemented won’t work either?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
A change. The change God implemented didn’t carry with it the necessity of switcharoo. The old covenant was bankrupt – done. It necessitated change so men could be perfected through the perfect sacrifice of the Unblemished Lamb of God.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
No one in the history of the Israelites stood at the altar of God to perform sacrifices from the priesthood of Melchizedek. No one.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
If the Mormon Church believes they hold the only true priesthood then why haven’t they claimed to be from the tribe of Judah? Why do they claim the majority of Mormons are from the tribe of Ephraim?
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Notice the text – it says another priest. Not priests, but priest.
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Who but Christ Jesus holds the power of an endless life? Furthermore, no one but Jesus holds the authority to offer eternal life when at the altar. No one has that much authority, including the Mormon Church.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
This passage in Hebrews is one of my favorites and IMHO is one of the most important passages of the whole Bible. Joseph Smith tricked people into believing they hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, but they don’t hold the authority, nor the power to do so.
One other item to touch on in this passage from Doctrine and Covenants…
Why are they talking about an angel of light here? What demon did they see while on the banks of that river? And who was this Michael anyway – Michael the archangel? Why was he there?
Ironically, none of the apostles they mentioned, John, Peter and James, qualified to hold any priesthood and carried no authority to “pass it on” to anyone, let alone Smith and the others in attendance.
Jeaus command his apostles to go into all the earth and preach the gospel, baptizing them In The name of the father the son and the Holy Ghost. Mathew 28:19
If they had no authority then how could they baptize. We do have the Melchizedek priesthood. And the Aaronic priesthood. Unfortunately you never will, throughout eternity. So sad.
As followers of Jesus Christ Christians have the “authority” to baptize and preach the gospel.
I have something so much better than the Mormon priesthood, I have Jesus Christ. He’s my authority, it’s through Him I can share the gospel, be baptized, and have eternal life.
What’s sad is unless you repent, and turn away from this false religion, you will spend an eternity in hell only knowing God’s wrath, and never knowing His love.