Lectures on Faith, p. 93 “Shem was Melchizedek… From this definite account of driving the “nations apart, when the ancient hills did bow,” all reflecting minds may judge that man was scattered over the whole face of the earth. And with the superior knowledge of men like Noah, Shem (who was Melchizedek) and Abraham, the father of the faithful, three cotemporaries, holding the keys of the highest order of the priesthood: connecting the creation, and fall; memorising the righteousness of Enoch; and glorying in the construction of the ark for the salvation of a world; still retaining the model and pattern of that ark, than which a great, ah, we might say, half so great a vessel has never been built since; for another ark, be it remembered, with such a ponderous living freight will never be prepared as a vessel of mercy by command of Jehovah. Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, p. 746. Nauvoo, Illinois, December 15, 1844. Elder John Taylor, Editor.)”
Genesis 14:18 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.”
Hebrews 7:3 “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
Today we’re looking at just one item of note in the LDS reference above; ‘Shem was Melchizedek’. The other things Mr. Taylor wrote will have to be left for another time.
Our question today is this:
Where in the Bible does it say Shem was Melchizedek?
Considering the LDS track record of believing the white race is superior, why would they teach Shem is Melchizedek, when the Bible says Shem was ‘dusky’? Moreover, the Bible totally contradicts what their ‘School of the Prophets’ taught.
The Bible tells us Melchizedek was a priest without beginning, or end, of days.
Here’s the definition of Shem in Strong’s Concordance – #8035, 8034, 7760, Shem; his name means appellation, a mark, or memorial of individuality, by implication honor, authority, fame. Generally regarded as meaning dusky. (For more info, see Sons of Noah and Mormon Racism.)
Lastly beloved, why does the Church seem fixated on changing the identities of biblical figures? This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this happen. They’ve also taught that Noah was Gabriel, and Adam is Michael, and the Ancient of Days.
See Multiple Identities of Noah, and Noah, aka, Gabriel Names Jesus for more info on that topic. As you can see the rabbit trails are getting more complicated.
With all the contradictions in LDS doctrines, it’s easy to see how confusion would ensue. Please, pray for those who are still believing the lies!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Actually, the Jews say Melchizedek was Shem, so Joseph Smith and the Mormons merely stole that idea from the Jews. I wrote an article explaining that priesthood and why Mormons don’t have it.
http://watchmanvlds.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-melchizedek-priesthood.html
Thanks for the info Glenn! 🙂
Hebrews 7:3, “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
This verse has been erroneously applied to Melchizedek, the man, but should be applied to the Melchizedek Priesthood, itself, as verse 6 tells us Melchizedek HAD a descent, just not of the descent of the Levite Priesthood, which is obvious since Levi was a great grandson of Abraham, not yet born when Abraham paid his tithes to Melchizedek.
Sorry Stephen,
There is no Melchizedek “priesthood”. It’s very clear, there is only ONE High Priest FOREVER.. and that is Jesus. It is a non-transferable Priesthood.
Hebrews has several verses that explain your erroneous and unsupported appeal to emotion response, “Sorry Stephen.” That is not an argument. You may think your bold declaration makes an argument, but it does not.
Hebrews 5:1 says, “For EVERY high priest TAKEN FROM AMONG MEN IS ORDAINED…” If Melchizedek and Jesus were the only two high priests, ever, then it would have said, “BOTH high priests,” and omitted “taken from among men.”
Hebrews 8:3,4 says, “For EVERY high priest IS ordained…” Again, no need to say “every” when there were supposedly only two of them.
Psalms 110:4 says, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” This verse is repeated in Hebrews 7:11,12 and Greek word for “order” is “taxin,” which means, “appointed succession.” Unlike the Levtical or Aaronic Priesthood, which is a temporal priesthood, which was transferred from father to son in the tribe of Levi, the Melchizedek Priesthood is “unchangeable,” as it says in Hebrews 7:24, “But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” “Unchangeable” in the Greek is “aparabaton,” which means, “not transferable,” as Jesus did not give up His Melchizedek Priesthood upon His death as did Aaron with his Levitical Priesthood, passing it on to his son.
Stephen,
No one that I know of claims there were only two high priests, I.e.Melchizedek and Jesus, rather we say there were only two in the Melchizedek priesthood because that is what the Bible says.
The LDS has no real priests because the real continuing priesthood was from the tribe of LEVI and not us a bunch of self-proclaimed people who studied the LDS religion.