Priesthood and Priesthood Keys


What do we have to offer to the world?  What makes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unique?  Good people are found in all religions.  Many people feel they have the truth.  We read the same bible as our Christian friends.  We tell the stories of Jesus. 

Is it our church sports program?  YM/YW programs?  Primary?  Sunday School instruction?  Maybe it is our dances and activities?  Or our potlucks complete with beloved funeral potatoes and green jello with shreded carrots and red colored punch?  Could it our ministering efforts?  Our missionary program?  Our Temples?  Maybe it is our history with sacrifices of the pioneers and their great journey west?  All of these... and none of these?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
 April 1995

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has many beliefs in common with other Christian churches. But we have differences, and those differences explain why we send missionaries to other Christians, why we build temples in addition to churches, and why our beliefs bring us such happiness and strength to deal with the challenges of life and death.

So now that the Gospel has been restored, what is it that we claim to have that the world lacks?  What sets us apart from all other Christian denominations? 

Two words:  Priesthood Keys.

I have heard some say that they would become members of the church if we would just drop that Joseph Smith and Book of Mormon thing. For others it is our very unusual prohibition of coffee, tea & tabacco and moral code.  And yet there are some that think we are part of the Protestant Reformation and are just another "flavor" of Christian denomination.  If that were the case and we were just another product of the great reformation, I am sure there are some churches that don't have all the restrictions of the word of wisdom and the law of chastity.  The restoration of the Gospel through the boy prophet Joseph Smith is one of the most unlikely events in history. Many might think that if God the Father and Jesus Christ were to visit someone, that person would most likely be a learned scholar, or well known leader of an already prominent, established religion.  One would think that such an important event would be accompanied by the appropriate fanfare and to crowds of cheering people.  Some may think if it happened today, it might be televised or live streamed.  Such an important event should be immediately made known to all people and be univerally accepted by all religious and political leaders.  But to a 14 year old boy with not more than a few years of formal education?  Surely God would have picked someone much more important for such a visitation.  But we know that is not the pattern of the Lord.  He does not value the philosophies of men, but honors those that are pure of heart. He works through small and simple things.  He uses ordinary people who he then equips with power from on high.  Think of the boy prophet Samuel.  Consider Nephi who was the younger brother. Moses was so unsure of his own speaking skills that he was assigned a spokesman in Aaron.  Jesus himself chose his original deciples from common fishermen.  But the restoration of the gospel did not begin on that spring morning in Palmyra New York.  Indeed a great preparation had been made for hundreds of years leading up to that great event.

The Reformation
Elder Bruce R. McKonckie taught “Beginning in the 14th century, the Lord began to prepare those social, educational, religious, economic, and governmental conditions under which he could more easily restore the gospel for the last time among men.”1 Latter-day Saint leaders and authors have variously described this 500-year pre-Restoration period as the “grand design,” “great prologue,” and “prelude to the Restoration.” The Old Testament prophet Joel foresaw the Spirit of the Lord working among individuals to help prepare the world for the Restoration. The Lord said, “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:28–29). Of the reformers, Elder McKonckie continues "Those forerunners to Joseph Smith, the long-prophesied seer of the last days (see JST, Gen. 50:30–33; 2 Ne. 3:6–7), did not have access to the fulness of the gospel, but their efforts were vitally important in laying the foundation for him.  Elder Marc E. Petersen called the work of the Reformers a “significant prelude to the great events in which the Prophet Joseph Smith was the primary figure.”

So again, why are we different from all the other Christian denominations that formed because of that same reformation?  Why are we different? Priesthood Keys.

What are Priesthood keys and why are they so important?

Where do priesthood keys come from?
All priesthood keys ultimately come from Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught, “The keys [of the priesthood] have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent” The keys necessary for governing the Church in the latter days were restored to Joseph Smith by heavenly beings—for instance, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elias, and Elijah.  These keys have been passed on to his successors. 

Rolling off of the Kingdom
In Nauvoo just before the prophet Joseph was martyred, a great event calling the "rolling off of the kingdom" happened.  One of the Apostles, Wilford Woodruff, left us this account of what happened in Nauvoo as the Prophet spoke to the Twelve: “On that occasion the Prophet Joseph rose up and said to us: ‘Brethren, I have desired to live to see this temple built. I shall never live to see it, but you will. I have sealed upon your heads all the keys of the kingdom of God. I have sealed upon you every key, power, and principle that the God of heaven has revealed to me. Now, no matter where I may go or what I may do, the kingdom rests upon you.’” Every prophet that followed Joseph, from Brigham Young to [our current prophet], has held and exercised those keys and has held the sacred apostleship. But just as in the time of Paul, the power of those priesthood keys for us requires our faith. We have to know by inspiration that the priesthood keys are held by those who lead and serve us. That requires the witness of the Spirit.

Who has priesthood keys?
Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hold all the keys necessary for governing the Church in this dispensation. Only the President of the Church has the right to exercise all of those keys. He delegates these keys to others who preside in the Church—temple presidents, mission presidents, stake presidents, district presidents, bishops, branch presidents, and quorum presidents, including deacons and teachers quorum presidents.

How is one chosen to receive Priesthood Keys?
One must be called, set apart and annointed to receive Priesthood keys.  One cannot apply for the job except by living a life worthy of the Lords trust and then being called.  One cannot buy the priesthood or priesthood keys. Scripture declares that “no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”

What do priesthood keys do? Why are they necessary?
Ordinances such as baptism and the sacrament help us to return to Heavenly Father in the celestial kingdom. Through the keys of the priesthood, the Church administers these ordinances and provides an organization to carry on the work of the Lord in an orderly manner—“Mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion” (D&C 132:8). So, for instance, although the Church has many worthy priesthood holders, they need authorization from someone holding keys before performing most ordinances. For example, if Aaronic Priesthood holders hear about a homebound ward member who would like to receive the sacrament at home, they cannot simply go and administer the sacrament to that member because they believe it’s the right thing to do. They must be authorized by the bishop, who holds the keys over the Aaronic Priesthood. And a father who holds the priesthood cannot simply baptize his 8-year-old daughter or ordain his 12-year-old son to the Aaronic Priesthood without first being authorized by the bishop to do so.

What is the difference between holding keys and having a calling?
Having a calling means having responsibilities; holding keys means presiding over and directing the work of the priesthood. For instance, a ward Young Men president works under the direction of the bishop, who holds keys over the ward, but the Young Men president’s responsibilities do not include presiding over the priesthood, so he does not receive keys. The keys to direct the work of the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward belong to the bishop, the teachers quorum president, and the deacons quorum president.

We will give an accounting of our Keys
President Russell M. Nelson: "From the President of the Church to the newest deacon, we are responsible to the Lord. We are to be true and faithful and live by every principle and doctrine that He has given to us. We cannot compromise a revelation or a commandment committed to our charge. He trusts us to “build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness. One day each of us will give an account to the Lord...

What gives us Power in the Priesthood?
President Russell M. Nelson stated to holders of the Melchezedik Priesthood: "When you brethren have an opportunity to exercise the Melchizedek Priesthood, ponder what you are to do. When you lay hands upon the head of another, you are not offering a prayer, which of course requires no authority. You are authorized to set apart, to ordain, to bless, and to speak in the name of the Lord. Remember His promises: “Whomsoever you bless I will bless, and “I will impart unto you of my Spirit, … and then shall ye know … all things … pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.”

To Aaronic Priesthood Holders, President Nelson said: "To magnify your callings in the Aaronic Priesthood, you young men should shape your personal efforts toward five personal objectives to:

Gain a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be worthy of missionary service.

Keep yourself morally clean and qualified to enter the holy temple.

Pursue your personal education.

Uphold Church standards and be worthy of your future companion.

Elder Neil L. Anderson
GC Oct 2013

We sometimes overly associate the power of the priesthood with men in the Church. The priesthood is the power and authority of God given for the salvation and blessing of all—men, women, and children. A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift. To receive the blessings, power, and promises of the priesthood in this life and the next is one of the great opportunities and responsibilities of mortality. As we are worthy, the ordinances of the priesthood enrich our lives on earth and prepare us for the magnificent promises of the world ahead. The Lord said, “In the ordinances … the power of godliness is manifest...

There are special blessings from God for every worthy person who is baptized, receives the Holy Ghost, and regularly partakes of the sacrament. The temple brings added light and strength, along with the promise of eternal life... All of the ordinances invite us to increase our faith in Jesus Christ and to make and keep covenants with God. As we keep these sacred covenants, we receive priesthood power and blessings.

Do we not feel this power of the priesthood in our own lives and see it among the covenant-keeping members of the Church? We see it in new converts as they step from the waters of baptism feeling forgiven and clean. We see our children and youth more sensitive to the promptings and guidance of the Holy Ghost. We see the ordinances of the temple becoming a beacon of strength and light for righteous men and women across the world.
My Testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

Tony's Story?

Conclusion

May we ever be grateful for the keys of the Priesthood that have been restored in these latter days. May we learn from the teachings of the past and move forward with faith.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored.  We receive revelation from a living prophet today who has all the keys necessary for our salvation.  We have Priesthood keys to perform the saving ordinances necessary for our salvation and exhaltation.  That is the great message we have to offer the world.  Do not be ashamed of the gospel.  Do not be ashamed of the Lord.  He is not ashamed of you, but has chosen you before this world began.  You have the knowledge that a fallen world so desperately needs.  Do not deprive your neighbors and friends of this most important gift.  May we never be weary in doing good and sharing the joy of the gospel with others is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.