First of all, you need to keep in mind that the restrictions on the Aaronic Priesthood were part of the Law of Moses. When Jesus came and completed the atonement, He fulfilled the Law of Moses. As a result of this, many of the restrictions in this law were done away. We can now eat things that were declared unclean under that law. With the expansion of the gospel to the gentiles also came a bestowal of authority (including the Aaronic Priesthood) on the gentiles. Now, how did we get the priesthood? As Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry were working on the translation of the Book of Mormon, they came upon verses describing the importance of baptism. Since neither one of them had been baptized, they went out into the wood near the Susquehanna River and prayed to God for guidance on this issue. In response to this prayer, God sent the resurrected John the Baptist to them. John then gave them the Priesthood of Aaron and told them to baptize each other. A few weeks after this, Joseph and Oliver were visited by the apostles Peter, James, and John who then gave them the Melchizedec Priesthood. ***************** pacella23, the fact that the it is call the Priesthood of Melchizedec tells us that Melchizedec held this priesthood just as Aaron held the Aaronic priesthood. We believe that many others have also held this priesthood. Many of the old testament prophets held the Melchizedec Priesthood. We believe that the last of these was Elijah. As Israel spiraled into apostasy, the Melchizedec Priesthood was taken from them. It was restored when Jesus came to the Earth. He then gave it to His apostles. They preached and did their miracles under the authority of the Melchizedec priesthood. However, as Paul prophesied, the people did not endure in the faith (http://scriptures.lds.org/2_tim/4/3-4) and the apostles were murdered. With their deaths the priesthood was taken completely from the Earth. Thus the need for the restoration of authority that occurred through Joseph Smith in the spring of 1829.

This is an interesting theological question. Let me explain: Melchezidic was believed by many scholars to be a 'Theophany', or a pre-Jesus appearance of the Christ. Therefore, if this is the case, then his priesthood came directly from God. Only those from within the direct family of Aaron, who was a member of the Levite tribe, were able to serve as priests. The Levites served as temple workers. Priesthood was conferred by the laying on of hands and anointing. Annanias and Caiphas, the high priests who crucified Jesus, were NOT Levites. They had been put there by the Romans. John the Baptist was a Levite: his father was the Priest Zachariah. Jesus also had Levite descendency in his heritage. John would have had the authority of the priesthood upon him by virtue of his lineage. Therefore, he would have also had the right to confer that authority. He baptised Jesus, who had Levite ancestry. When Jesus died and rose again, he took upon himself not only the Priesthood of Aaron, but also the Priesthood of Melchezidic by virtue that it already belonged to him. He still is the High Priest, because he's alive today. There is no Priesthood of Aaron anymore. Jesus is the one great High Priest. Not only that, but he confers his righteousness upon us, and also his priesthood! These things are written in scripture: Romans 3:21 says this: "But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," Revelations 1: 5 - 6 says this: "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." We are all priests, in Jesus Christ. There is no exclusive priesthood.

This question would be answered differently depending on whether the writer were LDS or mainstream Christian. The Latter Day Saints (LDS) are taught that the priesthoods were bestowed upon Joseph Smith Jr in a divine visitation. Since traditionally Jews passed on the mantle of priesthood by the laying on of hands, thus comes their belief in that fact. From the point of view of passing on authority or releasing people for ministries, the laying on of hands is scripturally correct. The issue arises between mainstream christianity and the LDS as to whether this "holy appointment" actually happened or not. Mainstream christianity rejects Joseph Smith jr and all of his writings - including the Book of Mormon, as NOT being inspired by God. At a worst case scenario some of us (admittedly myself included) believe that it is a con by a renowned con artist. (See my answer in this thread: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/1714, for evidences I have used to reach this conclusion.) I would like to voice some thoughts on the priesthoods, just as a point of question: The Aaronic priesthood exists only under the Law of Moses. It did not exist before, and it was fulfilled by Christ at the New Covenant. Their duties were based upon the Law of Moses - mostly in relation to sacrifice. They were to be the 'intercessors' for a people too sinful to approach God themselves. Hence the Holy of Holies (the area where God's spirit dwelt) was separated from the rest of the tabernacle/temple by a heavy curtain. The high priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year, and only with the blood of the atonement sacrifice. Even he would be struck dead if he went in there outside the regulations. The job descriptions of the priests included the slaughter, bleeding, dissecting and burning of the sacrificial animals, as well as the plant offerings. These were done twice a day in accordance with the Law of Moses. They also carried artifacts called the Urim and Thummim, which were used basically for casting lots to determine God's will. ***** Jesus Christ was not a priest of Aaron. He could never be a priest in the temple. Why? Because he came from the tribe of Judah, NOT Levi (from where Aaron was descended). Yet Jesus is our priest, high priest and great high priest. How so? The answer lies in another, very over-looked person: John the Baptist. If you look into the history of the time, you'll find some interesting things: * Annas and Caiaphus, the high priests of the time, WERE NOT LEVITES. They were appointed by Rome, and so were not actually eligible to be priests according the law of Moses. * John the Baptist was the son of Zachariah (a full blooded descendent of Aaron), and Elizabeth (also a full blooded descendednt of Aaron). Zachariah served as a priest in the temple. He may even have been high priest, although the bible doesn't specify. This means that John the Baptist was a full blooded son of Aaron, and the rightful high priest. * Priests were 'ordained' by being baptised and with the laying on of hands. John baptised Jesus at the Jordan River. Messianic Jews who have researched all this equate the baptism of Jesus as the passing of the priestly mantle from John to Jesus... * John protested at the baptism, but Jesus said this: "Let it be done to fulfil all righteousness". Here we go back to Genesis, and a man named Melchizedek. His name means 'King of Righteousness'. Jesus was born King of the Jews, or so the gospels say. If he was King of the Jews, and he fulfilled all righteousness at that point, it could be said that he became the King of Righteousness. Forward to Hebrews: the writer calls Jesus a priest after the order of Melchizedek. * Melchizedek is described in Genesis as a "priest unto God Almighty". But priest over whom? The Israelites? No. The Israelites didn't exist at that point. So who then? His priesthood was over the gentiles - including the father of the Jews, Abraham. Yet even Abraham was a gentile at that stage... So the priesthood of Melchizedek is over the gentiles. That makes sense based on the gospels. * The bible says that the old covenant (the sacrificial system) was not sufficient. The question was this: if the animal sacrifices were enough to cleanse the people, why then did they have to keep making sacrifices? (Hebrews 10:1 - 4) Wouldn't it have purified them from sin once and for all? No. Only the perfect sacrifice of Jesus could do that. The bible itself, in Hebrews, says in exact words that the priesthood of Aaron was done away with (Hebrews 10:8) I would suggest that people interested in this read at least from Hebrews chapter 7 to chapter 10. There are some amazing comments and insights in this short piece of text. * At the time of Jesus'death (sacrifice), Caiaphas was actually no longer High Priest. In his interrogation of Jesus the night before, he tore the neck of the garment known as the 'Robe of the Ephod'. Doing this was against the law, and nullified the transgressor's priesthood! Caiaphas basically got himself fired in God's eyes! So who was there to oversee the mandatory daily sacrifices? Jesus, the high priest of Melchizedek. You see, as the lambs were being slaughtered down at the temple - for the Jews, Jesus was being slaughtered up on Golgotha - for all mankind. * Jesus was crucified at nine in the morning (the third hour). The first lamb of the day was sacrificed down in the temple at nine in the morning. There was darkness over the land from 12 until 3pm (sixth to ninth hours). This is equated with the sin of the world being put onto Jesus. The second lamb was slaughtered at 12 - in darkness. This lamb should have been slaughtered at 3pm, but this was passover... The 3pm lamb was moved to 12pm so that the passover lamb could be slaughtered at 3pm. Jesus died at 3pm, just as the passover lamb was being slaughtered. He became our passover lamb. Jesus superceded every part of the law with his own greater covenant. He superceded the priesthood of Aaron with the priesthood of Melchizedek - over all man, not just the Jews. His sacrifice was infinitely better than the lambs down in the temple. Against Hebrews 10:1 - 4, he DID make one sacrifice that purifies us all for all time - no more sacrifices needed... ***** So, the validity of Joseph Smith Jr's claim aside, I have these issues: Christ fulfilled the Law with his death, resurrection and ascension, and superceded the priesthood of Aaron with that of Melchizedek. 1. Christ paid the blood penalty for us, once for all. The animal sacrifice is no longer needed. 2. Christ took our sinfulness and replaced it with his rightousness (Romans 3:21-22) We can enter directly into the throneroom of God, through Christ's sacrifice and in his name. The intermediary is no longer needed. Hence why the veil was torn. The separation of that barrier (sin) was removed... In this case, the Aaronic priesthood basically became obsolete with Christ. All of their job descriptions were annulled. 3. God sent the Holy Spirit to guide us personally, and the examples in the bible to give us wisdom in situations. The casting of lots is no longer required. 4. The bible specifically says that the old covenant was done away with, replaced by the new covenant. There is no longer a priesthood of Aaron, for Jesus is the high priest over all people (Jew and Gentile) 5. Jesus is the great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. The bible specifically says that we are priests under him when we come into his Kingdom (i.e. become believers). We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation; a kingdom of priests to serve our God... and so on. But who are we priests over? Not just the Jews, but all of mankind. That's not the priesthood of Aaron - that's the priesthood of Melchizedek. 6. Only a bloodline Descendent of Aaron can lay claim to the Aaronic priesthood - the law of Moses specifically states this. In fact, God said that those who were not Aaron's sons who came close (i.e. tried to be priests) were to be put to death... I'd like to see the genealogies of anybody (in the LDS church or otherwise) who claims to be a priest of Aaron. 7. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Even when Israel sinned to the point of destruction, he did not change, nor did he alter his covenant. However, there are examples where he superceded covenants with a new one. Going from Jacob to Abraham is an example of how he superceded one covenant with a better one. However, he never altered covenants. In light of these, why would God change his mind and offer the priesthood of Aaron to a gentile who was not of the line of Aaron, or even of the tribe of Judah? Why, after going to all the trouble of sending his son to die on on the cross, and instituting a new covenant, would he go back and resurrect the old one? ***** My other concerns are how the priesthood got endowed to them - I seriously question Joseph Smith jr's credibility and honesty. To put simply (and this is just my opinion) he was a liar and a cheat. History shows this, even before he founded the LDS. I wouldn't trust anything he said. In all, if you consider the teachings of the bible (as I do not accept the Book of Mormon or any LDS doctrine as divinely inspired), there is nothing to support the claim to priesthood. In actual fact, the bible and its evidence point in the opposite direction - The priesthood of all believers beneath the great High Priest Jesus. All believers are 'priests of Melchizidek', under our great high priest Jesus. We have no need to invoke some special membership - we already have it! As for the priesthood of Aaron, why would you want to dig up an old, defunct priesthood that even God said was not sufficient? Unless you are a Jew, a descendent of Aaron, and do not believe in Jesus as the messiah, you have no need or ability to invoke the priesthood of Aaron. Besides, if you're not a descendent of Aaron, then you're ineligible anyway. -------- [Edit] Aaron Prentice: Hebrews 5? So you offer gifts and sacrifices for others' sins, do you? I thought Jesus did that on the cross. You're trying to take his job, man. "One sacrifice for all sin." It's already been done - you're about 2000 years too late.

There was no Aaronic priesthood before Aaron. That lesser priesthood was given as a school master to the Israelites to prepare them for the higher blessings of the Melchizidec. Because all tribes defiled themselves with worshiping the golden calf, God only gave this blessing to the Levites and decendants of Aaron because they did not worship the calf. When the levites make an acceptable offering to God, the priesthood of Aaron will no longer be necessary as a tool of instruction and people will be ordain to the Melchezidec priesthood, with the appropriate office of deacon, teacher, priest, bishop, etc. Aaronic priesthood is a branch of the Melchezidec priesthood, not a priesthood to itself. Jesus Christ is the originator of the priesthood to this world. He is the great high priest of the earth. All prophets were ordain by his word, which was from the begining. God changed the covenant, once a righteous group of people were found to fulfill the words of the prophets. The Aaronic priesthood came about because of the conditions of this earth. God knew the people of God would not be fully ready to officate as a group in the Melchezidec preisthood, so he gave the schoolmaster. When Christ comes, and the Levites again offer an acceptable sacrifice to god, the Aaronic priesthood will no longer need to school anyone. With Christ here, a full knowledge of the priesthood will exist to all people. God did not change, only the way the covenant is executed changed. We no longer shed blood, we partake of bread and wine(water now) to remember him. Our sacrifice is our own life, we give up our will in the will of God. The same with the priesthood. God openned the priesthood to all righteous men again. It was that way in the beginning, but the law of Moses brought restrictions because of the unschooled state of Israel at that time. Jesus, is God, he did not have a theophany to receive the priesthood. Someone who has authority confirmed the priesthood on his mortal head and he began to teach. He came into this world with his priesthood, but had is confirmed on his head at the proper age. He is God. His priesthood can not be give or taken away. He is the orginator. Strictly speaking, his authority comes from his Father in Heaven. The orginator of All authority. But since we speak only of this world of the many that God commanded to be made, Christ is God and the originator of authority for this earth. What scholars believe matters little compare to what is the truth. research does not equal revelation. As was said, John the baptist restored the Aaronic priesthood to Joseph and Oliver. He was a resurrected being with flesh and bone. He ordained them. Later a fulness of the priesthood was given by Peter, James, and John of the Apostolic Era following Christs mortal ministry. John again, prepared the way before Christ's fulness. In addition, the Nephite did not have the Aaronic priesthood apparently because no seed of Aaron went with them. Lehi, and later Nephi did have the Mechezidec priesthood, which officates in all the offices of the Aaronic. The Nephites also had a better understanding of the law of Moses and the authority of the priesthood than their brethern in Jerusalem. To answer John: Thank you for you interest in my answer to the question. I was called of God as was Aaron. I was ordained by Albert Burns, an High Priest, to the office of Elder in 1997 and have been faithful to that office. He was ordained by the missionaries that baptised him. Their authority extends back to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, who received it from Peter, James and John, who received it form the source, Jesus Christ.

Shabba asked if I under stand the priesthood. Shabba, I do. I am a partaker of that authority having occasion to exercise it regular. It is a blessing to my family and friends. Seeing a vision, or giving your life to Christ constitutes no authority. Only God gives it by the laying on of hands from an authorized servant of his. Without it, no authority is given. Depending on your personal or religious background, when all else fails, ask the source, which, my associate, is not the Bible. The Bible is a means to an end. It is meant to point you to God and a relationship with him. It was never intended to be worshipped as the inerrant word of God. Only Christ is the inerrant word who should be worship. The Bible is a tool, not a god. It, the Bible, in and of itself can do nothing. God is where the power and blessings are. God is who does something. He inspired the men to write, and later preserved those writings that the Catholic Church provided for all in the form of Bible. You do not get authority from God in the priesthood from going to seminaries or reading the Bible. It is given by one who has authority to give it, an actual person ordained of God. I am not being prideful when I say I know this. I know it because I am entrusted with the priesthood, and have authority to administer in it, and when directed by those in authority over me, to extend it to others. I know that it is also according to my faith and in and of itself would not prove anything in a court of law. It is a tad irresponsible to question someone’s understanding of priesthood when you visited a board dedicated to that religion’s practices and doctrines. Shabba, if you want to debate, there are numerous debate boards that I visit, and are terrifically arrayed to suit. If I understand correctly, this is a board where you ask question about a faith, get a response from some one unofficially, and rate whether it answered your question about the faith or not. As a Latter-day Saint, if I do not agree with the answer, I can add my rating and post an answer that answers the question better. Being that I study it every Sunday and hold it worthily, I believe I can answer basic questions about LDS priesthood. I am sure I have a basic if not more so understanding of it. As far as it not being in the bible, I am unsure how that is important for me, as a Christian who has four different sets of scripture. It is in The Doctrine & Covenants. That is good enough. In addition, I acknowledge and believe in living prophets. If I find it in no book, but uttered by a prophet as the word of God, then also, it is well with me.

Answer - it didn't. Their priesthood is from their god, not the God of the Bible.