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I don’t like coming from a TBM background where everything is black and white. I remember how ticked off I was when I was taught in seminary that Jesus created the earth as Jehovah, when I’m sure I was taught Jehovah was God, and that to me meant Heavenly Father. I got over it but it took me awhile. Well here is another one. Not as big a deal, but Bruce R. McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine is getting another axe to grind: Mine and my institute teacher’s. In Mormon Doctrine it says the Levitical Priesthood and Aaronic priesthoods are the same.
Well they are and they are not. Historically the Aaronic priesthood was only with those of the lineage of Levi, hence the name Levitical. But, what is the big deal about the sons of Levi who will again offer a sacrifice of the Lord if the same priesthood is among us? Why can’t we just have some ordained priests after the Priesthood of Aaron perform that sacrifice mentioned in Section 13 of the D&C?
So, therefore there must be different orders within the Aaronic Priesthood that exceed that of Priests. In Hebrews 7:5, it talks about those of the Levitical order who held the fulness of the Aaronic Priesthood. This would mean they officiate in temple sacrifice ordinances that your 16 and 17 year old priests are not authorized to do. Therefore the Levitical Priesthood is technically an order of the Aaronic Priesthood that is different than say your Deacon, Teacher and Priest at Church. This Aaronic order requires that they come from the tribe of Levi as well. See Mormon Doctrine p. 10 (1958 version).
Now to the other orders
You have the Melchizedek Priesthood that is an ecclesiastic order of priesthood such as the Elders, high priests and the Apostles. You could also say it is an Apostolic order in that many of the Elders are “sent” to preach the gospel, do home teaching, etc. as an ecclesiastical body.
Yet there is the Patriarchal Order within the Melchizedek Priesthood. This is where you have a husband and wife who take care of their own family. A bishop is not going to tell me where to send my kids to school for instance, or what kind of clothes and food I should give my kid. My bishop also is not Santa Claus. A bishop cannot really even tell me how to raise my kid. He can offer suggestions, but he has no real authority here.
So the bottom line is that there are two Priesthoods mentioned: Aaronic and Melchizedek.
But there are four orders within these priesthoods:
1. Aaronic (ecclesiastical)
2. Levitical (hereditary weird temple sacrifice by the sons of Levi)
3. Melchizedek (ecclesiastical)
4. Patriarchal (family, where my bishop has no authority unless my wife and I want him to).
I am so glad BrMcConkie’s Mormon Doctrine has been replaced by the Book LDS Beliefs by professors of religion at BYU. It is better to have a book to guide members as a topical guide, but not be all authoritative because it was written by a General Authority, like Mormon Doctrine was.
If you read the section on Aaronic Priesthood and Levitical Priesthood, Bruce R. McConkie does a poor job saying that Aaronic and Levitical are the same thing, but then talking about how they are different. Just say they are the same priesthood, but different orders within that priesthood. I’m not a son of Levi and can never be one, and still puzzled why they need to offer a sacrifice in righteousness in the end. I’m glad my Institute teacher actually brought this issue up, because it empowers me as a father in the Patriarchal Order, where a bishop and a EQP cannot usurp that authority. I do believe Elder Dallin H. Oaks had a conference talk about this awhile back. Just saying.
Very interesting. I was always taught that the Deacon and Teacher positions were the levitical priesthoods for reasons that they would assist the priests in service of the Sacrament and other duties within the church.It should be noted that I was also very confused about Jesus creating the earth and that Jesus was God. To this day if I over think the situation I confuse myself. Some of the comments I hear in church on the subject matter gets everyone confused. I think it all depends on the wording of the scripture and who is teaching for it all to make sense.
If there is any subject that tends to just wash over me in meetings, it must be the nitty-gritty details of the priesthood. We talk about the keys and the orders and the responsibilities and I find the topic just dull. Frankly, whether I am a son of Levi or not or the knowledge of who in the priesthood actually possesses KEYS (ever do that trivia test in elder’s quorum?) does not change my responsibilities as a priesthood holder and patriarch in my family one bit. So I’m fine with the concept of priesthood, but spare me the inane details of its historical nature. Funny that you should mention the Jehovah thing. I still remember the day I learned that concept. I was visiting my grandmother’s ward as a 10 or 11 year old and we met in a small room just off the stage in her church. It’s one concept I don’t personally have any problems with.
Honestly, this is one area where I love the concept of service-centered priesthood but couldn’t care less about details. Old-Timer wrote:Honestly, this is one area where I love the concept of service-centered priesthood but couldn’t care less about details.
my sentiments exactly.Bruce R. McConkie wrote the Bible dictionary, and it says
Quote:The terms Aaronic and Levitical are sometimes used synonymously (D&C 107:1, 6, 10), although there are some specific differences in the offices existing within the Levitical Priesthood. For example, the lesser priesthood was conferred only upon men of the tribe of Levi. However, within the tribe, only Aaron and his sons could hold the office of priest. And, still further, from the firstborn of Aaron’s sons (after Aaron) was selected the high priest (or president of the priests). Thus Aaron and his sons after him had greater offices in the Levitical Priesthood than did the other Levites.
The privileges of the priests were greater than those who functioned in the other Levitical offices, and a distinction between the two is evident when the scripture speaks of them as “the priests and the Levites” (1 Kgs. 8:4; Ezra 2:70; John 1:19). The priests could offer sacrifices for the people, burn incense on the altar, and teach the law, whereas the other Levites were employed in more menial tasks, such as the housekeeping of the tabernacle, keeping oil in the lamps, transporting the Ark of the Covenant, taking down and setting up the tabernacle when moving, and related tasks in assisting the priests (Num. 3:5–10; 18:1–7; 1 Chr. 23:27–32). The account of Korah’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron delineates some of the differences between the duties of the priests and those of the Levites. It also shows the error of aspiring to offices in the priesthood. Levite companions sought for the high priesthood, but as they were unworthy, the Lord destroyed them (Num. 16–18).
The Aaronic (or Levitical) Priesthood thus functioned only within the tribe of Levi, and the right to have it conferred upon one was determined by lineage and worthiness. As part of his rationale that the law of Moses was fulfilled, Paul makes a point of the contrast between the lineal requirement of the lesser priesthood and the nonlineal Melchizedek Priesthood, which was not confined to those of one tribe (see JST Heb. 7:1–3; Heb. 7:11–14). The lineal restrictions of that Aaronic (Levitical) Priesthood were lifted when the law of Moses was fulfilled, and thereafter the offices of the priesthood were conferred upon worthy men without limitation to the tribe of Levi. This appears to be the case in the Church as recorded in the New Testament and in the Book of Mormon (where there were no Levites), and is presently operative in the Church as it has been restored in the latter days.
The Aaronic Priesthood continued “with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel” from Aaron until John the Baptist, who was a priest in the Aaronic order (D&C 84:26–27), and by this authority he prepared the way for and baptized Jesus.
That was really cool of you to post this. Thanks for clearing some things up for me.
GREEN[/color] “> [/color] [/size] @ freenapples, you’re welcome. I know now when the EQP gives me crap about my home teaching, I can say with authority, “Sometimes home teaching interferes with the patriarchal order side of my priesthood responsibilities with my wife and family.”
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