Although there are more steps to The Gospel, such as repentance and enduring to the end, I feel like I should explain what the priesthood is. The priesthood is what separates the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from any other church. Let me explain.
From the beginning of the world, there has been a cycle that repeats itself throughout the Bible. If you look for example at the people of the early old testament, you can see a clear example of this. God called Adam to preach His word to the people. Adam did so and his people grew and flourished, but there came a time when the people stopped listening to the will of the Lord, they rejected the prophets and the world became totally wicked. No one listened to Noah when he told them to repent or else there would be a flood, and of course, there was a flood. This left only the righteous left on the earth. Then we see how as the people flourished, they became very rich, and pride took over them again—they started to build the tower of Babel in an attempt to reach God. They didn’t listen to the prophets’ words, and the Lord humbled the people by confounding their language. This cycle repeats itself throughout the Old Testament until God even sent his only begotten Son to the Earth to, along with his many other important roles, teach us the will of God. I drew a picture of this cycle on my Paint program; sorry if it looks like a little kid could do better, because I know a little kid could do better.
From the beginning of the world, there has been a cycle that repeats itself throughout the Bible. If you look for example at the people of the early old testament, you can see a clear example of this. God called Adam to preach His word to the people. Adam did so and his people grew and flourished, but there came a time when the people stopped listening to the will of the Lord, they rejected the prophets and the world became totally wicked. No one listened to Noah when he told them to repent or else there would be a flood, and of course, there was a flood. This left only the righteous left on the earth. Then we see how as the people flourished, they became very rich, and pride took over them again—they started to build the tower of Babel in an attempt to reach God. They didn’t listen to the prophets’ words, and the Lord humbled the people by confounding their language. This cycle repeats itself throughout the Old Testament until God even sent his only begotten Son to the Earth to, along with his many other important roles, teach us the will of God. I drew a picture of this cycle on my Paint program; sorry if it looks like a little kid could do better, because I know a little kid could do better.
We read how this cycle was even apparent on the other side of the world on the ancient American continent in the Book of Mormon--Nephi first talks about how the prophets taught the people truth, and then another prophet—Mormon—talks about what happened to the people after they stopped listening to the prophets:
“-And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read these things which were engraven upon the plates of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me: What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?
-And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the bSpirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.” (1 Nephi 22:1-2)
“-But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.
-And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.” (Mormon 1: 13-14)
These prophets are called of God and given what is called the Priesthood—which is the power and authority to act in God’s name. This power is given to Nephi in the Book of Mormon:
“Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, … Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.” (Helaman 10: 6-7)
This is how we can know whether someone is speaking and/or acting in God’s name—they have been called by God and he has given them his priesthood. We read more about the priesthood in the scriptures—how it can be used not just to speak God’s words, but perform ordinances in his name:
"The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers—
-After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said:
- In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest, (or, if he be a teacher) I ordain you to be a teacher, to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen." (Moroni 3:1-3)
“-And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people
-Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end” (Alma 13: 1, 8)
Christ Ordaining His Apostles
We know that this cycle continued with Christ—he taught the people the will of God, but the people rejected even him! Because this was such a big deal, hf withdrew his power to act in his name after all the apostles were rejected and killed as well. This time was called the Great Apostasy. It was during what we know as the Dark Ages—when all of a sudden, humankind started to move backward instead of forward in technology and as a whole. That is why we don’t hear of any apostles during this time. But, just like we see in the cycle, when the people were ready, God called another prophet, we learn about how this would happen in the Book of Mormon:
“- And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
-And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.” (2 Nephi 3:14-15)
This prophet named Joseph actually was prophesying of a Man named Joseph Smith. You can
read more about him here.
Joseph Smith was the first prophet to be called since the death of Christ. God has restored that same Church that Christ established 2000 years ago. That is why it is called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And since then He has continued to call prophets, there is a living prophet and apostles on the earth TODAY. That is why this church means so much to me, not only do we have the Book of Mormon, but we have revelation given to us by modern day prophets. All of whom have the power and authority to act in God’s name, and teach us his will for us. This is another of the great blessings of the priesthood.
No comments:
Post a Comment