THE CURRENT TEACHING OF THE MORMON CHURCH:
Only L.D.S. have authority to baptize, ordain, etc. They have a two-part system of priesthood—Aaronic and Melchizedek.
"Man cannot act legally in the name of the Lord unless he is vested with the priesthood, which is divine authority. No man has the power or the right to take this honor to himself. Unless he is called of God as was Aaron, he has no authority to officiate in any of the ordinances of the gospel: should he do so his act is not valid or recognized in the heavens." (Doctrine and Salvation by Joseph F. Smith, Vol.111, Pg. 80.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD:
1. JESUS IS THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST
| Great high priest, Jesus | Hbr 4:14 |
| High priest who sits on the right hand of the throne | Hbr 8:1, 2 |
2. JESUS HOLDS THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD:
| High priest after the order of Melchizedec | Hbr 5:9, 10 |
| Unchangeable priesthood. | Hbr 7:24, 25 |
3. THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD IS WITHOUT SUCCESSORS:
| Melchizedek priesthood given to Jesus alone, endless life | Hbr 7:16, 17 |
| ...ever liveth to make intercession for them. | Hbr 7:25 |
4. THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD, TERMINATED ITS FUNCTION AT THE CROSS.
| Jesus bore, in his own body our sins upon the tree | 1Pe 2:24 |
| At the death, the veil of the Temple was torn in two. | Mat 27:51 |
5. CHRIST BECAME BOTH PRIEST AND OFFERING:
| Priesthood changed. | Hbr 7:12 |
| Christ the end of the law. | Rom 10:4 |
| Jesus makes intercession for us. | Hbr 4:14-16 |
6. JESUS MADE US A KINGDOM OF PRIEST TO SERVE GOD.
| Made us a kingdom of priest. | Rev 1:4-6 |
| Chosen race, the royal priesthood | 1Pe 2:9 |
7. WE ARE TO OFFER THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES:
| Praise | Jer 33:11; Hbr 13:15 |
| Our bodies | Rom 12:1 |
| Our prayers | Pro 15:8 |
Cite This Page:
Grieshaber, Erich, and Jean Grieshaber. "Priesthood," Redi-Answers on Mormon Doctrine. Blue Letter Bible. 1 Jul 2002. 21 Nov 2009.
<http://blueletterbible.org/study/cults/ramd/ramd22.cfm>.
