When I was a young boy I remember a demonstration at a stake priesthood meeting. The speaker had a light bulb hooked to a battery and a switch that would brighten or dim the bulb. The conclusion to his demonstration was that as we priesthood holders lived better lives, the light would be brighter or we would have more priesthood power. But something about the demonstration didn't ring true to me, but I wasn't sure why.
It took me many years to finally figure out that this demonstration was not an accurate demonstration of priesthood power. I learned that priesthood power does not come from me, and I could not by living better, increase my priesthood power, any more than we, by living better, can earn more blessings from our Father in Heaven, or increase our chances of being redeemed.
We are redeemed because of His righteousness, not because of our own. Lehi told his son Jacob that he knew that Jacob would be redeemed because of the "righteousness of thy Redeemer" (2 Nephi 3:3). This is also true of priesthood power--it is His power--we cannot increase His power, but we can tap into His power!
Word links are important in His written words. For example whenever we see the word "righteousness" we by linking with other references using the word "righteousness" understand that only God is righteous, and only through His righteousness can we be redeemed. Righteousness is another name for God and Christ. Paul tells us that those who have zeal but without knowledge, go about to establish their own righteousness and do not submit themselves to the righteousness of God "for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness" (Romans 10:1-4).
Let me demonstrate by asking you if you believe that it is an honor to hold the priesthood? How many say yes? How many no?
Let's see what the Lord says:
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson--
"That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness (His righteousness!).
"They may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness (not connected to His righteousness), behold the heavens withdraw themselves; the spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or authority of that man.
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous (their own righteous) dominion. Hence many are called but few are chosen" (D&C 121:34-37; 39).
Priesthood is not an honor, but a blessing of His righteousness--never our own!
A good example is Abraham:
"And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same (what is the same?-- greater happiness and peace and rest); having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers" (Abr 1:2).
This is the true order of the Priesthood to bless the lives of others through the righteousness of God and by virtue of the knowledge given us by God. These are the only keys of the priesthood.
It is no wonder that the "this greater priesthood administereth the gospel, and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom even the key of the knowledge of God" (D&C 84:19).
So priesthood keys are not having authority to administer (as in presiding and organizing and setting policies), but to administer the gospel of Jesus Christ. And anyone with priesthood power (righteousness of God and knowledge from God) can administer the gospel.
As Paul tells us the "Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation." Priesthood can bring the power of God into the lives of others through ordinances where the power of God is manifest, but also requires that we lay hold on His words, His sword of truth. Power and authority is manifest through His words.
And how do we know who holds the key of the knowledge of God. We look at Abraham again--in Facsimile 3 in the Pearl of Great Price Abraham is depicted as sitting upon Pharaoh's throne "with a scepter of justice and judgment in his hand."
This scepter is the word of God, which is also described as a sword. It is the only weapon used by God to judge and make war (Revelations 19). Only those armed with this sword or holding this scepter are speaking the words of God and for God. These are they who magnify their office by "taking upon them the responsibility, answering the sins of the people on their own heads if they did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with their might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day" (Jacob 1:19).
So lets look again at D&C 121 where we are told that "the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth..." (vv 45-46) Note that the definition of the word of God is truth, light, spirit, even the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Those who are followers of righteousness and desire to be greater followers of righteousness, together with possessing great knowledge and desiring to possess greater knowledge--are those who truly hold the keys of the priesthood of God!
The 84th Section of the Doctrine & Covenants contains some of what God has revealed to us about His priesthood, and how His priesthood is used to bless the lives of others. Just 'presiding' is not enough, and one need not preside in order to bless the lives of others with the power of God.
Your word links give a new understanding to the "Iron Rod" which is the "Word of God" which is the "Scepter" and the "Rod of His Mouth" and a "Two-Edged Sword."
ReplyDeleteThe distinction you make between administering the gospel vs. administering in churchly offices, is very interesting to me. How did holding the "key of the knowledge of God" morph into something that means we can govern others in the Church? Food for thought!