The Restoration of the Priesthood

Magnifying the Priesthood, using it correctly, and using it for the benefit of others

Aaronic Priesthood Restored by John the Baptist, May 15, 1829.

D&C 13: “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood
of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of
repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be
taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord
in righteousness.”

Melchizedek Priesthood restored by Peter, James, and John within a two week period
after this time. Others, including Moses, Elias, and Elijah restored additional priesthood
keys to Joseph Smith in order to have a “Restoration of all things.”

Significance of the Restoration

What is the Priesthood

President James E. Faust: “Priesthood is the greatest power on earth. Worlds were created
by and through the priesthood. To safeguard this sacred power, all priesthood holders act
under the direction of those who hold the keys of the priesthood. These keys bring order
into our lives and into the organization of the Church. For us, priesthood power is the
power and authority delegated by God to act in His name for the salvation of His
children. Caring for others is the very essence of priesthood responsibility. It is the power
to bless, to heal, and to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel. Righteous
priesthood authority is most needed within the walls of our own homes. It must be
exercised in great love. This is true of all priesthood holders—deacon, teacher, priest,
elder, high priest, patriarch, Seventy, and Apostle.”

How the Priesthood blesses us today

1. Administration of God’s Kingdom
2. Ministration of Saving Ordinances
3. Blesses all mankind on a daily basis

D&C 84:19-22: “And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the
key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of
godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.”

Holding the Priesthood

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Bear Priesthood with Righteousness

How to live righteously and bear the priesthood as Christ would:

D&C 121:41-46: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the
priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by
love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without
hypocrisy, and without guile—
43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then
showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest
he esteem thee to be his enemy;
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith,
and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly;”

Blessings of Righteous Authority… “then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence
of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from
heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging
scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion,
and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

Elder John H. Groberg, of the Seventy: “…While the power of the priesthood is
unlimited, our individual power in the priesthood is limited by our degree of
righteousness or purity. Just as clean wires, properly connected, are required to carry
electrical power, so clean hands and pure hearts are required to carry priesthood power.
Filth and grime slow or prevent the flow of electrical power. Unclean thoughts and
actions interfere with individual priesthood power. When we are humble, clean, and pure
of hand, heart, and mind, nothing righteous is impossible.”

Magnify the Priesthood

Elder Delbert L. Stapley, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “To magnify is to
honor, to exalt and glorify, and cause to be held in greater esteem or respect. It also
means to increase the importance of, to enlarge and make greater. … Can a man magnify
his calling who is not willing to sacrifice and consecrate all for the building of God’s
kingdom in righteousness, truth, and power in the earth?”

Priesthood Leadership in the Church

1. Fulfill our responsibilities to our callings
2. Home Teaching

Priesthood Leadership in the Home

1. Bless and dedicate our homes
2. Bless our Families
3. Lead the Family in Prayer and Scripture study

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 4. Family home evening
5. Making our Home a Haven
6. Blessings available to all through Home Teaching and Priesthood Leaders such as
EQP, HPGL, and Bishop

Role of Women with the Priesthood

Women have the same responsibility as men in honoring and sustaining the priesthood,
and they are held to the same expectations of worthiness to receive its blessings and
ordinances.

Moses 3:18, 21-24: “18 And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, that it was
not good that the man should be alone; wherefore, I will make an help meet for him…
21 And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and I took
one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof;
22 And the rib which I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a woman, and
brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said: This I know now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife;
and they shall be one flesh.”

Blessings of Righteous Leadership

Example of Nephites: Jarom 1:7: “And it came to pass that they came many times against
us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of
the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the
Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands, and began to fortify our cities, or
whatsoever place of our inheritance.”

Example of Captain Moroni: Alma 48:11-18- foundations of Hell shook because of

Moroni

Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “My brothers and sisters, I
have witnessed the remarkable power of the priesthood to lift and bless, to heal and
comfort, to strengthen and empower men, women, and children throughout the world.
With all the sincerity of my heart, I desire to see the blessings of the priesthood be made
accessible to all.”

Refer to D&C 84:19 then John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Testimony of Christ and the atonement- how it is accessible through the ordinances of the
Priesthood.