However, the doctrine of authority peculiar to Mormonism is complex and multifaceted, and is argued to be supported by more scriptural evidence than we've looked at thus far. They believe that prophets are bestowed a particular kind of authority, that of the priesthood, and that the Bible indicates that this pattern of priests handed down by God, like the alleged pattern of prophets, is to continue to this day. Let's take a closer look.
PRESCRIBING A PATTERN OF PRIESTS
At their website, in an article entitled, "The Restoration of the Priesthood", the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claims that,
The priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name. It is necessary to direct Christ's Church...Throughout time, God has given His servants, the prophets, the authority to act in His name. This authority is called the priesthood. Jesus Christ gave the priesthood to His original Twelve Apostles, and they directed the work of His Church after Jesus ascended to heaven.
In their Gospel Library online, under the Gospel Topic "Priesthood Ordination before 1978," we're told that,
Ever since biblical times, the Lord has designated through His prophets who could receive the priesthood and other blessings of the gospel. Among the tribes of Israel, for example, only men of the tribe of Levi were given the priesthood and allowed to officiate in certain ordinances. Likewise, during the Savior’s earthly ministry, gospel blessings were restricted to the Jews. Only after a revelation to the Apostle Peter were the gospel and priesthood extended to others (see Acts 10:1–33; 14:23; 15:6–8).
However, as the first article goes on to say,
After the Apostles were killed, the priesthood gradually disappeared from the earth...In 1829, Joseph Smith received the restored priesthood authority to organize Christ’s Church. John the Baptist appeared and conferred upon Joseph Smith and his associate Oliver Cowdery the Aaronic Priesthood, which includes the authority to perform the ordinance of baptism. Later, Peter, James, and John (three of Christ’s original Apostles) appeared and conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, restoring the same authority given to Christ’s Apostles anciently. In 1830, with this priesthood authority, the same Church of Jesus Christ that existed centuries ago was organized and restored to the earth by Joseph Smith.
So, the Missionary at the Christian's door may say, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only body of faith that can truly claim to be led by God, since it, and no other, is guided by priests with authority handed down by God. A careful analysis of this claim demonstrates that it is false. However, it also takes some time and focus, so bear with me...
THE GOSPEL AND PRIESTHOOD EXTENDED TO OTHERS
Let's first take a closer look at one of the quotes above, as the author does something clever (and perhaps intentionally disingenuous, but I can't know the motives of his heart). The paragraph begins, "Ever since biblical times, the Lord has designated through His prophets who could receive the priesthood and other blessings of the gospel." Though this statement is arguably true, the article starts by lumping "the priesthood" together with "other blessings of the gospel." While perhaps not purposefully equated, the reader is certainly left to associate them with one another as the text continues. This is important, as we will see.
The article continues, "Among the tribes of Israel, for example, only men of the tribe of Levi were given the priesthood and allowed to officiate in certain ordinances." This again, is correct. However, notice that in this case only "the priesthood" is mentioned; the gospel is left out. Next we read, "Likewise, during the Savior’s earthly ministry, gospel blessings were restricted to the Jews." Yet again, mostly correct in that His ministry was directed explicitly and nearly exclusively to the Jews. But whereas in the last sentence the article mentions the limitations of only "the priesthood", in this sentence we read only of the limitations of "gospel blessings."
Why is this important? The opening sentence sets the stage, that the Lord has long limited the position of priest and the gospel message to certain groups of people. The second sentence lends support for part of this claim, that in ancient Israel only the Levites could be priests. And the third sentence lends support for the other part of this claim, that the gospel was given by Jesus primarily to the Jews during His ministry. Neither of these truths support any sort of association between the priesthood and the gospel, but because the opening sentence grouped both ideas together, the reader has probably done so as well, and sees the second and third sentences as supporting them together.
Thus, the paragraph concludes, saying, "Only after a revelation to the Apostle Peter were the gospel and priesthood extended to others (see Acts 10:1–33; 14:23; 15:6–8)." The priesthood and gospel are again grouped together, both being said to have been extended to non-Jews after given a revelation to do so. This is what is so clever (and possibly insidious) about the formation of this paragraph, for when the reader turns to the passages in Scripture listed in support of this teaching, one does find some support.
GET UP, PETER, KILL AND EAT!
In Acts 10, Simon Peter is given a vision in which he is presented with unclean animals, and he's told by God to "kill and eat!" Peter objects as it was unlawful to eat unclean foods, but God insists, saying, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." Later, he meets a Gentile (non-Jew) named Cornelius, and points out that while it is unlawful to associate with a Gentile, "God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean." So there is definitely something that was once limited to Jews but, as a result of this revelation, is being extended to non-Jews. But is this something the priesthood that was previously held only by members of the tribe of Levi? Here is the full message Peter preached to Corenlius that fateful day:
Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)--you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
So what is the something that was extended to the Gentiles? The gospel! When Peter realized the implications of his vision, he preached to Cornelius and the other Gentiles. He gave them the gospel message. And as a result, "the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message." This amazed Peter and the Jewish believers, that God was extending His Spirit through the gospel to non-Jewish believers. Naturally, Peter then extends the symbol of baptism to them as well.
We see the same thing in one of the other passages pointed to by the article, Acts 15:6-8, where we read,
The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us."
These passage say nothing of the priesthood, previously limited to the tribe of Levi, being "extended to others." Instead, they teach that the gospel was extended to the Gentiles, that upon belief in the message of the gospel the Holy Spirit is opened up to them, and that as a result they are welcome to be baptized, identified with the rest of the Church. And yet, because the reader has been led to associate "the priesthood" with the "gospel blessings," these passages appear to support the whole claim, when in fact they only support part of it.
THEY HAD APPOINTED ELDERS FOR THEM IN EVERY CHURCH
The article points also to Acts 14:23 which reads, "When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." In context, Paul and Barnabas had been encouraging Gentile disciples in various cities, and this verse shows that the apostles were comfortable appointing Gentiles as elders in their local churches. Note, again, that this passage does not say that they appoints Gentiles as priests, but as elders.
The word rendered "elder" is the Greek presbyteros, and generally refers to old men. When speaking of non-Christian Jews in the New Testament, it refers to "members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)." These were not priests; the word "priest" is the translation of a different Greek word, hiereus. And "elders" were not the chief priests; they were referred to using the Greek archiereus. The elders were merely councilmen, chosen for the wisdom that came with their long age.
In the same way, when presbyteros is used of Christians, it refers to men with wisdom stemming from their age appointed to positions of leadership in local churches. There is no indication in the New Testament that the position of elder was equivalent to the position of priest. In fact, we're told what qualifies someone to be an elder:
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. (Titus 1:5-9)
We see, then, that the position of elder certainly had its qualifications, but these did not include being a priest, nor participation in any priestly activities. An elder is an "overseer" of a local congregation, able to minister to its needs, capable of teaching, exhortation and refutation. The passage the Mormons point to, then, certainly demonstrates that God allows Gentiles to hold positions of authority within local churches, but it doesn't say they can be priests.
In fact, in a letter written after the gospel begun to be preached to Gentiles, the author of Hebrews makes it clear that affiliation with the tribe of Levi is still a requirement for holding the position of priest:
Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise...and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?...For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. (Hebrews 7:11-14)
This priesthood that "our Lord" Jesus holds is contrasted with the Aaronic (or "Levitical") Priesthood in that His is not on the basis of physical descent. We'll come back to this a little bit later. But clearly, well after the apostles began preaching the gospel to Gentiles, it was still assumed that the Aaronic Priesthood was limited to only members of a certain tribe.
THE FORMER PRIESTS AND THE NEW HIGH PRIEST
The Church is never described in the New Testament as having specific Christians who hold the position of "priest." In fact, only Jesus is said to hold such a position, and is contrasted with the priests from the tribe of Levi, those who held the "Aaronic Priesthood:"
The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25)
For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:28)
And it is not as though Jesus' priesthood operates in addition to the former priests; He replaces them:
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises...When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. (Hebrews 8:6,13)
Indeed, the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD when the Romans invaded Jerusalem. The priests of old and their activities have since been out of operation. And the Son, as mediator of this New Covenant and new ministry, replaces the inferior mediators which preceded Him. The "Aaronic Priesthood" cannot be legitimately held by anybody, Mormon or otherwise; it no longer exists.
MELCHIZEDEK, PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD
Recall at the beginning of this post we saw that Mormonism teaches that, "Peter, James, and John...conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, restoring the same authority given to Christ’s Apostles anciently." It is not just the Aaronic Priesthood that faithful Mormons may be given, but it is also the Melchizedek Priesthood, and each has its own unique purposes and practices. But in explaining how Jesus replaces the former priests, the author of Hebrews identifies the superior priesthood which only Jesus holds, and lists its requirements:
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. (Hebrews 7:1-3)
Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. (Hebrews 7:11-14)
The superior priesthood held by Jesus, then, is this "Melchizedek Priesthood." But He and the original Melchizedek figure are the only two figures anywhere in Scripture said to hold this priesthood. In fact, many scholars believe the original Melchizedek was the preincarnate Jesus. Why? Because of the requirements of this priesthood:
And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." (Hebrews 7:15-17)
Like Jesus who has an "indestructible life," the original Melchizedek is without "beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually." Whereas the Aaronic Priesthood was conferred through physical descent--and would continue to be were it not done away with--the Melchizedek Priesthood is held only if one never dies. In fact, this is the major reason why this priesthood is superior to the old one:
The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25)
Whereas the mortal humans who held the Aaronic Priesthood died, and thus needed to be replaced perpetually, the immortal Son of God has risen from the grave and lives forever. Therefore, He is forever able to intercede for us, and for that reason is able to save us. This is the requirement of the Melchizedek Priesthood: everlasting, unceasing intercession, by One who is alive, not interrupted by death, on behalf of God's people, now and forever. Only Jesus Christ meets this requirement, and even if someone else were capable of doing so, their service would be superfluous since the Son of God has it taken care of.
A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
At this point, the Missionary at the Christian's door might point to one or two more verses in questioning what has just been revealed to him. In 1 Peter 2:9, the recipients of Peter's letter are called "a royal priesthood." In the book of Revelation, the Church is thrice called "a kingdom" and "priests" (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6). Doesn't that mean that Christians are, in fact, priests?
Perhaps, but as has been explained, whatever priesthood they might hold cannot possibly be either that of Aaron or of Melchizedek. Furthermore, these letters were written to a far broader audience than a specific group of Christians upon whom some priesthood was conferred. In fact, what these verses indicate is that all Christians are priests because they "offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). There is no unique position of priest within the Church, because all members of the Church by definition "offer up spiritual sacrifices" through our faith in the Son of God.
RESTORING THE UNRESTORABLE, CONFERRING THE NONCONFERRABLE
The prophets and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claim that only they have the "priesthood authority" needed to properly guide God's people. But as we've seen, their doctrine of the priesthood reflects a complete misunderstanding of the biblical teachings on the subject. The apostles did not confer the position of priest to believers, Jewish or otherwise; the Aaronic (Levitical) Priesthood continued to be available only to Jews affiliated with the tribe of Levi; this former priesthood was done away with, replaced by a superior Priesthood; and that only Jesus Christ can hold this Melchizedek Priesthood because it requires that one live forever and, without interruption by death, unceasingly intercede for God's people. The doctrine of "the Priesthood" utterly falls apart.
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