Mormon Priesthood Fantasies by Jack Kettler
This study will
examine the Mormon claims to have restored the Aaronic
and Melchizedek priesthoods to the New Covenant Church.
We would be wise to consult the Scriptures to learn
about the purpose of the priesthood duties in the Older
Covenant and take note of the changes that have taken
place as the result of the inauguration of the New
Covenant. This will be a relatively brief survey of
Biblical material regarding the duties and obligations
of the Aaronic priesthood. Then in the following
comparative sections I will emphasize repeatedly
important teachings of Scripture showing the New
Covenant fulfillment by our Lord Jesus Christ that are
relevant in demonstrating the untruthfulness of Mormon
claims. The purpose of my repeated emphasis is to drive
home the fact that significant changes have been made in
redemptive history when moving from the Older Covenant
into the New Covenant Age. Of special note; I use the
phrase Older Covenant frequently which may seem unusual
to those outside of Reformed Protestant tradition. This
utilization is intended to stress the essential unity of
the Covenants.
The requirements of the Levitical or Aaronic priests:
To start, all Aaronic or
Levitical priests had to be from the tribe of Levi and
the High Priests were required to be of the physical
lineage of Aaron, the brother of Moses. This should make
it clear that not just anyone could be a priest or
preform the duties of a priest. It should be remembered
that God rebuked Saul because he made a sacrificial
offering, something only a priest from the tribe of Levi
could do (1 Samuel 13:1-15).
Note the specifics and details in the following
passages:
“AND TAKE thou
unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from
among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me
in the priest's office even Aaron Nadab and Abihu,
Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons” (Exodus 28:1).
“And the cloths of service, and the holy garments
for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to
minister in the priest's office” (Exodus 31:10).
“Bring the tribe of
Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest,
that they may minister him” (Numbers 3:6).
“The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance” (Deuteronomy 18:1).
Consider the
detailed ordinances to be performed by the Levites,
the sons of Aaron:
Consecration or dedication was to happen when a son
after the order of Aaron was to be set apart or hallowed
in order to serve as a priest (Exodus 29:1-27). For
example, they brought sacrifices to the tabernacle; the
offerings were to be prepared according to specific
instructions; the priests had to put on special
garments. Then when properly dressed, the priests were
to take one young bull, two unblemished rams, unleavened
cakes and wafers, to use as offerings. Additionally,
there were detailed instructions on how to prepare the
sacrificial animals. For example, the blood from the ram
was to be put upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and
his sons, along with their right thumb, and big toe of
their right foot. Then the blood was sprinkled on the
altar; and the sons of Aaron were to be anointed with
oil along with the blood from the altar.
More instructions on Sacrifices, Offerings and other
detailed rites of cleanliness and purification that
were required of the Aaronic priests found in the book
of Leviticus:
The Burnt Offering: (Leviticus 1:3-17; 6:8-13); The
Grain Offering: (Leviticus 2:1-6; 6:14-18; 7:12,13); The
Fellowship Offering: (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-21, 28-34);
The Day of Atonement offerings: (Leviticus 16:8-34;
23:27-32). Clean and Unclean Food: Leviticus (11:1-46);
Purification After Childbirth: (Leviticus 12:1-8). What
has been surveyed so far is a small fraction of the
detailed regulations and rites for the Older Covenant
priesthood. Of special note: the Older Covenant people
of God had detailed specific principles governing their
approach to a holy God.
The Regulative Principle of Worship:
The Regulative Principle States this: True worship is
only commanded by God; false worship is anything not
commanded. It is stated in Chapter 21 paragraph 1 in the
Westminster Confession:
The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who
hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and
doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared,
loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served,
with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all
the might.[1] But the acceptable way of
worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so
limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be
worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of
men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible
representation, or any other way not prescribed in the
Holy Scripture.[2]
1. Romans 1:20; Psalms 19:1-4a; 50:6;
86:8-10; 89:5-7; 95:1-6; 97:6; 104:1-35; 145:9-12; Acts
14:17; Deuteronomy 6:4-5
2. Deuteronomy 4:15-20; 12:32; Matthew 4:9-10;
15:9; Acts 17:23-25; Exodus 20:4-6, John 4:23-24;
Colossians 2:18-23
The regulative principle is closely tied to the
Levitical priesthood and is seen in the book of
Leviticus in particular, and other portions of Scripture
along with God's punishment for its violation. Consider
the following examples:
Strange Fire or worship Condemned
“And Nadab and Abihu,
the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and
put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered
strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them
not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured
them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1,2).
Uzzah's Error Punished
“And they set the ark
of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house
of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the
sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought
it out of the
house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the
ark. . . . And when they came to Nachon's
threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of
God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the
anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God
smote him there for his error; and there he died by the
ark of God” (2 Sam. 6:3-7).
Man-Made Worship Condemned
“And they have built
the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the
son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in
the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it
into my heart” (Jeremiah 7:31; see also, Jeremiah 19:5).
“And it shall be unto
you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember
all the commandments
of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not
after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye
use to go a whoring: that ye may remember, and do all my
commandments, and be holy unto your God” (Numbers
15:39-40).
God is very specific, unauthorized or man-made worship
is condemned and even punishable by death. When the
Mormons distort the office of the Aaronic priesthood
into an office to be continued in the New Covenant
Church and held by young boys not from the tribe of Levi
they are in clear violation of the Regulative Principle
of worship. This is dangerous territory to be in. While
it is admitted that it is out of the norm for God to
execute sinners today like the examples above,
nevertheless God still brings about spiritual judgments
for violation of the Regulative Principle. See Paul's
waring to the Corinthian Church (I Corinthians
11:17-32).
The Older Covenant Aaronic Priesthood Compared:
In contrast to the Mormon Church's teachings, the
Scriptures surveyed thus far quite clearly put forth a
different system of rules concerning the Aaronic
priesthood. It will now be helpful to look at some
additional details of the Older Aaronic priesthood and
its fulfillment in Christ. To start, and as previously
noted; the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood was limited
to male members of Israel who had to be from the tribe
of Levi, and were also descendents of Aaron's lineage
(Exodus 28:1; Numbers. 3:5-13; Hebrews 7:5). Said
another way, the priesthood was conveyed by descent
through the genealogy of Aaron.
In further contrast, Aaron's priesthood could never be
received or passed on by ordination through the laying
on of Mormon hands. This is because the goyim or
gentiles by their very nature were prohibited to holding
the priesthood. It should also be noted; that there is
not one example of Aaronic priesthood being practiced in
the New Covenant. Mormons are nothing more gentiles is
spite of their bizarre claims which they supposedly
receive in their patriarchal blessings to be descendents
of Ephraim or Manasseh. Mormons have to resort to their
extra-biblical revelation in an attempt to substantiate
such a practice. Even if the Mormons could substantiate
that they somehow were descendents of the Joseph's sons,
Ephraim or Manasseh they would still not be qualified
since they are not of Aaron's lineage.
Getting at the central issue involving redemption, the
Aaronic priests had to offer sacrifices for themselves
and then for the people. Mormon boys who allegedly hold
this priesthood have nothing to offer remotely similar
to the Aaronic priests of the Older Covenant. It should
be emphasized that these sacrifices covered the the sins
temporarily until the individual sinned again. Then
another sacrifice would have to be made. The Bible tells
us “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and
goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). “...the
blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin”
(1 John 1:7) and “But this man [Jesus], after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God;” (Hebrews 10:12).
What is more, the Aaronic priesthood was done away in
Christ. Why did this happen? Because Jesus or Yeshua*
is the final High Priest (Hebrews 7:11,12). He fulfilled
the Law as Our Eternal High Priest (Heb. 7:11-28;
8:6,7). The Old Testament priests were human
intermediaries, but now in the New Covenant
administration, Jesus is the only mediator between men
and God. This clearly seen in the following passages:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5); But this man, because
he continueth ever,
hath an unchangeable
priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:24,25);
and “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”
(John 14:6). Therefore, there is no need for the Older
Covenant Aaronic priesthood today. * Yeshua is
the Hebrew name, and the English spelling is “Joshua.” Iesous
is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name. The
English spelling is “Jesus.”
Also note, The High Priest's work had special
significance. A specific example being, the Chief Priest
in the Older Covenant would enter the Kodesh
Hakodashim, the “Holy of Holies,” which was the
most revered site in the Older Covenant. This was the
inner sanctuary within the Tabernacle. Later on in
Israel’s history, the High Priest would go into the
“Holy of Holies” which was located in Solomon's temple.
The High Priest, once each year, would make a sacrifice
for his own sins and then the rest of the nation. “And
Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once
in a year with the blood of the sin offering of
atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement
upon it throughout your generations: it is most
holy unto the LORD” (Exodus 30:10). See also (Hebrews
9:7, 19-22). Jesus put an end to the work of salvation
represented by the High Priestly atonement in the “Holy
of Holies” along with the on-going sacrifices which
foreshadowed His truly effectual redemptive work
(Hebrews 3:1; 9:11-12, 25-26). It is clear that God
accepted the sacrificial redemptive work of His Son when
we read; “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom” (Mark 15:38).
And furthermore, one of the most significant historical
acts that took place is the judgment that came upon
Jerusalem which culminated in the destruction of the
temple in the First Century or in 70 AD. “And Jesus went
out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples
came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things?
verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one
stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And
as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came
unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these
things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and
of the end of the world? Verily I say unto you, This
generation shall not pass, till all these things be
fulfilled” (Matthew 24: 1,2;34). God himself after
tearing the veil, brought about the destruction of the
Temple along with the Aaronic priesthood sacrificial
system. Nothing could be more clear, the Older Covenant
age had ended. With the temple gone, the Levitical
priesthood could no longer function. The everlasting
priesthood of Christ was vindicated and established.
In closing this section of our study we should note,
that since Christ's work is finished, there is now no
need for a High Priest on earth after the Older Covenant
Order. Christ is the only mediator and High Priest who
now resides in heaven and is spoken of this way by the
writer of Hebrews: “Now of the things which we have
spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who
is set on the right
hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,
which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high
priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:
wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat
also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be
a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts
according to the law: Who serve unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of
God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See,
saith he, that thou make all things according to the
pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he
obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he
is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:1-6).
The Melchizedek Priesthood, and office for today?
The Mormon's purported second or higher priesthood is
called the Melchizedek priesthood. Does the Biblical
record indicate that this is a New Covenant office or
order to be held by men? Thankfully, the Biblical record
is rich in detail about the Melchizedek priesthood now
held now by our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will reproduce the detailed doctrinal instruction
for the church in the book of Hebrews regarding
Melchizedek:
Hebrews chapter 6:20; 7:1-28:
20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,
made an high priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:20).
1. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most
high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of
the kings, and blessed him;
2. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all;
first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and
after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3. Without father, without mother, without descent, having
neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like
unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the
patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who
receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment
to take tithes of the people according to the law, that
is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins
of Abraham:
6. But he
whose descent is not counted from them received tithes
of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7. And without all contradiction the less is blessed
of the better.
8. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he
receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth
tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10. For he [Levi] was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him.
11. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical
priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,)
what further need was there that another priest should
rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called
after the order of Aaron?
12. For the priesthood being changed, there is
made of necessity a change also of the law.
13. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to
another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the
altar.
14. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of
which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the
similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal
commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec.
18. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment
going before for the weakness and unprofitableness
thereof.
19. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in
of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made
priest:
21. (For those priests were made without an oath; but this
with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and
will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec:)
22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament.
23. And they truly were many priests, because they were
not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24. But this man, [Jesus] because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable [perpetual or, non-transferable]
priesthood.
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them.
26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than the heavens;
27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer
up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the
people's: for this he did once, when he offered up
himself.
28. For the law maketh men high priests which have
infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the
law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore (Hebrews 7:1-28). (emphasis
mine)
Hebrews Chapter 8:1-13:
1. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the
sum: We have such an high priest, who is set
on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens;
2. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man
have somewhat also to offer.
4. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,
seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according
to the law:
5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about
to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou
make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee
in the mount.
6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better
covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second.
8. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the
days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house
of Judah:
9. Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead
them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued
not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the
Lord.
10. For this is the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will
put my laws into their mind, and write them in their
hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be
to me a people:
11. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for
all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and
their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the
first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is
ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:1-13). (emphasis mine)
What about the Melchizedek Priesthood in light of the
Scriptures?
First, there is no mention in the Bible about an ongoing
order of Melchizedek priests in the New Covenant as the
Mormons claim. Melchizedek is mentioned briefly in the
Older Covenant in two places, namely, (Genesis 14:18-20
and Psalms 110:4). In Genesis 14, Melchizedek is
revealed as a king and priest who blesses Abraham and to
whom Abraham pays tithes. Psalm 110, composed by David,
is known as a Messianic Psalm, and David by the Spirit
in this Psalm applies this priesthood of Melchizedek to
Jesus! Psalm 110:1 is speaking prophetically about
Jesus. It is indisputable that this prophecy is about
Christ? Nowhere in the Older or New Covenants do we see
the practice of ordaining men to the office of the
Melchizedek priesthood. Jesus alone is mentioned in the
New Covenant as a priest after the order of Melchisedec
(Hebrews 6:20).
Why is only Jesus qualified for this order? Jesus,
because he “continueth [for] ever,” hath an
unchangeable priesthood. “This man” refers to none
other than Christ, and His priesthood is
“unchangeable,” which also means perpetual (Hebrews
7:24). In fact, Hebrews chapter 7 gives us an
important comparison of the priesthoods of Aaron and
Melchizedek. The whole chapter shows the reader that the
Levitical priesthood has ceased to exist and has been
replaced by the superior Melchizedek priesthood held by
one, namely, Jesus Christ. Mormon men do not live
forever, so it is impossible for them to hold the
Melchizedek priesthood.
Why only Christ can now hold the Melchizedek
Priesthood:
Abraham is known to believers as “the father of faith”
and is blessed by Melchizedek who is the greater,
(Hebrews 7:7). Hebrews also tells us unmistakably that
“...the lesser (Abraham) is blessed by the better”
(Melchizedek). Melchizedek even received tithes from
Abraham proving that he (Melchizedek) is the greater.
Not only did Abraham pay tithes to Melchizedek, (which
is an act of worship) he then received a blessing from
Melchizedek in (Hebrews 7:4-5,8-9). Since the tribe of
Levi would come through Abraham's linage, they also paid tithes to
Melchizedek, even though they were not yet born. These
descendents were as the Scriptures said: For he
[Levi] was yet in the loins of his father Hebrews 7:10).
Our unparalleled unique High Priest, Jesus, who would
afterward appear, of whom Melchizedek was a type, must be
superior to him and also to all of the Aaronic
priests. This could be none other than Christ Jesus!
What can be said with certainty; the writer of Hebrews
in his epistle has explained in great detail what it
meant to be a priest “in the order of Melchizedec.” The
Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood, which was necessary
under the law as a foreshadowing of Christ has been set
aside under the New Covenant. In the New Covenant we do
not have a priesthood designed after the Older Covenant,
which in reality served only as a type. The Melchizedek
priesthood in the New Covenant is held by one person,
namely, Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who is the only priest
of the order of Melchizedek because He being God, lives
forever. This is something that the priests of the Older
Covenant could not do since they were mere men.
Moreover, since Christ never dies, there is no need to
transfer His priesthood on to someone else as a
replacement. In the Older Covenant economy, a priest was
the mediator who presented sacrifices to God on behalf
of sinful men. Under the Older Covenant, this function
was specifically fulfilled by members of the Aaronic
priesthood. Under the administration of the New
Covenant, Jesus became the only high priest. Jesus
accomplished this by sacrificing Himself “once for all”
for the forgiveness of sin on the behalf of His people,
i.e., the church. Consequently, there is no need for any
other mediators. The Older Covenant saints had to look
in faith beyond the temporal sacrifices, to the true
sacrificial Lamb (Jesus), the True Mediator of the
Covenant to be saved.
The Priesthood of All Believers:
There are many solid Scriptural reasons that the Church
has believed in the priesthood of all believers. Most
noticeably, the Bible teaches that all believers have
priesthood authority in: (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation
1:6; 5:10; 20:6). As seen from these texts; we can
assert that the New Covenant revelation definitely
speaks of the priesthood of all believers. This is
problematic for the Mormon concept of priesthood since
all of the Saints in Christ make up this priesthood. To
specify, this is clearly seen in Peter's first epistle
where Peter, speaking to believers in Christ calls all
believers, men and women, “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter
2:5), and “But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people: that ye
should show forth the praises of him how hath called you
out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Also, John tells us that “Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood.” and that He
“has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to
Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”
(Revelation 1:5,6). This priesthood of all believers
overthrows the un-biblical Mormon concept of an older
covenant priesthood order in the New Covenant era.
In conclusion:
As has been previously seen, it is clear that the
priesthood has been changed (Hebrews 7:12) and it is
Christ who now holds an eternal priesthood after the
order of Melchizedek. The Scriptures are emphatic that
only Jesus can hold this priesthood (Hebrews 7:24).
Additionally, Christ's eternal priesthood is far
superior to the priesthood in the Older Covenant. Why?
The Older Covenant's sacrifices were deficient in that:
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and
goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Consider
our better position in Christ: “How much more shall the
blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14).
The Levitical ceremonies or rituals of the Older
Covenant revealed to Moses by God were reflective of the
New Covenant realities. In and of themselves, the
priestly rituals of the Older Covenant could not perfect
the Older Covenant saints as Christ has now done. The
redemptive rituals of the Older Covenant, could never
perfect the believer. The Levitical rituals were nothing
more than a shadow of the good things to come in Christ
(Hebrews 10:1).
The completed work of Christ Jesus is now established,
so we no longer use or apply the Older Covenant's laws
regulating the various ceremonies and sacrifices
preformed by the Aaronic priesthood in the same way.
There is an unmistakable discontinuity between the
covenants. Moreover, we are warned against returning
back to the imperfection of the Older administration's
application of the Mosaic law, which was meticulously
required in the Older Levitical system. With the coming
of Christ and His perfect High priestly work, the
Levitical priesthood was by necessity changed (Hebrews
7:12). Thus, the sacrifices, and feasts of the Older
Covenant are not binding upon the New Covenant
believer/priests of today as in their older or former
shadow forms (Colossians. 2:13-17). There is however, an
unmistakable continuity of fulfillment of these
sacrifices and priesthood duties today by faith in
Christ, our Eternal High Priest.
And finally, the New Covenant Saints have this special
assurance: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin”
(1 John 1:7). It is unmistakable that the Mormons have
distorted the priesthood of Melchizedek that Christ
alone holds, when attempting to make this an on-going
office held by Mormon men. And furthermore, when the
Mormon attempts to lay claim to this priesthood, they
are fighting against Christ, the sole possessor of the
New Covenant Melchizedek Priesthood. The alleged Mormon
priesthoods are seen to be nothing more than a feeble
fantasy that attempts to rob Christ of his Royal High
Priestly position.
Mormon attempts to defend their mixed up system of
supposed priesthoods in the New Covenant time period:
The Mormon claim to have restored two priesthoods; the
Aaronic, the other after the order of Melchizedek is
preposterous in light of what we have seen in the
Scriptures and commentary above. The Scriptures are silent
in regards to this supposed restoration of the priesthoods
of Aaron and Melchizedek which is believed by Mormons to
have come as a result of Joseph Smith, (Mormon founder)
and Oliver Cowdrey, (one of the three so-called witnesses
to the Book of Mormon) receiving special visitations from
Peter, James and John in the year 1829 in upstate New
York.
Mormons have said regarding the Aaronic priesthood, that
this priesthood is an “everlasting” order when attempting
to convince prospects that the Aaronic priesthood is a
continuing office in the New Covenant Church. The Mormon
correctly points out that the priesthood is said to be
“everlasting” in (Numbers 25:10-13), and yet (Hebrews
7:12) makes it clear that the priesthood was changed. Is
this a contradiction in the Biblical record or is there
an adequate explanation?
To start, we should note that the Hebrew word “olam”
can be translated in different ways. Some examples being:
forever, perpetual, everlasting, eternal, permanent. The
word “forever” does not necessarily mean never ending in
scripture, but can also be understood to mean as lasting
only as long as a time period or age. Since the Mormons
are at least appealing to Scripture in the defense of one
of their peculiar doctrines we should briefly respond to
this argument about the “everlasting” nature of the
Aaronic priesthood.
Upon closer examination of the Hebrew word 'olam, we can raise the
question; does this mean that a practice commanded in
Scripture will last forever? First, we can admit that it's
possible when dealing with the usage of 'olam that
a practice mentioned may last forever. However, the
context of a passage is important when making this
determination. Admitting that 'olam may literally
mean forever does not invalidate the fact the there are
numerous indicators that 'olam can also be used to
describe a practice that will end or change forms going
from the Older Covenant into the New. In particular, 'olam is used
regarding ordinances in the Older Covenant which were to
be kept by the people of Israel and not carried over
into the New Covenant Church practice in their Older
Covenant forms. It should be noted that there are
significant discontinuities and continuities in
redemptive history when moving from the Older Covenant
into the New Covenant era.
Examples of the time limitations of 'olam:
For example, “Then his master shall bring him unto the
judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the
door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with
an awl; and he shall serve him for ever” (Exodus
21:6). In this passage 'olam stresses permanence
and that the man would be a servant forever. This
verse is explicit in conveying the idea of a limitation of
time. The prima facie limitation in this verse is the
life-span of the servant.
Another example is the Feast of Unleavened Bread; “So you
shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this
same day I will have brought your armies out of the land
of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout
your generations as an everlasting ordinance”
(Exodus 12:17). The discontinuity is that the New Covenant
Church no longer celebrates the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The continuity is that this Feast is fulfilled in Christ.
Consider the Passover; “Now this day will be a memorial to
you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord;
throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent
ordinance” (Exodus 12:14). The discontinuity is that
the New Covenant Church no longer celebrates the Passover
feast. The continuity is that all of the Older Covenant
feasts including the Passover find fulfillment in the the
Lord's Supper.
Then there is the example of circumcision; And I will
establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed
after thee in their generations for an everlasting
covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed
after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed
after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the
land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will
be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep
my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in
their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall
keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every
man child among you shall be circumcised (Genesis
17:7-10). The discontinuity is that circumcision is no
longer required in the New Covenant. The continuity is
that circumcision is replaced by baptism in the New
Covenant era as the mark of the covenant.
The Sabbath Day to be kept on the Seventh Day; “Therefore
the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe
the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual
covenant. 'It is a sign between Me and the children
of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the
heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested
and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:16-17). The discontinuity is
that the day has been changed to the First Day of the week
in celebration of the resurrection of Christ. The
continuity is that God's people are to still honor Him by
resting for our labors after six days of work Hebrews 4:9.
In the Greek text, the word for “rest” in Hebrews 4:9 is sabbatismos.
It means “a Sabbath rest.” Young's Literal Translation
captures this well when we read: “There doth remain, then,
a sabbatic rest to the people of God;” Hebrews 4:9.
Nothing could be more clear than the New Covenant's
emphasis that the Aaronic priesthood has been set aside
or or more properly stated to have been completed since
it was part of the types and shadows that prefigured
Christ's work. Attempting to resurrect or to return to
the observances and rites of the Older Covenant which
have been completed in Christ can be described as; “But
now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known
of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
(Galatians 4:9).
Internal problems for Mormon Priesthood authority:
The Mormons claim that in 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver
Cowdery were “ordained” to these Priesthoods by John the
Baptist and the apostles Peter, James, and John
resulting in a “restoration” of the “Priesthood
authority” that was allegedly “lost” from the earth at
the time of the death of the last of the First Century
apostles.
According to the Mormon Church: “In restoring the
gospel, God again gave the Priesthood to men. John the
Baptist came in 1829 to ordain Joseph Smith and Oliver
Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood Doctrine and Covenants
13; 27:8. Then the Fist Century apostles, Peter, James,
and John, came and gave Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
the Melchizedek Priesthood; (Doctrine Covenants
27:12,13).
Problem Number One:
The Doctrine and Covenants says that a man must have the
priesthood before he can see God. “And without the
ordinances thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood,
the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the
flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God,
even the Father, and live”(Doctrine and Covenants
84:21,22).
Since Joseph Smith didn’t possess Priesthood authority
when he claimed to see God in 1820 in the first vision
story, why did he not die? Which is true, the Doctrine
and Covenants 84:21,22 or Joseph Smith's first vision
story?
Problem Number Two:
Section 7 of the Doctrine and Covenants and 3rd
Nephi 28:7,8 say that the apostle John and three Nephite
disciples would remain on the earth alive until Jesus
returns to set up his kingdom. If this is true, was
there a total apostasy as the Mormons say? In the
Journal of Discourses Volume 9 on page 88 we find that
if one elder remains alive he has power to reorganize
the church. If this is true, why did not God ask the
apostle John and the Nephite disciples to reorganize the
church? According to Mormonism's own teaching, John and
Nephite disciples already had priesthood authority.
Many additional questions can be raised about
inconsistencies and contradictions in Mormon priesthood
theology. However, these two problems are insurmountable
for Mormonism and will suffice to conclude this study.
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