The Church of Jesus Christ believes the Priesthood is after the order of the Son of God, as explained in Alma 13 and Hebrews 7. The church is named after Jesus Christ and His ministry must be under the same name to represent that church, “…whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name…” (See 3 Nephi 27:5-8). We therefore uphold the keys to the priesthood of Jesus Christ and no other man.
The Restoration of the Priesthood of Christ
The priesthood of Jesus Christ was restored back to the earth on May 15, 1829. That fateful day, an angel laid his hands upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and proclaimed, “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer this priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness!” This fulfilled prophecy given in Revelation 14:6 which foretold an angel would, “… fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people”.
One Priesthood or Two?
The Apostle John saw a future day when the everlasting gospel would be brought back to earth under the power of an angel sent by Jesus Christ. This predicts a time when the priesthood of Jesus Christ would not be present upon the earth, but nowhere in the Bible or Book of Mormon do two priesthoods explicitly exist in tandem at the same time. We believe there was only one priesthood, an everlasting priesthood. The angel witnessed by Joseph and Oliver confirmed the priesthood in the name of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It was the Lord’s priesthood at the earliest moments of the restoration.
The Church of Jesus Christ considers that Aaron and the Levites held the priesthood after the order of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This passage from the Book of Mormon clarifies:
I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son…those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption. (Alma 13:1-2)
This passage is speaking about priests from the past, the Levites and descendents of Aaron in the Old Testament. They had the priesthood of Jesus Christ to help people look forward to the Messiah to come just like the ministry today helps people look back and remember the Messiah who came. It is one priesthood, after one order of Jesus Christ, from two different periods of time. “…which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end–” Alma 13:8
What About Melchizedek?
Melchizedek was part of this same priesthood after the order of Jesus Christ as discussed in Alma 13 and Hebrews 7. Alma 13:18 establishes, “Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God…”.
Hebrews 7 mentions a priesthood after the order of Melchisedec (spelled as Melchizedek in Old Testament and the Book of Mormon) and the author uses it as a type and shadow of the Priesthood after the order of the Son of God described in Alma 13. The author explains in Hebrews 7:15-16:
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
This is best explained in the fullness of the Gospel’s light, as we read Hebrews 7 along with Alma 13 together. Jesus Christ fulfills the law of Moses. He is the fulfillment of all types and shadows of a high priest from the past. It is His priesthood past to present and for the future.
Priesthood Ordinations Are a Calling from God
The Church of Jesus Christ depends upon revelation from the Lord to call men into the priesthood. Hebrews 5:4 states, “And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God…” (See also Alma 43:2; Helaman 8:18). The Faith and Doctrine of the Church states:
We believe that men must be called of God by inspiration and by laying on of hands by those who are duly commissioned to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. (see Art 6)
Addition of a Higher Priesthood in the 1830s
The Church of Jesus Christ today does not add to what was originally restored by an angel of God. The Church believes the full and complete priesthood of Jesus Christ was restored back to earth in May 1829. The Priesthood therefore holds the authority to ordain offices after the pattern of the New Testament church, but does not add new layers of priesthoods within the church body.
However, this admittedly did happen in the past. In 1831, many leaders in the church gathered desiring a “high priesthood”. While this additional priesthood was added by men, we see no fruit from that specific church meeting to demonstrate heavenly approval of this additional priesthood and can find no Biblical or Book of Mormon evidence for its inclusion. The meeting when the “higher” or as it was soon later called “Melchizedek” priesthood was added did not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord told his disciples we would know them, “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:20) For more information about that historic and somewhat controversial meeting in 1831, please see the reference below. [2] [3]
The church should have recognized desiring for gifts and greater power comes through faith, not expansion of multiple levels of priesthood. Ancient minister of Jesus Christ Mormon states,
“…for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men…”
(Moroni 7:37).
Conclusion
We believe there is one priesthood after the order of the Son of God. Moroni in the Book of Mormon gives explicit instructions that elders are to be ordained, “In the name of Jesus Christ…” (Moroni 3:2). The church is named after Jesus Christ and His ministry must be under the same name to represent that church, “…whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name…” (See 3 Nephi 27:5-8). All things are done in His name. It is His church, named after Him with all authority under Him. The priesthood is no exception to this, but rather a foundation to this teaching of Christ.
We follow closely the Church structure and priesthood as established by Jesus Christ in the New Testament and Book of Mormon. The offices include apostles, prophets, elders and teachers given to perfect the saints and the work of the ministry. This is meant to be the structure of the church until the end of time or as Apostle Paul describes, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” (Ephesians 4:13).
The Church of Jesus Christ only upholds the priesthood of Jesus Christ as originally restored by an angel of God to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and as established by Jesus Christ upon His church in the New Testament. The gospel was restored in its simple fullness. Nothing needed added to it or changed from it.
Sources
[1] “History, 1834–1836,” p. 49, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed January 29, 2021, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/51
[2] Zebedee Coltrin, High Priests Record.
[3] Rough Stone Rolling
