When researching my previous blog on the restoration of the Priesthood, I relied heavily on knowledge I gained back in Dec 2006 (when still a TBM) from reading the book "Power From On High" by Gregory A. Prince. My Amazon review on this awesome book is here.
However, with the goal of keeping that post from being too verbose, I excluded a lot of (what I consider) interesting details gained from reading this book. This addendum post is to cover off on these extra points, starting with...
In the earliest days of the Restoration, only three office existed: Teachers, Priests and Elders/Apostles (p.26). There was no such separations as the two priesthoods we have today.
Aaronic Priesthood
- The term "Aaronic Priesthood" not never used in the church until 1835. Additionally, there is also no mention of visitation of John the Baptist prior to 1835.
- The office of Deacon was not found in the Book of Mormon. It was introduced to Joseph Smith by Sidney Rigdon (an ex-Campbellite minister). It was first mentioned in 19 April 1831 (p.26). The addition of the office of "Deacon" was added to previous revelations (including D&C 20). It also appears to be an afterthought - it had no specific duties other than to assist Teachers (p.69).
- Passing of the sacrament was never mentioned as a duty of a Deacon in Joseph Smith's lifetime (p.70).
- Teachers and Priests shared responsibilities as in Book of Mormon. Both could perform baptisms. The only distinction was that priest only could bless the sacrament (p.50).
- Ordination prayers for Priests and Teachers were prescribed by the Book of Mormon (1830, Moroni 3) - were later discontinued. Both offices had authority to baptise (1830, Alma 15:13) - (p.12).
- Teachers, not High Priests, Elders or Priests, presided over a branch. Bishops did not preside over congregations until the Utah period of LDS history (p.52).
- Book of Mormon states only Elders could ordain other offices (1830, Moroni 3), but by 1831, Priests also could ordain Deacons, Teachers and Priests (p.22, see footnote 71).
- The office of Bishop has no precedence in the Book of Mormon. It was most likely introduced to Joseph Smith by Sidney Rigdon, prior to the office of High Priest - in 1831 (p.63).
Melchizedek Priesthood
- The term "Melchizedek Priesthood" was not used until 1835 (with no mention of a visitation from Peter James and John prior to 1835). Before then terms such as "High Priesthood" and "Order of Melchizedek " were used. The term "High Priest" was not used until 26 April 1832 (p.19).
- While the first recorded mention of "Melchizedek Priesthood" was John Corrill's account of the 3 June 1831 conference, this was written in 1839 (p.17)
- For the first year after the organisation of the Church (1830), Elder was the highest ordained office - no Bishop (until 1831), Patriarch (in 1833), Seventy or Apostle (both in 1835). Once the other offices were introduced, Elders duties were reassigned to the higher offices. e.g. in 1831 revelation, Elders hold court, but in 1835 a new revelation states that Elders are NOT to hold courts, but instead Bishops (p.55).
- The office of Seventy was introduced and conferred to the brethren involved in the failed Zion's camp (1835). This nature of this office and duties were ambiguous for the next 100 years (p.76).
- A revelation in 1835 stated that the Seventy formed a quorum equal in authority to the twelve apostles. In May 1835 Joseph Smith stated that more seventies would be called "even until there shall be 144,000". An 1832 revelation proclaimed the 144,000 were high priests. In 1837 it was stated that Seventies were to be taken from the Elders quorum, and not be High Priests (p.77). Confused...?
- Sidney Rigdon is credited with introducing the office of High Priest. While there is mention of ordinations to the "High Priesthood" in June 1831, these men were still Elders (p.70-71).
- Oct 1831, "High Priesthood" was an order of Elders and referred neither to the office of high priest nor to an umbrella organisation encompassing several offices. Over time, the term became synonymous with the office of High Priest (late 1831) and eventually with the expression "Melchizedek Priesthood" (1835), which by then was 5 offices (p.157).
- In the "Articles of Faith" (1842) it mentions "Pastor". This became an ordain office within the Priesthood, but not until 1856 in the British Isles by Apostle Franklin D Richards. In 1861, the name of this office was changed to "District President" (p.48).
- The office of Apostle required the recipient to see the face of God: "...it is necessary that you receive a testimony from Heaven for yourselves, so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon. And that you have seen the face of God. ... Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid his hand upon you." (p.59) In 2010, I was personally interviewed by an Apostle, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, I told him of this requirement of his calling. He told me he had gone into a grove of trees to pray for a witness...and got nothing. Weeks later, while watching TV, a warm feeling came over him and he knew, this was the answer to his prayer...really??
- Apostles had no rights to regulate Stake matters - that was the High Council's role. But later the Twelve were "not subject to any other than the First Presidency" (p.61).
Restoration complete
- 7 July 1834 - Joseph Smith states the organisation of the church is now complete (p.24).
- 30 Mar 1836 - Joseph Smith stated that he had "completed the organisation of the Church and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies." (p.34)
- 1 April 1836 - Joseph Smith receives the vision of Elijah - with the restoration of the sealing keys (p.35).
- "Elijah holds the Keys of the Authority to administer in ALL ordinances of the priesthood and without the authority is given the ordinances of the priesthood could not be administered in righteous." And yet...Elijah did not appear until April 1836. Result? Elijah introduced anachronistically into previous revelations, including the 1823 Moroni visit and mention of sealing the hearts of the children to the fathers etc. Even though the Bible revisions had been completed, Malachi 4 is quoted by Moroni with this extra wording! (p.36-38)
Baptism
- In 1840, for baptisms, "by immersion" was expected, although non-total immersion was acceptable in the eyes of God (p.85)
- Baptisms were also for healing and for remission of sins. Joseph Smith (and others) for example was baptised many times (p.92).
- Originally, those who were not baptised could rise no higher than the Terrestrial Kingdom (Revelation dated 16 Feb 1832). Then in Jan 1836, Joseph Smith receives a vision where he sees his brother Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom, thus establishing that belief alone was sufficient for salvation, not baptism. It was not until August 1840 that the concept/doctrine of Baptisms for the Dead was introduced. (p.87).
- Prior to the vision of 1832 defining the 3 degrees of glory, Joseph Smith had revised 1 Corinthians 15 in the course of "retranslating" the Bible, making changes in verses 26, 27 and 31 but none in verse 29 which speaks of baptism for the dead (p.88).
Other points worth mentioning:
- "Wards" were originally political units (as in today) and did not become ecclesiastical units until Utah (p.65).
- Congregation "sealed" to eternal life (p.20).
- No known record of anointing with oil before 1835 (p.103).
- There are documented recorded instances and justification for self-administration of consecrated oil (p.105).
- The term "Temple" referred to a single building to be built in Zion (Missouri). After 1838, after it was apparent that the saints could not maintain a permanent foothold in Missouri, the term "temple" was applied to other buildings (referred to as the "House of the Lord"). (p.122)
- Patriarchal blessings given by Joseph Smith Sr 1836 states "power over death", i.e. the recipient would not die (and yet they did). (p.152)
- Parley P Pratt prophesied that Joseph Smith would appear at the completion/dedication of the Nauvoo temple in 1846 (2 years after his death)...but he didn't (p.153).
- The "Washing of Feet" was a separate ordinance during 1832-39. the "Second Anointing" was then introduced and incorporated this ordinance, although in a different format (p.173-4).
- 24 out of 64 patriarchal blessings (by Joseph Smith Snr) promised the recipient that the Second Coming would occur before their death...but it didn't...(p.177)
