Who Has the Priesthood Authority?

Mormons believe the (Mormon) Priesthood is the power of God! "When we act in the name of the Lord, as holders of the priesthood, we are doing it in the name and in behalf of our Heavenly Father. The Priesthood is the power by which our Heavenly Father works through men." (Ensign, July 1973, pg.98). "We are the Lord's agent; we represent him; he has given us authority which empowers us to do all that is necessary to save and exalt ourselves as well as his other children in the world. We are ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our commission is to represent him. We are directed… to do what he would do if he were personally present." (Ensign, June 1971, pg.49)

Mormons believe worthy male church members must have the priesthood authority to act in the name of God when performing their sacred ordinances, such as baptism, confirmation, administration of the sacrament, and temple marriage. If a man does not have the priesthood, as Christian pastors do not, the Mormons teach even though he may be sincere, the Lord will not recognize ordinances he performs.

In Doctrine & Covenants 84:21-22, Joseph Smith said, "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." Joseph Smith is saying that no man can see the face of God without these ordinances and receiving the Priesthood. Yet we read in Joseph Smith-History 1:17, "It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--- This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

According to Joseph Smith, he is alleged to have seen the father and the son at this time in 1820, however this was before he reported he had received the priesthood. According to him, he didn't receive the Aaronic priesthood until May 1829 and he didn't receive the Melchizedek priesthood until approximately April 6, 1830. That is 9 and 10 years respectively after he was supposed to have had his vision of the Father and the Son. If Joseph Smith did see the Father and the Son, he did it without the priesthood or ordinances he claimed were necessary to do so.

There is another aspect of the Mormon priesthood that needs to be discussed. All worthy Mormons look forward to receiving their Patriarchal Blessing from an authorized Patriarch of the LDS church. The Patriarch is much like a fortune teller, revealing to you your previous life in the pre-existence, as well as what things you are to accomplish while in this life so that you can return to the presence of God.

The Mormon church claims their temples are designed exactly after the plan of Solomon's temple. But do the activities inside the LDS temples mimic those that went on in Solomon's temple? Consider those who administer the ordinances inside. One of the first Old Testament requirements for temple service is that the priests must be of the tribe of Levi, and more specifically the family of Aaron. In Numbers 8, we read about the setting apart of the Levites to be the only ones in the temple. In Numbers 16:40 we read that no one except a descendant of Aaron could come before the Lord to burn incense. Numbers 18:21 through 26 says it is the Levites that are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting or inner chamber of the temple. It also says this is a lasting ordinance for generations to come. In Leviticus 8, the whole chapter is devoted to the ordination of Aaron and his sons to be the only ones to work in the temple. In Leviticus 9, we read about the beginning of their ministry as the only authorized priests to be in the temple.

So now we compare the only authorized tribe in the Bible, the Levites or family of Aaron, with the vast majority of the Mormons. 95% of the time, the Mormon is told by the patriarch that he is a member of the tribe of Ephraim. Most of the remainder are told they are from the tribe of Manasseh. In fact, in Numbers 3:10, we see that anyone, other than the family of Aaron, who approached the inner chamber of the Old Testament temple or sanctuary, must be put to death.

When Jesus died on the cross, He became our Great High Priest. So God no longer needed men who had the priesthood. (I Tim.2:5) Now Jesus intercedes for us before God and has all Authority and power given to Him. Therefore, Mormons have no authority and power and are in grave spiritual error, leading all who follow this teaching in error also.

Mormons have over 120 temples around the world, yet God only authorized one temple; Solomon's Temple. We pray that the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would open their eyes and minds to see and follow truth instead of the man made organization started by the false prophet, Joseph Smith.

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