Joseph Smith Did Not Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood
“Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I
will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I
have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel,
to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim…(12) And also with Peter,
and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you
to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry
and of the same things which I revealed unto them; Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom,
and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the
which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.” (D&C 12:5-14)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches that Joseph Smith and Oliver
Cowdery were ordained to the priesthood of the order of Melchizedek by the apostles Peter,
James and John, sometime in 1829. It is upon this authority that Mormons profess
that Joseph Smith was the first of the modern day prophets recognized by the LDS community,
and the confirmation that their church is the true church of God’s covenant people.
For as much as this claim is propounded by Mormon teaching, is it true? Did Joseph Smith
really receive the Melchizedek priesthood and all of the authority that comes with it?
Before we go any further, you may be asking, “Who or what is Melchizedek?”
Melchizedek is a figure who appears only once within the Bible.
In Genesis 14, Abraham (still under his prior name of Abram) meets Melchizedek
after freeing his nephew Lot from the four kings described in verse 9.
In verse 18, Melchizedek is described as the, “king of Salem,” (literally, the king of peace),
a, “priest of God Most High,” who brought Abram bread and wine. Melchizedek blesses Abram (v.19)
and then blesses God (v.20). In response, Abram offers Melchizedek a tenth of all his possessions.
These few verses are the only historical references to Melchizedek in the entire
Bible. However, there are other allusions to him elsewhere. The 110th Psalm prophecies of
the Messiah that, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” This
Psalm is then cited at length in the New Testament in Hebrews 5-7 as being fulfilled in Christ.
The author of Hebrews contrasts the Melchizedek Priesthood with the
Levitical Priesthood (a.k.a. the Aaronic Priesthood) – the Old Testament priesthood
which descended from Aaron through the tribe of Levi. He states in verses 11-19:
“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. 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.”
For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness
and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a
bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:11-19)
The author of Hebrews describes the Melchizedek priesthood as a,
“better hope,” (v.19) than the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood,
because the Levitical priesthood could not bring about the perfection of the people who followed
it. He also describes the condition through which Christ was ordained to the Melchizedek
priesthood – “the power of an indestructible life,” (v.16). In other words, the only way
someone becomes a Melchizedek priest is through possessing eternal life in-and-of themselves.
The author continues:
“And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but
He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ‘"); so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better
covenant. 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 7:20-25)
The distinctive power or function of the Melchizedek Priest is His ability to eternally
intercede for those who follow Him (v.25). In so doing, He procures for them a perfect and eternal
salvation (v.25); one in which they will find victory over sin and peace with God. In this way,
the author of Hebrews identifies Jesus as possessing the priesthood authority
of Melchizedek – by His power and function to perfectly save through eternal intercession.
For this reason, he refers to Jesus as, “the guarantee of a better covenant,” (v.22) – a
covenant better than that of Aaron, because Aaron’s priesthood did not save anyone.
One of the reasons that the Levitical priesthood could not save anyone is that the priests all
died. Even if it were possible to have a priest who produced a perfect intercession under the
Levitical system, it would not be an eternal intercession because the priest would die
and need to be replaced. It is also because of this that Hebrews describes Jesus as possessing
a better covenant, because He cannot die. Thus, He cannot lose His power or function to perfectly
save His people. Verse 24 describes this fact as Jesus holding, “His priesthood permanently.”
The word translated as, “permanently,” here is ἀπαράβατον – literally: unchangeable, inviolable
or untransferable. The point that Hebrews is making in using ἀπαράβατον is that just as Christ
is the only holder of the Melchizedek priesthood because He is the only one who possesses eternal
life within Himself, He likewise is the only holder of this priesthood because He will
never die – death being the condition upon which a priest’s authority would transfer to a successor.
This brings us back to our original question – did Joseph Smith really
receive the Melchizedek priesthood and all of the authority that comes with it?
Historical anachronisms in the development of this account aside, the answer based solely
on scripture is, “no.” Joseph Smith did not receive the Melchizedek for a few reasons:
Peter, James and John never possessed it – only Jesus does, because only Jesus has
the power of eternal life within Himself, whereas Peter, James and John all died.
The Melchizedek Priest has the distinctive power to
eternally intercede for people – Joseph Smith can’t do this because he is dead.
Most importantly, Jesus cannot have the power and authority of the Melchizedek priesthood
removed from Him, because He will never die. This is the hope of all true Christian believers
everywhere for all time – no matter what happens to us, Jesus can and will save
us because He is eternally powerful to make a perfect intercession on our behalf. No outside
power or influence can remove this position from Him, nor does He give it up to another.
Christ is The eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He perfectly fulfilled God’s
law where everyone else has failed in sin. He conquered death and the grave in His resurrection
and in so doing, ascended to the right hand of the Father where He lives forever to perfectly
and sufficiently intercede for the salvation of all His people – from everywhere, for all time.
To claim the Melchizedek priesthood for oneself is to blaspheme Christ, as doing so
challenges Christ’s very role and ability as God in the flesh who came to redeem sinful man.
Joseph Smith, nor anyone else within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
possesses this priesthood authority.