Transcript D&C 84 - Brigham Young University

D&C 84
Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
Verses 19-22
• Joseph Fielding Smith: “So if there is no priesthood, there
is no knowledge of God. And that is why the world is in
darkness today, because they have no priesthood. They
have lost the knowledge of God. And so they have been
teaching all manner of tradition, all manner of false
doctrine, all manner of man-made philosophy in relation to
God and the principles of truth pertaining to the salvation
of men. These principles can only be received, if you
please, through the power of the priesthood, for it is by the
power that the keys of knowledge of God are obtained”
(Doctrines of Salvation, 1956, 3:142-143)
Verses 19-22
• Charles W. Nibley: “What power, then, what mysterious power is it
that had led and guided them [the Latter-day Saints] and that still leads
and guides them and holds them together as they are held? Let me tell
you what it is. . . . the power of the priesthood. And in the
administration of it we have seen and do see the power of godliness;
not a form of godliness, mind you, but the power of godliness. Paul
said that in the latter days men would be ‘having a form of godliness
but denying the power thereof”[2 Tim. 3:5]; but what I refer to is the
power of godliness. Have you ever seen it manifested in your lives?
We heard of it this morning from the leader of the Church as
manifested in the healing of the sick. We see it in the temples of the
Lord; we see it in the sick rooms; we see it manifested in presidencies
of stakes, bishoprics of wards.” (CR, April 1927, pp. 26-27)
Verses 25-26
• Joseph Smith: “Answer to the question, Was the Priesthood of
Melchizedek taken away when Moses died? All Priesthood is
Melchizedek, but there are different portions or degrees of it. That
portion which brought Moses to speak with God face to face was taken
away, but that which brought the ministry of angels remained. All the
prophets had the Melchizedek Priesthood and were ordained by God
himself” (TPJS, January 5, 1841, pp. 180-181).
Verse 33
•
Orson Pratt: “When the Temple [in New Jerusalem] is built the sons of the two
Priesthoods, that is, those who are ordained to the Priesthood of Melchizedek,
that Priesthood which is after the order of the Son of God, with all its
appendages, and those who have been ordained to the Priesthood of Aaron
with all its appendages, the former called the sons of Moses, the latter the sons
of Aaron, will enter into that Temple in this generation, or in the generation
that was living in 1832, and all of them who are pure in heart will behold the
face of the Lord and that too before he comes in his glory in the clouds of
heaven, for he will suddenly come to his Temple, and he will purify the sons of
Moses and of Aaron, until they shall be prepared to offer in that shall be
acceptable in the sight of the Lord. [Mal 3:1-4] In doing this, he will purify not
only the minds of the Priesthood in that Temple, but he will purify their bodies
until they shall be quickened, renewed and strengthened, and they will be
partially changed, not to immortality, but changed in part that they can be
filled with the power of God, and they can stand in the presence of Jesus, and
behold his face in the midst of the Temple.
Verse 33
•
Orson Pratt continues: “This will prepare them for further ministrations among
the nations of the earth, it will prepare them to go forth in the days of
tribulation and vengeance upon upon the nations of the wicked, when God will
smite them with pestilence, plague and earthquake, such as former generations
never knew. Then the servants of God will need to armed with the power of
God, they will need to have that sealing blessing pronounced upon their
foreheads that they can stand forth in the midst of these desolations and
plagues and not be overcome by them. . . . When they are prepared, when they
have received a renewal of their bodies in the Lord’s Temple, and have been
filled with the Holy Ghost and purified as old and silver in a furnace of fire,
then they will be prepared to stand before the nations of the earth and preach
glad tidings of salvation in the midst of judgments that are to come like a
whirlwind upon the wicked” (JD, March 9, 1873, 15:365-66)
Verse 38
• Delbert L. Stapley: “A joint-heir legally inherits and shares all equities
and gifts in equal interest with all other heirs. Nothing is excluded nor
adjusted in value between the participating joint-heirs . . . .
If we are led by the Spirit of God in our lives, we are promised
heirship with him and joint-heirship with Christ our Lord in the great
estate of God’s kingdom and glory. [Rom. 8:17] We ‘suffer with
Christ’ as we sacrifice the things of the world and yield complete
obedience to every truth, principle, and ordinance of the gospel paln.
Whatever we contribute in honest tithes and other contributions along
with unselfish participation and service to our fellow men to build the
kingdom of God on the earth, increases our personal happiness in
heirship with Christ the Lord. . . .” (CR, April 1961, pp. 66-67)
Verse 39
• Delbert L. Stapley suggests that the two
primary components of the Oath and
Covenant of the Priesthood are ones
faithfulness and magnifying his calling in
that Priesthood. Here are some questions
that we should ask ourself.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Can a man be faithful who does not abide by the first two great commandments, to
love the Lord God with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, and his neighbor as
himself?
Can a man be faithful who is not honest and truthful in all the dealings and
relationships with his fellow men?
Can a man be faithful who does not honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy, attend
the Sacrament and Priesthood meetings; also worthily fulfill all other duties in
keeping with his callings and obligations that day?
Can a man be faithful who does not plan and arrange for daily family prayer in the
home?
Can a man be faithful who does not teach his children the true principles of the
gospel of Christ and then set them a worthy example by living according to those
truths?
Can a man be faithful who does not observe and keep the Word of Wisdom?
Can a man be faithful who does not pay an honest tithing and fast offering?
Can a man be faithful who does not obey the law of chastity and is not morally clean
in his life and habits?
Can a man be faithful who does not, through obedience and sacrifice, prepare himself
worthily for the holy temple of God where he can receive higher ordinances of the
gospel and thus bind his family happily and eternally together in love and
understanding?
Can a man be faithful who does not honor and obey the laws of the land?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Can a man magnify his office and calling without honoring and abiding in
the Priesthood faithfully and worthily as a devoted and true servant of God?
Can a man magnify his calling without giving spiritual and humble dignity
to his office?
Can a man magnify his calling who refuses to accept positions and
responsibilities of trust when called upon to serve by his stake president,
bishop, or other constituted authority?
Can a man magnify is calling if he is not obedient to gospel standards and
requirements, and if he also fails to be amenable to the counsel and
direction of righteous men who are properly called and approved by the
people as their authorized leaders?
Can a man magnify his calling who refuses to sustain by his faith, prayers,
and works those whom God has called and ordained to preside over him?
Can a man magnify his calling who does not use his Priesthood in
righteousness for the blessing and benefit of his fellow men?
Can a man magnify his calling who does not banish all iniquity from his
soul, that he may gain favor with God and thus enjoy power in the use of
the Priesthood to bless people? (CR, April 1957, pp. 76-77)
Verse 39
• John A. Widtsoe: “He who receives the Priesthood covenants to
magnify his calling in the Priesthood. That makes the covenant valid.
That is too often forgotten.
• “Every ordination to the Priesthood implies this covenant between man
and God, whether so stated or not. It would be well, fi in all Priesthood
ordinations the oath and covenant of the Priesthood were explained.
Too many Priesthood bearers feel that they have been given something
without a corresponding promise by themselves. They forget too often
that every ordinance in the gospel is accompanied by a covenant
between God and man. We are a covenant people” (Evidences and
Reconciliations, 1951, 3:48-49).