Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-11
NO END TO THE PRIESTHOOD.

.Deseret News for some scriptural ref
orences 20 show that "tho Aaronic
Priesthood is not done away with" We
presume he has met with some Of our
"christlan' friends who declare that
an priesthood ended with Christ and
hat the Aaronic Priesthood, particn-
larly. ceased when the Messiah came
as the son OF Mary. by the scrip
lures, Of course. he means the Bible
and especially the New Testament.
The revelations OF the latter days.
however. as contained In the Book Of
Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants
ind the Pearl Of Great Price, are also
% be understood as scriptures, and
being what Is claimed for them must
be so regarded.
The term priesthood signifies divine
authority: that Is, the right to admin.
ster In the name OF Deity This APP
,lles to the ordinances Of the gospel as
we'll as to the ceremonies Of the law
hat which was revealed through
Noses. Under the Mosaic code the adj
nlnistrasion Of its rites and observ-
,nces was limited to the Levltes and
he direct descendants OF Aaron. the
brother OF Moses None others were
permitted to ofclate therein Moses
icted under a higher order OF PRIEST
iood than that, even the authority held
BY Melchssdek and others. Iethro
lso minstcred under II, and outside
" the lire of the Levites.
When the Messiah came He OBLIGATED
rs the great High Priest, after that
higher authority, and being OF Judah
Re was not qualified under the law AS
! Levitc or of the lineage of Aaron.
Yet he was fully endowed with the
light TO act IN all the fulness OF the
Holy Priesthood having been dIvinely
appointed This Is deliberately set
birth In the Epistle to the Hebrews.
IL there declared. not that the
priesthood was ended but that II was
hanged. In chapter seven the Apos-
lie argues (verse l2) For the PRIEST
lood being changed there is made of
necessity a change also of the law"
hrist did not come to destroy but TO
'ulfill the law. After He offered up
Himself as a sacrifice, to prchgure
Shich the sacrifices under the law were
instituted. there was no more neces-
ity for them. But the ordinances Of
The Gospel had to DO administered. ami
required divine authority, I. O., PRIEST
lood, to oiIiclate in them so that they
you'd be recognized on high.
Animal sacrifices were offered up
long before "the law of carnal COM
nandments" was instituted ana the
lDecial rights OF the T.evltes were con-
erred. And God authorized whom
lie pleased to oiflcate In them without
egard TO family or tribe. The entire
ode Of ceremonies given through
Moses was for temporary purposes, the
limitation OF authority To certain
tribe also. When Christ came there
VAS "a change In the priesthood" for
here was a change IN the ordinances
md they were not confined TO one land
n race. but were to be proclaimed In
all the world and be preached 10 every
creature" Baptism was for all ma
Ions and peoples who would repent,
,ut being administered IN the name of
Deity, authority. or priesthood was an
absolute necessity for its divine ac-
,eptnnce.
God, who for period and purpose
required one tribe only. as a rule to
,fficiate in that lesser priesthood which
performed the rites OF the imperfect
aw, did not divest himself OF the power
" right to confer Il upon others when
The change came through Christ in the
gospel. Indeed he authorized
nen who We're not OF the lineage OF
AARON 10 offer sacrifices, even when
he Mosaic law with it's limitations as
% the tribe of Levi was in force, Take
he case OF Gideon as narrated In
Judges Vi, 26S. Also that Of Samuel
" | Sam vii, Q. 10, etc. That the
Priesthood given TO Aaron and his de-
pendants was 10 abide with them
through all their generations for ever
MAS plainly declared in the law and
"Reminiscences showing this are de-
jcribcd In the predictions OF the
prophets concerning the restoration Of
srael IN the latter days See Malachi
u. 3, l.
The priesthood is not only a neces-
aty tn the authoritative preaching u
he gospel and the administration OF
Is ordinances but it is TO continue and
,bido is the world TO come. In this
world. no man takcth this honor 20
himself, but he that is called Of God
5 was Aaron" In The next world those
eho ore made "kings and priests unto
Tod" will reign with Christ a thousand
fears and their priesthood viii abide
or ever. See Hebrews Vi. When the
savior called and ordained His Apos-
les He said: AS my Father sent me,
wen 30 send you" His Father called
Him 10 be "a priest for ever after the
rider OF Melchisedek" # Is an ever
asting priesthood. Therefore those
men upon whom that priesthood is con-
erred. and who remain faithful and
worthy. will hold II and exercise 1t
oroyer. The lesser priesthood, called
ometimes the Aaronic or Levitical
riesthood is part OF the higher order
md ever continues with 1t and under
is direction This is set forth IN the
evelation OF the last dispensation. and
nay be learned fully by careful read
ng of the Doctrine and Covenants.
PARTICULARLY sections SIS, 81, and i01
SAN MARIN0.