"The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." ~ Psalms 110:4

We have lost many of the original writings of various Old Testament prophets. Often the only evidence of such writings is the citing and referencing of them in such things as the 'Songs' of the Old Testatment, which were taken from such prophetic writings, the citing and referencing them in the Book of Mormon, the revealing of them through the Prophet Joseph Smith and often when the New Testament also references and cites such scriptures which no longer exist. Here in Psalms 110, it becomes obvious that the 'psalmist' is basing the text of his hymn upon such Old Testament era scriptures which we do not have as a part of our remaining Bible today. In the preceeding 'hymn' God the Father has proclaimed an oath or covenant that Jehovah his Son would be a priest after the holy order of the priesthood of God known by the name of the 'order of Melchizedek'. This sworn oath of covenant would have been pronounced in the preexistence upon the head of Jehovah by God the Father. Our Bible has lost much concerning the preexistence which was once had and well understood. The 'quoting reference' and how it is so stated by the Psalmist and such later writers of scripture such as Paul the Apostle so substantiate that much more was understood and had concerning God the Father, His Son Jehovah or Jesus Christ and such things as the events of the preexistence.

"As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." ~ Hebrews 5:6

Perhaps already implied under the topic of the right of heirship to the covenant, the consideration of the priesthood authority is the matter that will be emphasized here. Now under the Law of Moses and the Covenant of that Law, which is not the same as the Covenant of Abraham, but is a lesser covenant; the priesthood was bestowed upon Aaron, Moses' brother, and the descendants of Aaron, to be the priests of the Levitical priesthood. Thus it is called the Aaronic priesthood. Not that there are 'two separate' priesthoods but that the Levitical priesthood or Aaronic priesthood only performed in the outward ordinances of the Lord and not the fulness of the Higher and more sacred ordinances of the 'higher' priesthood of Melchizedek.

Now the Melchizedek has authority to perform both the higher sacred ordinances as well as the lesser ourward ordinances of the the priesthood. But the Aaronic held only a part of that full priesthood authority to minister only in the lesser outward ordiances. Thus the Aaronic was deemed as an 'apendage' to the full priesthood installed by the Lord when the Israelites failed to so qualify themselves to receive the full priesthood blessings and received only those pertaining to that lesser carnal and outward law of animal sacrifice and the outward ordinances only.

And while the 'Aaronic Priesthood' was receieved by ordinantion as is all priesthood, it was not the order of the priesthood of the 'firstborn', meaning the 'Patriarchal Order' of the priesthood as per the order of the covenant of Abraham which was of the order of Melchizedek. It being that priesthood which came down from the fathers beginning with Adam and through the fathers by the right of birth as well as by worthiness and by ordinance. In short, the 'Melchizedek Priesthood', the Higher Priesthood, the fulness of the priesthood is that priesthood associated with, by and through the Covenant of Abraham. It was not the same as the 'limited priesthood' of the Law of Moses which dealt only with the outward ordinance pertaining to man's ' general salvation and redemption from the fall of Adam. But it was the fulness of the priesthood of God which had the power to bring man unto the perfection and status of God, sealing or binding man by that power of priesthood to heaven and the very kingdom of God and the fulness thereof, whereby man might become even as God through his obedience, faith and worthy performance before God to so obtain that greatest of all blessings, to become even as God is. The lesser or Aaronic Priesthood had no such fulness of powers to bring man to the full status of God, being able to become one with the Father and Son through the atonement of the Son.

Now as revealed through modern scriptures, the right to this priesthood first comes through the covenants, promises and blessings of the fathers beginning with our first earthly father, Adam. And thus on through the 'worthy' fathers down to Noah and thence to Melechizedek, it being the priesthood of the fathers. It being that higher 'patriarchal priesthood of the fathers. And that covenant and priesthood with it promises and blessings came by Abraham, then by Isaac, then by Jacob, and then by Joseph the son of Jacob, as stated in the Doctrine and Covenants as follows.

"And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain:" ~ D&C 27:10

It was through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph by whom the covanant and promises of God remained. And that included the priesthood of the covenant. The priesthood which Abraham had received by ordination under the hand of Melchizedek. And to which Abraham had the 'preemptive' right to hold, being of the linage of the covenant and of the fathers. And that right of covenant and priesthood was conveyed after Joseph to Joseph's son Ephraim, it being bestowed upon Ephraim by the hand of Jacob as recorded in Genesis chapter 48 and further revealed by Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the same. Even the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah does confirm that it is through the lineage of Ephraim that the covenant of the 'firstborn', of the patriarchal order of priesthood, of the covenant of Abraham and of the fathers since Adam, was upon Ephraim and the seed of Ephraim and that Ephraim had the 'birthright' as or of the 'firstborn' in Israel.

"They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." ~ Jeremiah 31:9

Now Jeremiah here alludes to the fact that it is through Ephraim that Israel will be gathered, refering to the gathering of Israel in the last days, for Ephraim is the Lord's firstborn of the covenant and held that birthright covenant to be so positioned to rightfully receive of the priesthood of the covenant by that patriarchal order by which it comes. This is confirmed and supported by the blessing of the seed of Joseph under the hand of Moses.

"His glory is lik the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh." ~ Deuteronomy 33:17

This priority and preemptive right to the high priesthood by virtue of being the hiers of Ephraim is further confirmed in modern revelaiton. In speaking of Joseph Smith's and the early saints' right to the priesthood the Doctrine and Covenants records the following.

"Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers&8212;For ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God&8212;Therefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began." ~ D&C 86:8-10

Now just what that lineage and right was is further clarified by what is recorded in section 113 if one will read with acceptance of it and with understanding. Speaking of the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 11, the Prophet Joseph Smith gives answers and understanding to those who read carefully.

"What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10^th verse of the 11^th chapter [of Isaiah]? Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days." ~ D&C 113:5-6

Now are first reading many have concluded that in order to so qualify they must be of mixed lineage. That is of the house of Judah through Jesse the father of King David and then by some other linage descending from Joseph. But how then, without appologies of quibbling explanations, is Joseph Smithd deemed to be a 'pure Ephraimite' and then of the house of Judah through Jesse also to be one of these descendants know as the root of Jesse?

Now before we clarify that, lets point out clearly that Joseph Smith is indeed a descendant of Joseph of Egypt. In fact the very prophet of the latter days of which the Lord promised Joseph of Egypt would come forth as his descendant of the latter-days. I will give Lehi's somewhat paraphrased reference to that prophecy and also a reference to where it can also be found in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.

"And thus prophesied Jospeh, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise; And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation; yea, thus prophesied Joseph." ~ 2 Nephi 3:14-16 (see 2 Nephi 3:11, 14-16 & JST Genesis 50:26-33)

Now, I've reverted back to the 1830 original text rendering which places the bookend comments of 'thus prophesied Joseph ... yea, thus prophesied Jospeh.' round about the statment concernng Joseph Smith, as I feel that gives the proper reading of the verses which in today's verson Orson Pratt takes what was the end of one sentence and surplants it upon the beginning of the next sentence. (See 1830 edition and my commentary upon 2 Nephi chapter 3)

At any rate, Joseph Smith Junr. the Son of Joseph Smith Senr. was called after the name of his father, and also after the name of Joseph of Egypt whose descend he is. Joseph Smith was of the pure lineage of Ephraim. And thus he qualifies as being a descendant of Joseph and a patriarchl heir of the blessings of the birthright to that covenant and priesthood which it brings to the righteous descendants of Jospeh. But what means Doctrine and Covenant section 113 when it includes 'Jesse, as well as Jospeh'?

Well either Joseph Smith is both a Jew and and Ephraimite and thus not a 'pure Ephraimite', or there is some other explanation. And that explanation is what is being put forth here. First, if I said I was a descendant of Philip David Hender, as well as Thomas Rowe Hender, there would be little confusion or suprise in understanding that Philip David Hender is my father and Thomas Rowe Hender is my 2^nd great grandfather, and are of the same Hender line of descend, Thomas Rowe Hender being my father's paternal great grandfather. That is sound in logic and in the statement of the facts of the matter. I am a descend of both of them and we three are of the same Hender paternal line.

And thus is the logic of the matter of Jesse, Joseph of Egypt, and Joseph Smith Junr. They all three are of the same legal and rightful paternal lineage. Joseph Smith Junr. is a pure Ephraimite or a pure Ephrathite, which means the same. Jesse, the father of David is also an Ephrathite, meaning of the legal lineage of the tribe of Ephraim so stated by Samuel in 1 Samuel 17:12. How it is that Jesse was an Ephrathite or Ephraimite is this, Obed, Jesse's father was the first born son of Ruth, and though Boaz was his surrogate vicarious father under the Law of Moses, the Law of God, Obed was the legal heir and rightful son of Mahlon, Ruth's first husband, and therefore of the house of Elimelech and Naomi, all of whom where Ephrathites. (Ruth 1:2, Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and Ruth 4:5, 9-11, 13-17.) And now being Ephrathites, as was Joshua and his father Nun, thus David, Jesse, Obed, Mahlon, and Elimelech where all such Ephrathites, the heirs and descendants of Ephraim who was the son of Joseph of Egypt. And thus Jospeh Smith, Jesse and Joseph of Egypt are of the same legal and rightful paternal line. And Joseph Smith is a rightful heir of the priesthood of that covenant through the fathers and after the order of Melchizedek.

And under such logic, so is Christ. When one reads of the 'root of Jesse' and the 'root of David' in the scriptures, one cannot remove Christ from being considered as being such a descendant and also being spoken of. True Jesse and David have many descendants and there are many who do qualify as being their descendants. But so is Christ. And Christ is just as much as descendant of 'Jesses, as well as Joseph' as is Jospeh Smith. And Christ is also so entiled by his genealogy of the flesh to that patriarchal order of priesthood of which we have been discussing. And that order is the order of Melchizedek. The Apostle Paul further states of Christ and this order the following.

"And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment [Law of Moses], but after the power of an endless life [Order of God which is Patriarchal]. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law [Law of Moses] made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath [meaning not without the Law of Moses Levitical Order] he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath [meaning before and without the Law of Moses]; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) " ~ Hebrews 7:15-21 (See Psalms 110:4)

Now from Paul's perspective, Jesus remained to be consider a Jew, as that was how the Jewish prepared Bible was written, from their perspective and not from the perspective of the covenant of the fathers which passed through Joseph to Ephraim and through that legal and rightful heirship of the covenant of the fathers. Thus to Paul and even many of our own day does Christ remain 'hid' to still be revealed, understood and accepted as the legal and rightful heir of Joseph of Egypt and that patriarchal order of Melchizedek whereby the blessings and priesthood of the coveant of the fathers doth come.

And this proceeds to Christ after this patriarchal order of the fathers which is the order of Melchizedek, which is the proper order of heaven. And this to fulfill all righteousness, that even Christ, our example in all things, was the legal and rightful heir after the manner of the 'flesh', meaning after the manner of such legal and rightful genealogy of his earthly father to have the right of claim unto that priesthood, not only from God the Father directly but from the legal and rightful proper eartly source as well.

Now one last word. This Order of the Melchizedek Priesthoos is after the order of the priesthood of God, which is patriarchal in it order. Jesus Christ was the rightful heir from the beginning, he being the firstborn son of the Father in the spirit and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh pertaining to this second estate. This is the Priesthood and the Order of God. Now we are taught the true name of this priesthood it the Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God. This meaning that the Father by divine investiture did establish the Son to minister unto this earth and all things pertaining there to in the name of tha Father, as though he was the Father. As only those who are a part of and pertain to this second estatle can so minister unto it (D&C 130:5).

Now the name of the priesthood was changed from being called after the name of the Son of God, being the Priesthood of Jehovah, to avoid the too frequent use of the Holy Name of God. Yet the irony is that the man and prophet we know as 'Melchizedek' as also renamed with one of the many names of God. Melchizedek was not his real given name. Perhaps that was Shem. But at any rate, He like many in the scripture, he was given a 'new name' which was also one of the names and titles of God. Melchizedek means 'King of Righteousness'. And 'KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS' is one of the many names and titles of Christ. Thus, though we think of the prophet Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid his tithes when we state the 'Melchizedek Priesthood', we are still in effect calling is by one of the name-titles of Jehovah when we do so.