Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 107

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           SECTION 107

Revelation on priesthood, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, dated March 28, 1835. HC 2:209-217. On the date named the Twelve met in council, confessing their individual weaknesses and shortcomings, expressing repentance, and seeking the further guidance of the Lord. They were about to separate on missions to districts assigned. Although portions of this section were received on the date named, the historical records affirm that various parts were received at sundry times, some as early as November 1831.

      1—6, There are two priesthoods: the Melchizedek and the Aaronic;
      7—12, Those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood have power to officiate in all offices in the Church;
      13—17, The bishopric presides over the Aaronic Priesthood, which administers in outward ordinances;
      18—20, The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the keys of all spiritual blessings; the Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of the ministering of angels;
      21—38, The First Presidency, the Twelve, and the Seventy constitue the presiding quorums, whose decisions are to be made in unity and righteousness;
      39—52, Patriarchal order established from Adam to Noah;
      53—57, Ancient saints assembled at Adam-ondi-Ahman, and the Lord appeared to them;
      58—67, The Twelve are to set the officers of the Church in order;
      68—76, Bishops serve as common judges in Israel;
      77—84, The First Presidency and the Twelve constitues the highest court in the Church;
      85—100, Priesthood presidents govern their respective quorums.
D&C 107:1 There are, in the church, two apriesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and bAaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.
D&C 107:2 Why the first is called the aMelchizedek Priesthood is because bMelchizedek was such a great high priest.
D&C 107:3 Before his day it was called the aHoly Priesthood, after the bOrder of the Son of God.
D&C 107:4 But out of arespect or breverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.

D&C 107:5 All other authorities or offices in the church are aappendages to this priesthood.
D&C 107:6 But there are two divisions or grand heads—one is the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or aLevitical Priesthood.
D&C 107:7 The office of an aelder comes under the priesthood of Melchizedek.

D&C 107:8 The aMelchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and bauthority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.
D&C 107:9 The aPresidency of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church.
D&C 107:10 aHigh priests after the order of the Melchizedek Priesthood have a bright to officiate in their own cstanding, under the direction of the presidency, in administering spiritual things, and also in the office of an elder, dpriest (of the Levitical order), teacher, deacon, and member.

D&C 107:11 An elder has a right to officiate in his stead when the high priest is not present.
D&C 107:12 The high priest and aelder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeable to the covenants and commandments of the church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present.

D&C 107:13 The second priesthood is called the Priesthood of aAaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.
D&C 107:14 Why it is called the lesser priesthood is because it is an aappendage to the greater, or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances.
D&C 107:15 The abishopric is the presidency of this priesthood, and holds the bkeys or authority of the same.

D&C 107:16 No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a aliteral descendant of bAaron.
D&C 107:17 But as a high priest of the aMelchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of bbishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and cset apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the dPresidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

D&C 107:18 The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the akeys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—
D&C 107:19 To have the privilege of receiving the amysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the bheavens opened unto them, to commune with the cgeneral assembly and church of the dFirstborn, and to enjoy the communion and epresence of God the Father, and Jesus the fmediator of the new covenant.
D&C 107:20 The apower and authority of the lesser, or bAaronic Priesthood, is to hold the ckeys of the ministering of angels, and to dadminister in outward eordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the fremission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments.

D&C 107:21 Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding aofficers growing out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods.
D&C 107:22 Of the aMelchizedek Priesthood, three bPresiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and cupheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.
D&C 107:23 The atwelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve bApostles, or special cwitnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
D&C 107:24 And they form a quorum, aequal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.

D&C 107:25 The aSeventy are also called to bpreach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
D&C 107:26 And they form a quorum, equal in aauthority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named.
D&C 107:27 And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the aunanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other—
D&C 107:28 A majority may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise—
D&C 107:29 Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were arighteous and holy men.

D&C 107:30 The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all arighteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and blong suffering, and in cfaith, and dvirtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity;
D&C 107:31 Because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be aunfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
D&C 107:32 And in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums, which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church; otherwise there can be no aappeal from their decision.

D&C 107:33 The aTwelve are a bTraveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the First Presidency of the Church, agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the cGentiles and secondly unto the Jews.
D&C 107:34 The aSeventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the bTwelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews.
D&C 107:35 The Twelve being asent out, holding the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews.

D&C 107:36 The standing ahigh councils, at the stakes of Zion, form a quorum equal in authority in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the presidency, or to the traveling high council.
D&C 107:37 The ahigh council in Zion form a quorum equal in authority in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the councils of the Twelve at the stakes of Zion.
D&C 107:38 It is the duty of the traveling high council to call upon the aSeventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others.
D&C 107:39 It is the duty of the aTwelve, in all large branches of the church, to ordain bevangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation—

Patriarchal Priesthood Order ~ God's Order

D&C 107:40 The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to sona, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seedb, to whom the promises were madec.
D&C 107:41 This aorder was instituted in the days of bAdam, and came down by clineage in the following manner:
D&C 107:42 From Adam to aSeth, who was bordained by Adam at the age of sixty-nine years, and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam's) death, and received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be cpreserved unto the end of the earth;
D&C 107:43 Because he (Seth) was a aperfect man, and his blikeness was the express likeness of his father, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his age.
D&C 107:44 Enos was ordained at the age of one hundred and thirty-four years and four months, by the hand of Adam.
D&C 107:45 God called upon Cainan in the wilderness in the fortieth year of his age; and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak. He was eighty-seven years old when he received his ordination.
D&C 107:46 Mahalaleel was four hundred and ninety-six years and seven days old when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
D&C 107:47 Jared was two hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
D&C 107:48 aEnoch was twenty-five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam; and he was sixty-five and Adam blessed him.
D&C 107:49 And he asaw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he bwalked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated.
D&C 107:50 Methuselah was one hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam.
D&C 107:51 Lamech was thirty-two years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth.
D&C 107:52 Noah was ten years old when he was aordained under the hand of Methuselah.

 40a The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son 'This Priesthood' meaning the High Priesthood of God after the Order of the Son of God, was established both in the preexistence and in the ancient days of Adam, to be after the Order of Heaven, which is the Patriarchal Order. This is the 'True Order of the Priesthood of God'.
 40b rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed The 'right' to the priesthood of God, belongs to he literal 'seed', the chosen seed from Adam along these patriarcahl lines. And though Abraham's immediate fathers did not stand worthy of this priesthood, Abraham being of the literal descent from the 'chosen seed', did seek after the blessings of the promises of the fathers (See Abraham 1:2-5). Thus when Abraham did receive his appointment unto the descent of the righteous Patriarchal Fathers, he then became the leading Patriarch of the Covenant Promises of the Holy Priesthood of God and the righteous heir unto it.
 40c to whom the promises were made These promises came down by the fathers to Abraham and thence to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (See D&C 27:10). It is through Joseph's promised seed that the latter-day prophet of this despensation was raised (See 2 Nephi 3 and JST Genesis 50). Joseph Smith's family was the 'Patriarchal Family' or Joseph of Egypt and the rightful heirs of the Priesthood of God and the Covenant blessings of Abraham. Brigham Young himself taught that Joseph Smith was a 'pure Ephraimite'. It is through the promised seed of Ephraim, the heirs to this 'patriarchal order' of the fathers to whom the priesthood rightfully belongs and was to first come in the restoration of the priesthood and the Kingdom of God in this the Despensation of the Fulness of times. Further, this is the heirship and linage of the patriarchal fathers from whom Chirst, in the process of fulfilling all righteousness, was also the legal and rightful heir to these High Priesthood of God according to the Laws of God in respect to the descendancy of man. Boaz merely performed as the vicarious surrogate father to Obed by Ruth. According to the Law of God (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10), Obed, the first born son of Ruth via Boaz, was the legal and rightful heir of Mahlon and the household of Elimelech, who were Ephrathites, the heirship family of Ephraim descended from Nun and Joshua. (See Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph).
D&C 107:53 Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch and Methuselah, who were all ahigh priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of bAdam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.
D&C 107:54 And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed aAdam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.
D&C 107:55 And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a aprince over them forever.
D&C 107:56 And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, apredicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.
D&C 107:57 These things were all written in the book of aEnoch, and are to be testified of in due time.

D&C 107:58 It is the duty of the aTwelve, also, to bordain and set in order all the other officers of the church, agreeable to the revelation which says:
D&C 107:59 To the church of Christ in the land of Zion, in addition to the church alaws respecting church business—

D&C 107:60 Verily, I say unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts, there must needs be apresiding elders to preside over those who are of the office of an elder;
D&C 107:61 And also apriests to preside over those who are of the office of a priest;
D&C 107:62 And also teachers to preside over those who are of the office of a teacher, in like manner, and also the adeacons—
D&C 107:63 Wherefore, from deacon to teacher, and from teacher to priest, and from priest to elder, severally as they are appointed, according to the covenants and commandments of the church.

D&C 107:64 Then comes the High Priesthood, which is the greatest of all.
D&C 107:65 Wherefore, it must needs be that one be appointed of the High aPriesthood to preside over the priesthood, and he shall be called President of the High Priesthood of the Church;
D&C 107:66 Or, in other words, the aPresiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church.

D&C 107:67 From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the alaying on of the hands.
D&C 107:68 Wherefore, the office of a bishop is not equal unto it; for the office of a abishop is in administering all btemporal things;
D&C 107:69 Nevertheless a abishop must be chosen from the High bPriesthood, unless he is a cliteral descendant of Aaron.
D&C 107:70 For unless he is a aliteral descendant of Aaron he cannot hold the keys of that priesthood.

D&C 107:71 Nevertheless, a high priest, that is, after the order of Melchizedek, may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things, having a aknowledge of them by the Spirit of truth;
D&C 107:72 And also to be a ajudge in Israel, to do the business of the church, to sit in bjudgment upon transgressors upon testimony as it shall be laid before him according to the laws, by the assistance of his ccounselors, whom he has chosen or will choose among the elders of the church.
D&C 107:73 This is the duty of a bishop who is not a literal descendant of Aaron, but has been ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.
D&C 107:74 Thus shall he be a ajudge, even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion, or in a stake of Zion, or in any branch of the church where he shall be bset apart unto this ministry, until the borders of Zion are enlarged and it becomes necessary to have other bishops or judges in Zion or elsewhere.

D&C 107:75 And inasmuch as there are other bishops appointed they shall act in the same office.
D&C 107:76 But a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to the presidency of this priesthood, to the akeys of this ministry, to act in the office of bishop independently, without counselors, except in a case where a President of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, is tried, to sit as a judge in Israel.

D&C 107:77 And the decision of either of these councils, agreeable to the commandment which says:
D&C 107:78 Again, verily, I say unto you, the most important business of the church, and the most adifficult cases of the church, inasmuch as there is not satisfaction upon the decision of the bishop or judges, it shall be handed over and carried up unto the council of the church, before the bPresidency of the High Priesthood.
D&C 107:79 And the Presidency of the council of the High Priesthood shall have power to call other high priests, even twelve, to assist as counselors; and thus the Presidency of the High Priesthood and its counselors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church.
D&C 107:80 And after this decision it shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord; for this is the highest council of the church of God, and a final decision upon controversies in spiritual matters.

D&C 107:81 There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this council of the church.
D&C 107:82 And inasmuch as a President of the High Priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the acommon council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the High Priesthood;
D&C 107:83 And their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him.
D&C 107:84 Thus, none shall be exempted from the ajustice and the blaws of God, that all things may be done in corder and in solemnity before him, according to truth and righteousness.

D&C 107:85 And again, verily I say unto you, the duty of a president over the office of a adeacon is to preside over twelve deacons, to sit in council with them, and to bteach them their duty, cedifying one another, as it is given according to the covenants.
D&C 107:86 And also the duty of the president over the office of the ateachers is to preside over twenty-four of the teachers, and to sit in council with them, teaching them the duties of their office, as given in the covenants.
D&C 107:87 Also the duty of the president over the Priesthood of Aaron is to preside over forty-eight apriests, and sit in council with them, to teach them the duties of their office, as is given in the covenants—
D&C 107:88 This president is to be a abishop; for this is one of the duties of this priesthood.

D&C 107:89 Again, the duty of the president over the office of aelders is to preside over ninety-six elders, and to sit in council with them, and to teach them according to the covenants.
D&C 107:90 This presidency is a distinct one from that of the seventy, and is designed for those who do not atravel into all the world.
D&C 107:91 And again, the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to apreside over the whole church, and to be like unto aMoses—

D&C 107:92 Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a aseer, a brevelator, a translator, and a cprophet, having all the dgifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church.
D&C 107:93 And it is according to the vision showing the order of the aSeventy, that they should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy;
D&C 107:94 And the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six;

D&C 107:95 And these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy to whom they belong, and are to preside over them;
D&C 107:96 And also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it.
D&C 107:97 And these aseventy are to be btraveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews.
D&C 107:98 Whereas other officers of the church, who belong not unto the Twelve, neither to the Seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circumstances shall allow, notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the church.

D&C 107:99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his aduty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all bdiligence.
D&C 107:100 He that is aslothful shall not be counted bworthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen.