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Ordination of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood
along the bank of the Susquehanna River, near Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 15,
1829. HC 1:39—42. The ordination was done by the hands of an angel,
who announced himself as John, the same that was called John the Baptist in
the New Testament. The angel explained that he was acting under the
direction of Peter, James, and John, the ancient apostles, who held the keys
of the higher priesthood, which was called the Priesthood of Mechizedek. The
promise was given to Joseph and Oliver that in due time the Priesthood of
Melchizedek would be conferred upon them. See also Section 27:7, 8, 12.
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 The 'Ministering of Angels' is that very power of the priesthood by which all that comes from Heaven to earth does come. |
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D&C 13:1 Upon you my fellow
servantsa, in the name of Messiah I
aconfer the bPriesthood of Aaron, which
holds the ckeys of the ministering of
dangelsb, and of the
gospel of erepentance, and of fbaptism by
immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from
the earth, until the sons of gLevi do offer again an
offering unto the Lord in hrighteousness.
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1a my fellow servants Perhaps
the greatest principle of the Kingdom of God is that of giving service one
unto another. Without the service provided us by our Lord Jesus Christ in
performing the atonement in our behalf, we would not be able to progress and
become like GOD IS. We would be forever lost in this fallen second estate
for we are not able upon our own accord to over come the sin of this world.
1b the ministering of angels The cummulative dimision of priesthood authority needs to be considered in understanding the greatness of the potential of that of the 'lesser' priesthood which held the 'keys of the ministering of angels'. That is, that even the High Priests, Apostles and Prophets are and still do hold the office of the lesser priesthood in conjunction with thier expanded higher calling. All who have and do and will visit the earth exercising their powers of priesthood do so by the powers of the ministering of angels. Priesthood is the power which connects heaven and earth and it is the power of the ministering of angels which is the basis upon which all greater blessing of the priesthood and its powers are bestowed by angels to men on earth. Even the apostles Peter, James and John, and also even Jesus Christ, and all the holy angels of heaven who have, do and will minister unto this earth, do so by the power of the ministering of angels. And there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it (D&C 130:5). |
1a
JS-H 1:69 (68-75); TG Delegation of Responsibility; TG Ordination; TG Priesthood, Authority; TG Restoration of the Gospel b D&C 27:8 TG Priesthood, Aaronic c D&C 84:26; TG Priesthood, Keys d TG Angels e D&C 84:26 (26-28); TG Repentance f TG Baptism; TG Remission of Sins g See JS-H 1:71, footnote by Oliver Cowdery on the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood; Gen. 49:5; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 6:48; 1 Chr. 23:24; D&C 84:31 (18-34); D&C 124:39; D&C 128:24; JS-H 1:69 h TG Righteousness
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