A Friend In God

Where is thy pavillion that coverth thy hiding place? Is there a burden that is given from thee that is not meant to be born? Do thy children even see thy great mercies Lord? Is there one who you may call friend? They proclaim they know thee but than why is thy hand still stretched forth for them? There are many who testify of thee but there is few who know thee. What would you say, Lord, if you were walking here again? Thy children profess thy name but walketh not in thy holy places. They call upon thee but their prayers are in vain. They sing praises unto thee but their hearts are far from thee. They say they are choosen but they know nothing of the mysteries of godliness. Oh says one, I see him in the life I live, oh says another I see thee in the workings of my life and through the spirit. But is that a friend? Is that one you could call a friend? One who merely knows about you Lord?

Why do thy children think they are Righteouss when thy name Lord is Righteousness? Why do we think we are wise when we are only fools before thee? Oh Lord how long will thy hand be extended still while the cries of those who suffer and go hungry must enter into thy ears? How long will thy hand be stayed? If you will only extend thy arm, an helping hand, to relieve the sufferings who's burdens are being born from those who profess thy name but know thee not! Oh Lord, is there a friend yet upon this earth who seeks thy will? Who does thy bidding? Where are thy fruits? I look around and see a form of godliness but where is thy great power?

Where are the gifts of the spirits being born among thy servants? Where are those who have received of thy divine power? Is there yet one upon the earth? Is there yet one here who you may call friend? One who will sacrifice all earthly things in thy behalf? Who takes the declarations to "come unto me" as an invitation to talk to you face to face, as one man speaks to another?

If its the first principle that we may converse with thee as a man converses with another than why do thy children hide their faces? Why do thy children here cover their hearts? When thou prayest thy hands stretches to the heavens, thy eyes pierce the parting skies not the darkness of the soul, thy body rests upon two wounded knees as a type of thy great mercies and humility.

Look For the Angels

Look for angels to mingle with the true body of believers. They are one of the great evidences that you have found God's people. When angels are no longer being seen, no longer being heard from, then you must find your own connection to heaven and bring them back into your own life. The true body of Christ will always have "eagles" hovering over it.

A Story: My Grieving Heart

A young hiker set off from the valley floor to hike up this steep slope of a hill. It was just another day that the man had to himself to enjoy and set his worries aside. He set forth not knowing where he was going. Leaving his family at home he set out to begin the ascent up this hill. As he begun to climb, the hill became steeper and steeper. Putting his feet in front of the other, one by one, he paced up this hill. As he ascended he got higher and higher from the valley below. He would take an occasional gaze on the valley and see that a midst was settling in.

As he climbed higher and higher the midst became heavier and heavier below him. The sun shone through the clouds radiating a bright red with a tint of orange on the horizon. He begun to see as the midst settled things were not as they were when he started the journey. At first it was clear, blue sky, with no cares or worries. But now this midst had caught his attention.

He tread forward up this hill that seemed to become steeper and steeper. What looked like a small hill became a large bank. He wondered how he could so carelessly not realized this before he had started out on his journey. The day was still young and he was full of energy. The midst had reached a point where one could hardly see past it if they tried to gaze at the city below.

Needing some water he sat on a rock and looked about. He made an observation he had not noticed before. This midst was coming from the city. It could not be determined where exactly but it was certain, the people below had brought this midst upon themselves. It was only now that he had ascended this bank that he could notice it.

His journey was not complete, he wanted to get to the top. As he trudged forward, the stepper the bank got. He soon realized there were cliffs ahead. Fear took in if he wanted to finish this journey he would have to tread a dangerous course. A course with uncertainty. A course where no one would be there if he needed help. Yet he decided to move forward. As he begun to climb the cares of the world overtook him. Did he have the strength to climb these cliffs? Did he have the strength to go on? He knew he could go on despite the likelihood of falling. He had confidence and continued its course.

Suddenly a voice came unto him, you must leave the midst below. You must not go back but finish your climb before your return to your family. I wondered, why must I not go back? Why had I not seen that midst while I was below but now it is so clear?

I arrived at the top of the cliffs. I sat and gazed once again upon the Horizon. A voice returned,"that midst covers what was once mine". I thought, "How was this city below yours"? The voice returned, "I called them out of obscurity and darkness". I thought some more and asked this voice, "what had happened to this city below"? The voice spoke and said "climb higher and you shall see".

I thought of my dear family below. My friends and those whom I have grown to love. My body begun to ache, I had no food or water. I could hardly survive much longer if I continued my course. I worried, I feared, I let my flesh overcome me. I could not go on I thought, but my heart said, lets see what happens.

I climbed higher. I now realized what I was climbing was a mountain. How did I never realize this before? What I first thought was a hill all my life was no hill at all but a large mountain. I had not planned on this hike, I had only set out to take a rest on a hill.

I pushed forward and climbed this mountain and found a stream of running water to quench my thirst. I sat down once again and looked out. The midst was gone. I could see nothing below. I than asked "what had happened to this city below"? I realized at that moment I could no longer see it so I asked "what has happened to this city below"? The voice answered, descend below and see.

I climbed down the mountain and saw the midst was gone, I climbed down the bank and saw that there were no buildings below. I climbed down the hill and looked straight out and it was all gone, not a living soul. What had happened while I was away? The voice responded, "These were once mine, but they were blinded by the midst. They thought they could see but if they would only have set forth on that hill, they could have gazed upon further than they could have ever dreamed. Because you climbed that hill, climbed that bank, you begun to see though some was still hidden from your sight. Because you heeded my call to climb higher, all things could finally be seen".

"You could see the midst and ascended above it, so I could guide you to the top of the mountain. If you would have ignored that final warning you would have suffered a similar fate. The midst covers all, though some believe they removed it from their eyes. You tread this course alone, you would never had made it if you relied on another"

I bent over and put my head between my knees. I cried for all was lost. What was it that led me to ascend this hill? Why was I kept while those below are now gone? If only they would have heard that warning and would give heed to ascend that mountain they too could have removed that midst to hear and see. Perhaps than the warning voice would have been heeded.

With my watered and battered eyes soaking my clothes I continued to weep, the voice returned "Why do you weep?". "All is lost" I said. Suddenly I saw a hand that pointed ahead. There were others walking toward me. Some of my dear family though not all. I asked them how is this so? They told me, when I saw you were gone, we realized there was something there we had not seen before. We decided to try to climb a hill like you always have done in the past where we beheld a midst below.

Where once I thought all was lost, at least some few had climbed the same course alone. If only I could have done something more for those who were once here.

Restoration Commences

The Lords hand has been set again a second time. His work is rolling together the final stages. It has been marvelous watching it unfold and it seems this time, it will succeed, Zion will bear fruit from the vine. I can only hope I will be worthy of it. I can only hope to cast off envy, strife, jealousies, selfishness, vanity, and pride. That we won't fall into the same trap all other people before have as the scriptures show.

I am completely unprepared for the things that are coming forth. My weaknesses are so great before the Lord and my sins continually beset me but with God all things are possible. Those who gather will not have accomplished anything great, nor will they think they are better than anyone else. But their hearts will be right, with an eye single to the Glory of God. Those who try to gather before they are prepared will fail. It is the Lord, by his angels, that will gather those who are prepared.

The vineyard has been spared long enough "And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard." (Jacob 5:51). The servant has been called to lay the foundation. The servants if they respond, will bring about His peculiar "strange act". For it is a strange act indeed. Very peculiar and unbecoming according to our understanding.

Completely independent of all institutions or organizations. If it were not so, there would never be a people that can learn to take the Holy Spirit as their guide and be independent above all other creatures. It requires a group of people that have all things in common, where no one is exalted above another. Where no man is greater, nor is one man's revelations greater than another. For they will all speak in the name of the Lord. Both the old and the young, the bond and free, they will all dream dreams, prophecy in his name, until they all grow together in the unity of the faith. They will be a people that will no longer ask "Know Ye the Lord?". For they will all know Him. Like in the Book of Mormon, before the Lords return, there existed a Family structure. They gathered in small communities (tribes) and it will be so again. 

They will not depend on another;s faith. They will not depend on any man. They will have received from their Lord the knowledge of their own standing before God. They will have obtained their own covenant from God, their own promises and an inheritance. They will be a people that can recognize His voice which voice is not the voice of the Holy Ghost. The voice of the Son, the voice of the Father, even the voice of our Heavenly Mother each are waiting to talk to those willing to listen. One day a group will care more for their fellow beings than they do for administrative needs. 

No laws, no rules, will run them, for as soon as you have one law regulating the affairs of Zion, Zion ceases to be. Zion is an idea, it is a state, it is a level of being. Those who hope to be part of Zion, lack the knowledge to survive His coming. There will be again a people who care more for the gifts of God than the ways of this world. His work is strange to those who behold it. For those completely unfamiliar with it, they will call it the work of the devil, they will say it is strange, weird, or different. Even satantic. As they did with Joseph "[the preachers] treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles[ or belong exclusively with], and that there would never be any more of them." (Joseph Smith History 1:21, altered by me)

The "men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against [this work], and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me[it]."(Joseph Smith History 1:22, altered by me)

But when the work is underway as it currently is, when the work has gathered momentum they will say " 70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.". The light and truth, or glory that rests upon these people will be so great, that they will need no weapons, nothing but the truth, that it will be "terrible" to those who look upon it. The ignorant cannot be saved. They will be utterly unprepared to withstand the glory or light and truth (knowledge of God or glory). 

Like water, liquid, and gas they will be completely different "levels" or "frequencies". They will not be able to vibrate at higher levels (or kingdoms). Until they allow themselves to incrementally learn all that is required for them to grow and accept what God is offering, if not now, perhaps "beyond the grave". But the sacrifices required to lay hold upon Eternal Life is the same, you can offer those sacrifices now that the Lord calls you to offer, or you can suffer for your loss. The test (being proven in all things) is always the same. Everlastingly so.

This will be Zion:

12 And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord. (4th Nephi 12)

It will be those worthy of the greater doctrines that are only withheld due to unbelief and hardness of hearts.

6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do. (2 Nephi 32:6)

It will be terrible for the wicked but what is coming will also be marvelous. Those few who are able to rise up will present an opportunity in eternity through covenants, to help further Gods work "worlds without end". They will continue to help bring about Gods work of immortality and eventual eternal life after a "resting" period from their labors. They will have developed such charity, such love for their fellow brethren, they will be willing to sacrifice their own lives to help lift their brothers.

1 Nephi 8: Following A Man or Angel

The following compares the differences between the 1830 edition of the BOM and the current edition. I point these aditions out to help add clarity to the story of Lehi in 1 Nephi 8. I highlight the differences in red with underlines.

Current Edition:

5 And it came to pass that I[Lehi] saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruitthereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. (1 Nephi 8 5-11)

1830 Edition
I only include the important verses. Verse number not in original.

[5]And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
[6]And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
[7]And it came to pass that as I followed him, and after I had followed him, I beheld myself that I was in the dark and dreary waste.
[8]And after that I travelled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord, that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

Lehi sees a certain man dressed in a white robe. The man bids Lehi to follow him and AFTER Lehi follows the man he finds himself in a "dark and dreary waste". In the LDS endowment Adam and Eve are cast out "into the lone and dreary world"

So here are the terms Lehi uses...

"I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness." (vs 4)
"I was in a dark and dreary waste" (vs 7)

Adam and Eve are cast out of the garden to where they now reside, a lone and dreary world. Or as we are also told the world which You now reside. Wilderness is often a symbol for still being in the world, or being left to "wander in the wilderness" until they learn to overcome the world.

Consequences

It wasn't until Lehi learned to not "follow" this man (angel or man in a white robe) but call upon God and He alone that he was delivered from this world or "dark and dreary waste". Following man will always lead one to the same place, a "dark and dreary waste".

Telestial Kingdom

98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;
99 For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.
100 These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;
101 But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.

They are "some of" <insert prophet here> but receives not the prophets neither the testimony of Jesus neither the everlasting covenant.

First and foremost is that we are not to follow any man or men. No man is worthy of discipleship. Not me, not another. There is only one who is worth following. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14: 16). Beside Him there is no other person who can save you (Mosiah 3: 17).

Faith comes from hearing the word of God from one who is sent by God. This can be a servant or an angel of the Lord. We are not to follow or walk in their steps but we should heed their messages. It is not the depth of our study that matters but our connection with heaven. This servant can come from anywhere, or anyplace. In the Road to Emmaus the savior appeared as a man to two disciples. Others are sent to prove (See Abraham 3-4) such as a beggar on the street, sometimes they are sent as a ordinary person. Wherever the message comes from in the world if its sent by God, or whatever the test may be, there is always those who come "disguised" not disclosing their identities to see if one is true and faithful to the "tokens" given to them. When we follow a man, or look to one man believing that man is always right, it will hinder the way, it will prevent us from recognizing those God sends in our path to either test us, to prove us, or to teach us.

There is never one right way because His ways are not our ways. When we believe we are certain He will make us uncertain, when we are comfortable He will make us uncomfortable. When we think there is only one way to do something, he will send a contradiction and if we are not willing to heed those messages we will fail. Than we have a choice, to learn from that experience and move forward or have a hardened heart and halt our progression (definition of being damned). Christ suffered greater contradictions than any man can.

[Jesus Christ] is called the Son because of the flesh--and descended in suffering below that which man can suffer, or, in other words, suffered greater sufferings, and was exposed to more powerful contradictions than any man can be. (Lecture 5)

Weakness / Mistakes
The Lord gives us what we desire. If we want to follow something or go after something for a time He will let us. Sometimes he will correct us immediately (if we will let him by softening our hearts) or sometimes He will wait for a time so we can "experiment" upon the word and learn from the experience. Other times our hearts are so hard the only thing he can do is wait, with long-suffering, until we are willing to soften our hearts and return unto Him. At some point however, our hearts will be broken. It just may be that it will be the day we stand before our maker in the day of judgment.

Part 5: Conclusion

The Lord back in February (date of my first post) asked me to start a blog to record my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After this final post I feel that request by Him has been fulfilled. If I continue to write it will be my own "scripture" study of my pondering as I find I learn best when I write up my thoughts. Fools may mock due to my weakness and for the errors in my writings for there are many but what I have written is according to my knowledge of things that the Lord has revealed unto to me.

I have written enough to let others consider these things for themselves. If I focus anymore on them (The decay or corruption around us) it will only become an hindrance to me. So for now this is my last post but who knows, but God, what the future entails.

Conclusion
To those who believe in the false doctrine the prophet (or president) cannot lead you astray this may sound absurd. There are many prophecies in the cusp of the wings of fulfillment. Included in those are ones pertaining to the LDS church. The Lord has asked me to share this than I will go back being silent regarding these things.

It used to take a hundred years for changes to come about. Now those same changes in understanding take about 5 to 7 years. A whole new understanding of the history of the church is coming. Just wait. You may not believe it now nevertheless it is coming.

For years the truths therein would bring you closer to Christ. The fulcrum point has been reached and that is no longer the case. They who lead you will only hedge up the way.

Message of the Book of Mormon

We are so situated that we have the inability to do two things at once. No matter who you are, you are only doing one thing at a time. Your entire life you are either focusing on one thing, or on something else. Whatever thing it is upon which you dwell that's what you've chosen. Hence the saying "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly then shall the confidence wax strong in the presence of God." Is the power of godliness related to that? Is the power of godliness related to the presence of God?

The Book of Mormon continually declares that to be the case. And anyone who suggests otherwise is flatly contradicting the message of the Book of Mormon. That book is all about the ascent back to the presence of God. Testimony after testimony, experience after experience, that's what the Book Mormon stands for. That, the ascent to God, is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You encounter it almost immediately in the first chapter when Lehi rises up. And you encounter it in Nephi. And you encounter it in Jacob. And you encounter it in Enos and in Alma and in Mosiah. You just continually get the same message. Joseph Smith said: “I advise all to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of godliness.” (TPJS p. 364)

Enter Not In

"Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”

False teachers prevent others from obtaining salvation, period. Happily, they will be accountable for that. You've “taken away the key of knowledge”… “you enter not in yourselves”… “them that were entering in ye hindered.

Enter not in where? Where are they trying to enter?

15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel. (Ether 4:15)

We Are MEANT to Enter In

‘It is the privilege of every Elder to speak of the things of God; and could we all come together with one heart and one mind in perfect faith the veil might as well be rent today as next week, or any other time. …’ (Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 9.)

The Creeds of Men

I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth. I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all things; but the creeds set up stakes, and say, “Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further”; which I cannot subscribe to. (Joseph Smith, TPJS 327)

Some Mussings
This is just some additional references that I have included in reference to parts 1-4.

"return to that power which she (Zion) had lost." (D&C 113:8.) 

11 And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high.
12 For behold, I have prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them, inasmuch as they are faithful and continue in humility before me.
13 Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion. (D&C 105:11-13)

36 And then shall be brought to pass that which is written:Awake, awake again, and put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
37 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. (3 Nephi 20:36-37)

7 Questions by Elias Higbee: What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52d chapter, 1st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to? 

8 He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost. (D&C 113:7-8)

This prophecy was recorded by Lyman Wright as recorded in Wilford Woodruff's journal.

December 7, 1841: I spent most of my time in the store but in the evening Iattended meeting and heard a discourse delivered by Lyman Wight who declaredsome most stirring truths concerning the building of the Temple and the NauvooHouse. If the Saints did not do it, they would be rejected as a church withtheir dead, saith the Lord. We should again be driven, too. He spoke in truthand the spirit of God. 

Look what Joseph said. Remember he is talking about Nauvoo again.

I would advise all the Saints to go with their might and gather together all their living relatives to this place [Nauvoo], that they may be sealed and saved, that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth; and if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead, seal their posterity, and gather their living friends, and spend none of their time in behalf of the world, they would hardly get through before night would come, when no man can work; and my only trouble at the present time is concerning ourselves, that the Saints will be divided, broken up, and scattered before we get our salvation secure; for there are so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon, it gives him the advantage oftentimes. TPJS p. 330-331

The next day the Prophet came to our home and stopped in our carpenter shop and stood by the turning lathe. I went and got my map for him. `Now,' he said, `I will show you the travels of this people.' He then showed our travels thru Iowa, and said, `Here you will make a place for the winter; and here you will travel west until you come to the valley of the Great Salt Lake! You will build cities to the North and to the South, and to the East and to the West; and you will become a great and wealthy people in that land. *** You will live to see men arise in power in the Church who will seek to put down your friends and the friends of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many will be hoisted because of their money and the worldly learning which they seem to be in possession of; and many who are the true followers of our Lord and Savior will be cast down because of their poverty. (Mosiah Hancock Journal, p. 19) 

Priesthood Simplified

There are three grand orders of priesthood referred to [in the Epistle to the Hebrews]" (TPJS, p. 322-23; HC 5:554-55)

The "PRIESTHOOD" is currently divided into three levels, as discussed by Joseph Smith. He used the terms from lowest to highest of (1) "Aaronic" (which includes "Levitical") for one, (2) "Melchizedek" for another, and (3) "Patriarchal" for the third.

• In the beginning there was one, "Unified Priesthood". There were not three. There was one. It was called the "Holy Order". Later it got several additive descriptors, including the Holy Order after the Son of God; or Holy Order after the Order of Enoch; or Holy Order after the Order of Melchizedek. We think we have that in the church today. We think that is what we give to Elders when we first ordain them. But Joseph Smith could not confer that on another person. It requires God. Through Joseph we were offered an opportunity to receive it, but we were more interested in having a church than the original Holy Order.
  • It was always necessary to restore the Holy Order-- the original fullness. That must be here before the Second Coming. As soon, however, as the matter is fully set out, men will immediately begin to imitate and pretend to things because of pride, ignorance or vanity.
• (1) "Aaronic Priesthood", which includes "Levitical Priesthood", is a lesser form of priesthood. Temporal concerns are associated with the Aaronic Priesthood. "Aaronic Priesthood keys" may give one a right to seek the ministering of angels, may give a basis for such a search, but possession of such a key alone will not force the ministering of angels to happen. Nor does the absence of such a key prevent the ministering of angels from happening. The Aaronic Priesthood keys referred to are to be found in the Aaronic portion of the endowment, which permits you to recognize a true messenger should one visit with you.The sacramental offering is a type of the earlier Levitical offerings.
• (2) "Melchizedek Priesthood", the high priesthood, was named after Melchizedek, but is not, however, the form which Melchizedek held. Even though Melchizedek held "Patriarchal Priesthood" with its associated sealing power, Melchizedek wasthe one after whom Melchizedek Priesthood was named in the form it was later transmitted, which lacked "sealing authority". 
• All the Aaronic Priesthood" and most of the Melchizedek Priesthood offices are not what we would appropriately call "the high priesthood of the holy order".
  • Section 68 was addressed to one of those who, in June 1831, was given the Melchizedek Priesthood at Isaac Morley's farm. According to Joseph Smith, that was the first time the Melchizedek Priesthood was given to the Elders of the church. In the restoration of the Gospel, the first time the Melchizedek Priesthood appeared inthe church was in June, 1831 on Isaac Morley's farm. As Joseph Smith recorded it in his history: "the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders." (DHC 1: 175-177)
  • Joseph Smith explained it like this: "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, pp. 180–81.) In Lehi we have an instance of an Old Testament era prophet being "ordained by God himself" in the very first chapter of the Book of Mormon.
    
    Note: One must be careful because sometimes "Melchizedek Priesthood" is used interchangeably with "Patriarchal Priesthood" or even the Priesthood of the "Holy Order". Such usage is different from the definition laid out here for teaching purposes. 
• (3)  Patriarchal Priesthood is not defined in scripture. Joseph made a remark which referred to finishing the Nauvoo Temple, and then going into the Temple and receiving the Patriarchal Priesthood. The most important point is that there is priesthood which exists, but is not contained within or conferred by the church. It comes from one source - the Father. Sealing power is part of Patriarchal Priesthood. Patriarchal Priesthood is always delivered unto men by the calling of His own voice. (See Helamen 10) Jacob was ordained by God to "his holy order" or, in other words, received the same High Priesthood as Melchizedek in the only way it can be received. The idea of a "royal priesthood" is apt because it captures the idea of nobility, or royalty, or, in other words, a connection with the Family of God. This is because one cannot receive the Lord without also receiving priesthood. (D&C 84: 35.) When the Lord bestows this royalty on the individual, it is through His own voice. (JST-Gen. 14: 29)
  • There is a connection between the existence of the one holding Patriarchal Priesthood, and a humble people who would accept and follow correct teachings. The result of the combination of the two was that God came and dwelt among them. What is important is that the great events of Melchizedek's time began when people humbled themselves and accepted the teachings of this "high priesthood" holder and were, thereby, saved. All those who receive the Patriarchal Priesthood from the time of Abraham forward become Abraham's seed. Therefore they become Abraham's inheritance and posterity, sealed to him as a part of his family.
  • To receive the "Patriarchal Priesthood"The Son is involved. He is the gatekeeper, who alone decides if the person is going to qualify. Then the Son takes it as His work, or His ministry, to bring a person before the Father. However, the ministry of the Son can take many years, and is designed to cure what is wrong, fix all that is broken, remove all that is impure, in the candidate. Only when the Son can vouch for the individual is he brought before the Father. It is the Father who confers and ordains a man to the highest priesthood.
  • Further, Joseph had at that very moment of the First Vision, possession of the highest order of priesthood (D&C 84: 21-22). Despite this, Joseph would be later ordained by John the Baptist to Aaronic Priesthood (JS-H 1: 68-70). Events involving God do not necessarily follow the same time-line as we would expect them to follow. When, however, Joseph received angels, you can know for certain he held priesthood.