Chapter 6

The Need and Nature of Authority

(Read the Fifth Article of Faith)

The permanent value and the power of an organization or movement are properly measured by its authority. In turn, authority arises from a two-fold root, knowledge, and the correct use of knowledge.

In every day life, sufficient knowledge is required, under the law, of the man who wires a house for electricity, builds a storage dam, or fills a decayed tooth, and these workers are expected to perform their labors for the good of man. The person who knows may speak and act with authority. Divine omnipotence itself must be the product of omniscience. In the fulness of his knowledge lies God’s mastery over universal forces. From out of that limitless power, issues his authority. The direction of that authority, for the good of man, is born of the Lord’s infinite love. His knowledge is justly and lovingly applied and becomes divine mercy.

The relationship of authority to knowledge, righteously used, appears and reappears in the communications of the Lord to man. “It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance” (D. & C., Sec. 131:6); and “if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come” (D. & C., 130:19). “Knowledge is the pathway up to God”; the “Priesthood … holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God” (D. & » L, 84:19). In scores of places in sacred writ, knowledge is set forth as a need and a reward of those who would conform to the laws of the plan of salvation.

Authority based on knowledge may be called absolute authority. There is, however, another type known as derived authority. One who knows much may direct one who knows less to perform certain tasks. The highly trained electrician may authorize one who knows little or nothing of the science of electricity to close a switch and thereby to flood a whole city with light. In some such way the Lord, possessing a fulness of knowledge, confers upon man, who has yet much knowledge to gain, the authority known as Priesthood in the Church of Christ) to perform certain acts in connection with the plan ot salvation. Since man’s knowledge is incomplete and imperfect, his authority with respect to the work of the Lord must always be a compound nature—absolute and derived.

Nevertheless, every person must, with all his might, use his authority, whether absolute or derived, intelligently and in the full light of knowledge. And, he must anxiously, ceaselessly seek for further knowledge and understanding, so that his authority may be exercised properly. A servant who does not acquaint himself with his duties cannot successfully carry out the requests of his leader. The first obligation of a person called to a position in the Church is to learn to know and understand his new duties and their requirements, to add knowledge to knowledge so that he may perform his labors to the satisfaction of all concerned. The act of ordination to the Priesthood, or the setting apart to an office in the Church, is completed only when the duties implied are performed intelligently. In the words of Brigham Young, “the Priesthood does not wait for ignorance.”

The plan of salvation was formulated and put into operation by our Father in Heaven, whose knowledge and authority are the greatest. The Church is the agent of the Lord in carrying out, on earth, the provisions of the plan. The Church must therefore be able to show that its authority has been derived from the Lord. This was done historically in four visitations to the Prophet Joseph Smith, three of which were participated in by Oliver Cowdery. First, in 1820, the Father and the Son appeared; in 1829, John the Baptist, then Peter, James, and John appeared and conferred, respectively, the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods; and in 1836, several personages of ancient days committed their authority to the present dispensations. ( D. 6 C. 110.) These visitors who brought authority from the unseen world had received their authority from or could trace it to Jesus the Christ, who in turn received His authority from His Father. The Priesthood of every man in the Church should be susceptible of being traced back to the Lord, through Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. In fact nearly all Priesthood holders in the Church do possess and cherish their Priesthood pedigrees.

Since the plan of salvation is the Lord’s, the working out of its provisions on earth must be by His authority, otherwise, the independent assumption of leadership and responsibility by various men would lead to disorder and chaos, both repugnant to the intelligent mind; and might injure other men, for all live under the plan. There is only one source of authority in the Church—that which may be traced back, in an orderly manner, to the visitations to Joseph Smith.

The authority derived from the Lord is known as Priesthood. It is committed to man first to meet persona1 needs, and also to be used within the Church for carrying out the purposes of the plan of salvation. Since Priesthood roots in knowledge and the intelligent use of knowledge, it must be a real force, a real power, to be used in solving any or all problems of life, whether personal or within the Church. Priesthood is more than a title. It may be likened to the current of electricity which helps man perform his work. It is God’s great gift, by which man may be able measurably to do God-like works. Again, in the words of Brigham Young, “It is the law by which the worlds are, were, and will continue forever.”

Authority in the Priesthood is conferred according to divine prescription. Those holding authority confer it under proper direction upon others who have lesser authority, or who have none. Those who are about to confer the Priesthood, or set apart for any service in the Church should approach their Heavenly Father, so that the act may be approved by Him—that is, every formal call to any office in the Priesthood or the Church should be of God, through the power of inspiration. Then, by “the laying on of hands by those who are in authority,” the proposed authority is conferred upon the candidate. It is a very orderly, simple procedure. It should be noted that Priesthood cannot be conferred by letter or by word of mouth, but only by physical contact, by “the laying on of hands.” This was made clear in the first revelation to Joseph Smith. which says “I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah.” (D. & C., Section 2.)

It is evident that Priesthood, essentially the power of God, may exist, whether or not the Church is upon earth. The Lord has possessed His Priesthood or power from “the beginning.” Nevertheless, it has been so ordained, that whenever the Church of God is upon earth, all Priesthood on earth should function within it. The Church is the keeper, under the Lord, of the plan of salvation, and of the Priesthood necessary to carry out the provisions of the plan. There can be no holders of the Priesthood who are independent of the Church. This principle is brought out forcefully in the history or the Church. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had been ordained Apostles by Peter, James and John, and required under that authority to organize the Church of Christ. Yet, after the act of organization was accomplished, Joseph and Oliver were ordained Elders in the Church, that is the Priesthood that they had received was brought under and made a part of the organization of the Church. Indeed, those who had been formerly baptized, for the remission of their sins, including Joseph and Oliver, were rebaptized to become members of the Church. (D. & C., Sec. 22). Any claim to Priesthood or Priesthood authority by those not members of the Church is false and invalid.

Similarly, excommunication from the Church removes from a man every vestige of Priesthood power that he may have possessed. If Priesthood is founded in the light of knowledge, then the man who allows himself to descend to depths of darkness warranting excommunication, cannot legitimately retain his Priesthood power. Should such an excommunicated person repent and be rebaptized, he must have his Priesthood reconfirmed upon his head by the laying on of hands. The claim by excommunicated persons that they retain their Priesthood is also false and invalid. The Church and Priesthood are interwoven; when the Church is upon earth neither can exist independently.

In Summary: The high commission of the Church requires authority from the author of the plan of salvation, which is in the keeping of the Church. This has been received under the name of Priesthood. Since Priesthood represents knowledge intelligently used, every Priesthood-bearer must seek enlightenment concerning his obligations and privileges. Every Priesthood act should further be performed after an appeal to the Lord for guidance, and in harmony with the revealed word of God. Whenever the Church is on earth, all Priesthood on earth is a part of its organization; no Priesthood-bearer is independent of the regularly organized Church.

The strength and power of the Church are in its divinely given Priesthood. As it functions so will the Church prosper. In fact the whole truth of the Church depends on the validity of the Priesthood of the Church. Fearless of successful refutation, the Church declares that to it has been committed the authority of the Priesthood, for the blessing of mankind and the advancement of the plan of salvation.

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. Compare the authority drawn from knowledge and that derived from a commission from someone with higher authority.

2. Why is it necessary that the priesthood be available to all men of the Church?

3. How would you define Priesthood?

4. What are the powers of the Priesthood?

5. What is prophecy?

6. What is the meaning of the phrase “called of God’?