God Authorizes the Use of Priesthood Keys

I wonder what God was thinking when he looked down on the world in 1805? The last prophet who taught his gospel was Peter and he died between AD 64 and AD 68. The last person with the authority of the tribe of Aaron was John the Baptist and he died about AD 28. The last person with the sealing power was Elijah.

The Christian world was disorganized. It was time to restore important gospel keys in preparation for Jesus Christ’s second coming. Who was going to be obedient enough to do what God had in mind?

God chose Joseph Smith, a fourteen-year-old boy, to usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Joseph was the weakest person in his family. Because of a surgery on his leg, he could not work to help support his family. He may have walked with a crutch.

What important task did God use to teach Joseph the way that the gospel was preached in the past and the pattern for a future church? God asked Joseph to translate an ancient record in which prophets testified of Christ and worked to organize a church that honored him. Joseph couldn’t compose an English sentence correctly. He had not received much formal education. God gave him a Urim an Thummim, an ancient tool, for the purpose of translating this ancient record.

With this task came the opportunity to be obedient. Joseph needed help to publish this ancient record. His friend mortgaged a farm to provide close to a million dollars (in value compared to today’s money) for that purpose. His friend wanted to show the first 116 pages to some friends. God said “no” but Joseph’s friend didn’t accept that answer. Joseph capitulated to his friend and after asking three times got the Lord to agree. His friend lost all 116 pages and Joseph had to give the Urim and Thummim and the record back to an angelic messenger. Later Joseph repented and all those items were returned to his care.

God wanted Joseph to do more than just publish a book. He wanted Joseph to organize a church in the manner of ancient times. Joseph didn’t know much about the ancient church except as it was described in the Bible. God sent a messenger to teach Joseph about the work that he would perform. He quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi where it speaks of the return of Elijah. He also quoted other scriptures as described in Joseph Smith History 1: 36-42.

As Joseph began to share the newly translated Book of Mormon, interested people read the book and believed that it was from God. “Some of these had belonged to churches which believed in baptism by immersion. In fact, many of the early converts of the Church had previously accepted this mode, believing that it was right. The question of divine authority, however, was not firmly fixed in their minds. When they desired to come into the Church, having received the testimony that Joseph Smith had told a true story, they wondered why it was necessary for them to be baptized again when they had complied with an ordinance of baptism by immersion.” (Joseph Fielding Smith. quoted in Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:109.) Joseph, having learned that obedience was important in this work, asked God to reveal his will in the matter. God said, “Baptism is to be administered in the following manner unto all those who repent—The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: ‘Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.’ Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water.” (D&C 20:72-74) Joseph didn’t begin baptizing immediately. He waited until God have him authority to do so and that authority came through John the Baptist as a resurrected being.

God continued to reveal his will to Joseph Smith. He asked Joseph to build a temple. Joseph did know how to build a log cabin but he needed help to build a temple. He asked God to show him what the temple would look like. He received the ability to see the building before it was constructed in it’s finished form. Then he asked new members of the church to help finance the construction. The building was completed in 1836. During the dedication, God revealed more authority to Joseph. Joseph was visited by Elijah, as promised earlier, who gave him the sealing power. Joseph had performed a marriage since organizing the church but he had not promised any couple that their marriage would be valid both on Earth and in Heaven. Now Joseph was authorized to seal husbands and wives to each other and their children.

Joseph was instructed to pass on to others the authority of the Tribe of Aaron, or Aaronic priesthood, and other keys that he was given including the sealing power. He did so in the manner God directed.

Whenever a person makes a covenant with God in the presence of one who is authorized to perform the ordinance and two witnesses, that covenant is binding on Earth and in Heaven. The covenant is the promise that the person makes in conjunction with a saving ordinance like baptism or marriage. It is only in obedience to the Lord’s word that a covenant with Him is binding.

God has said, “I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord. And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God. For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed. (D&C 132:12-14)

Joseph Smith testified of these truths and he gave his life defending them. I also testify that they are true. I have experienced the majesty of God in a modern day temple as I have made covenants and received promises from God, himself, that I will be saved if I remain faithful to the covenants I have made.