Mormonism Minute: History of Mormonism: Priesthood

History of Mormonism: the Priesthood

History of Mormonism starts with the priesthood. The priesthood is the power of God. It was by the power of God that Christ was able to overcome the world and become our Savior in the plan of salvation. God's power protected and enabled His prophets to do His will upon the earth.

The history of Mormonism began when the prophet Joseph Smith received scriptural records of the ancient American people. With God's power (the priesthood) Joseph Smith was able to restore Christ's church back on the earth again. Religions throughout the history of the world are established by man, not God and His priesthood; only Christ's church is established by Him with the same power He uses, the priesthood.

The priesthood is not taken upon a person by self-will; the priesthood must be given by the reverent laying on of hands by someone who already possesses that priesthood by the same means. John the Baptist had the priesthood in order to baptize people into Christ's church. John the Baptist came to Joseph Smith as a resurrected being and gave Joseph the priesthood that gave men authority to baptize. Later Christ's apostles, Peter, James and John, came to Joseph Smith and gave him the Melchizedek priesthood by reverently laying their hands on his head in order to give the gift of the Holy Ghost to newly baptized members.

In the history of Mormonism Joseph Smith used the priesthood he received to translate the ancient scriptural records (the Book of Mormon) into English, re-establish and organize Christ's church back upon the earth after centuries of apostasy, and bless the lives of all fellowmen and church members as needed. Additional worthy men receive the priesthood power to assist the prophet and apostles in all duties which bring people unto Christ.

The Power of God