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The Unofficial LDS Family Home Evening Resource Book
The subject matter and reading level in this lesson is best suited for those who are willing and able to understand the truth at any age — pre-teen through adult. It is an earnest discussion about the LDS priesthood. It will take the reader beyond a milk only diet; so, be prepared for a solid meal.
PURPOSE
This lesson is meant to bring about meaningful thought and discussion; and, challenge the participants to obtain a deeper understanding of the LDS faith. It encourages the family to better understand Mormon history by looking into witness statements concerning the priesthood teaching.
FOR THE PARENT
Explain to the family: It is important for us to recognize truth and avoid deception.
Then explain: God's word provides us with an example of how we can tell if something is true or not:
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
Say to the family: In this lesson we will do what the bible teaches us to do:
"Study to shew ... [ourselves] approved unto God."
Then, read the following section out loud:
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder?
At one point in time Joseph Smith began telling a story
about John the Baptist,
who was now an angel, appearing to him and Oliver Cowdery and ordaining them to
the Aaronic Priesthood:
"The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this [Aaronic]
Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John
the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of
Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which
Priesthood, he said, would in due time be conferred on us... It was on the
fifteenth day of May, 1829, that we were ordained under the hand of this
messenger, and baptized. (Joseph Smith— 1838 History, 2:72)
Although Joseph Smith claimed this event happened in 1829, there is no record of it
during the Church's formative years. The first revelation to mention that the
Aaronic and/or Melchizedek Priesthood were offices to be conferred on members,
"in the church,"
is found in section III of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants:
"There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely: the Melchizedek, and the
Aaronic, including the Levitical priest-hood. Why the first is called the
Melchizedek priesthood, is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest:
before his day it was called the holy priesthood, after the order of the Son of
God; but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid
the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days,
called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek priesthood. (1835
Doctrine and Covenants p. 82 — view original document)
Today the LDS Church touts the restoration of the Priesthood as a foundational
teaching. Yet, the term Priesthood cannot be found in the 1833 Book of
Commandments; which was a forerunner to the Doctrine and Covenants, neither can
the story of John the Baptist appearing to Joseph Smith and/or Oliver Cowdery:
"The important details that are missing from the 'full history' of 1834 are
likewise missing from the Book of Commandments in 1833. The student would expect
to find all the particulars of the Restoration in this first treasured set of 65
revelations, the dates of which encompassed the bestowals of the two
Priesthoods, but they are conspicuously absent.... The notable revelations on
Priesthood in the Doctrine and Covenants before referred to, Sections 2 and 13,
are missing, and Chapter 28 gives no hint of the Restoration which, if actual,
had been known for four years. More than four hundred words were added to this
revelation of August 1829 in Section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the
additions made to include the names of heavenly visitors and two separate
ordinations. The Book of Commandments gives the duties of Elders, Priests,
Teachers, and Deacons and refers to Joseph's apostolic calling but there is no
mention of Melchizedek Priesthood, High Priesthood, Seventies, High Priests, nor
High Councilors. These words were later inserted into the revelation on Church
organization and government of April, 1830, making it appear that they were
known at that date, but they do not appear in the original, Chapter 24 of the
Book of Commandments three years later. Similar interpolations were made in the
revelations known as Sections 42 and 68" (Problems In Mormon Text, by LaMar
Petersen, pp. 7-8).
The 1833 Book of Commandments contains the first 65 of Joseph's Smith's
revelations, dating from July 1828, to September 1831. The revelations from the
Book of Commandments were reprinted in the Doctrine and Covenants. Beginning
with the fourth edition in 1876, an additional revelation was inserted between
revelation #1 and #2:
2012 Doctrine and Covenants
Section 2
1 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the
prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promise made to the
fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.
While addressing the issue of whether a revelation
mentioning the Priesthood should rightfully have its place amongst the Church's
foundational works, scholars from Brigham Young University spelled out:
"Details regarding the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood, including John the
Baptist's role in the event, were seldom if ever shared prior to 1832..."
(Priesthood Restoration Documents, Brian Q. Cannon and BYU Studies Staff, BYU
Studies 35. no. 4, 1995-96, p. 164)
Tell the family: David Whitmer[1] was an eye-witness to the rise of Mormonism.[2]
He was there when the Church was formed, about two years later David also witnessed the formation of the priesthood story. That troubled him greatly. Then, the day came when David had to choose between accepting what he knew to be false; or, taking a stand for the truth."
The truth was more important to David than what his friends and family might think of him; so, he testified:
"This matter of two orders of priesthood in the Church of Christ, and lineal
priesthood of the old law being in the church, all originated in the mind of
Sydney Rigdon. He explained these things to Brother Joseph in his way, out of
the old Scriptures, and got Brother Joseph to inquire, etc. He would inquire,
and as mouthpiece speak out the revelations just as they had it fixed in their
hearts. As I have said before, according to the desires of the heart, the
inspiration comes, but it may be the spirit of man that gives it.... This is the
way the High Priests and the 'priesthood' as you have it, was introduced into
the Church of Christ almost two years after its beginning—and after we had
baptized and confirmed about two thousand souls into the church" (An Address To
All Believers In Christ, David Whitmer p. 64 / also see
p. 35,
p. 59, and,
p. 60)
Explain to the family: Based upon this information, we will be taking a closer look into Church history so that we can distinguish between truth and falsehood; please join with me in this pursuit.
Listen intently and provide comforting answers to any questions which may arise.
Other articles of Interest:
1. A Treasured Testament — Excerpts from LDS.org
2.
Joseph Smith's
First Vision
3. Book
of Moses Changes / Anachronisms
4. Enchantment — Magic and
Money Digging
5.
Joseph Smith Money Digging Accounts
Endnotes:
[1] "David Whitmer, like Joseph Smith, Lucy Mack Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and
Martin Harris, has greatly influenced our perceptions of Mormon beginnings.
Interviewed on more than fifty occasions, Whitmer related over and over again
what he knew about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the organization of
the church, and his experience as a restoration witness." (David Whitmer and the
Shaping of Latter-day Saint History, Kenneth W. Godfrey, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute)
[2] "Brethren, it is solemn mockery before God to have established in the church
to-day this important office of which Christ alone is worthy. The office of
Elder is spoken of all through the New Testament as being in the church, but not
one High Priest; then of course they had no High Priests in the church upon the
eastern continent.
Now Brethren, seeing they had no High Priests in the church of Christ of old,
and none in the church of Christ in these last days until almost two years after
its beginning--when the leaders began to drift into error; remembering the fact
of the revelation being changed two years after it was given to include High
Priests; taking these things into consideration, how is it that any one can say
that the office of High Priest should be in the church of Christ to-day? I can
account for it only on the grounds of your spiritual blindness. This matter is
so plain and self-evident that any one should see and understand it. Brethren,
your blindness must be utter blindness. May God have mercy on you is my prayer.
In no place in the word of God does it say that an Elder is after the order of Melchisedec, or after the order of the Melchisedec Priesthood. An Elder is after the order of Christ. This matter of 'priesthood,' since the days of Sydney Rigdon, has been the great hobby and stumbling-block of the Latter Day Saints." (An Address To All Believers In Christ, David Whitmer, p. 64)
