This Moses Plainly Taught

Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants Section 84 (Part 2)

In previous posts, I outlined the historical background for Doctrine and Covenants 84 and began to study the revelation itself. In this post, let’s continue to examine and appreciate this revelation.

This is one of the most significant revelations of this, the last dispensation, and there is just too much in it to do it any kind of justice in a series of posts. Nevertheless, I would like to share a few thoughts and commentaries on these verses because it merits deep study. In the introductory verses we learned that the New Jerusalem and the temple will be built in Missouri. In the following verses we learn about the Priesthood line from Moses to Adam:

And the sons of Moses, according to the Holy Priesthood which he received under the hand of his father-in-law, Jethro;

And Jethro received it under the hand of Caleb;

And Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu;

And Elihu under the hand of Jeremy;

And Jeremy under the hand of Gad;

And Gad under the hand of Esaias;

And Esaias received it under the hand of God.

Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham, and was blessed of him—

Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah;

And from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers;

And from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man—

Which priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years. (D&C 84:6-17)

Isn’t it interesting that the Lord specifies that Adam’s son Abel was slain by the conspiracy of his brother? Is this a conspiracy theory? Is the Lord a conspiracy theorist? The Lord could have simply said that Cain slew Abel or that Cain murdered Abel. But the Lord revealed that it was by Cain’s conspiracy with the devil that Abel was murdered. Similar conspiracies between the devil and evil men in modern times have led to the murder of many innocent people, and the Lord has repeatedly warned about such conspiracies and secret combinations.

In any case, Abel received the Priesthood from his father Adam, who received it from God. This Priesthood lineage from Adam to Moses continued after Moses, but it was also restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Smith and Sjodahl comment on these verses as follows:

6-16. The Holy Priesthood which he received] These verses give us by revelation a clear order of descent of the Priesthood from Adam to Moses, and in the following paragraphs (17-18) we are informed that the “Priesthood continueth in the Church of God in all generations, without beginning of days or end of years.” Among the scholars who are uninspired, there is doubt as to who Jethro was. In Exodus 3:1. he is called the father-in-law of Moses, but these scholars say the name may mean any male relative by marriage. In Exodus 2:18, Reuel, or Raguel, appears as the name of the father-in-law of Moses. Then it is maintained that as the transaction related of Jethro in Exodus 18:12-27, is told of Hobab in Numbers 10:29. These may have been names given to Jethro by different scribes, or in different countries. We know, however, by the information given in this revelation that Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses and that Moses received the Priesthood from him. This has been a mystery to some, who have thought that only the children of Israel were blessed with the authority of Priesthood. We know that the Midianites were descendants of Abraham who had sons by his wife Keturah, they were named, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan and Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. Evidently among the “gifts” which Abraham gave his other sons was the authority of the Priesthood. We know that the “Midianites” held it. We read that Balak of Moab, sent for Balaam, of the “elders of Midian,” to come and curse Israel. The story which follows strongly implies that Balaam was a prophet, and the Lord commanded him what he should say. (Num. 22-24.)

14. Abraham *** Noah] From the flood to the birth of Abraham there was a period of 352 years. But Noah lived 350 years after the flood, and when he died, Nahor, Abraham’s brother, was 58 years old. Of Melchizedek’s lineage nothing is known, but it is easily understood, by the chronological data available, that the Priesthood could have come from Noah to Abraham through Melchizedek.

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16. Adam who was the first man] In these days, when the Lord has sent into the world “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness,” (II. Thess. 2:11-12) it has become popular among the wise in the world, to declare that Adam was not the first man, and that he did not transgress and bring death into the world. In this scripture the Lord definitely declares that Adam was the first man, and in other scriptures this is definitely affirmed, for instance in the Pearl of Great Price, (3:7) we read: “And I the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word.”

    “Adam, our great progenitor, the first man, was, like Christ, a pre-existent spirit, and like Christ he took upon him an appropriate body, the body of a man, a ‘living soul.’ The doctrine of the pre-existence - revealed so plainly, particularly in latter days - pours a wonderful flood of light upon the otherwise mysterious problem of man’s origin. It shows that man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father prior to coming upon the earth, in a temporal body to undergo experience in mortality. It teaches that all men existed in the spirit before any man existed in the flesh, and that all who have inhabited the earth since Adam have taken bodies and become souls in like manner.

    “It is held by some that Adam was not the first man upon this earth, and that the original human was a development from lower orders of the animal creation. These, however, are the theories of men. The word of the Lord declares that Adam was ‘the first man of all men,’ (Moses 1:34) and we are therefore in duty bound to regard him as the primal parent of our race.

    Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund

    First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Era. 13:75-81).

    The genealogy of the Savior given in the Inspired Version, states this “And of Enos, and of Seth, and of Adam, who was formed of God, and the first man upon the earth” (Luke 3:45).

17. Without beginning *** or end] “The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed, as [related] in Genesis 1:26-28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael, the archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on Earth, and then in heaven. The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam’s authority” (Joseph Smith, Hist. of the Church, Vol. III., p. 385). (pp. 499-501)

Monte S. Nyman’s commentary on these verses is also instructive, and I commend it to your attention.

The revelation in D&C 84 continues:

And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the holiest order of God.

And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;

But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.

Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; (D&C 84:18-25)

In his book The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis famously wrote that “it is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.” Do we want to see God? Moses made every effort to sanctify his people and prepare them to enjoy the same blessings that he enjoyed, even beholding the face of God. Moses taught the children of Israel about the Priesthood, the necessary ordinances and authority, and the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, but the children of Israel hardened their hearts. Because they hardened their hearts, the children of Israel could not endure the presence of God.

Rather than judge the children of Israel too harshly, we might ask ourselves if we are doing any better. We may boast that we have obtained the greater priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the ordinances and keys to the mysteries and the knowledge of God, but do we remember for what purpose they were given? Like Moses, the Prophet Joseph Smith sought diligently to sanctify his people and prepare them to behold the face of God, and we might ask whether or not we, like the children of Israel, have hardened our hearts.

There is much conversation in the Church about the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood that were restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. There is even much talk in the Church about the difference between ordination to the Priesthood and the power of the Priesthood. But has there been a prophet since Joseph Smith who has, like Moses, sought diligently sanctify us that we might behold the face of God? Or have we, like the Jews in the Meridian of Time, become obsessed with rituals, meetings, ordinances, and even the Temple while simultaneously losing sight of the purpose of all of these things?

This is a rhetorical question, but I will answer it. In my long experience in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it has become clear to me that in many ways cultural Mormonism parallels the culture of the children of Israel during the time of Moses and the culture of the Jews during the time of Jesus Christ. Moses, Jesus Christ, and the Prophet Joseph Smith sought diligently to prepare their people to commune with Heavenly Father and to behold His face, but many people rejected them. In recent years leaders of the Church have placed much emphasis on ordinances such as the Sacrament and the importance of the Temple, but my concern is that we, like the children of Israel, the Jews in the Meridian of Time, and some of the early Saints, may lose sight of the meaning and purpose of these things.

The Prophet Isaiah put it best:

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:11-20)

In cultural Mormonism, I’ve also observed peculiar obsessions with the Word of Wisdom, tithing, and other appendages of the Gospel. Don’t get me wrong. It is important to understand and obey the Word of Wisdom. It is important to understand and obey the law of tithing. The ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are also important. But all of these things are meant to point us and lead us toward our Savior Jesus Christ:

The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 121).

The Prophet Joseph Smith also taught:

To get salvation we must not only do some things, but everything which God has commanded. Men may preach and practice everything except those things which God commands us to do, and will be damned at last. We may tithe mint and rue, and all manner of herbs, and still not obey the commandments of God [see Luke 11:42]. The object with me is to obey and teach others to obey God in just what He tells us to do. It mattereth not whether the principle is popular or unpopular, I will always maintain a true principle, even if I stand alone in it.⁴

Joseph Smith taught correct principles, simply and plainly, and let the people govern themselves. But like the children of Israel, and like the Jews in the Meridian of Time, we modern Saints look beyond the mark when we forget the reasons for the ordinances and the Priesthood. The Lord established His ordinances and covenants and sent prophets like Moses and Joseph Smith in order to sanctify us and prepare us that we might behold the face of God.

What happened to the children of Israel when they hardened their hearts and could not endure the presence of God? The Lord’s anger was kindled against them, and in His wrath He swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. For these reasons, the Lord removed Moses and the Holy Priesthood from among them. In my opinion, something very similar has happened in our time, something that we will read about in the rest of this revelation. Smith and Sjodahl comment on the foregoing verses as follows:

18. Also upon Aaron and his seed] “There are two Priesthoods spoken of in the Scriptures, viz., the Melchizedek and the Aaronic, or Levitical. Although there are two Priesthoods, yet the Melchizedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic, or Levitical Priesthood, and is the grand head, and holds the highest authority which pertains to the Priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity in the Earth, and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven” (Joseph Smith, Hist. of the Church, Vol. IV., p. 207).

    Speaking of the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood, the Prophet says: “From a retrospect of the requirements of the servants of God to preach the gospel, we find few qualified even to be Priests, and if a Priest understands his duty, his calling, and ministry, and preaches by the Holy Ghost, his services are necessary in the body, as are also those of Teachers and Deacons. Therefore, in viewing the Church as a whole, we may strictly denominate it one Priesthood” (Joseph Smith, Ibid., Vol. II., p. 778).

    Abideth forever] The Aaronic Priesthood is never to be abolished. It remains forever with the Melchizedek Priesthood.

19. -22. The mission and authority of the greater Priesthood are here set forth. It administers in the gospel, and reveals the “mysteries of the kingdom” - even the knowledge concerning God, without which there would be no eternal life (v. 19). It administers the ordinacnes of the gospel, in which the power of godliness is manifest (v. 20); and it holds the authority which enables man to see God, even the Father, and live (v. 22). To quote again from the History of the Church:

    “President Joseph Smith, Jun., addressed the assembly and said, the Melchizedek High Priesthood was no other than the Priesthood of the Son of God; that there are certain ordinances which belong to the Priesthood, from which flow certain results; and the Presidents or Presidency are over the Church; and revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the Presidency. This is the order of heaven, and the power and privilege of the Priesthood. It is also the privilege of any officer in the Church to obtain revelations, so far as relates to his particular calling and duty in the Church. All are bound by the principles of virtue and happiness, but one great privilege of the Priesthood is to obtain revelations of the mind and will of God. It is also the privilege of the Melchizedek Priesthood, to reprove, rebuke, and admonish, as well as to receive revelation” (Vol. II., p. 477).

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23. This Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel] The Lord also gave to Israel in the wilderness a book of “Doctrine and Covenants” (Ex. 24:7, 8) which is found in Exodus 20:22 to 23:33. This was accepted by the people, by common consent, and the acceptance was solemnly ratified by sacrifice. In the 19th chapter of Exodus we read that God promised His people that if they would keep the covenant, He would make them “a peculiar treasure”; that is, His own special and private possession, “and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This is what Moses tried to teach the people. He tried to sanctify them through the Priesthood. See also I. Pet. 2:9. The Saints of God are there referred to as a “holy Priesthood.”

24. -25. But Israel did not keep the covenant, and the result was that Moses was taken from them, and with him the greater Priesthood (v. 25). (pp. 501-502)

In his Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, Monte S. Nyman shares the following instructive insights on these verses:

The Lord described above the priesthood that had been in the Church of God in all generations as being “without beginning of days or end of years” (v. 18). Alma gave a similar description of the priesthood in the Book of Mormon. “This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things” (Alma 13:7). Paul, in writing to the Hebrews, also recognized the eternal nature of the Melchizedek Priesthood. “For this Melchizedek was ordained priest after the order of the Son of God, which order was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually” (JST, Hebrews 7:3). In other words, the Melchizedek Priesthood is an eternal priesthood, not just an earthly authority.

The higher primary purpose of the higher priesthood is to administer the principles of the gospel through the various offices of this priesthood (v. 19), as is revealed in Doctrine and Covenants 107. The ultimate purpose, however, is to bring people to the knowledge of God. This knowledge is to come as personal knowledge of His existence, not just factual knowledge about Him. As Jesus taught during his mortal ministry in what is called “the great intercessory prayer” or the “high priestly prayer,” “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). To know God is to come unto Him through receiving the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, administered by the authority of that priesthood. It does not come automatically through receiving the ordinances, but is dependent upon one’s individual preparations and diligence. The Lord had earlier declared:

“And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained to this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am - not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.

For no many has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.

Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind. [D&C 67:10-12]

The Lord was more specific in a later revelation: “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am” (D&C 93:1). The forsaking of sins is based on the principle of repentance. To come unto Christ is to receive the ordinance of baptism (see 3 Nephi 21:6; 27:20). Those who call on the name of Christ are prayerful and seek the guidance of the Lord. To obey the Lord’s voice is to receive by revelation the answers to prayer. Those who keep His commandments are aware of and follow the written commandments contained in the scriptures. When a person comes face to face with Christ, he or she will certainly know Him, and thus be qualified for eternal life. He or she will be able to see the face of God in the flesh and live (D&C 82:22). The persons will have their calling and election made sure, as will be further discussed in section 88.

As revealed in the revelation on eternal marriage, man and wife will attain eternal lives. “This is eternal lives - to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law” (D&C132:24). Through eternal marriage, the family will be brought into the fulness of the Lord’s glory. Thus the gospel is not a “do it yourself” plan but a joint effort of the family.

The principle of the Melchizedek Priesthood manifesting the power of godliness was plainly taught by Moses to the children of Israel, but they rejected them and the Lord “took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also” (D&C 84:23-25). However, as will be discussed in section 107, the office of high priest, which seems to have been an office of the Melchizedek Priesthood, remained, and also the prophets were given the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Prophet Joseph declared, “All the prophets had the Melchizedek Priesthood and were ordained by God himself (TPJS, 181), and from other statements, it is concluded that God took away the Melchizedek Priesthood as a lay priesthood, but specified certain individuals to hold the higher priesthood. Since all ordinances are earthly ordinances, being ordained by God himself, suggests that God designated who was to be ordained, but others actually performed the ordination or at least followed His ordination with an earthly ordination.

(Monte S. Nyman, Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, Vol. 2, It Came from God, pp. 102-104)

The revelation in D&C 84 continues:

And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;

Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb.

For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power.

And again, the offices of elder and bishop are necessary appendages belonging unto the high priesthood.

And again, the offices of teacher and deacon are necessary appendages belonging to the lesser priesthood, which priesthood was confirmed upon Aaron and his sons. (D&C 84:26-30)

The greater Priesthood holds the key of the knowledge of God, and the lesser Priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels and of the preparatory gospel. As great as the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel are, they are a lesser portion of the Lord’s blessings. Not coincidentally, this lesser portion seems to be the focus of many members of the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is good as a preparation, but there is more.

The message of the preparatory gospel is taught throughout the Book of Mormon and it is the message that the Lord in His wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel for a long time, or at least until John the Baptist came along. The ministry of John the Baptist marked a turning point in sacred history, because He prepared the way for the greater blessings. He prepared the way for the mission, ministry, and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We learn a lot more about John the Baptist from these passages of scripture than what is contained merely in the Bible. God raised up John the Baptist, filled him with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb, and through an angel, ordained him to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews. John the Baptist made straight the way of the Lord and prepared them for the coming of the Lord.

This is Smith’s and Sjodahl’s commentary on these verses:

26. The lesser Priesthood continued] It was, as Paul calls the Law (Gal. 3:24), “our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.” It was confined to one tribe, that of Levi, and the presidency was vested in one family, that of Aaron. Hence its name, the Aaronic, or Levitic Priesthood.

    “The Children of Israel were not capable of living up to all the requirements of the Higher or Holy Priesthood and the law of the Gospel, so the Lord, through Moses, gave them a new law and order of the Holy Priesthood, and another set of officers to administer to the people under the new conditions. How long did the Israelites sojourn in Egypt? ***

    “This new authority, or new Priesthood, or rather this new adaptation of and order of the old Priesthood, is called the ‘Lesser Priesthood.’ It is an appendage of the Higher Priesthood, because it belongs to or grows out of it.” (Joseph B. Keeler, “The Lesser Priesthood,” p. 8.) The Lord had promised to Israel that if the people would obey His voice he would make of them a royal Priesthood, and He would give them the fulness of the Priesthood and the Gospel, but they hardened their hearts against him. Through Moses he said: “Now, therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of Priests (i.e. of the Melchizedek order), and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex. 19:5-6) “But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence, therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.” (V. 24).) This Aaronic Priesthood was to remain with them until the coming of Christ in his ministry.

27. The mission of the Aaronic Priesthood is here stated. It holds the key to the gospel of repentance, baptism, the remission of sins, and the Law of Carnal Commandments - the Law which was in force until John the Baptist.

28. For he was baptized, etc.] John was filled with the Holy Ghost, before he was born, when Mary visited Elizabeth (Luke 1:41). When he was eight days old, he was ordained by the Angel of God “to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews,” and to make “straight the way of the Lord”; to prepare His people for His coming. John, then, had the authority to close the Mosaic dispensation, after a last call to the people for repentance. He exercised that authority, and the result was the overthrow of the Jewish polity, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the people. The angel who conferred upon John the power of the Priesthood and the authority to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, we do not know; but he was one commissioned with all the authority and power to confer these keys, and his name matters not. From this revelation we learn that it was deemed expedient that John should be so blessed at the time he was named, when only eight days old. When he reached the age appointed, he was also baptized and prepared for his ministry when the full time had come.

29. -30. The offices of Elder and Bishop are appendages belonging to the High Priesthood, and again, the offices of Teacher and Deacon are here mentioned as appendages to the lesser Priesthood.

    While it is here stated that these offices are “necessary appendages” to the Priesthood, this does not signify, as some have supposed, that the other offices in the Priesthoods are not appendages. All the offices grow out of, and are appendages to the Priesthood as well as those mentioned here. (Doc. and Cov. 107:5) (pp. 502-504)

Monte S. Nyman’s commentary on these verses is also helpful:

The priesthood given to Aaron and his sons was not a substitute for the Melchizedek Priesthood that was taken away, but one which “also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the holiest order [the Melchizedek] of God” (D&C 84:18). This companion priesthood to the Melchizedek Priesthood, that was to continue with the house of Israel, “holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel” (v. 26). Wherefore, those who hold the keys of this priesthood have the right to be ministered to by the angels. Through the ordinances of this priesthood, others may be so ministered to, depending upon their worthiness. About ten months earlier, the Lord in a special conference of the Church had said (part of which was quoted earlier), “Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected. Let not your minds turn back; and when ye are worthy, in mine own due time, ye shall see and know that which was conferred upon you by the hands of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. Amen” (D&C 67:13-14).

The preparatory gospel was defined as “the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments” (D&C 84:27). It is probably called the preparatory gospel because it is to prepare a person to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. This priesthood also has the authority to minister the ordinances that will bring a remission of sins. While the ordinance of water baptism does not in itself bring a remission of sins, it prepares a person to receive the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Nephi 31:17; Moroni 6:4; 8:25-26; TPJS, 314). The preparatory gospel was given to Aaron and continued with his house “among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb (D&C 84:27, compare Luke 1:39-41).

The mission of John (who is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, see section 13 heading) was to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews and to prepare the way for the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ (D&C 84:28). Being baptized in his childhood does not refer to infant baptism, but undoubtedly to when he was eight years of age. The age of eight is an eternal principle. A male child was circumcised at eight days of age in the days of Abraham as a covenant to teach “that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old” (JST, Genesis 17:11; compare D&C 68:25). However, an angel of God did ordain John at the time he was eight days old to fulfill his foretold mission (v. 28).

The Prophet Joseph enlightened us further on the ordination of John the Baptist:

“As touching the gospel & Baptism that John preached I would say that John Came preaching the gospel for the remission of Sins he had his authority from God & the oricles of God were with him & the Kingdom of [God] for a season seemed to roll be with John alone. The Lord promised Zecheriah [4] that he should have a son, which was a desendant of Aaron & the Lord promised that the priesthood should continue with Aaron & his seed throughout their generations, Let no man take this honour upon himself except he be Called of God as was Aaron, & Aaron received his Call by Revelation. [5] An angel of God Also appeared unto Zecheriah while in the Temple that he should have a son whose name should be John & he should be filled with the Holy Ghost [6] Zecheriah was a Priest of God & officiating in the Temple & John was a priest after his father & held the Keys of the aronic priesthood & was Called of God to preache the Gospel & the Kingdom of God & the Jews as a nation having departed from the Law of God & the gospel the Lord prepared the way for transfering it to the gentiles.” [TPJS, 272-273]

Regarding the angel ordaining John, the Prophet Joseph stated further:

“Here is a little law which must be fulfilled. The Levitical Priesthood is forever hereditary - fixed on the head of Aaron and his sons forever, and was in active operation down to Zacharias the father of John. Zacharias would have had no child had not God given him a son. He sent his angel to declare unto Zacharias that his wife Elizabeth should bear him a son, whose name was to be called John.

The keys of the Aaronic Priesthood were committed unto him, and he was as the voice of one crying in the wilderness, saying: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight.”

The Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, etc.

The kingdom of heaven continueth in authority until John.

The authority taketh it by absolute power.

John having the power took the Kingdom by authority.

How have you obtained all this great knowledge? By the gift of the Holy Ghost. [TPJS, 319]”

We certainly should accept and appreciate what Joseph learned by the Holy Ghost.

Through the restoration of the Aaronic and the Melchizedek Priesthood, the way was prepared for the sons of Moses and Aaron to officiate in the temple that the Lord commanded to be built, and be filled with the glory of the Lord (D&C 84: 31-32). At the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, there was an outpouring of the Lord’s Spirit (HC, 4:428) as the Lord promised. The promise was not limited to the Kirtland Temple, but whenever “my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord” (D&C 97:15). Furthermore, the Lord promised that “all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God” (v. 16). This is a promise attained through the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, as noted earlier (see D&C 84:20-22). Therefore, it seems to be a specific blessing of the priesthood covenant. The priesthood and the temple are inseparably connected.

(Monte S. Nyman, Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, Vol. 2, It Came from God, pp. 105-107)

We will continue our study of D&C 84 in the following post.