High Priest

Compiled by

Robert Hyatt

Feb, 2000

 

Hebrews 5:1

 1 ¶ FOR every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

 

Hebrews 5:5

 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

 

Hebrews 5:10

 10 ¶ Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

Hebrews 6:20

 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

Hebrews 7:26

 26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

 

Hebrews 8:1

 1 ¶ NOW of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

 

Hebrews 8:3

 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

 

D&C 20:67

 67 Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder), bishop, high councilor, and high priest, is to be ordained by the direction of a high council or general conference.

 

D&C 68:19

 19 But, as a high priest of the Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power, under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

 

D&C 68:22

 22 And again, no bishop or high priest who shall be set apart for this ministry shall be tried or condemned for any crime, save it be before the First Presidency of the church;

 

D&C 81:1

 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you my servant Frederick G. Williams: Listen to the voice of him who speaketh, to the word of the Lord your God, and hearken to the calling wherewith you are called, even to be a high priest in my church, and a counselor unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun.;

 

D&C 106:1

 1 IT is my will that my servant Warren A. Cowdery should be appointed and ordained a presiding high priest over my church, in the land of Freedom and the regions round about;

 

D&C 107:2

 2 Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.

 

D&C 107:11

 11 An elder has a right to officiate in his stead when the high priest is not present.

 

D&C 107:12

 12 The high priest and elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeable to the covenants and commandments of the church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present.

 

D&C 107:17

 17 But as a high priest of the Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

 

D&C 107:66

 66 Or, in other words, the Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church.

 

D&C 107:71

 71 Nevertheless, a high priest, that is, after the order of Melchizedek, may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things, having a knowledge of them by the Spirit of truth;

 

D&C 138:41

 41 Noah, who gave warning of the flood; Shem, the great high priest; Abraham, the father of the faithful; Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, the great law-giver of Israel;

 

Abraham 1:2

 2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.

 

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.1, p.231

FIRST HIGH PRIESTS ORDAINED. At the fourth conference, held in Kirtland, June, 1831, the first high priests in this dispensation were ordained. There were 23 in all, among them being the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was ordained a high priest under the hands of Lyman Wight, he (Lyman Wight) having first been ordained to that office by the Prophet. Owing to his absence, Oliver

 

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section One 1830–34, p.21

The duty of a High Priest is to administer in spiritual and holy things, and to hold communion with God; but not to exercise monarchial government, or to appoint meetings for the Elders without their consent. And again, it is the High Priests' duty to be better qualified to teach principles and doctrines, than the Elders; for the office of Elder is an appendage to the High Priesthood, and it concentrates and centers in one. And again, the process of laboring with members: We are to deal with them precisely as the Scriptures direct. If thy brother trespass against thee, take him between him and thee alone; and, if he make thee satisfaction, thou hast saved thy brother; and if not, proceed to take another with thee, etc., and when there is no Bishop, they are to be tried by the voice of the Church; and if an Elder, or a High Priest be present, he is to take the lead in managing the business; but if not, such as have the highest authority should preside.

 

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Four 1839–42, p.158

How have we come at the Priesthood in the last days? It came down, down, in regular succession. Peter, James, and John had it given to them and they gave it to others. Christ is the Great High Priest; Adam next. Paul speaks of the Church coming to an innumerable company of angels—to God the Judge of all the spirits of just men made perfect; to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 12:22-24.)

 

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Four 1839–42, p.164

I feel much pleased with the spirit of your letter—and be assured, dear brethren, of my hearty cooperation, and my prayers for your welfare and success. In answer to your inquiry in a former letter, relative to the duty of the Seventies in regulating churches, etc., I say that the duties of the Seventies are more particularly to preach the Gospel, and build up churches, rather than regulate them, that a High Priest may take charge of them. If a High Priest should be remiss in his duty, and should lead, or suffer the Church to be led astray, depart from the ordinances of the Lord, then it is the duty of one of the Seventies, acting under the special direction of the Twelve, being duly commissioned by them with their delegated authority, to go to the Church, and if agreeable to a majority of the members of said Church, to proceed to regulate and put in order the same; otherwise, he can have no authority to act.

 

Discourses of Brigham Young, p.141

Now will it cause some of you to marvel that I was not ordained a High Priest before I was ordained an Apostle? Brother Kimball and myself were never ordained High Priests. How wonderful! I was going to say how little some of the brethren understood the Priesthood, after the Twelve were called. In our early career in this Church, on one occasion, in one of our Councils, we were telling about some of the Twelve wanting to ordain us High Priests, and what I said to Brother Patten when he wanted to ordain me in York State: said I, Brother Patten, wait until I can lift my hand to heaven and say, I have magnified the office of an Elder. After our conversation was over in the Council, some of the brethren began to query, and said we ought to be ordained High Priests; at the same time I did not consider that an Apostle needed to be ordained a High Priest, an Elder, or a Teacher. I did not express my views on the subject, at that time, but thought I would hear what brother Joseph would say about it. It was William E. McLellin who told Joseph that I and Heber were not ordained High Priests, and wanted to know if it should not be done. Said Joseph, "Will you insult the Priesthood? Is that all the knowledge you have of the office of an Apostle? Do you not know that the man who receives the Apostleship, receives all the keys that ever were, or that can be, conferred upon mortal man? What are you talking about? I am astonished!" Nothing more was said about it.

 

John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.150-151

HIGH PRIESTS TO INSTRUCT EACH OTHER IN CHURCH GOVERNMENT.—The high priests occupy a position in their priesthood whereby they are enabled to perform the various duties that they may be called upon to fill. You will find in reading the Doctrine and Covenants the following statement regarding the quorum of high priests: "Which ordinance is instituted for the purpose of qualifying those who shall be appointed standing presidents or servants over different stakes scattered abroad." (D. & C. 124:134.) That is, it is the duty of high priests to preside; the principle of presidency is connected with them. . . What is the duty of that quorum? To meet together to instruct one another in regard to the principles of the government of the church and kingdom of God; that its members may understand the various organizations of the church, the laws, and the principles of government thereof, and the various duties they may be called upon to fill. It may be to occupy the position of a president of a stake. It may be a counselor to the president. It may be a high counselor. It may be a bishop or his counselor. There are divers positions that high priests are called to occupy, as deaths and other changes often transpire, and new stakes and wards are being organized. But the changes do not affect the status of the individual at all….  Here is Brother Shurtliff called from acting as bishop to be the president of a stake. Have we a right to do that? Yes. Who is the bishop? A high priest. His place being vacated, that position needs supplying, and who shall supply it? These things are left for the counsel and the deliberation of the proper authorities to operate in for the welfare of the church as far as they know how, and according to the best judgment they possess; and then they should be presented to the people for them to vote upon. But in dropping a president it drops his counselors. They were selected to be his counselors, not somebody else's; and when some one else takes his place, then he should have his own counselors. These are the views entertained on this subject, and they are correct and very proper. The order of the church is for us to fulfil and magnify the calling to which we are called, and do it with an eye single to the glory of God, each man fulfilling the various duties and responsibilities of his office.—JD, 24:33-34, January 21, 1883.

 

John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.151

SEVENTIES AND HIGH PRIESTS

A HIGH PRIEST MAY TRAVEL AND A SEVENTY PRESIDE!—There has been, sometimes, a little feeling manifested between the seventies and high priests, as to who has the greatest authority, and some of the seventies have manifested a desire to be united with the high priests' quorum, thinking thereby to obtain a greater degree of priesthood. This is folly, for, as I stated before, it is not the office but the magnifying of an office that makes a man honorable. But in relation to their offices, they are called to move in other spheres, and fulfil other callings, rather than possessing different power and authority. Brother Carter thought that some of the seventies were out of their place, because they were appointed to preside over conferences, whereas they have as much right to preside, when legally appointed, as an high priest or an apostle. The seventies have the high priesthood, and many of them have received ordinances in the temple, qualifying them to build up the kingdom of God, if every other officer were dead or killed, and so have the high priests. So far, then, as authority is concerned, they both have authority, but it is the especial business of the seventies to preach to all the world, introduce and spread the gospel; while it is the duty of the high priests more especially to preside. Yet a high priest is not precluded from traveling and preaching, and introducing the gospel (nor a seventy from presiding.)

 

John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.197-198

ALL PRIESTHOOD FUNCTIONS UNDER DIRECTION IN CHURCH CAPACITY.—There is another question associated with this matter. Because a man is a high priest, is he an apostle? No. Because a man is a high priest, is he the president of a stake, or the counselor to the president of a stake? No. Because he is a high priest, is he a bishop? No, not by any means. And so on, in all the various offices. The high priesthood holds the authority to administer in those ordinances, offices, and places, when they are appointed by the proper authorities, and at no other time; and while they are sustained also by the people. Now these are the distinctions which I wish, to draw, simply to classify them. And when there is anything said about a high priest, you say, "I am a high priest, and if such a man has authority, I have it!" You have if you have been appointed to it, or you have not if you have not. You have it if you are appointed to fill the office and are properly called and set apart to that office; but unless you are, you have not got that office, but still you are a high priest; and high priests after the order of the Melchizedek priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing under the direction of the Presidency, in administering spiritual things, but they must be under that direction or Presidency. Now here is where the question comes in. Is it not plain when you look at it? To me it is very distinct and pointed, and it is to you who are intelligent and have studied these things. It is not because a man holds a certain class of priesthood that he is to administer in all the offices of that priesthood. He administers in them only as he is called and set apart for that purpose…. —JD, 22:193-196, July 18, 1880.

 

 

Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p.148

There is no office growing out of this Priesthood that is or can be greater than the Priesthood itself. It is from the Priesthood that the office derives its authority and power. No office gives authority to the Priesthood. No office adds to the power of the Priesthood. But all offices in the Church derive their power, their virtue, their authority, from the Priesthood. If our brethren would get this principle thoroughly established in their minds, there would be less misunderstanding in relation to the functions of government in the Church than there is. Today the question is, which is the greater—the high priest or the seventy—the seventy or the high priest?  I tell you that neither of them is the greater, and neither of them is the lesser. Their callings lie in different directions, but they are from the same Priesthood. If it were necessary, the seventy, holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, as he does, I say if it were necessary, he could ordain a high priest; and if it were necessary for a high priest to ordain a seventy, he could do that? Why?  Because both of them hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. Then again, if it were necessary, though I do not expect the necessity will ever arise, and there was no man left on earth holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, except an elder—that elder, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God and by the direction of the Almighty, could proceed and should proceed, to organize the Church of Jesus Christ in all its perfection, because he holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. But the house of God is a house of order, and while the other officers remain in the Church, we must observe the order of the priesthood, and we must perform ordinances and ordinations strictly in accordance with that order, as it has been established in the Church through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors.—Oct. C. R., 1903, p. 87.

 

Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p.182

Every man who holds the office of high priest in the Church, or has been ordained a high priest, whether he is called to active position in the Church or not—inasmuch as he has been ordained a high priest, should feel that he is obliged—that it is his bounden duty, to set an example before the old and young worthy of emulation, and to place himself in a position to be a teacher of righteousness, not only by precept but more particularly by example—giving to the younger ones the benefit of the experience of age, and thus becoming individually a power in the midst of the community in which he dwells. Every man who has light should let that light shine, that those who see it may glorify their Father which is in heaven, and honor him who possesses the light and who causes it to shine forth for the benefit of others. In a local capacity, there is no body of priesthood in the Church who should excel, or who are expected to excel, those who are called to bear the office of high priest in the Church. From among those who hold this office are chosen the presidents of stakes and their counselors, and the high councils of the stakes of Zion, and from this office are chosen the bishops, and the bishops' counselors in every ward in Zion; and heretofore, of this office are those who have been called to take charge of our stake Mutual Improvement organizations. Those holding this office are, as a rule, men of advanced years, and varied experience, men who have filled missions abroad, who have preached the gospel to the nations of the earth, and who have had experience not only abroad but at home. Their experience and wisdom is the ripened fruit of years of labor in the Church, and they should exercise that wisdom for the benefit of all with whom they are associated.—Apr. C. R., 1908, pp. 5, 6.