The Loss of The Priesthood In The Early LDS Church.
- Preface: The untold history of the Restoration is incomplete and there’s not a lot of details available. This post is an effort to show the scriptures and other historical sources, how they apply, as some may be unaware of them, and how they may have been taken out of context. These scripture references and other tools are given for further self-study.
Points to remember:
- The loss of the priesthood was prophesied by Isaiah that Zion would fall and lose priesthood, but be redeemed in the Final Days (Isaiah 52:1, D&C 113:7-8) .
- Prophet Isaiah always and only spoke of the final days of the last days. Joseph knew this, and many students of Isaiah understand this concept (D&C 113:7-8).
- In the 1830's and 1840's through Joseph, in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord was never speaking to the ancient saints of the great apostasy in the first and second century, but always to the Saints.
- The Lord gave the Parable of the Redemption of Zion to explain how the foundation of the church was laid, with the help of his servants, then the servants got lazy, the enemy came by night when the servants were asleep and destroyed the vineyard -- Zion. This is how Zion lost her beauty, her strength, the authority of the priesthood. But the Lord also shows his plans and will for gathering the Saints and redeeming Zion in the final days before His Second Coming (D&C 101:43-62).
- The Lord blesses, curses, and He always educates and warns his people in advance.
How the Loss of the Priesthood Came About
Pre-Restoration
Mid-8th Century BCE – Loss of the priesthood prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 52:1, D&C 113:7-8)
- Elias Higbee questioned the meaning of Isaiah 52:1 and the Lord answered in D&C 113:7-8.
- Zion's strength is in the authority of the priesthood power, her right by lineage.
- God to call people with priesthood in final days to bring back Zion to her power.
1829-1832
Restoration timeline begins
- May 15, 1829 Aaronic Priesthood restored near Harmony, Pennsylvania
- Between May 15, 1829 and June 28, 1829 – First order of Melchizedek Priesthood restored
- April 6, 1830 Church organized in Fayette, New York
- June 1831 Second Order of Melchizedek Priesthood restored at Isaac Morley farm
September 1832 Zion’s fall begins, Church condemned, greater priesthood lost, warnings of scourges ahead (D&C 84:19-27, 52-59)
- D&C 84:19-22: The greater priesthood here is the first order of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- It administereth the gospel.
- It holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.”
- With the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
- Without the ordinances thereof, power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh.
- Without this, no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
D&C 84:25-26: Moses plainly taught and diligently worked to sanctify his people so that they could see the face of God, but they hardened their hearts. The Lord took Moses away, and the Holy Priesthood also, but the lesser priesthood remained. This is in parallel to what happened to Joseph and the Saints.
Why is this not taught to us today in the church?
D&C 84:52-59: Saints brought the whole church under condemnation by treating the Lord’s words lightly.
- If Saints do not repent and remember the new covenant and bring forth fruit meet for Father's kingdom, the condemnation remains.
- Otherwise a scourge remains because the Lord will not allow them to pollute his holy land.
1833-1834
January 1833 – Warning from the Lord in letter to William W Phelps in Liberty, MO.
- His anger is kindling to fierceness.
- If Zion does not purify herself, the Lord will seek another people until Israel is gathered.
- Joseph says "hear the warning...", if Zion falls, the Lord swears in his wrath "the inhabitants of Zion shall not enter into" the Lord's rest.
- The brethren pray for the Saints in Jackson County, MO unceasingly.
December 1833 — Lord gives the Parable of the Redemption of Zion (D&C 101:43-62)
- The Lord explains how Zion falls and how it is to be redeemed.
- The Lord and his servants builds his vineyard (the church), plant the olive trees (his people), places a hedge to protect, and a tower (path to ascension) to watch for the enemy.
- True servants are faithful (Joseph and Hyrum and a few others)
- Other servants are slacking and at variance with each other, some apostate, have an all is well mentality, and the tower does not get not built.
- Enemy comes by night and destroys all, and the church is destroyed.
1834 — Scourges and Judgments from the Lord
- April 1834 – Church is cursed (D&C 104:2-5)
- May 1834 - Lord removes His name from Church at Conference of the Elder of the Church of Christ
- See digital collections
- See history
June 1834 — Elders to wait a little season to redeem Zion (D&C 105:1-9)
- 1835 - Baptismal Prayer change following curse which lost Lord's name on Church
- About AD 34 Baptismal prayer: “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ” (3 Nephi 11:25)
- 1833 Baptismal prayer: “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ”
- 1835 Baptismal Prayer changed to: “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ”
- Important Point: Joseph and Oliver made the changes in 1835 because the Church lost the ability to baptize “in my name”, which is with the higher priesthood and the ordinances thereof in which the power of godliness is manifest, and the for the baptism of water, fire and Holy Ghost (D&C 84:19-21), which is the priesthood that Moses had that was taken away from the people.
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Author - Dustin Grady
I love the doctrine of Christ, and do my best to teach others what I have learned through study, ponder, and prayer.