AARONIC PRIESTHOOD (Teachings of Joseph Smith)

Jesus Unable to Enter Kingdom Except Through Administration of John — Martha Jane Knowlton Coray (March 21, 1841)

Jhon felt that the honor of baptizing his master was too great a thing grater than he could claim and said I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me Jesus repled thus it behooveth us to fulfill all righteousness thus signifying to Jhon the claim of the Aronic priesthood which holds the keys of enterance into the Kingdom. . . .

Jesus as I said could not enter except by the administration of Jhon. Although Jhon was not a restorer but a forerunner . . .

Discourse, circa 21 March 1841, as Reported by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, pp. 26-27, The Joseph Smith Papers.

John the Baptist a Lawful Heir to Aaronic Priesthood as a Levite — Martha Jane Knowlton Coray (March 21, 1841)

Joseph Smith read the 3 chap Malachi dwelt with emphasis upon the Levitical priesthood and the promise concerning them
Took up Jhon John shewed him to be a Levite and proceeded The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths strait Now it was written that the priests lips should keep knowledge, and to them should the people seek for understanding and above all the law binds them and us to receive the word of the Lord at the hands of the Levites therefore Jhon being Lawful heir to the Levitical Priesthood the people were bound to receive his testimony. Hence the saying the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force after Jhon had been testifying of Jesus for some time Jesus came unto him for baptism Jhon felt that the honor of baptizing his master was too great a thing grater than he could claim and said I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me Jesus replied thus it behooveth us to fulfill all righteousness thus signifying to Jhon the claim of the Aronic priesthood which holds the keys of enterance into the Kingdom. Then the three signs which were given were conclusive The dove which sat upon his shoulder was a sure testimony that he was of God

Discourse, circa 21 March 1841, as Reported by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, pp. 23-25, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Levites Heirs to Priesthood by Lineage as Seen in the Example of John the Baptist — William P. McIntire (March 21, 1841)

Joseph Read the 2 & 3d. Chapters of Malichi & stated that there was a priestHood Confered upon all the sons of Levi throughout the Jeneration of the Jews & he also said they beCome heirs to that pristHood By Linage or Decent & held the Keys of the first principles of the Gospel— for this— he quoted concerning Jesus coming to John to be Baptized of John that he (Jesus) might Enter into the Kingdom as John held the Keys suffer it to be so now &c he also Brought up Zacharias pleading with the Lord in the temple that he might have seed so that the preistHood might be presurved

Discourse, circa 21 March 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire, p. 17, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Authority of Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist — Martha Jane Knowlton Coray (March 21, 1841)

All the Authority that we have is from Jhon The Law is not changed nor the ordinances

Discourse, circa 21 March 1841, as reported by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, p. 27, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Levitical Priesthood an Appendage to Melchizedek Priesthood — James Burgess (August 27, 1843)

The levitical preisthood was an appendage to the Melchesideck preisthood or the whole law of God when in full face or power in all its parts and bearings on the earth.

Discourse, 27 August 1843, as Reported by James Burgess, pp. 15-16, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Hierarchy of Priesthood of Levi, Abraham, and Melchizedek — James Burgess (August 27, 1843)

The preisthood of Levi consisted of cursings and carnal commandments and not of blessings and if the preisthood of this generation has no more power than that of Levi or Aron or of a bishhoprick it administers no blessings but cursings for it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I ask was there any sealing power attending this preisthood. that would admit a man into the presence of God. Oh no, but Abraham’s was a more exalted power or preisthood he could talk and walk with God and yet consider how great this man was when even this patriarch Abraham gave a tenth part of all his spoils and then received a blessing under the hands of Melchesideck even the last law or a fulness of the law or preisthood which constituted him a king and preist after the order of Melchesideck or an endless life Now if Abraham had been like the sectarian world and would not have received any more revelation, what would have been the consequence it would have damned him. Book of Covenants.

Discourse, 27 August 1843, as Reported by James Burgess, pp. 14-15, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Melchizedek Greatest Priesthood, Abraham’s Priesthood Next, and Levitical Last — James Burgess (August 27, 1843)

Hebrewes 7 chap. Paul is here treating of three different preisthoods, namely the preisthood of A[a]ron, Abraham, and Melchizedeck, Abraham’s preisthood was of greater power than Levi’s and Melchizedeck’s was of greater power than that of Abraham.

Discourse, 27 August 1843, as Reported by James Burgess, p. 14, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Levitical Priesthood One of the Three Grand Orders of Priesthood — Franklin D. Richards (August 27, 1843)

There are 3 grand principles or orders of Priesthood portrayed in this chapter

1st Levitical which was neve[r] able to administer a Blessing but only to bind heavy burdens which neither they nor their fath wer[e] able to bear.

Discourse, 27 August 1843, as Reported by Franklin D. Richards, pp. 25-26, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Notes About Levitical Priesthood — Willard Richards (August 27, 1843)

told an anecdote of the Episcopali[a]n pri[e]st— who said he had the pr[i]esthood of A[a]ron— but not of Melichsedch [Melchizedek]— and bore this testimony that I never have found the man who claimed the pri[e]sthood of Melchisideck.

The law was given under Aaron for the purpose of pouring out Jud[g]ments— and destructi[o]ns.

3 grand orders of pri[e]sthood referred to there . . .

3d Priesthood. Levitical Prest

Pri[e]sts made without an oath but the Pr[i]esthood of Melchisedek is by oath and cov[e]nant.

Holy Ghost.

Discourse, 27 August 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 71-74, The Joseph Smith Papers.

John the Baptist Inherited a Lawful Right to Aaronic Priesthood as a Descendant of Aaron — Franklin D. Richards (July 23, 1843)

July 23 Joseph said after reading Matt 11-12 & Luke 16-16 Heaven & Earth might pass but not a jot or tittle of the Law should read Exodus 40-15 Anointing of Aaron & his sons and shewed that all the Power & Authority & Anointing descended upon the head of John the Baptist or “The Government shall be upon his shoulders” This was virtually acknowledged by all Judea & they of Jersualem coming out to be baptised of him & the rendering the Texts is “The Kingdom continueth in authority or Law & the Authority or legality (which belonged to John) took it by force or wrested it from the Jews to be delivered to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by Franklin D. Richards, p. 23, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Descendants of Aaron Inherit Right to Aaronic Priesthood by Lineage — James Burgess (July 23, 1843)

Luke 16 chap 16 verse. The Law and the Prophets were untill John since then the Kingdom of Heaven is preached and all men press into it. We will go back to Mount Scinia where Jesus gave the Law to Moses Exodus 30 chap 30 verse also the last chap 15 verse. The preisthood was given to Aron and his posterity throughout all generations We can trace the leanage down to Zachariah he being the only lawfull administrator in his day and the jews knew it well for they always acknowledge the priesthood, and Zachariah having no children, knew that the promise of God must fail, consequently he went into the Temple to wrestle with God according to the order of the preisthood  to obtain a promise of a son, and when the Angel told him that his promise was granted he because of unbelief was struck dumb.

Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by James Burgess, pp. 12-13, The Joseph Smith Papers.

John the Baptist the Only Lawful Administrator of Aaronic Priesthood — James Burgess (July 23, 1843)

And when the set time was come John came forth and when he took up his preisthood, he came bounding out of the wilderness saying repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, he having received the holy anointing was the only lawful administrator and the jews all knew it— for the law and the prophets was untill John since then the kingdom of heaven is preached and all men press into it! Why! Why John because John was the only lawful administrator and they the Jews well knew it. consequently the only alternative was for them to yeild obedience to mandates of this wild man of the woods, namely John or be damned For all Jerusalam and all Judea came out to be babtised of John, sadusees, pharasees, Essenees &c For untill John was the law and the prophets, since then the kingdom of heaven is preached and all men press into it.

Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by James Burgess, pp. 13-14, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Office & Keys of Aaronic Priesthood to Preach Repentence, Baptism, Remission of Sins, and Baptize — Wilford Woodruff (March 10, 1844)

. . . I went into the woods to inquire of the Lord by prayer his will concerning me— & I saw an angel & he laid his hands upon my head & ordained me to be a priest after the order of Aaron & to hold the keys of this priesthood which office was to preach repentance & Baptism for the remission of sins & also to baptise but was informed that this office did not extend to the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost—that that office was a greater work & was to be given afterwards but that my ordination was a preparetory work or a going before which was the spirit of Elias . . .

Discourse, 10 March 1844, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 205, The Joseph Smith Papers.