D&C 13 and 20: The Priesthood is Restored and the Church is Organized

Tonight we had a special guest teacher: Joseph Fielding McConkie. He is a close friend and a superb teacher. I noted the statements he referred to or specifically quoted, they are listed below. Brother McConkie is a retired professor of Ancient Scripture from BYU.

Why didn’t John the Baptist baptize Joseph and Oliver?

“One of the Apostles said to me years ago, ‘Brother Woodruff, I have prayed for a long time for the Lord to send me the administration of an angel. I have had a great desire for this, but I have never had my prayers answered.’ I said to him that if he were to pray a thousand years to the God of Israel for that gift, it would not be granted, unless the Lord had a motive in sending an angel to him. I told him that the Lord never did nor never will send an angel to anybody merely to gratify the desire of the individual to see an angel. If the Lord sends an angel to anyone, He sends him to perform a work that cannot be performed only by the administration of an angel.” (Wilford Woodruff, Collected Discourses 5:233, October 19, 1896, Weber Stake Conference)

Will animal sacrifice really be reinstituted?

Joseph Smith taught: “It is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e.,] the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future; but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the Priesthood, or with the Prophets.

“The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. We frequently have mention made of the offering of sacrifice by the servants of the Most High in ancient days, prior to the law of Moses; which ordinances will be continued when the Priesthood is restored with all its authority, power and blessings . . .

“These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and ever will exist when the powers of the Melchizedek Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by the Holy Prophets be brought to pass. It is not to be understood that the law of Moses will be established again with all its rites and variety of ceremonies; this has never been spoken of by the prophets; but those things which existed prior to Moses’ day, namely, sacrifice, will be continued.

“It may be asked by some, what necessity for sacrifice, since the Great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to which, if repentance, baptism, and faith existed prior to the days of Christ, what necessity for them since that time? The Priesthood has descended in a regular line from father to son, through their succeeding generations” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 172-73).

Melchizedek Priesthood Restored

Brother McConkie mentioned that I might share some of the historical documents regarding the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Rather than do that, go the Church website and look up the December 1996 Ensign. In that issue you will find an excellent article written by Larry C. Porter entitled, The Restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods. Just about everything you could want is in this article. I strongly encourage everyone to read it.