D&C 107:1-17

Section 107 is very long revelation about “the organization of Priesthood quorums.” The IM says that the Twelve apostles requested direction from the Lord for comfort and guidance before they left on their first missions to the “eastern states, to the Atlantic Ocean.” Interestingly, during the meeting where many decisions were made, the Twelve met together they did “feel to confess also, that we have not realized the importance of our calling to that degree that we ought; we have been light-minded and vain, and in many things done wrong.” They asked for forgiveness from the Lord and from “the Presidency.” After listening to this section, it makes me wonder this explanation of the priesthood is comforting to these men who are about to go on their mission? I’m also going to try to do something different this time, I’m not going to go by just the IM. Maybe it’s comforting to them because they are armed with the priesthood.

107:1-17 - I feel like a lot of this section is a back and forth between the two priesthoods, who has what keys and offices and responsibilities. The Lord begins with the explanation of the higher priesthood which “is called the Melchezidek Priesthood is because Melchezidek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchezidek, or the Melchezidek Priesthood.” There are several explanations of what the Melchezidek priesthood holders are supposed to do, which offices they can hold, and where they can officiate in those offices. Honestly, for me it’s really confusing, but what helped me immensely was a quote by Elder Bruce R. McConkie as taught in the IM which says, “The priesthood is greater than any of its offices. No office adds any power, dignity, or authority to the priesthood. All offices derive their rights, prerogatives, graces, and powers from the priesthood. This principle may be diagramed by dividing a circle into segments. The priesthood is the circle; the segments of the circle are the callings or offices in the priesthood. Anyone who serves in a segment of the circle must possess the power of the whole circle. No one can hold an office in the priesthood without first holding the priesthood. Thus it is that priesthood is conferred upon worthy individuals, and they are then ordained to offices in the priesthood; and thus it is that all offices in the priesthood and in the Church are specifically designated as appendages to the priesthood; that is, they grow out of the priesthood, they are supplemental to it, they are less than the priesthood in importance. It follows that it is greater and more important to hold the Melchezidek Priesthood, for instance, than it is to hold any office in that priesthood… Further, there is no advancement from one office to another within the Melchezidek Priesthood. Every elder holds as much priesthood as an apostle or as the president of the Church, though these latter officers hold greater administrative assignments in the kingdom. It follows, also, that any holder of the Melchezidek Priesthood could perform any priestly function he was appointed to do by the one holding the keys of the kingdom.” I really liked this because it gave some insight into importance of the priesthood. As human beings we attach more priority to the office we hold, or who we are in charge of, or how many people we are the boss of, but this is saying that all that doesn’t matter, or that it’s the secondary priority. In order to be a good apostle or bishop you must first be a righteous priesthood holder, but it’s not the other way around.