To better understand the priesthood of God, it's important to know the differences and connections between priesthood keys, authority, power, and ordination, and how the Lord uses the priesthood to bless you and all His children. (Much of this section is taken from chapter three of the General Handbook)

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What is the Priesthood?

The priesthood is the authority and power of God. Through the priesthood, Heavenly Father accomplishes His work “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). God grants authority and power to His sons and daughters on earth to help carry out this work.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only organization on earth with priesthood authority. The Prophet Joseph Smith received the Aaronic Priesthood and its keys from John the Baptist (see Doctrine and Covenants 13:1). He received the Melchizedek Priesthood and its keys from the Apostles Peter, James, and John (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:12–13).

In the Kirtland Temple, Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and committed to him the further authority necessary to accomplish God’s work in the latter days (see Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16).

Each member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles holds all these priesthood keys today. These leaders call and authorize other Church members to use God’s priesthood authority and power to assist in His work of salvation and exaltation.

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What Are the Blessings Available Through the Priesthood?

Through the priesthood, God makes great blessings available to all His children. These blessings include:

• The ordinances and covenants necessary for salvation and exaltation.

• Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• The sacrament.

• Additional ordinances, including patriarchal blessings and other priesthood blessings of healing, comfort, and guidance.

• Authority and power from God to serve in Church callings and assignments.

 

God’s children can receive these blessings of the priesthood and experience great joy as they live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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What is Priesthood Authority?

Priesthood authority is God's permission to represent Him and act in His name. In the Church, all priesthood authority is exercised under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys.

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Men receive priesthood authority to act in a priesthood office when they are ordained to that office. In addition, all Church members can exercise delegated authority from God to act in a specific calling or assignment as they are set apart or assigned to help accomplish His work, this includes ministering brothers and sisters. Members are accountable to God and to those He has appointed to preside for how they exercise His authority.

• When have you felt God's blessings helping you after you were set apart to serve in a Church calling?​

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What are Priesthood Keys?

"Priesthood keys govern how the priesthood of God may be used to bring about the Lord’s purposes and bless all who accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ... Priesthood keys give us the authority to extend all of the blessings promised to Abraham to every covenant-keeping man and woman... Priesthood keys restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith make it possible for every covenant-keeping man and woman to enjoy incredible personal spiritual privileges" (Russell M. Nelson, "Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys," general conference, April 2024). "The use of all priesthood authority in the Church is directed by those who hold priesthood keys (see Doctrine and Covenants 65:2)" (General Handbook, 3.4.1).

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Jesus Christ holds all the keys of the priesthood. The Lord has conferred on each of His Apostles all the keys that pertain to the kingdom of God on earth. The senior living Apostle, the President of the Church, is the only person on earth authorized to exercise all of those priesthood keys (see Doctrine and Covenants 81:1–2; 107:64–67, 91–92; 132:7). Under the direction of the President of the Church, specific keys are given to other priesthood leaders such as stake presidents, bishops, and priesthood quorum presidents (see General Handbook, 3.1).​

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What are Priesthood Conferral and Ordination?

With authorization from individuals who hold priesthood keys, the Lord has directed that the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods can be conferred on Heavenly Father's faithful sons who have the role of standing in the place of Jesus Christ to bring Heavenly Father's children to Him through priesthood ordinances. After the priesthood is conferred, the person is ordained to an office in that priesthood such as deacon or elder. By accepting priesthood conferral and ordination, the brother holds that priesthood and exercises it according to the duties of that office (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:99). ​

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Each man in the Church of Jesus Christ should strive to be worthy to receive and use the Melchizedek Priesthood to serve others. When a man receives this priesthood, he makes a covenant to faithfully fulfill his priesthood responsibilities. He also receives from God an oath, or promise, of eternal blessings (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44; Guide to the Scriptures, “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood”).

 

Men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood can give priesthood blessings to family members to provide direction, healing, and comfort. When needed, Church members can also seek these blessings from extended family members, ministering brothers, or local Church leaders.

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What are Priesthood Ordinances and Covenants?

Priesthood keys, ordination, and authority are how Heavenly Father gives His children access to essential ordinances and covenants that bind us to our loved ones eternally and allow us eventually to live with Him (see Russell M. Nelson, "Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys," general conference, April 2024). Without these ordinances and covenants, we cannot return to live with our Heavenly Father or our families in eternal joy. Ordinances such as baptism and confirmation, the sacrament, and the higher ordinances of the house of the Lord are all performed with priesthood authority under the direction of individuals holding priesthood keys. You can learn more about ordinances and covenants in the study guide "Jesus Christ and His Covenant Path." 

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What is Priesthood Power and How Can All Church Members Access It?

When individuals receive the ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation, they enter a covenant relationship with God. Each covenant individuals make and keep draws them closer to God and strengthens their bond with Him. God has promised that His covenant people will be “armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14). God’s power is sometimes referred to as priesthood power.

 

All Church members—women, men, and children—have access to God’s priesthood power as they keep the covenants they have made with Him. For example, when individuals are baptized and confirmed, they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through the companionship of the Holy Ghost they can be blessed with divine power and increased capacity to know and do God’s will (see Acts 1:8; 2 Nephi 32:5). Similarly, by receiving the temple endowment and sealing ordinances and keeping the associated covenants, individuals are blessed with additional knowledge and “power from on high” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:32; see also 109:22; 132:19–20).

 

Accessing God’s power helps individuals to better withstand temptations, trials, and heartaches in their lives. The Savior described the blessings of being bound to Him by covenant when He taught: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; … and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30). As individuals yoke themselves with the Lord by covenant, they can experience His healing, strengthening, and redeeming power. The “rest” He promises includes forgiveness, relief, peace, confidence, and joy.

 

By keeping their covenants with God, Church members also can experience His power to help them in their family responsibilities and in their Church callings and assignments. Because of Jesus Christ, the ultimate blessing of keeping covenants with God is “the power of godliness,” which is the power to become like God and receive His gift of eternal life (Doctrine and Covenants 84:20).

 

The Lord revealed: “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33). Thus, God’s power cannot be exercised against His will. It cannot be used selfishly or to control others (see Doctrine and Covenants 136:19). Access to God’s power is based on living “the principles of righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:36; see also verses 37–46).

 

God’s priesthood power is different from His priesthood authority, which is given specifically by ordination, setting apart, or assignment.

 

President Russell M. Nelson expressed: "I fear that there are too many...who lack [God's] power because the flow of power has been blocked by sins such as laziness, dishonesty, pride, immorality, or preoccupation with things of the world... I fear that there are too many...who have done little or nothing to develop their ability to access the powers of heaven... If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power." ("The Price of Priesthood Power," general conference, April 2016).

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Ponder:

• What could I do today to increase my access to God's power in my life?

 

How can I prepare to receive the Aaronic Priesthood?

The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood, helping prepare Heavenly Father's sons to bear the Melchizedek Priesthood. But Heavenly Father has been preparing you to receive His priesthood since before you were born on earth and He will continue to prepare you as long as you will let Him. 

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The purpose of holding the priesthood and serving in a priesthood office is to prepare you and those you serve for eternal life. Don't worry about how inexperienced you are or think you are. Instead, think about what, with the Lord's help, you can become!

 

Loving God and loving your neighbor are at the heart of priesthood service. You can prepare to hold God's priesthood by learning to put God first in everything you do and find ways to help His children. 

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Study and Ponder:

Doctrine and Covenants 20:46-60

• What can I do now to show Heavenly Father I love Him?

• How can I prepare right now to help Heavenly Father teach and watch over members of the Church?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​