Doctrine and Covenants 107
Two Priesthoods
Melchizedek
Aaronic (Levitical)
v. 3-4: "Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out 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 Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood."
v. 5: "All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages..."
Responsibilities
Priesthood Lineage
Organization
Quorums are called and organized consisting of twelve and seventy members.
v. 27 " And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other-"
Just like family history and genealogy, having the knowledge of the priesthood line is important. We can know for a fact that the priesthood authority comes directly from God with this knowledge.
v. 41,57 "This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner... These things were all written in the book of Enoch..."
v. 99: "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence."
Referred to as "the lesser priesthood" only as it refers to its comparison to the "Higher priesthood," or the Melchizedek Priesthood. These terms relate to the power and authority each gives.
"The role of an apostle is the same today as it was anciently... An apostle is a missionary and a special witness of the name of Christ... As special witnesses of the name of Christ, we bear testimony of the reality, divinity, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His infinite and eternal Atonement, and His gospel." -David A. Bednar
The quorum of the twelve acts under the authority of the presidency of the church, and the quorum of the events acts under the authroity of the twelve.
"Can you imagine how the spirit needs to move upon 15 mn to bring about unanimity? These 15 men have carried educational and professional backgrounds, with differing opinions about many things. Trust me! These 15 men- prophets, seers, and revelatory- know what the will of the Lord is when unanimity is reached! They are committed to see that the Lord''s will truly be done." -Russell M. Nelson
A Bishop has two main responsibilities. These are to administer to both the temporal and spiritual needs of those he has stewardship over.
"The bishop is the judge and the shepherd who has the power of discernment and the right to revelation and inspiration for the guidance of the flock. He is responsible for holding worthiness interviews in order to authorize attendance at the temple, callings to ward positions, ordinations to priesthood offices, and the callings of missionaries. He administers formal and informal discipline for violation of the laws of the Church,and he counsels and helps members to avoid the necessity for discipline." -Dallin H. Oaks
"The priesthood is not so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of others. With these opportunities come responsibilities and duties..." -Thomas S. Monson
v. 25: "The seventy are also called to preach the gospel and to be special witnesses unto the the gentiles and into all the world..."
"[The Melchizedek Priesthood] is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven... It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through. which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which he will make known His purposes to the end of time." -Joseph Smith
v. 8: " The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things."
"There is no office growing out of this priesthood that is or can be greater than the priesthood itself. It is from the priesthood that the office derives its authority and power. No office gives authority to the priesthood. No office adds to the power of the priesthood. But all offices in the Church derive their power, their virtue, their authority from the priesthood." -Joseph Smith
"The fact that 'the Holy Priesthood' was called 'after the order of the Son of God' suggests that priesthood holders are to walk in holiness and use the authority and power of the priesthood as Jesus Christ would. The Prophet Joseph Smith's inspired translation of Hebrews 7:3 teaches that 'all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God.'"