Priesthood Principles

Jesus Christ holds all the keys of the priesthood. Under His direction, priesthood keys are given to men to use in specific callings to help accomplish God’s work, as explained below.

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, the following local priesthood leaders are given keys so they can preside in their areas of responsibility:

• Stake and district presidents

• Bishops and branch presidents

• Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidents

• Temple presidents

• Mission presidents and missionary training center presidents

• Church historic site presidents

These leaders receive priesthood keys when they are set apart to their callings.

Priesthood keys are not given to others, including counselors to local priesthood leaders or presidents of Church organizations. These leaders are given delegated authority when they are set apart and when they receive assignments under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys. Presidents of Church organizations preside under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys (see 4.2.4).

Priesthood keys ensure that God’s work of salvation and exaltation is accomplished in an orderly manner (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:11; 132:8). Those who hold priesthood keys direct the Lord’s work within their areas of responsibility. This presiding authority is valid only for the specific responsibilities of the leader’s calling. When priesthood leaders are released from their callings, they no longer hold these keys.

All who serve in the Church are set apart or assigned under the direction of one who holds priesthood keys.

When Church members are set apart under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys, they are given authority from God to act in that calling. For example:

• A woman who is called and set apart by the bishop as ward Relief Society president is given authority to direct the work of Relief Society in the ward.

• A man or woman who is called and set apart by a member of the bishopric as a Primary teacher is given authority to teach Primary children in the ward.

All who are called and set apart serve under the direction of those who preside over them (see 3.4.1.2).

When Church members are released from a calling, they no longer have the authority associated with it.

For more information about setting apart members for Church callings, see 18.11.

Presiding Church leaders can delegate authority by assignment. When men and women receive these assignments, they are given authority from God to act. For example:

• The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delegate authority to Seventies who are assigned to administer areas and to preside at stake conferences.

• Mission presidents delegate authority to male and female missionaries who are assigned to lead and train other missionaries.

• Authority is delegated to Church members to serve as ministering brothers and ministering sisters. This occurs when they are assigned under the bishop’s direction by the elders quorum president or Relief Society president.

Authority that is delegated by assignment is limited to the specific responsibilities and duration of the assignment.

For more information about assignment through delegation, see 4.2.5.

By receiving the ordinance of baptism, God’s children enter into a covenant relationship with Him that leads toward eternal life (see 2 Nephi 31:17–18). Those who are baptized covenant that they are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, keep God’s commandments, and serve Him to the end (see 2 Nephi 31:7, 13–14; Mosiah 18:10; Moroni 6:3; Doctrine and Covenants 20:37).

Baptism by water must be followed by the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Savior explained, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Therefore, baptism by water is followed by confirmation and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:41). In this ordinance, individuals are confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and instructed to receive the Holy Ghost.

As members exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, and strive to keep the baptismal covenant, they receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost (see Mosiah 18:10). The Holy Ghost can guide, direct, and purify them from sin throughout their lives and help them become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 31:17; 32:5; 3 Nephi 12:48; 27:20). They are in the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:18).

All of God’s eternal blessings are made available to His children—daughters and sons—through Jesus Christ and the ordinances and covenants necessary for salvation and exaltation (see 3.5.3). Conferral of the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordination to an office is a necessary ordinance for men to receive the fulness of these blessings.

A man who receives the Melchizedek Priesthood makes a covenant to be faithful and magnify his priesthood calling and responsibilities (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:33). God promises with an oath that those who honor this covenant will be sanctified by the Spirit and receive all the Father has (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–40; see also Guide to the Scriptures, “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood,” Gospel Library).

Priesthood holders have a sacred calling and responsibility to represent the Lord in helping others come unto Him and in administering the ordinances and covenants necessary for salvation and exaltation (see Alma 13:1–3, 6, 16). When priesthood holders magnify this calling and responsibility, they become instruments in God’s hands to bless His children.

God’s blessings of eternal life are available to all worthy men, women, and children. All who receive the Lord’s servants—and who make and keep the covenants associated with the ordinances of salvation and exaltation—receive the Lord Jesus Christ. All who receive Jesus Christ receive the Father and all the Father has (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:36–38; see also Matthew 10:40; John 13:20; Doctrine and Covenants 76:59).

Church members who receive the temple endowment covenant to:

• Live the law of obedience.

• Obey the law of sacrifice.

• Obey the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Keep the law of chastity.

• Keep the law of consecration.

As part of the endowment ordinance, an individual is instructed to wear the garment of the holy priesthood throughout his or her life. Keeping the covenants made in the endowment includes the sacred privilege of wearing the temple garment (see 26.4.2).

The blessings associated with receiving and keeping the covenants of the endowment include greater knowledge of God and His plan, divine protection, and the power of godliness. (See Doctrine and Covenants 38:32; 84:19–21; 109:22; see also 27.2 in this handbook.)

In the sealing ordinance, a man and a woman make a covenant with God and with each other. They covenant and promise to receive one another as husband and wife, counsel and labor together in love and righteousness, and fulfill their divinely appointed roles as husband and wife and as father and mother.

A man and woman who are faithful to this covenant are joined together as husband and wife for all eternity. The couple has sealed upon them, through their faithfulness, all the blessings of God’s everlasting covenant, the highest of which is exaltation with eternal posterity (see Doctrine and Covenants 132:19–20; see also 66:2; 131:1–4; and 27.3 and 38.4 in this handbook).