Priesthood authority in the Book of Mormon

[AeonJ]

I noticed that Alma the elder was a high priest and was able to baptize without being a descendant of Aaron or being of the tribe of Levi. How did this work in Old Testament times?

[cdowis]

I noticed that Alma the elder was a high priest and was able to baptize without being a descendant of Aaron or being of the tribe of Levi. How did this work in Old Testament times?

It was not necessary to be a levite to baptize. I would be interested in why you make that claim. The OT tells us about priests who were not descendants of Aaron.

[AeonJ]

It was not necessary to be a levite to baptize. I would be interested in why you make that claim. The OT tells us about priests who were not descendants of Aaron.

I thought in the OT only Levites could be priests, and only descendants of Aaron could be high priests. As far as baptism goes, John the Baptist was a Levite as his father was the high priest so I'm assuming only members of the priesthood could do baptisms before Jesus ordained his Apostles because they had the authority.

[Gohan]

Bible Dictionary - Aaronic Priesthood

Though its not canon, from this I'm assuming the Lord allowed others to be ordained to the Priesthood of Aaron in the absence of the Levites. In the way that a High Priest serves as Bishop in the absence of a Levite in the Church today.

[J Green]

Remember also that the OT went through multiple redactions by Aaronid priests who solidified their standing and the scope of their responsibilities through controlling the text. Many scholars question the current version and see events like Korah's rebellion and the incident with Nadab and Abihu as signs that a rival, complitmentary, or higher priesthood has been edited out of the text, or at the least marginalized. And was this marginalized priesthood simply a differetn Aaronid line or a different priesthood altogether? H. H. Rowley, Frank Moore Cross, and others speculate about what that priesthood might be and its relationship to the Kenites (via Jethro) and where Melchizedek and the priesthood of Canaanite kings fits in to the picture.

[Gohan]

From the scriptures in question, it appears that Alma possibly became high priest, at least initially, because of the lack of any other priesthood holders. The priesthood in the Zeniff/Noah/Limhi portion of the kingdom seems to have been confined to the Priests. As far as we know, none but Alma were affected by Abinadi's words; the righteous priests appointed by Zeniff having been put down.

Mosiah 11

5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.

Mosiah 23

16 And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the founder of their church.

17 And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men.

[cdowis]

I thought in the OT only Levites could be priests, and only descendants of Aaron could be high priests.

Check with your Bible scholars.

As far as baptism goes, John the Baptist was a Levite as his father was the high priest so I'm assuming only members of the priesthood could do baptisms before Jesus ordained his Apostles because they had the authority.

Your assumption is reasonable, but unproven.

[Zakuska]

AeonJ,

Jesus and his Apostles baptized yet they didn't have the Levitical Priesthood.

1. Heb. 7: 14 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

[Gohan]

Thought I'd pop in again, found something on it - maybe - during personal study today, not sure if its correct or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there to get some commentary.

Mosiah 26

17 And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people.

...

22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.

23 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand.

Does it seem like the Lord's telling Alma that He's accepted his church here? Or am I just imagining things? I do that sometimes.

[jadams_4242]

AeonJ,

Jesus and his Apostles baptized yet they didn't have the Levitical Priesthood.

1. Heb. 7: 14 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

[David T]

Remember also that the OT went through multiple redactions by Aaronid priests who solidified their standing and the scope of their responsibilities through controlling the text. Many scholars question the current version and see events like Korah's rebellion and the incident with Nadab and Abihu as signs that a rival, complitmentary, or higher priesthood has been edited out of the text, or at the least marginalized. And was this marginalized priesthood simply a differetn Aaronid line or a different priesthood altogether? H. H. Rowley, Frank Moore Cross, and others speculate about what that priesthood might be and its relationship to the Kenites (via Jethro) and where Melchizedek and the priesthood of Canaanite kings fits in to the picture.

Bingo.