Did Joseph Smith have the Priesthood through Birthright?

[Benjamin Seeker]

On 12/20/2016 at 5:04 AM, Abulafia said:

This is interesting.  

I have always been under the impression that Joseph saw himself as prophet, priest, and king. Titles given to Jesus by later NT exegites. (Hebrews/ 1Peter) And using partcular interpretations of older Hebrew sacred and pseudepigrapic writings.

Prophet - who represents the mind of God to the people.

Priest - who intercedes on behalf of the people to God.

King - who shepherds, rules and keeps order over the people and so also has a judgement function.

This prompted me to do a little digging, and I came up with something that sheds further light on both JS' conception of Prophet, Priest, and King AND the lineal priesthood of the Smith family.

(Just in case someone new pops on without reviewing the rest of the thread, lineal priesthood in the Smith family refers to JS's pronouncements that the office of President of the Church would continue in his line and the office of Patriarch of the Church, more or less 2nd in command, would continue in his brother Hyrum's line, essentially keeping this office with the eldest male in the direct Smith line from JS Sr. on down. D&C 86 also seems to be implicated, which is the inspiration for the thread and cited in the opening post.)

As Rev. pointed out, D&C attributes the title a lineage through Jesse, a kingly lineage to JS, and I thought this may have something to do with Priesthood. I don't know that there is much out there on the priesthood title of "King," but apparently the 2nd Annointing confers that title while lower temple ordinances only promise it. While many in Nauvoo recieved the 2nd endowment JS was specifically sustained King of the Kingdom of God on earth in the Council of 50, suggesting a unique role. This sounds like a priesthood office as opposed to just the title, evidenced by a sustaining. 

If we back up a little bit, we get a little more of an idea of how JS concieved of this Kingly role. On July 16, 1843, JS  announced that Hyrum was to become the prophet of the church. In his journal, it was recorded:

Quote

Proposing Hyrum as a prophet--that he might be (a priest)-- so the hearers tell the story.

The "he" here is most likely JS. A letter by Willard Richards on the subject clarifies:

Quote

Said he would not prophecy any more.--Hyrum should be the prophet-- (did not tell them he was going to be a priest now, nor a King by and by)-- told the elders not to prophecy when they went out preaching--

While I don't know of JS ever being sustained or being given the title Priest, as I've already explained, there is a record of him being sustained King.

A week after the announcement, after a little fallout on the issue, JS addressed it again. His journal on the 23rd reads:

Quote

Last Monday morning certain men came to me.--Bro. Joseph Hyrum is no prophet he cant lead the church. you must lead the Church-- if you resign I felt curious--& said--here we learn in a priesthood after the order of Melchisedeck--Prophet priest & king. & I will advance from prophet to priest & then to King not to the kingdoms of this earth but of the most high god. 

¶ If I should would there be a great many disappointed in Mo?¹

So, here is the pronouncement in JS's journal that he would advance from prophet to priest & then to King. Hyrum was to advance with him apparently, at least to Prophet and likely to Priest considering he was the 2nd elder.

This doesn't really create any new arguments, at least none that I see, but it does support the idea of a Kingly priesthood right (stem of Jesse), in the Smith family, particularly when we understand that Hyrum was next in line for the throne (though it's unclear when/how JS's son would have taken over according to JS' direction). 

It's also worth noting that JS' quitting the prophetic role never seemed to have happened. Instead, it seems that Hyrum ascended in authority, but the dileniation of roles between prophet and priest and king never got ironed out.

Edited December 21, 2016 by Benjamin Seeker

[Abulafia]

2 hours ago, Benjamin Seeker said:

I think part of the disconnect in the conversation here is that many, including myself, are unaware of the specific power-roles of women in the earliest layers of the text. Maybe you could start a new thread outlining the main arguments for what their roles were (I'm only suggesting a new thread because I have a feeling more people besides those following this thread will be interested)?

I already did, or at least tried to!!

[Benjamin Seeker]

One more piece of data demonstrating a smith family lineal priesthood. When Joseph announced that Hyrum had advanced to the office of prophet, as explained in one of my recent posts above, William Clayton recorded that JS said that it was Hyrum's birth-right. Here is the relevant portion of Clayton's journal entry: 

Quote

went to the Grove and heard Pres. J. preach on the law of the priesthood. He stated that Hyrum held the office of prophet to the church by birth-right & he was going to have a reformation and the saints must regard Hyrum for he had authority.

http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/1843/16Jul43.html

Edited January 5, 2017 by Benjamin Seeker

[theplains]

On 05/01/2017 at 11:19 AM, Benjamin Seeker said:

One more piece of data demonstrating a smith family lineal priesthood. When Joseph announced that Hyrum had advanced to the office of prophet, as explained in one of my recent posts above, William Clayton recorded that JS said that it was Hyrum's birth-right. Here is the relevant portion of Clayton's journal entry:

I think this was an invention of Joseph Smith since birthright did not have anything to do with the priesthood in the
Old and New Testaments.  This birthright-priesthood connection is also absent from the Book of Mormon and Pearl
of Great Price if I recall correctly.

Thanks,
Jim

[Benjamin Seeker]

2 hours ago, theplains said:

I think this was an invention of Joseph Smith since birthright did not have anything to do with the priesthood in the
Old and New Testaments.  This birthright-priesthood connection is also absent from the Book of Mormon and Pearl
of Great Price if I recall correctly.

Thanks,
Jim

Priesthood by birthright enters the picture with the book of Abraham. So, I think its pretty clearly not in the Old Testament except for Levitical Priesthood, not in the New Testament at all (remember Melchezidek doesn't even have a mother or father according to Hebrews or wherever that is), not in the Book of Mormon, and not in the Book of Moses.

[theplains]

On 09/01/2017 at 9:58 PM, Benjamin Seeker said:

Priesthood by birthright enters the picture with the book of Abraham.

Where specifically?

Thanks,
Jim

[JLHPROF]

1 hour ago, theplains said:

Where specifically?

Thanks,
Jim

Abraham 1:2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.

Edited January 12, 2017 by JLHPROF

[Benjamin Seeker]

13 hours ago, theplains said:

Where specifically?

Thanks,
Jim

Also, in 2:11: 

Quote

11 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.

 

[VideoGameJunkie]

I come through Joseph Smith's grandfathers line, does this mean I have the priesthood by birthright too?

[JLHPROF]

51 minutes ago, VideoGameJunkie said:

I come through Joseph Smith's grandfathers line, does this mean I have the priesthood by birthright too?

Lots of people do, and not just through Joseph Smith's line.
Anyone of Ephraim has birthright priesthood blessings too.

[Benjamin Seeker]

19 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said:

I come through Joseph Smith's grandfathers line, does this mean I have the priesthood by birthright too?

JS seemed to have believed that Hyrum's and his line would continue leading the church, likely with the oldest son in each direct line continuing to hold the two highest priesthood leadership offices. That being said, this vision was not realized. JS's oldest, JS III, eventually led the reorganized church while Hyrum's office, Patriarch of the church, never really held the authority it was originally endowed with after Hyrum's and JS's deaths and was passed off to a different member of the Smith family. Eventually, the office was dropped altogether. Hyrum's son and grandson did eventually ascend to the office of prophet or president, but, as far as I know, they're wasn't a public recognition of any birthright. 

To answer your question, there is limited evidence to support the idea that JS intended for the oldest sons in his direct line to hold the highest office of the priesthood ("king" or "prophet, priest and king") by birthright, but this idea lost traction as soon as JS died. 

Edited January 13, 2017 by Benjamin Seeker

[JLHPROF]

1 hour ago, Benjamin Seeker said:

JS seemed to have believed that Hyrum's and his line would continue leading the church, likely with the oldest son in each direct line continuing to hold the two highest priesthood leadership offices. That being said, this vision was not realized. JS's oldest, JS III, eventually led the reorganized church while Hyrum's office, Patriarch of the church, never really held the authority it was originally endowed with after Hyrum's and JS's deaths and was passed off to a different member of the Smith family. Eventually, the office was dropped altogether. Hyrum's son and grandson did eventually ascend to the office of prophet or president, but, as far as I know, they're wasn't a public recognition of any birthright.

To answer your question, there is limited evidence to support the idea that JS intended for the oldest sons in his direct line to hold the highest office of the priesthood ("king" or "prophet, priest and king") by birthright, but this idea lost traction as soon as JS died.

Yet D&C 124 still remains -

• 123 Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son.
  124 First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.
  125 I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.
  126 I give unto him for counselors my servant Sidney Rigdon and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church.

Joseph intended the Church to be led by the Presiding Patriarch, followed by the First Presidency.
Somewhere along the line the "holy spirit of promise" office in the Church as in D&C 132 transferred from the Presiding Patriarch to the Church President/Presiding Elder.

Then as you stated, he intended the "Holy Order" holding the highest priesthood office to be set above the Church organization.  As when he said:

• "Last Monday morning certain men came to me and said: "Brother Joseph, Hyrum is no prophet--he can't lead the church; you must lead the church. If you resign, all things will go wrong; you must not resign; if you do the church will be scattered." I felt curious and said: "Have we not learned the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, which includes both Prophets, Priests and Kings: see Rev. 1 Chap., 6th v., and I will advance your Prophet to a Priest, and then to a King--not to the Kingdoms of this earth, but of the Most High God. See Rev. 5 Chap., 10th v.--'Thou hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth.'"
  - Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, page 318
   
• Last Monday morning certain men came to me.—Bro Joseph Hyrum is no prophet he cant lead the church, you must lead the Church—if you resign I felt curious—& said—here we learn in a priesthood after the order of Melchisedeck—Prophet priest & king. & I will advance from prophet to priest & then to King not to the kingdoms of this earth but of the most high god.  - Words of Joseph Smith by Ehat and Cook, page 234

Obviously things didn't go accord to the plan.

Edited January 13, 2017 by JLHPROF

[theplains]

On 12/01/2017 at 8:19 AM, Benjamin Seeker said:

Also, in 2:11: 

 

Abraham's entire seed did not have the priesthood.  It was only for Levi.

Jim

[Benjamin Seeker]

2 hours ago, theplains said:

Abraham's entire seed did not have the priesthood.  It was only for Levi.

Jim

And yet the verse stands as a clear representation of early Mormon doctrine. Right after calling Abraham's seed his priesthood, the Lord promises his seed to have "this right," which the text then explains as the right to administer the blessings of the Gospel, salvation, and eternal life. Administration of those things happens through the priesthood in Mormon doctrine. This is pretty cut and dried.

I realize that the bible sets up Levi as the only lineal priesthood group, however the Book of Abraham expands that idea. The text isn't restrained by the understanding of priesthood laid out in the Hebrew Bible (old Testament).

Lastly, this expansion is at least logical. Abraham's covenant could theoretically extend priesthood rights to his entire line, while later, the renewal of the covenant mediated by Moses extends priesthood specifically to his tribal group and their descendants, with his family (Aaron is his older brother) at the head.

[JLHPROF]

3 hours ago, theplains said:

Abraham's entire seed did not have the priesthood.  It was only for Levi.

Jim

That's not necessarily the case.

• Revelation 1: 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Looks like many saints will be made Kings and Priests by Christ.
And of course we could spend thread after thread debating verse by verse in Hebrews.  But what would be the point.

But I will include Hebrews 7:1

• For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Clearly there was a priest of God who lived in the day of Abraham, long before the Levites came about.  In fact verse 15 specifies that Christ is in the similitude of Melchizedek.
IE, a firstborn son, holding a birthright.  No surprise then that modern revelation tells us that Melchizedek is Shem, the great High Priest and birthright heir of Noah.