Priesthood, Oath and Covenant of

The priesthood is the power of God, delegated to man on earth, to act in all things for the salvation of humankind. “The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years” (Smith, 3:386). Every man who has the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred upon him enters into a covenant with God. President Boyd K. Packer has explained:

“The covenant rests with man; the oath with God. The Melchizedek Priesthood is received by covenant. A man’s covenant with God is: to be faithful and magnify his callings in the priesthood; to give heed to the words of eternal life; and to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. (See D&C 84:33, 43, 44.)

“God, for his part, declares with an everlasting oath that all who receive the priesthood and obey the covenants that pertain to that priesthood shall receive ‘all that [the] Father hath. . . . And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood’” (153; emphasis added).

In other words, when we are faithful to our priesthood covenant, “the Lord—to show the binding nature of his promise—swears with an oath that the promised reward shall be obtained. This oath, as it pertained to the Son of God himself, is spoken of in these words: ‘The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’ (Ps. 110:4.) And with reference to all others who also receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, the scripture saith: ‘And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually.’ (JST, Heb. 7:3.) That is to say, they will be kings and priests forever; their priesthood will continue to all eternity; they will have eternal life” (McConkie, 33–35).

Sources

McConkie, Bruce R. “The Ten Blessings of the Priesthood.” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 33–35.

Packer, Boyd K. The Things of the Soul. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996.

Smith, Joseph. History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Edited by B. H. Roberts. 7 vols. 2d ed. rev. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932–51.

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