Chapter 2

Priesthood Offices
and Keys

And by the keys which I have given shall they be led.

—Doctrine and Covenants 35:25

In the Church, priesthood offices and keys have nothing to do with rooms and locks. Their meanings are metaphorical. Individuals who receive the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood are each ordained to an office in that priesthood. The term office refers to a position of priesthood authority. The offices of deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop are Aaronic Priesthood positions. The offices of elder, high priest, patriarch, Seventy, and Apostle are Melchizedek Priesthood positions. Bishops, however, hold the office of high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood although their office is in the Aaronic Priesthood (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:15–17).

In the Melchizedek Priesthood, the offices of elder, high priest, and patriarch are generally found in a stake. Those so ordained are “standing” ministers,” meaning that they are not assigned to travel away from their communities as part of their calling (Doctrine and Covenants 124:137; 84:111).

In contrast, those ordained to the offices of Seventy and Apostle are special witnesses of the name of the Savior in all the world, “thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23, 25; 124:139). They travel away from their communities as part of their calling.

The term priesthood keys is used in two different ways. The first refers to a specific right or privilege conferred upon all who receive the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood. In other words, everyone upon whom the priesthood is conferred receives some priesthood keys. For instance, Aaronic Priesthood holders receive the keys of the ministering of angels and the keys of the preparatory gospel of repentance and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins (see Doctrine and Covenants 13:1; 84:26–27). Melchizedek Priesthood holders receive the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, the key of the knowledge of God, and the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:19; 107:18). Holders of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods have the right to exercise authority and power in the name of Jesus Christ, but with limits.

The second way the term priesthood keys is used refers to leadership. Priesthood leaders receive additional priesthood keys, the right to preside over an organizational division of the Church or a quorum. In this regard, priesthood keys are the authority and power to direct, lead, and govern in the Church. Other priesthood holders administer saving ordinances and serve in the priesthood within the limits outlined by those who hold the priesthood keys. Leaders receive priesthood keys from those in authority over them.

It is easy to see why keys of priesthood leadership are necessary. Consider what would happen if everyone who has earned the right to play on a basketball team chose to do whatever he wanted to do whenever he wanted to do it on the court. If you are on such a team, you will never win. Someone must be designated to bring order and structure to the play. That individual could be a player-coach. He is responsible for training others, running practices, encouraging and critiquing, and dividing up responsibilities. Without such order, many would shoot every time they had the ball. Few would play defense. The player-coach ensures that the individual players play as a coordinated team. Priesthood leaders perform a similar function. They are given keys of presidency to lead, teach, organize, and encourage those over whom they preside.

When a person holding priesthood keys is released, he no longer holds those priesthood keys. One reason priesthood keys are given is to maintain order and ensure that the Church operates correctly. Priesthood keys are given by the laying on of hands when the priesthood holder is set apart to the leadership position. Among local priesthood holders, only stake presidents, mission presidents, temple presidents, bishops, branch presidents, and quorum presidents hold keys pertaining to their respective offices. It is important to remember that a man does not receive additional priesthood when he is given priesthood keys of leadership. Priesthood keys provide order and predictability in the Church. This creates the perfect team to assist the Lord in His work.