FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Question: Should there be no offices in the priesthood?
Question: Should there be no offices in the priesthood?
Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the Bible all taught that there are ranks in the priesthood
Some who are excommunicated from the Church claim that one should just be ordained to the priesthood—they insist that no priesthood offices should be used.[1]
Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the Bible all taught that there are ranks in the priesthood—some priesthood holders are given different authority than others.
Denver Snuffer instructed his followers:
When you ordain someone to serve in these fellowships you should ordain no one to an office, only confer the priesthood. Have no offices. Let everyone be equal. Be without ranks.[2]:14
All members of the Church are equal in the sight of God. Snuffer claims to support Joseph Smith and the Restoration, yet it was Joseph Smith who established the various priesthood offices and ranks.
Book of Mormon ranks
Contradicts Book of Mormon—The Book of Mormon likewise has a variety of offices:
- Disciples (3 Nephi 18꞉1-10; 19꞉12; 27; 28.) (analogous to Old World apostles)
- elders (Alma 4꞉16, Moroni 3꞉1);
- priests (Moroni 3꞉3);
- teachers (Moroni 3꞉3).
Furthermore, some officers (elders and priests) are able to administer the sacrament, where as others (teachers) are not (compare Moroni 3꞉3 with Moroni 4꞉1).
There would be no point to giving different names to such people if they did not have different duties, responsibilities, and powers.
Doctrine and Covenants
Contradicts D&C—From the very beginning of the restoration, there were a variety of priesthood ranks (D&C 20꞉38-60):
- elders/apostles
- priests
- teachers
- deacons
Contradicts Joseph Smith—With time, Joseph revealed other offices and ranks (D&C 20꞉67):
- bishops
- high priests
- patriarchs (D&C 124꞉91-92; 124꞉124).
The Bible
In the Bible, authority and rank in the priesthood is also present. For example, Phillip could baptize (Acts 8꞉13), but the apostles were required to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 8꞉14-17).
Notes
- ↑ Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014), 14. https://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895/10-Phoenix-Transcript-Preserving-the-Restoration
- ↑ Denver Snuffer, "Preserving The Restoration," Lecture 10, Mesa, Arizona (9 September 2014). https://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895/10-Phoenix-Transcript-Preserving-the-Restoration