Order of the Priesthood

The word “order” appears to be strongly related to priesthood in many places in the scriptures.  The Book of Mormon refers to Alma devoting himself to “the high priesthood of the holy order of God” (Alma 4:20).  When Alma spoke about priesthood and the premortal world he referred to the “order of the Son” and of those who were “ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God” (Alma 13:2, 6).  In Joseph’s revelation on the three degrees of glory he spoke of those who are “priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son” (D&C 76:57).  Paul likewise spoke of the “order of Melchisedec” and the “order of Aaron” (Hebrews 7:11).  The name of the priesthood itself is called the “Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God” (D&C 107:3). So with this understanding that the word “order” is closely related to and sometimes a synonym for “priesthood”, this gives us one more meaning of the description of God’s house as a “house of order” (D&C 88:119).  After speaking of the sealing power and the keys of the priesthood, the Lord said, “Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God” (D&C 132:8).  I think we could use the word priesthood instead: “Behold, mine house is a house of priesthood”.  That is where the most sacred and important of priesthood ordinances take place and where the keys of the priesthood are fully utilized.