The Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood

In his recent talk in general conference, President Nelson spoke about the importance of priesthood keys. He said this, “It is important to note that prior to the organization of the Church, heavenly messengers had conferred the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods upon the Prophet Joseph and had given him keys of both priesthoods. These keys gave Joseph Smith authority to organize the Church in 1830.” That is an important statement because historically it is not known exactly when that happened. One article says, “The appearance of Peter, James, and John to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery is attested to in numerous sources. A revelation to Joseph Smith spoke of the visitation of Peter, James, and John, ‘whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry.’” That passage is now found in Doctrine and Covenants 27:12 given in August 1830. The article continues, “It is impossible to precisely date this heavenly manifestation from existing sources. The only firsthand account from Joseph that gives details about the circumstances of the vision is an 1842 letter (now canonized as Doctrine and Covenants 128) in which he testified he heard ‘the voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville, Broome County; on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom.’ Modern readers have reached different conclusions from these various accounts as to the timing of the appearance of Peter, James, and John. Their estimates range from as early as a few weeks after the appearance of John the Baptist on May 15, 1829, to many months later.” In Rough Stone Rolling, biographer Richard Bushman suggested that from the historical evidence he thought it most likely that Joseph and Olver received the visit of these ancient apostles in the summer of 1830, after the organization of the Church. But President Nelson here confirmed, as have other leaders of the Church, that Joseph and Oliver had to have the Melchizedek Priesthood in order to organize the Church where “on April 6, 1830, [they] acted with divine authority both to baptize and to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Joseph and Oliver had the Melchizedek priesthood keys—given by the hands of Peter, James, and John—necessary to organize the Church and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, a power which is not included in the Aaronic Priesthood.  

                One article in the Ensign written many years ago asserts that Doctrine and Covenants 18—given before the organization of the Church in June 1829 (the month following John the Baptist’s conferral of the Aaronic Priesthood)—is evidence that the Melchizedek Priesthood had been given by that time. The Prophet Joseph apparently recorded in his history a preface to the revelation as follows: “The following commandment will further illustrate the nature of our calling to this Priesthood, as well as that of others who were yet to be sought after” (History of the Church, 1:61–62; italics added). Verse 9 of the revelation reads this way: “And now, Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David Whitmer, by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.” The article states, “it is apparent that by this time, Joseph and Oliver had already received the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that David Whitmer had also received an injunction to serve as an apostle…. President Brigham Young related to the Saints: ‘Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer were the first Apostles of this dispensation, though in early days of the Church David Whitmer lost his standing’ (Journal of Discourses, 6:320). David maintained that he had received an early priesthood ordination at the hands of the Prophet Joseph during the month of June 1829.” This is indeed evidence that the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood occurred in June 1829 and well before April 6, 1830 when it was needed to organize the Church of Christ in these last days.