The Aaronic and Levitical Priesthoods

The Aaronic and the Levitical Priesthoods were introduced into the world while Israel was wandering in the wilderness subsequent to their fleeing Egyptian captivity. Subsequent to Israel’s migration into the vicinity of Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded Moses to come up onto the mount that he might be instructed as to His will concerning His chosen people. The commandments and ordinances Moses received at that time were based upon the exercise of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which priesthood was held by at least Moses and Aaron at that moment. When Moses returned to his people and found them worshipping a golden calf, he dashed the tablets containing God’s instructions to the ground breaking them in pieces. Moses returned to the presence of the Lord and was given what became known as the Law of Moses, a law of carnal or outward commandments and ordinances, a lesser gospel and priesthood, whereby Israel would live and be schooled in the ways of the Lord (Doctrine and Covenants 84:26-27).

This priesthood of lesser authority was conferred upon Aaron and has been known since that time as the Aaronic Priesthood. In some writings, this priesthood is referred to as being the Levitical Priesthood. This may create some confusion. These two priesthoods are not exactly the same, as they may be distinguished from one another in their duties and offices. Male members of the tribe of Levi could have the Levitical Priesthood conferred upon them. However, only the literal descendants of Aaron could receive the Aaronic Priesthood. The right to hold either of these priesthoods was according to lineage i.e., by birthright. This is in contrast to the Melchizedek Priesthood that is not lineal in its dissemination. The bearers of the Aaronic Priesthood could hold the office of a priest; while only the firstborn of Aaron’s posterity could serve as the high priest or the president of the priests. It was the priests who were responsible for performing the sacrifices within the temple setting. The holders of the Levitical Priesthood were assigned lesser duties about the temple necessary for good order and the smooth operation of the temple functions.

It followed logically, that since the Levites were the only bearers of the priesthood, the members of that tribe must be scattered among the other tribes of Israel in order that all might benefit from the exercise of the priesthood. It being necessary in God’s wisdom that Israel be composed of twelve tribes, the tribe of Joseph was divided according to his sons, and so the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh brought Israel back to full numbers.

This dispensation of Moses ended with the ministries of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ, the latter coming to fulfill the Law of Moses. While Israel during Moses’ dispensation lived by and benefitted from the exercise of the Aaronic Priesthood, the bearers of the Melchizedek Priesthood were still in control of the Lord’s work upon the earth. The prophets in Israel were holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood and on occasion were the heads of minor dispensations. The prophet Lehi is the most obvious example. Given that we have no record of a Levite being numbered among his group and with no references to Aaronic Priesthood offices or activities in the Book of Mormon, we are left to assume that the only priesthood operational in what we might refer to as Lehi’s dispensation was the Melchizedek Priesthood.

While translating the Book of Mormon from the golden plates, references to the ordinance of baptism initiated questioning discussions between the Prophet Joseph Smith and his scribe, Oliver Cowdery. On May 15, 1829, Joseph and Oliver retired to the woods in their vicinity to ask God for enlightenment on this subject. In response to their petitions, John the Baptist appeared and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood using the following words: “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness” (D&C 13).

This being the dispensation of the fulness of times, it is necessary that all that was done by way of ordinances in previous generations be restored to the earth and practiced in this one. In light of this truth, the Aaronic Priesthood was restored to the earth in 1829. Within a few weeks, Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon these same two young men. This was a necessary prelude to the restoration of Christ’s only true Church in the spring of 1830.

While the Lord, himself, refers to the Aaronic Priesthood as being a lesser priesthood, by no means are we to assume that the bearers of this priesthood are unable to exercise much priesthood authority. The experiences of President Wilford Woodruff are instructive here. Looking back on his time as a missionary, President Woodruff reported: “I went out as a priest, and my companion as an elder, and we traveled thousands of miles, and had many things manifested to us. I desire to impress upon you the fact that it does not make any difference whether a man is a priest or an apostle, if he magnifies his calling. A priest holds the key of the ministering of angels. Never in my life, as an apostle, as a seventy, or as an elder, have I ever had more of the protection of the Lord than while holding the office as a priest. The Lord revealed to me by visions, by revelations, and by the Holy Spirit, many things that lay before me” (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 300).

Within this dispensation and in due course of the Father’s will, Israel will be restored. In those days, the priesthood bearers of the tribe of Levi will exercise the Aaronic and Levitical Priesthoods for the benefit of Israel and in fulfillment of the prophesies of God in that the ordinance of blood sacrifice will again be practiced upon the earth. In addition, the Lord will reveal the name of the high priest who is to administer in the office of a bishop or the president of the priests of Aaron (D&C 107:13-17).