Each time I have had a new Priesthood conferred or been ordained to a new office, my bishop has asked me to review, among other things, the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.
They don't have us put our hands on a Bible and swear a verbal oath, nor do we sign any document except perhaps the ordination paperwork that gets sent to Church headquarters for recording. So what exactly is the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?
A Revelation on Priesthood
When Church leaders ask us to review the oath and covenant of the priesthood, generally, they point us to the whole of Doctrine and Covenants section 84. This section contains what Joseph Smith called "a revelation on priesthood". It lays out some basics about the structure and function of the two priesthoods - the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood, and the priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek". (see Hebrew 5:6)
For more information on the basic structure and functions of the priesthoods as described in section 84, the Bible, and elsewhere in the scriptures, please see my articles:
Priesthood Offices in the Ancient Church
Priesthood Offices in the Latter-Day Church
For now, I want to focus on the rest of section 84.
This revelation gives us the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood as follows:
In condensed form, here are the main points of the covenant:
Those who are faithful in obtaining the priesthoods and magnifying their callings therein:
Any man who has been sealed in the temple will recall that, by virtue of being sealed to a priesthood holder, his wife becomes a co-heir with him in the blessings mentioned in both section 84 and the sealing ordinance. Out of respect for the sanctity of said ordinance, I refrain from getting specific about its wording or the blessings it offers other than to point out that they are implicit here.
Let's briefly explore the meaning of these promises.
Renewing of Their Bodies
For me, the notion of being sanctified unto renewal by the power of the Spirit brings three passages of scripture to mind.
The Greatest Spiritual Renewal: Being "Born Again"
During His mortal ministry, the Lord taught Nicodemus about the importance of being born again:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3-7)
Most priesthood holders - especially elders and high priests - have had experiences that fall into one of two categories. Someone calls to request a priesthood blessing and...
Called After This Holy Order and Sanctified
Alma the Younger and Amulek taught the people of Ammonihah about the office of high priest. In so doing, they also taught them the connection between receiving the priesthood and experiencing renewal in a spiritual sense:
They Shall Renew Their Strength
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord made the following promise to all who "wait on him". For most, this is a promise of grace to those who are doing "all they can do" or, as the apostle Paul put it, "laboring more than they all". (see 2 Nephi 25:23, 1 Corinthians 15:10) But for priesthood holders, this is a promise of personal revelation and of power in the priesthood that guides and enables us to give priesthood blessings and to fulfill our callings. Here it is:
This, of course, only comes to those who are "doing all they can do" and "laboring more than they all" to maintain and defend their "newness in Christ".
Becoming The Sons of Moses and Aaron
The phrases "sons of Moses" and "sons of Aaron" only appear in section 84, leading me to believe that this is a reference to the entire body of priesthood holders since the time of Moses. This is not a small blessing! If you think about it, the percentage of people who have ever held the priesthoods of Melchizedek (Moses) and of Aaron is extremely small! I'm sure the prophets of old, who very evidently saw many details about our day, were absolutely astounded upon learning that there would be millions of priesthood holders on the earth in the latter-days!
Becoming The Seed of Abraham
The phrase "seed of Abraham" is a reference to all who enter into the gospel covenant. The Jews at the time of Christ made the mistake of believing this was a reference to their genealogical connection to Abraham. In answer to this, the Savior said:
"...think not to say within yourselves, We are the children of Abraham, and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children into Abraham." (JST Matthew 3:36)
As of the restoration of the office of Patriarch in the latter-day Church, we know that the patriarchs of old always indicated through the spirit of revelation to those receiving blessings under their hands the nature of their spiritual heritage within the Abrahamic Covenant. Those of us who have received patriarchal blessings know what tribe we are associated with, whether by way of actual descendancy, or in the case of Gentiles, by way of spiritual adoption into the house of Israel.
It is by way of the ordinances of the priesthood that the people of the world can enter into and receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant - the gospel of Jesus Christ. I note that, in this "revelation on the priesthood", the Lord appears to have given special emphasis to the fact that priesthood bearers - the gatekeepers of the covenant, if you will - are secured their place among the seed of Abraham - a blessing that is nonetheless given to all who accept the ordinances of the priesthood.
I have referred to priesthood holders as the gatekeepers of the covenant because that's what they are: priests, teachers, and deacons within the Aaronic Priesthood have the authority to baptize and to officiate in various aspects of the administration of the sacrament, which renews the baptismal covenant. Thus, the Aaronic Priesthood is the gateway through which all living mortals must enter who wish to participate in the Abrahamic covenant. Elders and high priests within the Melchizedek Priesthood administer in the affairs of the kingdom of God on the earth and perform the endowment and sealing ordinances that prepare the way into eternal exaltation. But just as important, the elders and high priests perform ordinances on behalf of the dead so that they too may be partakers in the Abrahamic covenant if they so desire. In other words, the Lord has, in no small way, placed into the hands of living mortal beings - both holders of the priesthood and those who serve as proxies - the administration of the ordinances of salvation to the whole human race since the time of Adam, both the living and the dead! That is no small stewardship, and not one to be taken lightly!
Receive the Father, His Kingdom, and All That the Father Hath
During His mortal ministry, the Savior said this about inheriting the kingdom of the Father:
Contrasting a life of being self-centered with that of service to others, the Savior said:
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)
If we want to "get a life", as some like to say, the secret is to lose our lives in service to the Savior and to those around us. That is the way into an eternal life!
The apostle Paul taught the Romans about the value of this inheritance, this eternal life, the glory that can be ours in the world to come:
Instructions and Promises to Apostles and Missionaries
The world may think us arrogant for believing we are the recipients of such incredible blessings, but just the opposite is true. Designed into His priesthood, the Lord gave the commandment that the blessings of the restored gospel are to be shared, not kept to ourselves! The Lord gave the following instructions and promises to His apostles and to all who would serve as His missionaries. These are an integral part of the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
In this revelation, the Savior gave them instructions for how to conduct the ministry of the gospel, and many promises that would be fulfilled along the way. (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:60-76)
He again gave to His apostles in latter days the Sermon on the Mount. (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:77-86)
Next, He gave what to me is the most beautiful promise unto those who serve as His missionaries:
"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)
Both while serving as a missionary, and since, in the effort to maintain my worthiness to serve in the priesthood, I have many times felt though never seen angels round about me, and I have many times felt the Spirit of the Lord on my right and on my left, round about me to bear me up.
In other words, the Lord has commanded us to share the blessings procured through the priesthood with the whole world - anyone who will listen in the sincerity of their hearts! Yes, we are among the first recipients of the very best thing to ever happen on planet Earth, but we are under strict commandment and sacred charge - the oath and covenant of the priesthood - to see to it that those who do not have these things are provided the opportunity to accept them! It is for this reason our church has such a strong, worldwide focus on missionary work and family history research. It is, if anything, deeply humbling to realize that we are an infinitesimally small Church with an unimaginably huge job to do! The priesthood is the authority and power which God has placed on the earth in the latter days to enable us to move this work forward until the Lord shall cut it short in righteousness or say it is done. (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:97, 52:11, Romans 9)
Also of Interest
Why Aren't Mormon Women Ordained to the Priesthood?
Why This Blog?
Elder Ballard: The Truth of God Shall Go Forth
N. Eldon Tanner: The Administration of the Church
Meet the Mormons movie
Come to church with us!
Meet with LDS missionaries
They don't have us put our hands on a Bible and swear a verbal oath, nor do we sign any document except perhaps the ordination paperwork that gets sent to Church headquarters for recording. So what exactly is the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?
A Revelation on Priesthood
When Church leaders ask us to review the oath and covenant of the priesthood, generally, they point us to the whole of Doctrine and Covenants section 84. This section contains what Joseph Smith called "a revelation on priesthood". It lays out some basics about the structure and function of the two priesthoods - the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood, and the priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek". (see Hebrew 5:6)
For more information on the basic structure and functions of the priesthoods as described in section 84, the Bible, and elsewhere in the scriptures, please see my articles:
Priesthood Offices in the Ancient Church
Priesthood Offices in the Latter-Day Church
For now, I want to focus on the rest of section 84.
This revelation gives us the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood as follows:
"For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-42)
In condensed form, here are the main points of the covenant:
Those who are faithful in obtaining the priesthoods and magnifying their callings therein:
- are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies
- become the sons of Moses and Aaron, the seed of Abraham
- Receive the Father, the Father's kingdom, all that the Father hath
- Are given angels to watch over them
Any man who has been sealed in the temple will recall that, by virtue of being sealed to a priesthood holder, his wife becomes a co-heir with him in the blessings mentioned in both section 84 and the sealing ordinance. Out of respect for the sanctity of said ordinance, I refrain from getting specific about its wording or the blessings it offers other than to point out that they are implicit here.
Let's briefly explore the meaning of these promises.
Renewing of Their Bodies
For me, the notion of being sanctified unto renewal by the power of the Spirit brings three passages of scripture to mind.
The Greatest Spiritual Renewal: Being "Born Again"
During His mortal ministry, the Lord taught Nicodemus about the importance of being born again:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3-7)
Most priesthood holders - especially elders and high priests - have had experiences that fall into one of two categories. Someone calls to request a priesthood blessing and...
- You cringe, wondering if you'll have the power or feel the guidance you'll need to really give them what the Lord would have them receive.
- You feel a sense of power beginning to pool up inside of you, supplied by the Spirit, and you feel the Lord give you a sense of what you can offer by way of a blessing when you get there.
Called After This Holy Order and Sanctified
Alma the Younger and Amulek taught the people of Ammonihah about the office of high priest. In so doing, they also taught them the connection between receiving the priesthood and experiencing renewal in a spiritual sense:
"Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb. Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God." (Alma 13:11-12)
They Shall Renew Their Strength
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord made the following promise to all who "wait on him". For most, this is a promise of grace to those who are doing "all they can do" or, as the apostle Paul put it, "laboring more than they all". (see 2 Nephi 25:23, 1 Corinthians 15:10) But for priesthood holders, this is a promise of personal revelation and of power in the priesthood that guides and enables us to give priesthood blessings and to fulfill our callings. Here it is:
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)
This, of course, only comes to those who are "doing all they can do" and "laboring more than they all" to maintain and defend their "newness in Christ".
Becoming The Sons of Moses and Aaron
The phrases "sons of Moses" and "sons of Aaron" only appear in section 84, leading me to believe that this is a reference to the entire body of priesthood holders since the time of Moses. This is not a small blessing! If you think about it, the percentage of people who have ever held the priesthoods of Melchizedek (Moses) and of Aaron is extremely small! I'm sure the prophets of old, who very evidently saw many details about our day, were absolutely astounded upon learning that there would be millions of priesthood holders on the earth in the latter-days!
Becoming The Seed of Abraham
The phrase "seed of Abraham" is a reference to all who enter into the gospel covenant. The Jews at the time of Christ made the mistake of believing this was a reference to their genealogical connection to Abraham. In answer to this, the Savior said:
"...think not to say within yourselves, We are the children of Abraham, and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children into Abraham." (JST Matthew 3:36)
As of the restoration of the office of Patriarch in the latter-day Church, we know that the patriarchs of old always indicated through the spirit of revelation to those receiving blessings under their hands the nature of their spiritual heritage within the Abrahamic Covenant. Those of us who have received patriarchal blessings know what tribe we are associated with, whether by way of actual descendancy, or in the case of Gentiles, by way of spiritual adoption into the house of Israel.
It is by way of the ordinances of the priesthood that the people of the world can enter into and receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant - the gospel of Jesus Christ. I note that, in this "revelation on the priesthood", the Lord appears to have given special emphasis to the fact that priesthood bearers - the gatekeepers of the covenant, if you will - are secured their place among the seed of Abraham - a blessing that is nonetheless given to all who accept the ordinances of the priesthood.
I have referred to priesthood holders as the gatekeepers of the covenant because that's what they are: priests, teachers, and deacons within the Aaronic Priesthood have the authority to baptize and to officiate in various aspects of the administration of the sacrament, which renews the baptismal covenant. Thus, the Aaronic Priesthood is the gateway through which all living mortals must enter who wish to participate in the Abrahamic covenant. Elders and high priests within the Melchizedek Priesthood administer in the affairs of the kingdom of God on the earth and perform the endowment and sealing ordinances that prepare the way into eternal exaltation. But just as important, the elders and high priests perform ordinances on behalf of the dead so that they too may be partakers in the Abrahamic covenant if they so desire. In other words, the Lord has, in no small way, placed into the hands of living mortal beings - both holders of the priesthood and those who serve as proxies - the administration of the ordinances of salvation to the whole human race since the time of Adam, both the living and the dead! That is no small stewardship, and not one to be taken lightly!
Receive the Father, His Kingdom, and All That the Father Hath
During His mortal ministry, the Savior said this about inheriting the kingdom of the Father:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" (Matthew 25:31-34)
He then went on to teach that those who inherit the kingdom of the Father are those who take care of people who are hungry, thirsty, without clothing, sick, alone, in prison. Inheritance in the kingdom of the Father goes to those who serve. The priesthood, from top to bottom, is about serving. Concerning the importance of a willingness to serve others, the Savior taught:
"...whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:43-45)
Contrasting a life of being self-centered with that of service to others, the Savior said:
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)
If we want to "get a life", as some like to say, the secret is to lose our lives in service to the Savior and to those around us. That is the way into an eternal life!
The apostle Paul taught the Romans about the value of this inheritance, this eternal life, the glory that can be ours in the world to come:
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:16-18)
Instructions and Promises to Apostles and Missionaries
The world may think us arrogant for believing we are the recipients of such incredible blessings, but just the opposite is true. Designed into His priesthood, the Lord gave the commandment that the blessings of the restored gospel are to be shared, not kept to ourselves! The Lord gave the following instructions and promises to His apostles and to all who would serve as His missionaries. These are an integral part of the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
In this revelation, the Savior gave them instructions for how to conduct the ministry of the gospel, and many promises that would be fulfilled along the way. (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:60-76)
He again gave to His apostles in latter days the Sermon on the Mount. (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:77-86)
Next, He gave what to me is the most beautiful promise unto those who serve as His missionaries:
"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)
Both while serving as a missionary, and since, in the effort to maintain my worthiness to serve in the priesthood, I have many times felt though never seen angels round about me, and I have many times felt the Spirit of the Lord on my right and on my left, round about me to bear me up.
In other words, the Lord has commanded us to share the blessings procured through the priesthood with the whole world - anyone who will listen in the sincerity of their hearts! Yes, we are among the first recipients of the very best thing to ever happen on planet Earth, but we are under strict commandment and sacred charge - the oath and covenant of the priesthood - to see to it that those who do not have these things are provided the opportunity to accept them! It is for this reason our church has such a strong, worldwide focus on missionary work and family history research. It is, if anything, deeply humbling to realize that we are an infinitesimally small Church with an unimaginably huge job to do! The priesthood is the authority and power which God has placed on the earth in the latter days to enable us to move this work forward until the Lord shall cut it short in righteousness or say it is done. (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:97, 52:11, Romans 9)
Also of Interest
Why Aren't Mormon Women Ordained to the Priesthood?
Why This Blog?
Elder Ballard: The Truth of God Shall Go Forth
N. Eldon Tanner: The Administration of the Church
Meet the Mormons movie
Come to church with us!
Meet with LDS missionaries
