Moses and Aaron, who were brothers, were Levites. The word Levitical comes from the name Levi, one of the twelve sons of Israel. The Aaronic Priesthood is also called the Levitical Priesthood. I assure you I have felt honored and humbled beyond expression to do what some might consider a routine task. I have, as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, passed the sacrament. (See D&C 84:29.) Any holder of the higher priesthood should feel greatly honored to perform the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood, for they have great spiritual importance. The Lord said it is necessary to the Melchizedek Priesthood. The fact that it is called the lesser priesthood does not diminish at all the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood. But Moses presided over Aaron because Moses held the Melchizedek Priesthood. Aaron was the high priest, or the presiding priest, of the Aaronic Priesthood. This means that the higher priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood, always presides over the Aaronic, or the lesser, Priesthood. “Why it is called the lesser priesthood is because it is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances.” ( D&C 107:14.) The Lesser Priesthoodįirst, the Aaronic Priesthood is sometimes called the lesser priesthood. Let me list them and tell you what they mean. The Aaronic Priesthood goes by other names as well. It “is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.” ( D&C 107:13.) Let me teach you some very basic things about the Aaronic Priesthood. He was under the guiding, protecting power of his Aaronic Priesthood. When he was finished, no one laughed at this humble holder of the Aaronic Priesthood. He was able to reveal the secret deeds of those who came to ridicule him. And the Spirit came! Brother Woodruff preached with great power. He knelt before them and begged the Lord to give him His Spirit and to show him the hearts of the people. None would sing or pray, so Brother Woodruff did both. He offered Brother Woodruff a meal if he would preach to his friends.Ī large audience of the rich and fashionable people of Memphis gathered and were quite amused by this mud-stained missionary. When the innkeeper found he was a preacher, he laughed and decided to have some fun with him. He went to the largest inn and asked for something to eat and for a place to sleep, although he had no money to pay for either. Three days later he arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, weary, hungry, and very muddy. He was healed and continued his mission alone. Brother Woodruff knelt down in the mud and prayed for help. His companion left him sitting on a log and went home. Brother Woodruff developed a sharp pain in his knee and could go no further. He and his companion struggled through a hundred miles of alligator-infested swamps, wet, muddy, and tired. He prayed to the Lord, and without disclosing his desire to any others, he was ordained a priest and sent on a mission. I dared not tell any of the authorities of the Church that I wanted to preach, lest they might think I was seeking for an office.” ( Leaves from My Journal, Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1882, p. “I was but a Teacher,” he wrote, “and it is not a Teacher’s office to go abroad and preach. Let me give you an example.Īfter President Wilford Woodruff joined the Church he desired to serve a mission. The priesthood can be a guiding and protecting power in your life. No one questions that it is real simply because he cannot see it.Īlthough you cannot see the power of the priesthood, you can feel it, and you can see the results of it. We can measure it, control it, and produce light, and heat, and power. No one has ever seen electricity, not even a scientist with the finest instruments. Do you remember when you foolishly put your finger in that light socket? While you did not see exactly what happened, surely you felt it! Some think that unless a power is visible it cannot be real. As you mature you should become very familiar with this guiding, protecting power. A boy of twelve is old enough to learn about it. I want to tell you about the unseen power of the Aaronic Priesthood. We who hold the higher priesthood salute you, our brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood. I have to sift through a lot of elders, seventies, and high priests to find them, but it’s well worth it to meet the Aaronic Priesthood. I always come to the Tabernacle early for priesthood meeting in order to shake hands with the deacons, teachers, and priests.
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