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Instruction on Priesthood, circa April 1835 [D&C 107]

 
SECTION III.
ON PRIESTHOOD.
1 There are, in the church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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, two priesthoods

In the early 1830s, often referred to an “order of men set apart for sacred offices”; also referred more generally to power or authority from God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands to adult male members of the church in good standing...

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, namely: the  Melchizedek

The greater or higher of two orders of priesthood in the church. Also known as “the holy priesthood, after the order of the Son of God,” “the high priesthood,” and “the high and holy priesthood.” This priesthood held the “right of presidency,” the responsibility...

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, and the Aaronic

The lower or lesser of two orders of priesthood in the church. Sometimes called the “Levitical Priesthood.” It is named for Aaron, the brother of Moses, “because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed” in antiquity. This authority holds “the keys of the...

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, including the Levitical priest hood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek priesthood, is  because Melchizedek was such a great high priest: before his  day it was called the holy priesthood, after the order of the Son  of God; but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Su preme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name,  they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after  Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek priesthood.
2 All other authorities, or offices in the church are appenda ges to this priesthood; but there are two divisions, or grand  heads—one is the Melchizedek priesthood, and the other is the  Aaronic, or Levitical priesthood. [p. 82]
Instruction on Priesthood, Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

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, OH, ca. Apr. 1835; in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., pp. 82–89.

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