The Doctrine of Receiving the Record

 

    There is a doctrine of the gospel that I can’t say I have heard much spoken about and I have often wondered what it really was talking about or how it worked, that I call the Doctrine of Receiving the Record.

    In 3 Nephi 11 of the Book of Mormon we have the account of Christ coming to the American continent where he specifically teaches the Doctrine of Christ. When most people teach about this doctrine they focus on the latter portion relating to Faith, repentance, baptism etc. They seem to skip completely over the first part which tells repeatedly about the importance of the record of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

    So what are we to understand from this? They are all bearing record but why. I can only surmise that it is because we need to receive it not just as a group, but individually.

    One part has been clear to me that Receiving the testimony of the Holy Ghost is related to the receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. After Baptism of water we have hands placed upon our heads and are then Confirmed a member of the church and directed or commanded to “Receive the Holy Ghost”, specifically NOT the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This, to me, appear to be the first step in this process, but what comes next? How do we progress in this Doctrine of Christ to receive the record of the Son and then the Father?

    Recently I was in a stake priesthood meeting and by no surprise one of the speakers talked about the Oath and Covenant of the priesthood as found in Doctrine and Covenants section 84, in ways that are quite normal throughout the church, but honestly are contrary to the intent of the Oath and Covenant as I understand it. There were some things that jumped out to me as they never have before. The Spirit was finally giving me some answers to long sought after questions.

35 And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;

36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;

37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

40 Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

48 And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world.

    I would like to first articulate that the oath and covenant of the priesthood has nothing to do with Ordination in the Priesthood and everything to do with receiving the ordinances of the priesthood  which are available to all worthy members.

    If I understand what this is saying then, as we listen to (and follow) the record of the Holy Ghost, we will be brought to Christ and receive his record, by way of his servants, (note it does not distinguish ordained servants, for example ordinances for women in the temple are not done by ordained men ) through receiving the ordinances of the priesthood. Once we partake of the ordinances of the priesthood and live the associated covenants we will be taught by the Father the covenants and receive his record and when we live them as he has taught them to us we receive the Father’s kingdom.

    I would like to point out one other things as it relates here

20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

    In the past I have always been taught that the power of godliness is all of God’s power, but as I read it presently it stands out to me that this is talking about the Power to make one like God which is really what the Doctrine of Christ is all about. Helping us reach our greatest Potential and making it our Reality.

What is the Power of the priesthood?

 

    Over the last couple of years the “Power of the Priesthood” has been emphasized over and over again. We have been implored to study it and build up our Power in the priesthood. We have been directed to do this in meetings throughout the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To include General conference, Sacrament, Priesthood, Stake Priesthood, Sunday School meetings. It is a trend that if you haven’t noticed is considered really important, and you must not be paying any attention at all.

    The Priesthood is important and holds a very important place and is spoken of in the scriptures, specifically in the Doctrine and Covenants, but really mostly ignored through all other works of scripture. The Book of Mormon hardly even uses the term, Priesthood. In fact only Alma the Younger uses the term Priesthood at all in the Book of Mormon.

    For a man who has been given the responsibility over the Church his father established and the responsibility over the National religion as inherited from King Mosiah, who ran the equivalent of the States Religion, with the transition to governance by Judges verses the past Theocratic Monarch. Then as Alma the younger stepped away from his role of Chief Judge he repeatedly struggled to convey his authority to the people, now having separated the Church from state it is no wonder we have his words regarding the role of Priesthood Authority, but never does he mention Priesthood Power!

    Most places in the Book of Mormon where you would expect to find the term Power of the Priesthood it talks instead of the Power of the Holy Ghost which is oddly not something we talk much of in the Lexicon of the Church. Although I feel most of the time when we say Power of the Priesthood we are really talking about the Power of the Holy Ghost. If the book that holds the “fullness of the gospel” is so silent on Priesthood how important can the Power of the Priesthood be.

    If you look for the exact term “Priesthood power” you will find zero (0) references. Only a quick search of the exact phrase “Power of the Priesthood” will you find any references to this doctrinal topic in all conical scripture. You might be surprised to find there are only two (2) results for this term that is so important.

    They are found in D&C 128:8 and D&C 132:45 and in both cases they are talking about the exact same thing. This makes it really easy to identify what the Power of the Priesthood is. I encourage all to read these verses and there surrounding verses to uncover the mystery to Power of the Priesthood’s importance.

    All I can weed out of these verses is that Priesthood Power is the administration process by which ordinances, specifically sealings, are recorded on Earth and in Heaven to have eternal import. Wait! What?

    The Power of the Priesthood is simply and most accurately: The administrative function of recording simultaneously the accomplishment of sealings on Earth and in Heaven. Which is truly a remarkable thing, but why are we spending so much time talking about it, and why are we attaching so much to it that is simply not there according to the scriptures.

    I admit my search criteria might be considered overly restrictive. If you were to search for instead “Power of” you will get many more results. But here is a synopsis of those that pertain to the question at hand.

Doctrine and Covenants 113:8 – Denotes that The power of the Priesthood is to bring again Zion, and redemption if Israel by putting on Priesthood Authority. This is talking about what Priesthood Authority has the power to accomplish, not “Power of the Priesthood.”

Doctrine and Covenants 112:30 – Talks about Power of the Priesthood as it relates to Priesthood Keys over a dispensation, once again Authority not some ominous Power.

Doctrine and Covenants 131:5 – Talking about the means by which a person is sealed up unto eternal Life.

    Most of the other 40+ search results are talking about the Power of the Holy Ghost, or power of my Spirit. Not relating to Priesthood.

    If you really want to know about what leaders are calling the Power of the Priesthood, I strongly encourage you to study the Power of the Holy Ghost and just understand when people are using the wrong term that this is what they are really talking about most of the time.