Doctrine and Covenants 84: 31-44; 121: 36-46

 

How do we obtain and receive the priesthood with an oath and covenant?

"31 Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses—for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed—

32 And the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount Zion in the Lord’s house, whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my church.

33 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.

34 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

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.

41 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.

42 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.

43 And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.

44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 84: 31-44)

"36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (Doctrine and Covenants 121: 36-46)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The priesthood is obtained with an oath and covenant." : 

"The oath and covenant of the priesthood (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:31–44) has special application for Heavenly Father’s sons who are ordained to a priesthood office, but many of the promised blessings in these verses are available to all of God’s children. What are these promises, and what does God ask us to do to receive them?

Elder Paul B. Pieper taught: “It is interesting that in the oath and covenant of the priesthood [see Doctrine and Covenants 84:31–44], the Lord uses the verbs obtain and receive. He does not use the verb ordain. It is in the temple that men and women—together—obtain and receive the blessings and power of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods” (“Revealed Realities of Mortality,” Ensign, Jan. 2016, 21).

As you study Doctrine and Covenants 84:31–44, ponder what it might mean to “obtain” and “receive” the priesthood. How is this different from being ordained to a priesthood office? What else does the Lord invite you to receive in these verses? How are you doing that?

What do you find that inspires you to be more faithful in receiving the Savior, His Father, His servants, and His priesthood power?

See also Doctrine and Covenants 121:36–46."

These are some of the promised blessings available to all of God's children and what God asks us to do to receive them: 

• Many of whom the Lord have called and sent forth to build up His church  shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount Zion in the Lor's house.

• When we magnify our calling, we are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of our bodies, and we become the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

• When we receive the priesthood, we also receive the Lord. For he that receiveth His servants receiveth the Lord. And he that receiveth the Lord receiveth His Father. And he that receiveth His Father receiveth His Father’s kingdom; therefore all that His Father hath shall be given unto him. 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 His Father, which He cannot break, neither can it be moved.

To obtain and receive the priesthood means to do what we can to be able to receive its power. This is different from ordaining in the priesthood office because obtaining and receiving the priesthood is available to all God's children who qualify for it as they do their part. Those who are being ordained in the priesthood office also need to do their part to qualify to obtain and receive the priesthood themselves. Being ordained in the priesthood office is not a guarantee to obtain and receive the priesthood. 

The Lord is inviting you and me to receive and give heed to the words of eternal life, and live by every word that proceedeth out of His mouth. (vv. 43-44) I'm doing this by studying the words of eternal life from the scriptures daily following the Come, Follow Me program of the Church.