What blessings are available to you because of the Savior's power and authority?
"Revelation on the priesthood, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, about April 1835. Although this section was recorded in 1835, the historical records affirm that most of verses 60 through 100 incorporate a revelation given through Joseph Smith on November 11, 1831. This section was associated with the organization of the Quorum of the Twelve in February and March 1835. The Prophet likely delivered it in the presence of those who were preparing to depart May 3, 1835, on their first quorum mission.
1 There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.
2 Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.
3 Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.
4 But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme 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.
18 The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—
19 To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
20 The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments." (Doctrine and Covenants 107: 1-4, 18-20)
"2 And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.
16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord." (Alma 13: 2, 16)
"19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
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.
23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;
26 And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
27 Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb." (Doctrine and Covenants 84: 19-27)
And here's the commentary entitled: "The priesthood is “after the Order of the Son of God.” :
"The Lord begins His “revelation on the priesthood” (Doctrine and Covenants 107, section heading) by teaching us the original name of the Melchizedek Priesthood (see verses 1–4). Why do you think it’s important to know that? How does this name influence the way you think about the priesthood?
Keep these thoughts in mind as you read about the priesthood, especially in verses 18–20. What does it mean to “have the heavens opened”? What does it mean to “enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus”? How do the Savior’s priesthood power and authority make all of this available to you?
See also Alma 13:2, 16; Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–27."
It's important to know the original name of the Melchizedek Priesthood because this priesthood is the power of God. It is named after Melchizedek to show respect or reverence to God's name, to avoid frequent repetition of His name. This name (the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God) makes me think and morefully remember that the priesthood is indeed the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And through the line of authority, the priesthood holders can trace that the priesthood given to them indeed came from the Lord. I think I saw my own father's line of authority before. And now I know exactly how my husband's authority is traced back to the Lord.
To "have the heavens opened" means we can communicate with God directly. And to "enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus" means to feel their presence. The Savior's priesthood power and authority make all this available to me through the priesthood ordinances. I'm so grateful for the priesthood ordinances which I received and the covenants which I entered into as I received those ordinances. As I strive to keep my covenants with God, I've been enjoying and feeling the presence of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in my life more than ever before. I'm so grateful that the heavens have been opened and I can talk to my Father in Heaven and my Elder Brother Jesus Christ and receive guidance and direction from them to be able for me to govern my own life.
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