pages/essays/rights-powers-principles.md
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title: Rights, Powers, and Principles of the Priesthood
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abstract: A force for good doesn't need rules.
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---
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----
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-## Aider
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-
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-ROLE: Your role is to provide both information and counterpoints when
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-requested. You are neither a believer nor a disbeliever, but an observer
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-seeking to understand and evaluate different perspectives.
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-
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-My question is in the first paragraph after the first quote. I am seeking to
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-understand the nature of the power of the priesthood and its relationship with
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-God. My conclusion is that, basically, "the power of the priesthood is
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-separate from and co-existent with God," but I want to include my reasoning,
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-while also highlighting ideas and quotes that oppose this idea. I'm not
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-stating flatly that my conclusion is true, but that I believe it's a viable
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-answer.
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-
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----
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> That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers
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of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only
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upon the principles righteousness. [D&C
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@@ -29,105 +13,169 @@ contradiction: If the priesthood cannot be misused, why are safeguards
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necessary to prevent its misuse? How can the hosts of darkness accomplish
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their misdeeds, and what role does the power of the priesthood play in this?
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-The idea that the power of the priesthood runs the universe is a fundamental
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-concept in Mormonism. While it is widely accepted within the church, I'm going
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-to include some references to clarify where I'm coming from. The verse I quote
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-at the beginning of this essay support this idea. Also, McConkie said "it is
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-the power by which the worlds were made"[^ENSIGN8205DP].
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-
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-* when talking about 'the power of the priesthood' it is a living power,
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- separate from and co-existent with God
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-
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-* when talking about 'the authority and use of the priesthood' it is how the
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- power should be used so you don't end up destroying yourself
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-
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-* Cain held the priesthood authority to make sacrifices and made those
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- sacrifices unrighteously
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-
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-* this is how the enemy accomplishes it misdeeds, but at their own expense;
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- they have learned incorrectly or have been taught and betrayed those who
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- taught them
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-
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-### Supporting
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-
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-* F1 > The power, glory and blessings of the Priesthood could not continue
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- with those who received ordination only as their righteousness continued;
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- for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice, but not offering it in
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- righteousness, was cursed. It signifies, then, that the ordinances must be
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- kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their Priesthood will
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- prove a cursing instead of a blessing. [STPJS
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- p169](https://scriptures.byu.edu/stpjs.html)
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-
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-* F2 > If man is limited in his growth and perfection by his ability to use
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- his priesthood, then surely we must continually strive to use its power
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- and to organize ourselves more perfectly. [Perry, L. Tom. (1981,
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- November). When Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear.
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- Ensign.](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1981/10/when-ye-are-prepared-ye-shall-not-fear)
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-
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-* F3 > From this I understand that there is a difference between priesthood
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- authority and priesthood power. Power and authority in the priesthood are
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- not necessarily synonymous. [H. Burke Peterson. (1976, May).
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- Priesthood--Authority and Power.
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- Ensign.](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/05/priesthood-authority-and-power)
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-
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-* F4 [Harris, D. (November, 1984). Spiritual Power. Ensign.](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/11/spiritual-power)
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-
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-### Opposing
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-
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-* F5 > The power of the Priesthood operates only on principles of
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- righteousness. It cannot be used to accomplish unrighteous purposes. It
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- is not a power that can be used to satisfy personal desires or ambitions.
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- [Dallin H. Oaks. (2014, May). The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood.
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- Ensign](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2014/05/priesthood-session/the-keys-and-authority-of-the-priesthood)
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-
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-* F6 > Priesthood power is God’s power, and He will not allow it to be used
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- unworthily or to accomplish evil purposes. As we exercise this power in
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- faith, we can perform miracles in His name. (Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual
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- Treasures," Ensign, November 2019)
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-
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-### Which way?
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-
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-* > The Priesthood is not to be held for personal gain or benefit, but rather
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- for the blessing of others. Those who hold it are to serve in the name of
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- the Lord with love and concern for the well-being of His children. (Dieter
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- F. Uchtdorf, "The Joy of the Priesthood," Ensign, November 2012)
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-* > The Priesthood is an eternal principle, a co-existent attribute of God.
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- (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1982)
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-* > The priesthood is the power of God delegated to man to act in all things
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- for the salvation of mankind. (Boyd K. Packer, "The Power of the
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- Priesthood," Ensign, May 2010)
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-* > The priesthood is the power of God. It is not a social organization,
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- although it exists within a social organization. (Dallin H. Oaks, "The
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- Keys and Authority of the Priesthood," Ensign, May 2014)
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-* > The power of the priesthood is the power of God. It is infinite, eternal,
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- and unchanging. (David A. Bednar, "The Powers of Heaven," Ensign, November
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- 2012)
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-* > The priesthood is the power of God committed to man for the salvation of
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- the human family. It is the means whereby the earth will be transformed
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- into a celestial kingdom, and the sons and daughters of God may eventually
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- return to His presence and partake of His glory. (Talmage, James E. The
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- Articles of Faith, p. 162)
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-* > The priesthood is a living thing, as it were, and is always ready to
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- respond to the call of faith and righteousness; but it can never be made
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- subservient to the selfish interests or evil designs of any man, nor can
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- it be used contrary to the will and wisdom of God. (Talmage, James E. The
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- Vitality of Mormonism, p. 136)
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+Several phrases in this verse stand out as particularly significant: the
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+**rights of the priesthood** (not the rights *to* the priesthood, but rights
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+that belong *to* it), how these rights are **connected with** the powers of
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+heaven (not *by* or *through*, but *with*—suggesting a relationship rather than
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+identity), that these powers cannot be **controlled nor handled** (two
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+different verbs, both negated), and that they operate only upon the
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+**principles of righteousness** (not simply *in* righteousness, but upon
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+specific principles).
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----
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-
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-## Want to include somewhere
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-
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-Some phrases stand out to me in this verse. 'rights **of** the priesthood',
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-'connected **with** the powers of heaven', 'controlled **nor** handled' and
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-'principles **of** righteousness'.
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+## The Universe-Running Power
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-* SCI - [Scriptures Citation Index](https://scriptures.byu.edu)
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+The idea that the power of the priesthood runs the universe is a fundamental
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+concept in Mormonism. As Bruce R. McConkie stated, "it is the power by which
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+the worlds were made"[^ENSIGN8205DP]. This cosmic scope suggests something
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+more fundamental than a mere organizational structure or delegation of
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+authority. The verse I quote at the beginning of this essay supports this
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+idea: the powers of heaven are not controlled by God, but rather operate
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+according to principles that even God Himself must respect.
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+
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+This raises a profound question about the nature of the priesthood power and
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+its relationship with God. Is priesthood power simply "God's power," or is it
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+something more fundamental—a living power that exists independently, with which
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+God's will exists in harmony?
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+
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+## A Distinction: Power and Authority
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+
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+A crucial distinction emerges when we consider the difference between priesthood
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+power and priesthood authority. As H. Burke Peterson observed: "From this I
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+understand that there is a difference between priesthood authority and
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+priesthood power. Power and authority in the priesthood are not necessarily
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+synonymous."[^PETERSON1976]
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+
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+When we speak of 'the power of the priesthood,' we may be referring to a living
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+power, separate from and co-existent with God—an eternal principle that operates
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+according to fixed laws. When we speak of 'the authority and use of the
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+priesthood,' we are referring to how this power should be properly channeled
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+and directed. The authority is the framework for using the power correctly; it
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+is the guide that prevents self-destruction.
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+
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+This distinction helps explain how misuse can occur. The power exists
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+independently, but how one accesses and directs it matters profoundly. Cain
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+provides a striking example: he held priesthood authority to make sacrifices,
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+yet he made those sacrifices unrighteously. The result was a curse, not a
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+blessing. As Joseph Smith taught: "The power, glory and blessings of the
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+Priesthood could not continue with those who received ordination only as their
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+righteousness continued; for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice,
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+but not offering it in righteousness, was cursed. It signifies, then, that the
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+ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their
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+Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing."[^STPJS169]
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+
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+## The Paradox of Misuse
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+
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+If priesthood power can only operate on principles of righteousness, how can
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+it be misused? The answer may lie in understanding that the power itself is
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+neutral in its existence but operates according to fixed principles. When
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+misused—when channeled unrighteously—the power still operates, but it operates
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+against the user. It becomes a destructive force rather than a creative one.
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+
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+This is how the enemy accomplishes their misdeeds, but at their own expense.
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+They have learned to access the power incorrectly, or have been taught and
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+betrayed those who taught them. The power responds, but the response is
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+cursed rather than blessed. The priesthood becomes "a cursing instead of a
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+blessing" when used contrary to the principles upon which it operates.
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+
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+Consider L. Tom Perry's insight: "If man is limited in his growth and
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+perfection by his ability to use his priesthood, then surely we must
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+continually strive to use its power and to organize ourselves more
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+perfectly."[^PERRY1981] This suggests that the power exists independently of
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+our ability to use it correctly, and our growth depends on learning to align
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+ourselves with its proper operation.
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+
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+## The Co-Existent Principle
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+
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+McConkie's statement that "The Priesthood is an eternal principle, a
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+co-existent attribute of God"[^MCONKIE1982] suggests something profound: the
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+priesthood exists alongside God, not merely as an extension of God. It is an
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+eternal principle that God Himself works with, not something He created or
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+controls absolutely.
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+
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+James E. Talmage described the priesthood as "a living thing, as it were, and
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+is always ready to respond to the call of faith and righteousness; but it can
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+never be made subservient to the selfish interests or evil designs of any man,
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+nor can it be used contrary to the will and wisdom of God."[^TALMAGE136] This
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+language of "living thing" that "responds" suggests an independent agency or
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+principle that operates according to its own nature, and God's will aligns
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+with it.
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+
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+The priesthood, then, may be understood as a fundamental force of the universe
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+that operates according to eternal principles. God works with these principles,
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+not against them. He understands them perfectly and His will exists in harmony
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+with them, but the principles themselves exist independently.
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+
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+## The Alternative View
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+
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+Not all authoritative voices present this view. Some leaders emphasize that
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+priesthood power is simply God's power, under His direct control. As Dallin H.
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+Oaks has stated: "The power of the Priesthood operates only on principles of
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+righteousness. It cannot be used to accomplish unrighteous purposes. It is not
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+a power that can be used to satisfy personal desires or ambitions."[^OAKS2014]
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+
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+Similarly, Russell M. Nelson has taught: "Priesthood power is God's power, and
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+He will not allow it to be used unworthily or to accomplish evil purposes. As
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+we exercise this power in faith, we can perform miracles in His name."[^NELSON2019]
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+
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+This perspective suggests that God actively prevents misuse, that the power
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+simply will not operate when used unrighteously. Yet this seems difficult to
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+reconcile with the historical examples of priesthood being used
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+unrighteously—or at least with negative consequences—as in the case of Cain.
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+
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+Boyd K. Packer's statement that "The priesthood is the power of God delegated
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+to man to act in all things for the salvation of mankind"[^PACKER2010] suggests
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+delegation, but leaves open the question of whether the power itself is
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+inherently God's or if God is delegating access to a power that exists
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+independently.
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+
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+David A. Bednar's description is similarly ambiguous: "The power of the
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+priesthood is the power of God. It is infinite, eternal, and unchanging."[^BEDNAR2012]
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+This could mean either that it is God's power (possessive), or that it is the
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+power that God uses (descriptive). The attributes of "infinite, eternal, and
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+unchanging" suggest something fundamental that transcends even God's personal
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+control, if we understand God as having a personal existence with a beginning.
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+
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+## A Viable Answer
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+
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+I propose that the power of the priesthood is separate from and co-existent
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+with God. This is not to diminish God's majesty or suggest He is subject to
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+something greater, but rather to recognize that God's will exists in harmony
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+with eternal principles. The priesthood is not merely God's power that He
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+delegates, but rather the fundamental power with which God's will aligns and
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+which God Himself uses and works with.
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+
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+This understanding helps resolve the apparent contradiction in D&C 121:36. The
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+powers of heaven cannot be "controlled nor handled" because they operate
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+according to fixed principles. They are "connected with" the rights of the
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+priesthood, but they cannot be forced or manipulated. They respond only to the
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+principles of righteousness—not because God prevents their misuse, but because
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+they operate according to their own nature.
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+
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+When someone attempts to use these powers unrighteously, the power still
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+operates, but it operates according to its nature: it becomes a cursing rather
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+than a blessing. The power itself is not evil, but its operation against the
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+principles of righteousness produces negative consequences.
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+
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+This view maintains that priesthood power is ultimately for good—it operates
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+on principles of righteousness. But it suggests that these principles are
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+fundamental to the universe itself, not merely rules that God has established.
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+A force for good doesn't need rules because it operates according to its own
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+nature. The "safeguards" mentioned in the verse are not external restrictions
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+but rather the natural principles upon which the power operates.
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+
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+Whether this interpretation is definitive or merely one viable way to
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+understand the relationship between priesthood power and God, it offers a
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+framework for understanding how the power can be misused (with negative
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+consequences) while still operating only on principles of righteousness. The
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+power itself is good and operates according to good principles; when we attempt
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+to use it contrary to those principles, we experience the consequences of
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+working against the fundamental nature of the universe.
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---
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## Footnotes
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-[^ENSIGN8205DP]: [Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood,"
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+[^ENSIGN8205DP]: [Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood,"
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Ensign, May
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1982](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/05/the-doctrine-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng):
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> "Priesthood is the very name of the power of God, and it is used to
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> is administered. The priesthood is eternal; without beginning of days or
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> end of years; it existed with God in the beginning; it is the power by
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> which the worlds were made and is the power by which they will dissolve."
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+
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+[^PETERSON1976]: [H. Burke Peterson, "Priesthood--Authority and Power,"
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+ Ensign, May
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+ 1976](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/05/priesthood-authority-and-power)
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+
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+[^STPJS169]: [Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.
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+ 169](https://scriptures.byu.edu/stpjs.html)
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+
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+[^PERRY1981]: [L. Tom Perry, "When Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear,"
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+ Ensign, November
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+ 1981](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1981/10/when-ye-are-prepared-ye-shall-not-fear)
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+
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+[^MCONKIE1982]: [Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood,"
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+ Ensign, May
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+ 1982](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/05/the-doctrine-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng)
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+
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+[^TALMAGE136]: [James E. Talmage, *The Vitality of Mormonism*, p.
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+ 136](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-vitality-of-mormonism)
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+
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+[^OAKS2014]: [Dallin H. Oaks, "The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,"
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+ Ensign, May
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+ 2014](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2014/05/priesthood-session/the-keys-and-authority-of-the-priesthood)
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+
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+[^NELSON2019]: [Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual Treasures," Ensign, November
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+ 2019](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/46nelson)
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+
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+[^PACKER2010]: [Boyd K. Packer, "The Power of the Priesthood," Ensign, May
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+ 2010](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/04/the-power-of-the-priesthood)
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+
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+[^BEDNAR2012]: [David A. Bednar, "The Powers of Heaven," Ensign, November
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+ 2012](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2012/10/the-powers-of-heaven)