Men & Priesthood

In 1842, twelve years and five months after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized, the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored and at that point, every key to the kingdom of God was restored upon the earth.

In September 1842, the Prophet wrote a letter to the Church expressing his joy as he contemplated the knowledge and priesthood keys now restored to the earth: “And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. … And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!” (D&C 128:20–21). (“Chapter 8: The Everlasting Priesthood,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),101–13)

By that point, one thousand eight hundred and nine years had passed since the death and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Not many long years after that, the keys to the kingdom of God slowly slipped away until only a fraction of the truth and no priesthood power or authority existed on the earth. And in 1842, Peter, James and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, at which point, each of the prophets of the dispensations stepped forward and presented to Joseph Smith, Jr., the prophet of the Restoration, confirmation of truths which had been revealed to him, and then revealed yet more, line upon line.

From Joseph Smith we learned:

“The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Genesis 1:26-28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven. (Ibid)

To me, there is such power and comfort in the knowledge that the Priesthood of God was held by Father Adam, the Ancient of Days, and was handed down from prophet to prophet throughout the millennia. Many people never stop to think and consider that when Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, they left with our Heavenly Father's plan of salvation, the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood as well as the keys to the kingdom of God. From Adam, the first to ever live on this earth, to Joseph Smith, Jr. when the full kingdom of God was restored and returned to the earth, one continual chain, unbroken, even through almost seven thousand years.

The continuity of the Everlasting or Melchizedek Priesthood is unending, Adam was the prophet of the first dispensation, just as Joseph Smith, Jr. was the prophet of the last dispensation.

The Melchizedek Priesthood is described as such:

“Its institution was prior to ‘the foundation of this earth, or the morning stars sang together, or the Sons of God shouted for joy’ [see Job 38:4–7], and is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which He will make known His purposes to the end of time.” (Ibid)

The Lord gave very specific instructions to His priesthood holders who do not remain worthy of that holy office:

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. (D&C 121:37)

It is a great privilege and responsibility to hold the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is the Priesthood of God. A priesthood holder is a part of something everlasting, playing a role in the kingdom of God, solely at the behest of our Savior Jesus Christ and His appointed prophets and servants. To live up to this holy office, is to serve as Jesus Christ served the sons and daughters of God, each of us, by suffering the Atonement, the Crucifixion and triumphing over death with the Resurrection. There is no other way and no other power by which man may bless others with the priesthood. Only by following the example of the Great Exemplar, acting in humility, righteousness and obedience.

Men kind of get a bad rap in this world. It is a sad statement, but true. Of course, some of them do all they can to foster that bad rap. But they aren't who I want to talk about. I want to talk about the benefit of having a righteous priesthood holder in my life.

I grew up with a man who was rather stingy with the priesthood, my biological father. He and my mother divorced when I was 14 and I still really had no idea what a righteous priesthood holder was supposed to do in a family.

On November 8, 1980 my mother married Fritz Hendrik Sluyter the man who came to be the father of my heart, but also the man who truly helped me to understand the power and strength of a righteous priesthood holder in the home.

First, I think we should define the priesthood:

The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God. Through the priesthood God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power He redeems and exalts His children, bringing to pass "the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). God gives priesthood authority to worthy male members of the Church so they can act in His name for the salvation of His children. Priesthood holders can be authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, and govern the kingdom of God on the earth. (Gospel Topics, "Priesthood," www.lds.org)

This then, is the power a man holds when he remains worthy.

However, there are those who choose to betray these covenants with God and family, and of these men, President Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th called prophet in this modern days, said:

Personal worthiness becomes the standard of eligibility to receive and exercise this sacred power. It is of this that I wish to speak tonight.

I begin by reading to you from the Doctrine and Covenants, section 121:

“The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and … the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

“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” (D&C 121:36–37).

That is the unequivocal word of the Lord concerning His divine authority. What a tremendous obligation this places upon each of us. We who hold the priesthood of God must stand above the ways of the world. We must discipline ourselves. We cannot be self-righteous, but we can and must be decent, honorable men.

Our behavior in public must be above reproach. Our behavior in private is even more important. It must clear the standard set by the Lord. We cannot indulge in sin, let alone try to cover our sins. We cannot gratify our pride. We cannot partake of the vanity of unrighteous ambition. We cannot exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion upon our wives or children, or any others in any degree of unrighteousness.

If we do any of these things, the powers of heaven are withdrawn. The Spirit of the Lord is grieved. The very virtue of our priesthood is nullified. Its authority is lost. (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood," Liahona, Jul 2002, 58–61)

With that being said, let's leave it behind and concentrate on the incredible reward of having a righteous priesthood holder in the home.

As mentioned before, my father, Fritz Sluyter, is the one who taught me the value of a righteous priesthood holder. He was the one who parented with love and gentleness, but with firmness. He was the one who was with me as my father in the toughest times I faced in my young life (open heart surgery just being one of those things.) He was the one who became the model for the man I wished to marry.

Because of him I wanted a man who loved his wife, treating her with love, respect and gentleness. Just like he did my mother.

Because of him I wanted a man who honored his priesthood and covenants made with Lord. Just as he did with God.

Because of him I wanted a man who was generous with the priesthood, giving blessings of comfort, healing or strength as the need arose, always responding in the affirmative if a blessing was asked of him. Just as he did with us.

Because of him I wanted a man who stood with strength and conviction for his beliefs, standards and testimony of Jesus Christ. Just as he was until the day he died.

And because of Fritz Hendrik Sluyter and the example he was to me I married the love my life. I am married to a man who loves, honors and respects me. He is generous with the priesthood. And because of his worthiness he makes me a better woman. Because of his worthiness a protection and shield have a physical presence in our home. He is generous with the use of the priesthood, as his Heavenly Father intended him to be.

That, my friends, is the value of a righteous priesthood holder. Let us close with the words of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson:

My brethren, let us ever remember that the priesthood of God which we bear is a sacred gift which brings to us and to those we serve the blessings of heaven. May we, in whatever place we may be, honor and protect that priesthood. May we ever be on the Lord’s errand, that we might ever be entitled to the Lord’s help.

There is a war being waged for men’s souls—yours and mine. It continues without abatement. Like a clarion call comes the word of the Lord to you and to me and to priesthood holders everywhere: “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.”

May we each have the courage to do so, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. (Thomas S. Monson, “The Priesthood—a Sacred Gift,” Liahona, May 2007, 57–60(