The Decreasing Importance of Priesthood Power

[_consiglieri]

Back in the late 1970's, I remember often hearing at church about the power of the priesthood; and how the young men needed to remain virtuous so that should the need arise for a blessing to the sick or the occasional raising from the dead, we would be ready.

More and more, the power of the priesthood seems to be replaced by the functional authority of the priesthood. Those who hold the priesthood do so in order to perform the ordinances and to preside at church meetings. I rarely hear anyone encouraging exercising the power of the priesthood anymore.

Most recently, a member of our stake presidency taught a joint Relief Society/Priesthood meeting at which he emphasized service as exercising the priesthood.

While I think service is always a laudatory goal, I was left to wonder why there should be a connection between priesthood and service. I mean, it isn't like somebody needs the priesthood in order to serve others.

I was wondering whether anybody else has observed a similar trend in the last several decades.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_RockSlider]

When one is auto-advanced, based on nothing but age or calling, where is the source of wisdom, experience and knowledge that it would seem would be required to exercise real "power in the priesthood"?

I remember first going to the temple and thinking, SUPER … I've walked through the rooms and levels of the priesthood, approached and passed through the veil … now, to just remain true and faithful as the goal has been reached and I just need to stay on the escalator.

Of course I later came to view it as a road map for ones journey through life, which was going to require much spiritual work and growth to actually achieve it. Thus to actually perform Melchizedek ordinances, one must have achieved that level of person growth to actually have any power in it.

Of course that is all unnecessary for the ecclesiastical uses of the priesthood.

[_Kishkumen]

When one is auto-advanced, based on nothing but age or calling, where is the source of wisdom, experience and knowledge that it would seem would be required to exercise real "power in the priesthood"?

I remember first going to the temple and thinking, SUPER … I've walked through the rooms and levels of the priesthood, approached and passed through the veil … now, to just remain true and faithful as the goal has been reached and I just need to stay on the escalator.

Of course I later came to view it as a road map for ones journey through life, which was going to require much spiritual work and growth to actually achieve it. Thus to actually perform Melchizedek ordinances, one must have achieved that level of person growth to actually have any power in it.

Of course that is all unnecessary for the ecclesiastical uses of the priesthood.

Very well said, Rockslider.

[_Harold Lee]

Last I heard something on that exact topic was President Eyring, and the examples he used was a young deacon with inactive parents that did his home teaching anyway, and a stake president being an effective administrator during a natural disaster.

"Power of the priesthood" has been watered down so much that effective home teaching is now considered a miracle, and making sure everyone is safe after a flood is evidence of priesthood keys.

[_Tobin]

I think it is slowly dawning on them that they have NO mystical or magical powers. The Mormon Church has prophets that don't prophecy, seers that don't see, and revelators that don't reveal. The whole notion that the temporal or ecclesiastical priesthood that they attribute to being given them from God is no such thing. They receive it from men and that is the nature and source of it. True priesthood comes directly from God only. All others are pretenders and so it should come as no surpise they are disappointed and now deemphasizing it.

[_sock puppet]

I think it is slowly dawning on them that they have NO mystical or magical powers. The Mormon Church has prophets that don't prophecy, seers that don't see, and revelators that don't reveal.

And a translator that couldn't ... translate!

'Smoke and mirrors' just does not capture the fraud that is Mormonism.

[_sock puppet]

Back in the late 1970's, I remember often hearing at church about the power of the priesthood; and how the young men needed to remain virtuous so that should the need arise for a blessing to the sick or the occasional raising from the dead, we would be ready.
* * *
All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Consig,

I have four deceased grandparents and about half a dozen dear friends who have died. I think among the billions that have died, these 10 would just be 'the occasional raising from the dead'.

If you know anyone that has the priesthood power for these occasional raisings, it would really make for a magical holiday season for me.

PM me the name(s) of those priesthood holders.

[_Drifting]

Back in the late 1970's, I remember often hearing at church about the power of the priesthood; and how the young men needed to remain virtuous so that should the need arise for a blessing to the sick or the occasional raising from the dead, we would be ready.

More and more, the power of the priesthood seems to be replaced by the functional authority of the priesthood. Those who hold the priesthood do so in order to perform the ordinances and to preside at church meetings. I rarely hear anyone encouraging exercising the power of the priesthood anymore.

Most recently, a member of our stake presidency taught a joint Relief Society/Priesthood meeting at which he emphasized service as exercising the priesthood.

While I think service is always a laudatory goal, I was left to wonder why there should be a connection between priesthood and service. I mean, it isn't like somebody needs the priesthood in order to serve others.

I was wondering whether anybody else has observed a similar trend in the last several decades.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Does these mean the sisters cannot serve others legitimately?

[_Philo Sofee]

Priesthood has become all about image, the image of being holier than the wicked world. Considering that anciently Yahweh did everything in his power to SHOW he was in power, and compared to today's interpretation that these things are "too sacred" to share with the world (WTF?!?), we can see that priesthood is image and ego. They just love to sit up in their high seats facing the congregations looking down upon them from their stations of exaltation in power and authority. It's mere eye wash these days.

[_Philo Sofee]

When limbs lost are actually restored (as I am more than sure even God himself would find quite reasonable on the surface of it) and wheel-chair bound folks whose lives are so obviously detrimentally affected through whatever cripples them, are raised up to walk, run, enjoy their lives and testify of the "real" power that has occurred.....I say, until that day when coincidences are fundamentally ruled out because of the obvious use of God's power for good, and the priesthood is once again used for the good of God's children, there will always be doubt about the mere claim of possessing God's own power. God anciently actually gave over 5,000 people a free lunch of fish and bread (gee, why didn't he just simply pass that power onto them and allow them to eradicate ALL hunger in their country, now THAT would have glorified him a bit eh?), but these days we are constantly being told that it is NOT for the world to see such sacred events. Either God has changed, or we actually don't possess that which is claimed.