Restoration of “the Priesthood” Through Temple Ordinances?

As the climax of the Kirtland Endowment on April 3, 1836, Joseph Smith received sacred keys in rapid succession from Moses, Elias, and Elijah. This was the primary purpose for which the Kirtland Temple was built. Joseph had now received all that was necessary for the next phase of temple building, which he hoped would take place in northern Missouri at the settlements of Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman. But due to heinous persecution, neither of these temples ever came to be, and the saints found themselves in 1839 as refugees in a swampy, malaria-infested peninsula in Illinois that the prophet would name Nauvoo. It was there, over the next few years, that the theology, the rituals and those Kirtland keys, like pieces of a puzzle, began to come together to reveal the stunning purpose of the Nauvoo Temple and every temple that would be built thereafter. The Lord referred to this temple purpose as restoring the fullness of the priesthood. The prophet Joseph referred to it as the restoration of the priesthood or as the work of connecting the priesthood. But what does this mean? And how would temple ordinances given to men and women living and dead constitute the work of restoring or connecting the priesthood? In this episode of Church History Matters we’re excited to talk about all of this.

This is the third episode of our 10-part podcast series on Temple Worship. For a full transcript of this episode, as well as show notes and additional resources, visit our website at https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.o...

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Originally published March 26, 2024

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