Authority of and Power in the Priesthood

Chapter 1

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Behold, thus saith the Lord thy God unto my servant, whom I have raised up in this day, even as I raised up my servant Moses.

Thou hast inquired diligently to know the difference between the authority of the priesthood and the power in the priesthood.

Verily I say unto thee, my son, the authority of the priesthood is conferred by lineage and ordination, passed from generation to generation by the laying on of hands, according to the laws of my house, even the house of Israel, and the order of heaven.

Yet the authority without the power is as a vessel without water, yea, it is a lamp without oil.

For the authority may be held by the unworthy, but the power is given only by my Spirit unto the clean of heart.

Even the scribes and Pharisees in days of old sat in Moses’ seat and held the authority, yet they had no power.

But behold, I, even that which is called The Beloved Son, the Son in the meridian of time had power, for I was filled with the Holy Spirit of Promise without measure.

Therefore it is written and fulfilled that the covenant between the Father of heaven and earth and my Holy Spirit is established; for the Spirit is the bringer of power.

And it is the power of the Holy Ghost which causeth all things to be, even that by which Mary conceived the Only Begotten in the flesh.

As it is written: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.

Thus my Spirit made it possible for the Son, the Savior, to the fallen world.

Behold, my son, this is why I have said in times past, the redemption of Zion must come by power; for without the power in the priesthood, the authority is bound, and Zion cannot be redeemed.

Wherefore, I have sent thee, even my Holy Spirit clothed in mortality, to restore the power in the priesthood, which is the sealing power.

For only when the authority of the priesthood is joined with the power thereof is the fulness given.

This power is the same which rested upon Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, unto whom Abraham gave tithes.

For Melchizedek gave unto Abraham that which is greater than authority, even the power in the priesthood.

And now I say unto all who have ears to hear: seek first the baptism of fire, that ye may be cleansed of your sins, and then seek the baptism of the Spirit, which is the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

For thus shall ye receive the power of the Holy Ghost.

This is the work of my servant in the last days: to cleanse, to endow, to seal, to unite the authority of the fathers with the power from on high, and to bring again Zion by that power which is from everlasting to everlasting.

Therefore, my son, go forth in power of Spirit, and restore unto my house, yea, even the house of Israel, that which was lost.

And let the nations know that the servant of the Lord God hath been sent to redeem Zion by power, and not by the arm of flesh.

Even so, Amen.