“Moroni 2–3: Priesthood Authority,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)
“Moroni 2–3,” Book of Mormon Student Manual
Moroni 2–3
Priesthood Authority
True priesthood authority from God is important in the Savior’s Church. In some of Moroni’s final words to future generations, he taught about the authority to perform priesthood ordinances. In doing so he preserved important truths about how the priesthood is used. This lesson can help you understand priesthood authority in the Savior’s Church.
Have you ever lost anything that was important to you? During the Great Apostasy, many plain and precious truths were lost (see 1 Nephi 13:26–29, 32). The Book of Mormon helps restore many of those truths.
“Of worth”
Moroni was one of the final priesthood holders of his dispensation on the American continent. He knew that when he died, important knowledge about the Savior’s Church and His priesthood authority would be lost. In some of his final words, Moroni wrote what he felt might “be of worth” to future generations (Moroni 1:4). He wrote about priesthood authority and ordinances that are available only in the Savior’s Church.
When the resurrected Savior visited the Nephites, “he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen” and “gave them power to give the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 18:36–37). Moroni included in his record some of the Savior’s instructions to the twelve Nephite disciples about how to give the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost
Read Moroni 2:1–3, looking for what Moroni taught that is of worth.
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What did you find in these verses that you feel is of worth?
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From what you already know, what priesthood authority is necessary to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost?
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What truths can we learn from Moroni 2?
One truth is that Melchizedek Priesthood holders bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon baptized Church members by the laying on of hands.
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Answer at least two of the following questions:
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Why do you think the conferral of the Holy Ghost is so important? (For an account that demonstrates this, you might read Acts 8:14–24.)
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How can knowing that the authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost comes from the Savior influence your feelings about this gift?
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How has the gift of the Holy Ghost blessed your life?
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Ordaining others to priesthood offices
Moroni next explained how to ordain priests and teachers.
Read Moroni 3:1–4, looking for how individuals are ordained to priesthood offices.
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What did you notice about how individuals are ordained to priesthood offices?
Although Moroni 3 specifically mentions ordination to the priesthood offices of priests and teachers, the authority also applies to all who hold callings in the Savior’s Church.
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Why is it necessary for individuals who serve in the Savior’s Church to have His authority?
Priesthood authority comes from Jesus Christ. While all who hold callings in the Church have priesthood authority, those who are ordained to either the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood offices have a priesthood line of authority. This line traces a priesthood holder’s authority to Jesus Christ. Melchizedek Priesthood holders may request a record of their line of authority on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Church does not provide records of lines of authority for Aaronic Priesthood holders. However, if an Aaronic Priesthood holder was ordained by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, he could learn about the line of authority of the man who ordained him.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
Acting with divine authority requires more than mere social contract. It cannot be generated by theological training or a commission from the congregation. No, in the authorized work of God there has to be power greater than that already possessed by the people in the pews or in the streets or in the seminaries—a fact that many honest religious seekers had known and openly acknowledged for generations leading up to the Restoration. …
… [The priesthood line of authority of each priesthood holder in the Church] goes back in an unbroken chain to angelic ministers who came from the Son of God Himself, bearing this incomparable gift from heaven. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Our Most Distinguishing Feature,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2005, 44)
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Answer the following questions:
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Why is it significant that priesthood authority can be traced back to Jesus Christ?
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How can knowing this connection to Jesus Christ influence how you feel about ordinances, callings, or blessings you receive through the priesthood?
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