Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Nineteen
The Patriarchal and the Ecclesiastical Orders of the Priesthood
Introduction – We highly recommend Elder Richard G. Scott’s book entitled 21 Principles; Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit. Principle 14 states: “A happy marriage results from making correct choices prayerfully together. It can transform a house into a place of heaven on earth.” Elder Scott goes on to teach what the relationship between husband and wife, in an eternal marriage, should be:
“Some brethren don’t recognize that there is a difference in how the priesthood is used in the home and how it is used in the Church. Because the Church is an organization where there are different levels, a hierarchical structure, we sometimes need to make decisions for those who are serving under us. In the home the priesthood is not used that way. It is a patriarchal order. Who should make the decisions in the home?
“The way of the Lord is that you make every decision together – period. And if you can’t do that, you work until you do. You pray about it.” Elder Scott’s teaching reminded us of some important truths about the priesthood that we would like everyone in our family to understand.
The ecclesiastical order of the priesthood – This is a term used to describe the priesthood organization in the Church as an ecclesiastical organization. The priesthood by which the Church, as an ecclesiastical organization, is organized and under which it functions is hierarchical. Priesthood keys and priesthood quorums and a hierarchical structure are central to the Church’s organization and function both in this life and in the spirit world where “the same Church has an even more perfect and effective organization among the righteous dead” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign, Dec 1971, p. 10) than it does in this world.
In the ecclesiastical order of the priesthood the President of the Church holds all the priesthood keys and presides over the entire Church. He delegates priesthood keys to Bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, and temple presidents to preside over their respective organizations until they are released.
The patriarchal order of the priesthood – President Ezra Taft Benson taught that both Adam and Eve “were commanded by God to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to enter into the order of the Son of God. To enter into the order of the Son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house of the Lord...
“The order of priesthood spoken of in the scriptures is sometimes referred to as the patriarchal order. But this order is otherwise describe in modern revelation as an order of family government where a man and woman enter into a covenant with God – just as did Adam and Eve – to be sealed for eternity, to have posterity, and do the will and work of God thought their mortality” (Ensign, August, 1985).
The covenants and blessings of the patriarchal order are shared equally between a man and a woman as eternal companions. The roles may be different, but they are equal and complementary.
If we keep our covenants we will never be released from our callings as mothers and fathers. This is the order of priesthood in the celestial kingdom, and in which our Heavenly Parents live.
The Family - A Proclamation to the World – This proclamation was announced to the world on September 23, 1995 and has certainly been prophetic. This Proclamation teaches us how to live the doctrine of the patriarchal order of the priesthood: “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”
Testimony – We have learned over many years of marriage and Church callings that what Elder Scott teaches is true. We need to distinguish between the patriarchal and the ecclesiastical orders of the priesthood. Then we will be successful in our service in the Church and will have an eternal family.