Priesthood as a Channel of Revelation and the Spirit of Revelation

In addition to being the work of God, a principle, and a body of laws, and a system to bring to pass the eternal life of man, the priesthood is also a channel of revelation. Joseph Smith stated that “The Melchizedek Priesthood … is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven.” (TPJS, p.166-167). He also explained that “one great privilege of the Priesthood is to obtain revelations of the mind and will of God.” (TPJS p.111-112). This priesthood channel of revelation is not much different than receiving revelation through the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith also described the close relationship between revelation and the Holy Ghost – “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” (TPJS, p. 328). The priesthood, the Holy Ghost, and revelation are all closely intertwined. Indeed, “The Holy Ghost is God’s messenger to administer in all those priesthoods.” (TPJS, p.323).

Brigham Young had a few things to say about how the Priesthood is a means of gaining revelation and intelligence. In fact, he even said that the Priesthood is Spirit within a man.

“This Priesthood is given to the people, and the keys thereof, and, when properly understood, they may actually unlock the treasury of the Lord, and receive to their fullest satisfaction … We have to humble ourselves and become like little children in our feelings—to become humble and childlike in spirit, in order to receive the first illuminations of the spirit of the Gospel, then we have the privilege of growing, of increasing in knowledge, in wisdom, and in understanding.”

“An individual who holds a share in the Priesthood, and continues faithful to his calling, who delights himself continually in doing the things God requires at his hands, and continues through life in the performance of every duty, will secure to himself not only the privilege of receiving, but the knowledge how to receive the things of God, that he may know the mind of God continually; and he will be enabled to discern between right and wrong, between the things of God and the things that are not of God. And the Priesthood—the Spirit that is within him, will continue to increase until it becomes like a fountain of living water; it is like the tree of life; until it is one continued source of intelligence and instruction to that individual.” (JD, Volume 3, Number 25, p. 191-196)

Notice how Brigham Young equated the priesthood with the spirit within the priesthood holder. This is consistent with the definition of priesthood as a channel of revelation, because revelation comes by means of the spirit. The scriptures even use the phrase “spirit of revelation”, as in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3 – “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.” Moses parted the Red Sea by the power of the priesthood that God had given to him – “Blessed art thou, Moses, for I, the Almighty, have chosen thee, and thou shalt be made stronger than many waters; for they shall obey thy command as if thou wert God.” (Moses 1:25). Yet, the Doctrine and Covenants tells us that Moses parted the Red Sea through the spirit of revelation and the spirit of revelation is the Holy Ghost.

In one passage of the Doctrine and Covenants, the concept of “the power of God” is equated to divine light, law, and life:

11) And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

12) Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

13) The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. (D&C 88:11-13)

In another passage of the Doctrine and Covenants, light is equated to the spirit of Christ – “For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (D&C 84:45). If we take the concept of the power of God to be more or less equivalent to the concept of power in the priesthood then priesthood can be defined as the light of Christ, the spirit of Christ, the spirit of revelation and the law of God.