Priesthood as a Principle

Joseph Smith said that “The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years.” (TPJS, p. 157). Since the priesthood is a principle, we ought to understand what a principle is and how the priesthood could be defined as a principle. Some relevant definitions of ‘principle’ include; a rule of conduct, elemental aspect of a craft or discipline, and a law comprehending many subordinate truths, such as the principles of morality, law, and government. If we define the priesthood as God’s work, then it is a principle in the sense that it is a rule of conduct on how to bring to pass the eternal life of man and in the sense that it is a craft or discipline to save men. It is also a principle in the sense that it is a law comprehending many subordinate truths, because Joseph Smith also said that “[the Melchizedek] Priesthood is a perfect law of theocracy, and stands as God to give laws to the people, administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam.” (TPJS, p. 322).

In addition to defining the priesthood as a principle, Joseph Smith also talked about “the principle of love” (TPJS, p. 313), “the principle of mercy” (TPJS, p. 155), “the principle of wisdom” (TPJS, p. 119), “the principle of repentance” (TPJS, p. 81), “the principle of knowledge” (TPJS, p. 297), and “the principle of salvation” (TPJS, p. 297). Priesthood, or the work of God, is a principle just like love, mercy, wisdom, repentance, knowledge, and salvation are principles.

Brigham Young also understood the priesthood as enveloping a system of principles:

“Eternal existence depends solely upon adopting and carrying out in our lives the principles couched in the term “holy Priesthood,” which alone tend to life and eternal duration and exaltation. We are seeking for something that we are not now in possession of; and every individual wishes to understand those true principles which will put him in possession of the right plan by which to obtain what we are seeking.” (JD, Volume 7, p. 201-206).