[Teachldsseminary] Priesthood/Baptism

[Lisa Turley]

Here is a quote that helped me to understand the order:
   
  This is from Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith:  He explained that John the Baptist, "after conferring the Priesthood, instructed Joseph and Oliver to go down into the water and baptize each other.  After which they were to lay hands upon each other and re-confer the Priesthood which he had bestowed upon them.  There are 2 reasons why they should be commanded to do this thing.  First, to confer the Priesthood before baptism, is contrary to the order of the organized Church, therefore they were commanded to confer the Priesthood upon each other in the regular way; after they were baptized.  Second, the angel did for them that which they could not do for themselves.  There was no one living in mortality who held the keys of this priesthood, therefore it was necessary that this messenger, who held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in the dispensation of the Meridian of Time, should be sent to confer this power.  It is contrary to the order of heaven for those who have passed
 beyond the veil to officiate and labor for the living on the earth, only wherein mortal man cannot act, and thereby it becomes necessary for those who have passed through the resurrection to act for them.  Otherwise John would have followed the regular order, which is practiced in the Church, and would have first baptized Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and then conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.  (Essentials in Church History, 27th ed. [1950], 57-58.)

  Hope this helps.
  Lisa ems ohio
  
"jsajen at juno.com" <jsajen at juno.com> wrote:
  Please help me to understand why John the Baptist first conferred the Aaronic Priesthood before Joseph and Oliver were baptized. Why didn't John baptize them and then confer the priesthood in the same order as would happen today (I didn't do a very good job in answering this question from a student)?
Jim Anderson
Olympia WA
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