Why is the Aaronic Priesthood vs Levitical Priesthood

[Rico]

My mom asked me some questions about the church, after she visited for the first time on Sunday. I could answer all of them except one, so I figured I might as well ask it here to get the most diverse set of answers possible.

Why is the Aaronic Priesthood called the Aaronic Priesthood? I know it is the same as the Levitical Priesthood, but why is the name different?

Thanks in advance!

[bytor2112]

BIBLE DICTIONARY

Aaronic Priesthood

As a result of the failure of the Israelites to observe the gospel law administered by Moses under the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Lord gave an additional law of performances and ordinances and “confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations” (D&C 84: 18) to administer it. This priesthood was of lesser power and authority than the priesthood of Melchizedek, and was used to administer the outward ordinances, particularly as characterized by the ceremonies of the law of Moses. The terms Aaronic and Levitical are sometimes used synonymously (D&C 107: 1, 6, 10), although there are some specific differences in the offices existing within the Levitical Priesthood. For example, the lesser priesthood was conferred only upon men of the tribe of Levi. However, within the tribe, only Aaron and his sons could hold the office of priest. And, still further, from the firstborn of Aaron’s sons (after Aaron) was selected the high priest (or president of the priests). Thus Aaron and his sons after him had greater offices in the Levitical Priesthood than did the other Levites.

The privileges of the priests were greater than those who functioned in the other Levitical offices, and a distinction between the two is evident when the scripture speaks of them as “the priests and the Levites” (1 Kgs. 8: 4; Ezra 2: 70; John 1: 19). The priests could offer sacrifices for the people, burn incense on the altar, and teach the law, whereas the other Levites were employed in more menial tasks, such as the housekeeping of the tabernacle, keeping oil in the lamps, transporting the Ark of the Covenant, taking down and setting up the tabernacle when moving, and related tasks in assisting the priests (Num. 3: 5-10; Num. 18: 1-7; 1 Chr. 23: 27-32). The account of Korah’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron delineates some of the differences between the duties of the priests and those of the Levites. It also shows the error of aspiring to offices in the priesthood. Levite companions sought for the high priesthood, but as they were unworthy, the Lord destroyed them (Num. 16 - 18).

The Aaronic (or Levitical) Priesthood thus functioned only within the tribe of Levi, and the right to have it conferred upon one was determined by lineage and worthiness. As part of his rationale that the law of Moses was fulfilled, Paul makes a point of the contrast between the lineal requirement of the lesser priesthood and the nonlineal Melchizedek Priesthood, which was not confined to those of one tribe (see JST Heb. 7: 3; Heb. 7: 11-14). The lineal restrictions of that Aaronic (Levitical) Priesthood were lifted when the law of Moses was fulfilled, and thereafter the offices of the priesthood were conferred upon worthy men without limitation to the tribe of Levi. This appears to be the case in the Church as recorded in the New Testament and in the Book of Mormon (where there were no Levites), and is presently operative in the Church as it has been restored in the latter days.

The Aaronic Priesthood continued “with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel” from Aaron until John the Baptist, who was a priest in the Aaronic order (D&C 84: 26-27), and by this authority he prepared the way for and baptized Jesus. Nineteen centuries later this same John was sent from heaven as a resurrected being to confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. This was done on May 15, 1829, near Harmony, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Susquehanna River. At that time John outlined some of the duties, privileges, and limitations of the priesthood, specifying that the Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of the ministry of angels and can perform baptisms by water, but has not the authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Aaronic Priesthood functions under the direction of the Melchizedek Priesthood (D&C 13; JS-H 1: 68-72).

Although the Aaronic Priesthood is conferred in the Church today without restriction to the lineage of Aaron, the keys of this priesthood rightly belong to the firstborn of the seed of Aaron, and in the restoration of all things the office of bishop (president of the priests) will once again be conferred on one of that lineage, as it is designated by revelation to the president of the Church (D&C 84: 14-21; D&C 107: 13-17).

[mnn727]

Aaronic and Levitical are different(not by much), and we're not Levites (ie of the Tribe of Levi).

Edited November 19, 2008 by mnn727

[tubaloth]

Why is the Aaronic Priesthood called the Aaronic Priesthood?

Its because Moses' brother (I think) was Aaron, he was the first to hold this priesthood (in the way we think of it). So it was called the aaronic Priesthood after Aaron.

[MarginOfError]

To break it down into a bullet list (and someone correct me if I post an error)

The Priesthoods in the Church follow a sort of hierarchy.

• The Melchizedek Priesthood is at the top of the hierarchy
• The Aaronic Priesthood is a subset of the authorities contained in the Melchizedek Priesthood
• The Levitical Priesthood is a subset of the authorities contained in the Aaronic Priesthood.

Thus, a person with the Melchizedek Priesthood has all the rights, privileges, and authorities associated with the Aaronic and Levitical. Likewise, a person with the Aaronic Priesthood has all the rights, privileges, and authorities contained in the Levitical Priesthood.

Summary of the Bible Dictionary Quote from above

The hierarchal nature of these priesthoods, in some sense, makes the Aaronic and Levitical Priesthoods redundant. At least until we consider historical context.

Moses held the Melchizedek Priesthood (D&C 84:1-6). But the Melchizedek Priesthood was not conferred upon many at the time, for whatever reason. With Moses being unable to officiate to the entire Israelite congregation, and with the Lord deciding that the population at large wasn't prepared for the responsibilities of the Melchizedek Priesthood, a subset of those responsibilities was given to Aaron and his posterity. And since this one family could not possibly keep up with all of the work required of them, a further subset of the priesthood was given to the Levites so that they might assist Aaron and his posterity.

Today, we sometimes use the terms Aaronic Priesthood and Levitical Priesthood interchangeably. Technically, this isn't correct, but we can sort get away with it because we don't make use of the Levitical Priesthood. Also, we don't really need the Aaronic Priesthood, as the Melchizidek Priesthood is fairly well distributed in the Church. However, the Lord has seen fit to use this subset of the Higher Priesthood to help transition men into accepting the full responsibility of holding the Melchizedek Priesthood.

[chriscb]

"Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah. He stands at the head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi was given charge of the tabernacle of the congregation. As they were not given lands as were the other tribes they will be given the privilege of offering up sacrifices to the Lord in the last dispensation. The tribe also shared in the Aaronic Priesthood named after Aaron, which is the lesser priesthood as given by the Lord when his people rebelled at the time Moses receive the first of the second set of commandments. The Aaronic and Levitical Priesthood are synonymous."

WikiAnswers - What is the Levitical in the bible

"This lesser priesthood (D. & C. 85:11) was conferred upon Aaron and his sons after him (Ex. 28; 29; 30; Lev. 1:11; 3:2; 13:2; Num. 18), as "an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." (Ex. 40:15; Num. 25:10-13.) It was also conferred upon substantially the whole house of Levi who were between 30 and 50 years of age. (Num. 3; 4.) Hence it is called the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood; the two names are synonymous. (D. & C. 107:1, 6, 10.)"

LDS Library - Home

Edited December 14, 2008 by chriscb