The Melchizedek Priesthood in Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS) is considered the “Higher Priesthood,” representing the authority of God given to men to lead the church and perform specific ordinances. While biblical Christianity views the Melchizedek priesthood as an exclusive, eternal office held only by Jesus Christ, the LDS faith teaches that this authority was restored to Joseph Smith and is now held by worthy adult male members of their church.
The LDS View Of Restoration
In the Mormon worldview, the authority to act in God’s name was lost from the earth following the death of the original apostles—an event they call the “Great Apostasy.” They believe that in May 1829, the biblical figures Peter, James, and John appeared as resurrected beings to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to restore the Melchizedek Priesthood. This “restoration” is a cornerstone of their faith, as they claim it allows them to perform marriages and “sealings” that last for eternity.
This perspective differs significantly from the evangelical biblical view, which maintains that the priesthood was never “lost” or meant to be a multi-person office after Jesus. In the Bible, the “Order of Melchizedek” is unique because it is non-hereditary and eternal, finding its one and only fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. For Latter-day Saints, however, this priesthood is a functional tool for church government and personal spiritual power for thousands of men.
Offices Within The Melchizedek Priesthood
Within the LDS system, the Melchizedek Priesthood is organized into several different “offices,” each with specific responsibilities. When a man is considered worthy and reaches a certain age (usually 18), he is ordained to an office within this priesthood. These offices include Elders, High Priests, Seventies, and Apostles.
The most common office is that of an “Elder,” which allows a man to give “priesthood blessings” to the sick, bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and serve as a missionary. High Priests usually serve in leadership roles, such as Bishops or Stake Presidents. This structured hierarchy is central to how the LDS church operates, creating a system where religious authority is distributed among the male lay membership rather than being held by a single Great High Priest like Jesus.
Ordinances And The “Temple”
For Latter-day Saints, the Melchizedek Priesthood is required to perform “saving ordinances” that they believe are necessary for a person to return to live with God in the highest degree of heaven. This includes the “endowment” and “sealing” ceremonies performed inside their temples. They teach that without this specific priesthood authority, a marriage or baptism performed by any other Christian denomination is not recognized by God in the afterlife.
Hebrews 7:23–24 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.
This is where the biblical text and LDS theology diverge most sharply. The Bible teaches that the “veil was torn” (Matthew 27:51), meaning there is no longer a need for special temple rituals or human mediators to access God’s highest blessings. While LDS members believe these priesthood rituals are essential for “exaltation,” the biblical Gospel teaches that Jesus’ finished work on the cross provides everything a believer needs for eternal life.
Biblical Critique Of A Shared Melchizedek Priesthood
When we look at the Book of Hebrews, the “Order of Melchizedek” is described as something that belongs to Jesus specifically because He is sinless and eternal. The Bible never mentions this priesthood being handed out to thousands of different men or being “restored” after an apostasy. In fact, the word “priesthood” in the New Testament is most often used to describe the entire body of believers—men and women—who have direct access to God through faith.
The Mormon concept of priesthood creates a “middleman” system that the New Testament was written to replace. By claiming that men must hold this authority to perform valid ordinances, the LDS system places a human requirement between the believer and God. In contrast, the “priesthood of all believers” teaches that every person who follows Jesus has full authority to pray, serve, and experience the presence of God without needing a specific “office” or a secret temple ceremony.
The Takeaway
In Mormonism, the Melchizedek Priesthood is a restored authority held by men to lead and perform temple rituals. However, the Bible presents a different picture: Jesus is the only one who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood because He is the only one who lives forever. We find great joy in the biblical truth that we don’t need a human “priesthood holder” to get to God—we have Jesus, our Great High Priest, who has already done all the work for us.
