- Melchizedek also received the same Covenant that Enoch (and Noah) received.
- Was ordained a high priest after the order of the covenant of Enoch. [1]
- This Order is delivered directly by God's own voice and is available to all [2]
- Was given the Sealing Power [3]
- The Order of this Covenant involves translation [4]
- Was received into Zion [5]
- Received a New Name (Shem -> Melchizedek)
Denver Snuffer – Lecture 4, Centerville
The next time we have an event on the earth in
which a people of righteousness are taught and gathered, it will not be for the
purpose of going up to heaven. Instead it will be for the purpose of permitting
those who have gone up before with Enoch and Melchizedek to come back down. It
will be for the purpose of preparing those who can endure the presence of those
who will come. Because those who come, as Moroni put it, will burn up all who
are unworthy, leaving them neither root nor branch. Therefore, some few need to
be gathered, so that the earth is not utterly wasted at His coming.
What is important is that the great events of
Melchizedek’s time began when people humbled themselves and accepted the
teachings of this “high priesthood” holder and were, thereby, saved. Not
only saved but also led into a fellowship which eventually turned into a City
of Peace, or City of Salem, or Jerusalem, which was taken into heaven.
This prototype was so influential in the thinking of all who followed, that the high priesthood was named after Melchizedek. Even though he held Patriarchal Priesthood with its associated sealing power, he was the one after whom Melchizedek Priesthood was named in the form it was later transmitted which lacked sealing authority. (Again, another topic.)
What is important in this verse is the connection between the existence of the one holding this authority (Melchizedek), and a humble people who would accept and follow those teachings. The result of the combination of the two was that God came and dwelt among them.
This prototype was so influential in the thinking of all who followed, that the high priesthood was named after Melchizedek. Even though he held Patriarchal Priesthood with its associated sealing power, he was the one after whom Melchizedek Priesthood was named in the form it was later transmitted which lacked sealing authority. (Again, another topic.)
What is important in this verse is the connection between the existence of the one holding this authority (Melchizedek), and a humble people who would accept and follow those teachings. The result of the combination of the two was that God came and dwelt among them.
D&C 76:54-60
54 They are they who are
the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father
has given all things—
56 They are they who
are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of
his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High,
after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which
was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they
are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs,
whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and
they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all
things.
[1] he was ordained
an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch - JST
Genesis 14:27
[2] It being after
the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man;
neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years;
but of God; And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice,
according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name. - JST Genesis
14:28-29
[3] every one being
ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break
mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their
course; To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break
every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his
will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by
the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. -
JST Genesis 14:30-31
[4] men having this
faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into
heaven. - JST Genesis 14:32
[5] And his people
wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch
which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it
unto the latter days, or the end of the world; And hath said, and sworn with an
oath, that the heavens and the earth should come together; and the sons of God
should be tried so as by fire. And this
Melchizedek, having thus established righteousness, was called the king of
heaven by his people, or, in other words, the King of peace. - JST Genesis
14:34-36
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