Summary Lesson 8: “The Restoration of the Priesthood”

ANCIENT JOSEPH GIVEN AUTHORITY: Ancient Joseph was authorized by his father when Jacob laid hands on Joseph’s head. “. . . parents place their hands on the heads of their children when they bless them. (. . . in the Bible, Jacob blessed his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, by placing his hands on their heads.) Placing the hands on another person is symbolic not only of transferring blessing but also of passing on authority.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
MODERN EXPECTATION OF A FUTURE JOSEPH:. “According to the Talmud, the Messiah will be a descendant of the House of David . . . preceded by a secondary Messiah, from the House of Joseph . . .” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
PRIESTHOOD SIMILARITIES, FASTING, FAST OFFERINGS: “. . . Men who are well-known and honest . . . collect money from the people every Sabbath eve and distribute it to the poor . . .” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) Monthly fasting is a part of Jewish life, yet never on a Sabbath, unless it is Yom Kippur.
IMMERSION, BAPTISM: Religious Jews experience repeated immersions (monthly for women and regularly for men). “As an everlasting covenant, baptism began on this earth with Adam (Moses 6:64-67) and has continued ever since whenever the Lord has had a people on earth. (D. & C. 20:23-28; 84:26-28.) The Jews were baptizing their proselytes long before John, as is well attested from secular sources.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pg.71)

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SACRAMENT, BREAD AND WINE (WATER): Weekly, Latter-day Saints’ “sacrament” consists of bread that is broken and blessed, then, water (instead of wine) is blessed. The presiding authority partakes first. This is done in remembrance of the Savior’s deliverance. Weekly, in a religious Jewish home, they take wine first and then bread in anticipation of a deliverance. The master of the house always pours wine (or water), blesses, sips first. He then breaks bread, blesses, eats the first piece, with everyone following his example.
PRIESTHOOD GOVERNMENT: Priesthood restoration has been a hope of Jews since before Jesus’ time. This is reflected in the Essenes’ of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including a Teacher of Righteousness and two assistants, a council of twelveoverseers and priestly system including a higher authority, like an order of Melech Zedek (righteous king), and another of lesser authority that seemed to be similar with the Levitical, or order of Aaron.
JESUS’ GOVERNING SYSTEM: Jesus used the same system of government that was previously given to Moses, a system that partially continued to exist in other Jewish traditions up to and at the time of Jesus. “. . . Twelve . . .” (Luke 6:13) (Numbers 1:44) “. . . Seventy . . .” (Luke 10:1) (Exodus 24:1)
HISTORY REPEATS: In Jesus’ time, the multitude who truly believed in the restoration of ancient covenants, expanded well beyond the borders of Israel. Soon, the growth of the Church became a great threat for the Jewish leaders. With the restoration in modern times, some Christian leaders react similarly.