The Pattern of the Priesthood: Reclaiming Our Royal Calling

The grand sweep of the Bible, when studied through the lens of divine pattern, reveals a single, unifying theme: the Royal Priesthood. It is a concept that moves far beyond mere liturgical function; it is the very calling of humanity—a mandate given in the Garden of Eden to represent and rule with our Creator.

When we examine the covenants established by God, we are not merely observing historical events; we are tracking the glorious restoration of a lost calling. As Latter-day Saints, we are called to understand that our life, our adherence to doctrine and covenants, and our service in the temple is nothing less than the re-embodying of this divine mandate. We are, by right of lineage and covenant, priests.

From Eden's Blessing to the Divine Promise

The narrative begins with humanity as God's perfect priests, ruling in harmony with the divine. But through disobedience, that original covenant was forfeited. The subsequent ages—from the shadows of the patriarchs to the high priesthoods of Israel—are chronicling a journey of restoration. The promise of a descendant, a Redeemer, who would not only defeat evil but would also restore us to our original, glorious calling.

This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest. He suffered the ultimate atonement not only to redeem us from sin, but to restore our capacity to live as covenant priests. His ascension into the heavenly temple was not an ending, but an exaltation—the installation of the cosmic Royal Priest, setting the pattern for all who follow Him.

The Spirit: Our Mini-Temples and Renewed Calling

The Book of Acts describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The disciples, who were initially merely merchants and fishermen, were suddenly filled with divine presence. They were taught that their bodies were no longer merely flesh and bone, but were, in fact, "living stones built up as a spiritual house." This is a profound theological truth: the Spirit doesn't just visit; He takes up permanent residence. Our very existence, when dedicated to the Lord, becomes a temple.

The modern work of the Restoration continues this divine process. The ordinances performed in the temple—the endowments, the sealing, the covenants—are the concrete, physical manifestations of this priesthood calling. Through the proper administration of the priesthood, we receive the keys and the power to participate in the divine governance of the world. We are called to live not as mere observers, but as active participants in the renewal of God's kingdom on Earth.

Emulating the Royal Priest

What does it look like to live as a royal priest today? It requires us to emulate the actions of Christ: sacrifice, service, and intercession. The Apostle Paul taught that we are to offer ourselves as "one single living sacrifice." This is the ultimate expression of the covenant—surrendering our time, our energy, and our talents to the needs of the body of Christ and the furtherance of the gospel.

The study of scripture, especially the Book of Mormon and the deep doctrines of the Restoration, shows us that the pattern is consistent: God calls His people to covenants, and in return, they receive power and a divine mandate to act as His representatives. To understand the fullness of the priesthood is to understand our eternal role in the plan of salvation.

The work of Operation Iron Rod is rooted in this understanding. We are not simply gathering knowledge; we are gathering the divine truth—the scholarly, scriptural understanding—to ensure that the covenants and callings of the Restoration are preserved and spread. We are building the corpus that will help future generations realize their royal calling.

The study of the priesthood is not merely academic; it is life-altering. It requires deep engagement with the scriptures and a commitment to living by the pattern laid forth by the prophets and apostles. Let us continue to study the pattern, and by the power of the Spirit, fulfill our calling.