Thirty (1835)Appendix 1). It details all that the resurrected Joseph wants the world to finally understand
about his involvement in the establishment of priesthood authority. Later in this book, it
will be shown how Joseph mocked the way that priesthood authority had evolved in the
LDS Church during his lifetime, when he configured the symbolism of the LDS Temple
Endowment presentation. In that presentation, he would have ONLY Lucifer wearing an
apron of his “power and his Priesthoods^16 Furthermore, he would have the women wearing
the exact same “robes of the holy priesthood” that the men wear,^17 even though
LDS/Mormon women are not even allowed to have the priesthood conferred upon them.
Joseph Smith, Jr. hated the idea of priesthood authority more than any other doctrine
and principle associated with the religion that now pretends to be associated with his name.
He especially disliked the religion that used its pretended priests to “cover sin, gratify pride
and vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the
children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness.”^18 He despised anything that created
inequality between human beings.
He composed the following revelation while incarcerated at the Liberty Jail in
Missouri. His imprisonment there was the indirect result of the actions of most of the early
leaders of the Church apostatizing. It was also caused by the actions of many of the
witnesses of the Book of Mormon and other LDS/Mormon men who disagreed with what
Joseph allowed to happen in the Church. While incarcerated, he poured out his heart and
asked, “How long can rolling waters remain impure?”^19 By this he was referring to the
apostasy of the priesthood leaders of the Church and its members’ inability to live the true
gospel, thus inhibiting the “Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the
heads of the Latter-day Saints.”^20 He (“the Lord”) then gave the reason why none of them
were receiving an understanding of the mysteries of God:
Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not
chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of the world,
and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—That
the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of
heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled or handled only
upon the principles of righteousness.^21The LDS/Mormon people came to believe that the “rights and powers” of the
priesthood gave LDS/Mormon men the ability to receive revelation for others and for the
direction of the Church. They believed this “priesthood” gave the LDS/Mormon men the
power to administer blessings to heal, patriarchal blessings that promised,^22 and legitimized
other priesthood blessings given under their hands as if God Himself were acting upon the
earth through them. But, as usual, the people did not understand Joseph or the revelations
he gave to them; or they simply did not heed them.
The “Higher” Priesthood
In March of 1835, Joseph specifically outlined what “the power and authority of the
higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood”^23 was, and it had nothing—ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING—to do with the administration of leadership in a church, or the administration
of outward (carnal) ordinances, or anything else to do with an organized religion. These
things were reserved for “the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood.”^24 The “rights and powers” of