Priesthood

* Mormons believe that the Aaronic & Melchizedek priesthood were restored through Joseph Smith. This priesthood gives man devine authority to act in God's name.

Aaronic priesthood (descendants of Aaron in Levitical priesthood)
Mormon view: 1st restoration: Joseph Smith claims that John the Baptist appeared to him and layed hands on him and Oliver Cowdery (his scrib) which gave them the Aaronic priesthood thus restoring Aaronic priesthood (descendants of Aaron in Levitical priesthood). This priesthood can be passed down to mormon boys as young as 12 yrs. old by the laying on of hands by a priesthood holder.

Christian view: In the Levitical priesthood the decendants of Aaron were the only ones allowed to be a high priest. Their was only one high priest at a time. Once the high priest died then another descendant of Aaron would be the high priest. He had to be at least around 30-40 years old. The high priest would performed the animal sacrifices for the covering of sins, in the Holy of Holies, once a year. After Jesus died (our ultimate sacrifice) there was no need for Aaronic priesthood. In old testament times people needed a priest as intermediary between them & God. They could not go directly to God because of sin. After Jesus died we can now go directly to God through Jesus. We, the believers, are the priesthood of all believers. When we are reborn we join in Christ's priestly work of reconciling God & man; we have the holy spirit sanctifying & renewing us, we walk by faith, allow him to work through us and do his will.
 
Melchizedek priesthood
Mormon view: 2nd restoration: Joseph Smith claims that Peter, John & James appeared to him and passed the Melchizedek priesthood to him.

Christian view: There was only one man in the Bible named Melchizedec. He is only mentioned in Gen.14:18-20, psalms 110:4 & Hebrews 6:20-7:21. He was an old testament 'type' (a shadow of something to come) for Jesus. Here is what we know about him: His name means "king of righteosness" & "king of salem" which means "king of peace". He was king of salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the most high God. He was without father, mother, or descent. Having neither beginning of days nor end of life, made like unto the son of God, he remains a priest continually. He met with Abraham and brought him bread & wine, he blessed Abraham, Abraham gave him tithes of a tenth of his spoils. (hmm...sound like Jesus?). The Bible tells us that Jesus holds the Melchizedek priesthood, he is our only High Priest. Melchizedek is not a priesthood to be handed down.

*In this video I explain what a 'Type' is and I go over the Aaronic & Melchizedek priesthood using the Bible (KJV)