1. The oath of the High Priesthood is received directly from God, who cannot lie.
2. It is given in a manner that gives “strong consolation,” and the resulting hope makes “an anchor to the soul”.
3. The bringing of this “better hope” allows us to “draw nigh unto God”
4. Christ and other high priests ordained after this order are made so with an oath from God, while priests under the law of Moses “were made without an oath.”
5. Priests made without an oath “were not suffered to continue by reason of death”
6. This oath, as given to Christ, was “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec”
7. By entering into this order himself, Christ became the surety (egguos, a pledge sworn with a limb or member, as an arm) of a better testament, or covenant, for the rest of us. Thus the calling of all high priests after His order is “to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest” (alma 13:6)
http://www.journeytothefullness.com/the-oath-and-covenant-of-the-priesthood/
The Oath And Covenant Of The Priesthood
I have been reading section 84 in the Doctrine and Covenants for weeks now. I keep coming back to that section as well as a few others that I think are very closely related. To be honest, there is so much there, I’m not sure I can capture it in a single article. As I continue to be led by the Spirit, I will add my thoughts regarding the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.
Recently as I have been pondering on this section, I have been drawn to verses 41-48. There is a lot in those verses and often when I hear people read the Oath and Covenant, they stop in verse 
40. Yet somehow I feel that the message contained in the verses that follow is essential to understanding the promises we are given when we receive the priesthood:
40. Yet somehow I feel that the message contained in the verses that follow is essential to understanding the promises we are given when we receive the priesthood:
“But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.” (D&C 84:40-41)
First, what must one do to not receive forgiveness in this life or the next? To me it sounds like a son of perdition. If this is the case, what are we to understand by what it means to receive the Oath and Covenant of the priesthood? Perhaps it is more than simply having someone lay their hands on our head to bestow upon us the Melchizedek or Aaronic priesthood.
Second, how is it that we may not come unto a priesthood we have already received. Where were we present and when was this day? These are questions that must be answered if we are to understand this covenant. Third, note that this priesthood is given by His own voice. In JST Genesis 14:27-29, we see the same thing:
“And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, 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)
Here in verse 30 of JST Genesis 14, we are shown the endowment of power one receives when we have been given this priesthood:
“For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that 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)
Doctrine and Covenants 84 reaffirms that the greater priesthood is required to stand in the presence of God:
”And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 84)
“Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; “
“For without this [the greater priesthood] no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.”(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 84)
* Note that [the greater priesthood] is my own interpretation and should only be taken as such.
When we receive this priesthood, we come, or are brought into the presence of the Father by the Son.
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 84)
What does it mean to receive the Son? I believe this is fundamentally different than proclaiming a testimony. To receive the testimony of Christ, is a personal witness of Christ. This can also be given by His own voice out of the heavens.
And those who have been promised eternal life, or received their calling and election made sure, receive the blessings listed in D&C 76: 51-70.
“They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things— “
“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.” (D&C 76)
Notice how these promises are very similar to the promise given in verse 38 of section 84.
If we receive the priesthood as is stated in the oath and covenant, we receive all of these promises. Are men the only ones who are eligible for these blessings? I know these gifts are available to all who listen to the Spirit, and we can receive them now in this life. The scriptures are full of the testimonies of those who received this priesthood and the blessings which accompany it.
“And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.” (D&C 84:47)
P.S. My next article will continue with what it means to hearken to the voice of the Spirit.
“And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (D&C 84:43-45)
For the law [of moses] made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
2. It is given in a manner that gives “strong consolation,” and the resulting hope makes “an anchor to the soul”.
3. The bringing of this “better hope” allows us to “draw nigh unto God”
4. Christ and other high priests ordained after this order are made so with an oath from God, while priests under the law of Moses “were made without an oath.”
5. Priests made without an oath “were not suffered to continue by reason of death”
6. This oath, as given to Christ, was “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec”
7. By entering into this order himself, Christ became the surety (egguos, a pledge sworn with a limb or member, as an arm) of a better testament, or covenant, for the rest of us. Thus the calling of all high priests after His order is “to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest” (alma 13:6).
http://followingthelight.org/index.php/download_file/-/view/14/