Holy Order
“The Holy Order is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from Heaven.”1 Among other things, the purpose of the Holy Order is to put in place a mechanism by which God can reveal from heaven what is necessary for the salvation of man on Earth. In every generation, when God has provided salvation for mankind, it is the Holy Order that is used by God to fix what is broken, restore what has been lost, repair, heal, forgive, and reconnect those who are willing to give heed to the message sent from Heaven to enable mankind to become sons of God.2 It conveys blessings and information that are withheld from the world.3
The Holy Order commenced before the world with Adam. He obtained the Holy Order in the beginning and before the world. Included with it is the right to preside over all of the human family and the right to minister to Adam’s posterity. Adam continues to hold that presiding position and will do so until the end of time.4 The Holy Order was much greater in scope than later priesthoods. Later priesthood functions should not be used to define the original. Something as narrow and limited as a man (or angel) laying hands on another man did not and could not convey the original Holy Order.5 After the time of Eden, conveying the original Holy Order required either a temple or an ascent into heaven.6 The other fathers were holders of the Order, but it is the role of the oldest living holder of it to ordain others into the line.7
Many think that the renaming of the Holy Order to the Melchizedek Priesthood (in order to avoid the too frequent repetition of the name of the Son of God), was done out of respect for the Messiah, Jesus Christ — and that is true enough. But the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God includes the first man, Adam, who is also identified as a “son of God.” There are other “sons of God.”8 The Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God makes those who inherit it, by definition, the sons of God. Therefore, in a way, calling it the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God is a way of identifying the recipient as someone who has become one of God’s sons.9
The Holy Order, in its truest sense, is much more comprehensive and far reaching than just laying on hands to convey permission to perform ordinances.10 When the return of the original Holy Order is contemplated, it will involve restoring great knowledge that is hidden from the world. The fathers knew it would be restored in the last days. Joseph Smith also prophesied of its return and explained the forefathers of mankind anxiously anticipated its return.11 Priesthood, in its most meaningful sense, involves the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God. The restoration at the end of creation must return to the beginning. Before the return of Christ, everything — including the original Holy Order with all its components — must be restored. That has not yet been revealed to the world.12 It will return before the Lord comes again in glory. It will be necessary before the return of the Lord for the original Holy Order to exist in all of its ramifications. It must be established on the earth and include all of the rights that originally belonged to Adam. It must be accounted for and returned back to Adam and then to Christ.13
It will include men and women, as husband and wife. They will be given understanding of things which the world cannot know.14 Initiation into the Holy Order provides greater knowledge and fortifies the soul for one’s ministry.15 It includes the right of dominion over all creation — the same right originally given to Adam that belonged to God. The right of dominion over this creation is why God is God. In essence, the Holy Order is to create of flesh and blood a living, mortal surrogate for the Father and Mother.16 It is the nature of this Holy Order that it is conferred upon the man and woman jointly (see 1 Corinthians 1:44).17 The Holy Order is familial. It does not involve establishing a church but, instead, connecting together the Family of God, or in other words, the Government of God. This can only be done in a temple prepared for that purpose.18 Because there is still a great conspiracy to destroy the souls of men and to capture this creation, the Holy Order is guarded by carefully qualifying those who receive it and is under God’s control and supervised by Adam and Eve.19
“The ‘fullness of the Priesthood,’ which is the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God, is not something that was restored to the church Joseph Smith organized, nor is it publicly available, nor is it intended for everyone. It may serve everyone, but will never be held by everyone.”20 “The Holy Order is not synonymous with having your calling and election made sure. You can have your calling and election made sure without having the Holy Order. The Holy Order is not synonymous with being redeemed from the fall and returning to God’s presence. That also can happen without having the Holy Order. Nor is the Holy Order synonymous with having the fullness of revelations from before the creation of the world through the end of this cycle of creation. That, also, can be given to a person while they still lack the Holy Order. An individual does not need to possess the Holy Order to be able to enter into a covenant… Further, it is not required for you to be initiated into the Holy Order to become a member of the eternal Family of God. All those who will be exalted will be members. Only a tiny fraction of the Family will experience that in mortality… The Holy Order must return before the Second Coming to re-establish God’s ‘house of order.’ But organizing and ordering for the afterlife will not happen until some time after the Lord’s return. Restoring and organizing God’s Family is necessary because of the disorder caused by the fall of Adam. That disorder has been compounded by additional repeated apostasies from the periodic restorations of the Holy Order. Despite what the Holy Order is not, it is important to understand. Most of our scriptures are the writings of members of the Holy Order… The return of the Holy Order did not happen in Joseph Smith’s day. Because of that failure, the Family or House of God still needs to be set in order. As is always the case, there will need to be a temple prepared for the Holy Order to function.”21 “The actual purpose of the Holy Order is administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam.”22
“The Lord’s Holy Order is not designed to impose rule, control, or assert dominion over the unwilling. It is designed to teach correct principles and then let those who are taught govern themselves. The Holy Order empowers and frees. It assumes the individual will decide to give heed to what is taught.”23
“Those who have been part of the Holy Order have been trustworthy to God because they know they are weak. When the Lord says He will make weak things become strong, it doesn’t mean a man will become strong; it means God will provide the strength to those who rely on Him.24 “The Holy Order is not for the benefit of the holder. No one who views himself or herself as worthy has ever been trusted with it… It is troubling, daunting, and perilous. There is no great reward in this life. Here, those members of the Holy Order will be doubted, criticized, envied, accused, feared, and cast out from those they are asked to teach. Only a very few will be willing to give them heed, and many who do listen will still be poor disciples, wayward in their conduct, and misunderstand what is taught. People rejected the Lord, and more have (and will) reject His messengers. God’s message given through a member of the Holy Order is not to be trifled with, either by the holder or by people who are taught. Everything is always voluntary, and teaching must still persuade. Pure knowledge and love unfeigned are the approved tools.”25
Listen attentively if you encounter a messenger bearing a divine message. The Holy Order will return as part of the end time being like the days of Noah. Authentic messengers appointed by the Lord won’t flaunt their credentials when discussing sacred matters. Those who falsely claim authority damn themselves. True holders of sacred knowledge remain humble, while impostors boast. God will do work through whom He chooses and will provide whatever knowledge and authority is necessary to complete the work. Although His servant may be misunderstood, the Lord will see that he can be trusted with His work because he will pursue the Lord’s will and not his own. Genuine servants rarely emphasize authority or keys. No hierarchical structure is needed for divine work.26
“God chooses people to serve, and their role is to provide service. God approves of those who desire to help others, bless lives, and lose their own ambition. Only a mere servant can be trusted with the Holy Order. This is why the Holy Order can act in the stead of God and those who benefit from it are not trusting in the arm of flesh.”27 “The holders of the Holy Order were and are intended to reflect the Son of God. It is the Son of God who will provide redemption… All the qualifying for the Holy Order happened before this cycle of creation. When the “foundation” or beginning planning of the world was first underway, God in His Wisdom knew it would be necessary to send messengers who would reliably teach others. Those chosen had already proven to be loyal to God and shown great faith in God’s Son. However, even if they were prepared before the foundation of the world, they needed to be initiated into the Order in mortality.”28
“The Holy Order is not for the benefit of the servant. Its purpose is to allow others to ‘enter into his rest’ or receive the redemption the Son of God offers to all. The Holy Order is to ‘teach his commandments’ in a reliable, authorized, and dependable way. It is not to get acclaim, attract a following, or preside over anyone. The responsibility is to teach God’s commandments.”29 “The appointment to the Holy Order does not make the recipients anything other than servants, teachers, and guides who can reliably report on their errand from the Lord. They deliver God’s words, but are not to be worshipped.”30
“Reestablishing the Holy Order involves a new dispensation with those who went before providing the foundation for the work to go forward. Angelic ministers needed to come at the start of Joseph’s dispensation, and were needed again… The Order is not just a form of priesthood, but also involves a family connection to the first fathers. For the holder, it establishes a role within that family.… The fullness of the Priesthood, or Holy Order, is not open to everyone, but when it exists it can benefit all those who accept the fullness of the Gospel.… As the fullness of the Priesthood or Holy Order is restored, do not expect it to be broadly distributed, openly available, or discussed in public forums. Some portions of the Gospel have always been unlawful to disclose in that manner.”31
“Preaching repentance was and is the distinguishing role for the Holy Order in this world.”32 It exists solely to serve God, devoid of any desire for recognition, fame, or wealth. Its sole purpose is to fulfill God’s will. The return of the Holy Order is intricately linked to the work of the last days. For Zion to put on her strength, it will require the Holy Order.33See also FULLNESS OF THE PRIESTHOOD.
1 TPJS, 166–167; WJS, 38.
2 “The Holy Order,” Oct. 29, 2017, 8, paper.
3 Ibid., 7.
4 Ibid., 5.
5 Ibid., 1.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid., 5n13.
8 Ibid., 6.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid., 4.
11 Ibid., 3.
12 Ibid., 10.
13 Ibid., 44.
14 Ibid., 4.
15 Ibid., 32.
16 Ibid., 10.
17 Ibid., 7n18.
18 Ibid., 41.
19 Ibid., 8.
20 “The Holy Order, Part 2,” April 7, 2024, paper, 2.
21 Ibid., 3–4.
22 Ibid., 10.
23 Ibid., 13.
24 Ibid., 14.
25 Ibid., 15.
26 Ibid., 23.
27 Ibid., 26.
28 Ibid., 42–43.
29 Ibid.
30 Ibid., 45.
31 Ibid., 49–50.
32 Ibid., 54.
33 Ibid., 68.