Mormons: How did Book of Mormon characters get the priesthood when they weren't from the tribe of Levi?

Question

God said in the Bible that Preist were only to come from the tribe of Levi, yet the Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible.

jackdinah: We are still talking about the time before Jesus Christ here. There were still under the OT Hebrew law, which stated that the priests could ONLY come from the tribe of Levi.

Answer 1

That is a good question. God remains consistent in what He demands. It is men that diddle with things.

Answer 2

The Book of Mormon doesn't say that the people had the Levitical priesthood after the order of Aaron. The New Testament makes it clear that there is a higher priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek. This Melchisedec was a High Priest, and Abraham (who came before Levi) paid tithes to Melchisedec. Evidently the "characters" in the Book of Mormon had the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec, which encompasses the Levitical priesthood.

Heb. 7: 11
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Answer 3

here's my two cents:
Ok, so take my word, I just wrote this really long thought process, which COULD have been how it went. Then it occured to me that that's not how it happened at all. I remember a friend telling me that the way it was resolved for him, was that we're talking about two different levels of the Priesthood here. While it's true that only the sons of Aaron can hold the Aaronic Priesthood and that if a man holds the Aaronic Priesthood by being a descendant of Aaron, he also holds the Levitical Priesthood. There is a Higher Priesthood. The Melchizedek Priesthood. Adam had it, Noah had it, Enoch had it, Melchizedek had it, Abraham had it, as did Jacob, Joseph, and others. The Melchizedek Priesthood does not follow a particular lineage. God gives it to those who have proven themselves worthy of it, and they in turn give it to those who are worthy of it. As I understand it, because it is the higher priesthood it incompasses the lower or Aaronic Priesthood. Therefore, whoever has the Melchizedek, has the authority to preside over those who hold the Aaronic. While those that hold the higher do not have a right by birth to hold the lower priesthood, they must by virtue of their holding the Melchizedek be able to act in the duties and responsibilities of the Aaronic, until the legal heirs to that priesthood present a sacrafice to the Lord and are then able to reclaim their rightful authority.

So this being said, I would say that since there isn't a distinction of which priesthood the Nephites had, it would be the higher priesthood. Because in all actuality, there is only one priesthood - the priesthood of God. It is due to the limitations of man that we have split it into two ways of looking at it. As it says in the link below, the lesser is called the lesser because it is an appendage to the priesthood. Moses' people could not live the higher law, so it was taken from them, and that is when a version of the priesthood was given to Aaron - it was a lesser priesthood, because they could not bear the requirements to live the full priesthood.

I mean, think about it. If the Aaronic priesthood was the end all be all and only part of the priesthood, wouldn't it have been called simply the Priesthood of God, or at least the Mosaic Priesthood? Why name it after the guy who is SECOND in charge, unless there was something that Moses (the guy who was given authority over all of them) had that was better than what was given unto Aaron.

Answer 4

The prophets of the Old Testament held the priesthood even though they weren't of the tribe of Levi, like Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah. Those who believe the Book of Mormon is true believe that Lehi was such a prophet living in Jerusalem at the same time as Jeremiah. He held the priesthood just as any other prophet called of God. When he and his family went to the Americas he continued that succession of the priesthood with his son Nephi, and so on.

Answer 5

Intersting question I will have to research and find out more about it.
Your question made me wonder if all the apostles were from the tribe of Levi. All the apostles had the priesthood. I doubt every apostle was from the tribe of Levi. That leads me to believe since Jesus gave the priesthood to his apostles He can give the priesthood to whomever He wants to.

Second thing it made me wonder about is all the people today who have the priesthood. Are they all from the tribe of Levi?

Your question stated The Book of Mormon Characters. The Book of Mormon covers the time before and after the Old Testament. It also covers the New Testament time period.

Answer 6

There are diverse orders to the Priesthood. those from the tribe of Levi held what's oftentimes stated as the Levitical Priesthood. Prophets (e.g., Moses, Lehi) oftentimes held the Melchizedek Priesthood and had authority to officiate in different orders. i don't keep in mind an account of Lehi acquiring the Priesthood. He would have acquired it from between the contemporary prophets (e.g., Jeremiah), or with the aid of an angel.

Answer 7

I really liked Dave's answer.
On another note, I think it's kinda funny that people are always telling Mormons that we put God in a box and try to understand and limit him. And then go on to try to make points like this. It sounds like you understand the story of the Book of Mormon. With God, all things are possible, including allowing an entire civilization enjoy the benefits of the priesthood regardless of their lineage. Personally, I don't know if they had some Levite blood in them. (Like Jesus was from Judah and John the Baptist was from Levi, but they were cousins) Or if there is some other explanation. But I don't think it matters.

Answer 8

The Book of Mormon has been proven to be a total fraud time and time again. Ask any non LDS Meso-American Historian or Archaeologist if any proof has ever been found to support the BoM and they unanimously say NO! Even LDS Historians and Archaeologists have been ex-communicated for telling the truth that the BoM is a fairytale. Why do you think nobody ever heard of Nephites, Lamanites, Jeredites, Cureloms, ect. ect. ect.

The Church cant even come up with a map to put in the back of the BoM so the faithful can follow along with the stories. Any Bible has detailed maps telling all about the places and events that happened in Biblical times yet the Bom cant even find any of the big places like the City of Nephi or Land of Zarehimla or anything else.

Thats because Joseph Smith made the whole thing up . The Bom is the laughingstock of the Meso American scientific community because they know it is a total hoax

Answer 9

14 And in them (you) is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed...........
(New Testament | Matthew 13:14 - 15)

The Aaronic priesthood were given to the Tribe of Levi, so they can tend to the works of the temple. That does not mean other males of Isreal do not have the Priesthood, as shown by the Prophets, they all held the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Don't say we contradict, when you are the one that misintepret the scriptures.
By the way, if you think your religion is so correct, why don't you preach your church doctrine, instead of bashing other's belief.

Answer 10

I don't think that we are told, in the Book of Mormon, what tribe(s) Sariah and Ismael's wife are from. If one or both are from the tribe of Levi, then their sons could, technically, be Levites.

Besides, if there are no Levites and God wants temple work done, He can give the Priesthood to whomever He wishes.

Answer 11

They held the priesthood of Melchisedec, the priest of the most high God (Hebrews 7). Unlike the priesthood of Aaron, it was not confined to the lineage of Levi.