“What E’er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part” – Shakespeare?
The Priesthood
God is a God of order, and a God of power. In order to teach His children to be more like Him, He steps back and delegates that power to His children upon the earth. This is a power to help, a power to comfort, a power to heal. This power is driven by love, by charity. It is often called the priesthood or priesthood power.
Obtaining the Priesthood
This power cannot be taken upon oneself, and can only be given by those who are in authority to do so. (Acts 8) In other words, God chooses those who will act in His name. They cannot choose themselves and they cannot receive it from inanimate objects. This passing on of authority is done by the laying on of hands of those who already have it and are authorized to give it. (Num 27, Acts 6, 8) This creates an unbroken chain of command, of priesthood power back to God.
Not Everyone is Chosen
For reasons beyond current human understanding, God does not delegate that power to everyone. He is selective in His choosing. Anciently it would have been a few priests that would hold the authority. In Moses’ time, it was the men of an entire tribe, the Levites. The other eleven tribes did not receive that responsibility. In modern times, it is every eligible male who is found worthy and is willing to make the covenants necessary.
What does it do?
In exchange for the covenants to live higher personal standards, those who obtain the priesthood are delegated the authority to act upon the earth in God’s name. It is used to perform the ordinances God has commanded be done (such as baptism or blessing the sacrament), as well as to bless the God’s children with health, comfort, and inspiration.