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| From: Book of Mormon Central |
Thus, from the days of Moses
until the coming of Christ in the meridian of time, the inhabitants of Israel
were not generally given the Melchizedek Priesthood, and only the Levites held
the Aaronic Priesthood and administered the obligations and duties of the law
of Moses.
The Lord, however, did not leave
his people, the Israelites, without the guidance of Melchizedek Priesthood
leadership. All the prophets held the higher priesthood, having been ordained
by the hand of God (see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.
180–81). It was by right of this higher priesthood that the Old Testament
prophets performed their labors in the name of the God of Israel and could
officiate in the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood, just as today bishops in
the Church officiate in an Aaronic Priesthood office by right of the
Melchizedek Priesthood.
About 600 B.C., Lehi
was called as one of these prophets to preach repentance to the inhabitants of
Israel, a people who generally did not hold the priesthood. When he left Jerusalem
at God’s command, Lehi was aware that he and his family were forming a separate
branch of the house of Israel (see 1 Ne. 15:12). Though the Book of Mormon does not
explicitly state so, Lehi, like all other prophets in Old Testament times, held
the Melchizedek Priesthood.
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