The Priesthood Was Never Lost—So Why Would God Need to ‘Restore’ It?

 The Priesthood Was Never Lost—So Why Would God Need to ‘Restore’ It?"

Let’s just say it plainly: the idea that God withheld the priesthood from humanity for over a thousand years and then finally gave it back through Joseph Smith in the 1800s—that’s not just unbiblical, it’s unnecessary. It paints a picture of God that doesn’t line up with what Scripture or church history actually tells us.

You’ll hear this idea a lot from Latter-day Saints: that after Jesus and the apostles died, a "Great Apostasy" took place, wiping out the priesthood and the authority of the Church. According to them, it wasn’t until 1829 when Joseph Smith received a heavenly visit and had that authority “restored” that people could once again access God’s true gospel and priesthood. Sounds spiritual at first glance—but it falls apart under actual biblical and historical scrutiny.

Let’s start with the biggest issue: the Book of Hebrews completely contradicts LDS priesthood claims.

Hebrews 7–10 isn’t just a random discussion about Old Testament rituals. It’s a point-by-point argument showing that the Old Testament priesthood has been fulfilled and replaced by Jesus Christ. Not paused. Not taken away temporarily. Replaced—once and for all.

Hebrews 7:11–12 (NLT) says it bluntly:
“So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood…? And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.”

That phrase “the priesthood is changed” is a dealbreaker for Mormon theology. The Levitical and Aaronic systems weren’t meant to last—they pointed forward to something better. That “something better” is Jesus, who didn’t come from the tribe of Levi but from Judah (Hebrews 7:14). Why? Because His priesthood wasn’t going to be part of the old system—it was going to supersede it.

The LDS Church claims to have both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods operating side by side again today. But the Bible says otherwise. Hebrews 7:24–25 states:

“But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him.”

You don’t restore something God already made eternal. You don’t reinstitute a shadow (the Aaronic system) when the substance (Christ) has come. And you don’t pretend that human beings now share the Melchizedek priesthood when Scripture says Jesus holds it alone (Hebrews 7:21–22). No apostles, prophets, or churches were ever given this role. Jesus didn't delegate it—He embodies it.

So Jesus didn’t restore the priesthood—He replaced it, with Himself as the permanent High Priest. The tearing of the temple curtain at His death (Matthew 27:51) symbolized this dramatic shift. The barrier between God and humanity was gone. Now every believer has direct access to the Father through Christ—not through an earthly priesthood, and not through any later “restoration.”

This leads to another crucial point: early Christianity never lost its authority.

From the moment of Pentecost, the Church grew, thrived, and carried the gospel across the world—even in the face of persecution. Yes, there were heresies and corruptions. Yes, some church leaders fell into error. But that’s not apostasy—that’s human frailty. What Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18 still held true:
“I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

For LDS theology to work, that promise has to fail. The gates of hell would have to conquer the Church, wipe out all priesthood authority, and erase Christ’s presence from His own people for over 1,700 years. But that’s not just historically wrong—it’s theologically insulting.

Consider this: from the early Church fathers like Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, to councils that defended the core doctrines of Christ, to the faithful underground church during Roman oppression—the faith was alive and active. No need for a total do-over. No divine disappearance. Just the continual unfolding of Jesus’ words: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT).

The idea of a total priesthood collapse followed by a 19th-century reboot isn’t found anywhere in Scripture. And Hebrews makes it crystal clear: the priesthood isn’t a system to be restored—it’s a Person to be worshiped.

So no, the priesthood was never lost. The Church was never defeated. And Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, never stepped down.

Source:

  • The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, 2015.

  • “Hebrews 7–10.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com.

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gospel Topics: Priesthood Restoration. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org

  • “Matthew 16:18; 27:51; 28:20.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com.

  • “1 Peter 2:9.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com.

  • Schaff, Philip, editor. The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume I–IX. Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.

  • González, Justo L. The Story of Christianity: Volume 1. HarperOne, 2010.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do Christians and Mormons Worship the Same Jesus?

You’ve probably heard people say, “Mormons are Christians, so they worship the same Jesus.” But if you actually look at what Mormonism teaches, that’s just not true. Real Christianity is all about the Trinity—one God in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. Jesus isn’t just some regular guy who became God later. Nope. He’s fully God and fully human, eternal, and never changes. The Bible says Jesus was there “in the beginning” and “the Word was God” (John 1:1), and that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us” (John 1:14). Everything was made through Him (Colossians 1:16). He’s the one and only Savior (Acts 4:12). But Mormonism? They say Jesus was once just a man who got bumped up to godhood. Plus, they see God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as three separate gods. That’s way different from the Bible’s clear “God is one” message (Deuteronomy 6:4). Why does this even matter? Because if Jesus isn’t really God, then He can’t save us. The Bible says Jesus is...
Read more

Mormonism’s Mirror: The Double Standard No One Talks About

Within Mormonism, a striking double standard is evident: while the movement criticizes Christianity for having tens of thousands of denominations, it overlooks the fact that Mormonism itself has splintered into numerous factions, each claiming exclusive authority from Joseph Smith. From the mainstream LDS Church to the Community of Christ, Fundamentalist LDS groups, and other smaller sects, the pattern is clear—authority is claimed, fractured, and disputed. This raises a simple question: if Mormonism’s critique of Christianity’s diversity is valid, shouldn’t it apply equally to the movement itself? For a faith that claims to restore the “true church of Jesus Christ,” how can internal divisions be reconciled with the idea of divine guidance and unity? The inconsistency is glaring. While Mormon leaders emphasize obedience to the chain of authority, they ignore the historical fact that these very claims have led to dozens of competing organizations, each asserting their version of Smith’s...
Read more

Why Mormonism's "Restoration" Is a Denial of Biblical Christianity

It’s common to hear members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) say they’re Christians just like anyone else who follows Jesus. They believe in His atonement, His resurrection, His teachings. And they’re sincere in saying so. But sincerity isn’t the same thing as truth. When you really dig into what Mormonism teaches—especially about who God is, what salvation means, and the authority of Scripture—it becomes clear that this religion, while borrowing Christian language, ultimately denies the core of biblical Christianity. According to official LDS doctrine, all of Christianity fell into total apostasy after the death of the original apostles. That’s right—every church, every tradition, every believer was supposedly misled for nearly two thousand years until Joseph Smith restored the “true church” in 1830. That claim isn’t just historically implausible—it’s theologically offensive. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 16:18 (NLT), “I will build my church, and all the powers...
Read more