PRIESTHOOD OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, Chapter 3 of The Church and the Priesthood

 PRIESTHOOD OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, Chapter 3 of The Church and the Priesthood by Ogden Kraut

Wherefore, I will that all men shall repent, for all are under sin, except those which I have reserved unto myself, holy men that ye know not of. (D & C 49:8)

Today there are many dangers and threats against the Holy Priesthood involving both men and the Church. Both can make seemingly insignificant yet serious mistakes which, as a result, can lead them into darkness.

The Lord has frequently found it necessary to take special means to protect His Priesthood. One of these has been to have the Priesthood function outside of and separate from the general body of the Church. Even though today some claim that this is not possible, this chapter will discuss seven examples where Priesthood authority was evident and operated outside the body of the Church:

Moroni
John, the Baptist/Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
Peter, James and John
John, the Revelator
The Three Nephites
The “Other Sheep”
More “Other Sheep”