The Power of Priestcraft, Pages 152 to 162 of Four Crafts

The Power of Priestcraft, Pages 152 to 162 of Four Crafts 

Priesthood versus Priestcraft

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The Lord and the devil present two different plans for man’s salvation. They might be classified under the headings of Priesthood and Priestcraft.

Priesthood elevates to the worthy of the true and living God; priestcraft degrades to the slavery of the soul. Priesthood saves; priestcraft destroys. (Contributor 10:24)

Since the devil does not have a genuine plan of his own, he tries to corrupt the Savior’s plan. Everything good is perverted–changed slightly so that it is no longer the Lord’s program. The imitation of the Gospel is often so close to the truth that it is easy for men to mistake it for the genuine article. George Q. Cannon describes the difference between the two plans:

But men have seen priestcraft in the world, and they confound that with Priesthood; but I want you to understand that there is a wide distinction between Priesthood and priestcraft. Men who exercise priestcraft become wrong-doers and oppressors, and commit great sins under the guise of religion, while trying to appear in the eyes of the world as being in the service of God. But the Priesthood is not of that character. It is beneficent in its operations. It blesses, it upholds, it strengthens, it diffuses love, union, peace, and every Godlike quality among mankind. (Coll. Disc. 5:294)