"In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Presiding Patriarch (also called Presiding Evangelist, Patriarch over the Church, Patriarch of the Church, or Patriarch to the Church) is a church-wide leadership office within the priesthood. Among the duties of the Presiding Patriarch are to preside in council meetings, ordain other patriarchs, and administer patriarchal blessings.
Originally, the office of Presiding Patriarch was one of the highest and most important offices of the church's priesthood. The role was equated by Joseph Smith, Jr. with Biblical patriarchs from Adam to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it was expected that the office would descend through lineal succession from father to son. This precedent was set when Hyrum Smith, Joseph's brother, became the second Presiding Patriarch because he was the eldest surviving son of the first Presiding Patriarch, Joseph Smith, Sr. When the office was given to Hyrum, he was given "keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the Church of the Latter Day Saints."[1] Thus, some have argued that Presiding Patriarch is an office of the Patriarchal Priesthood. However, the existence and meaning of the Patriarchal Priesthood is controversial and uncertain."
-From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presiding_Patriarch
This may not be church sourced, but the conclusion is accurate.
Check out the Presiding Patriarch diagram at the link above and note all the times when there was a break, or when there was not Presiding Patriarch, or no presiding patriarch was recognized by the church but was "acting in the office".
This office is the one that is required to be selected from among the Presiding Patriarch's sons, while still alive. This is the Priesthood (Patriarchal) that was suppose to descend from Father to Son. The current Presiding Patriarch must select the most righteous, eldest son (and teachings and ordinances must remain unchanged for heaven to accept it's continuance). It never happened when Hyrum held that office.
The break first in church history occurred with the death of Hyrum in 1844. You can see the next one is not selected by the church until 1845, under BY as church President. Joseph Smith did not select who should follow him as church president either (there was no church president for 3 years after Joseph). Hyrum Smith did not select and bless his Heir as Presiding Patriarch as the scriptures show is the pattern. Neither God nor Hyrum preserved the Presiding Head Patriarch office (or even the office of Church President), though Joseph and Hyrum knew they would be killed if they did not flee with their fellow polygamist(confidentially) friends to the rockies. They both knew it would come to an end, and they in fact chose to leave the church on their own. The church was taken over by the Qof12. Brigham 3 years later convinced everyone to accept his self elected position to be President of the church. It has been in the wilderness since.
As Emma said, there is no church without Joseph. The Church of Christ above once again began to be separated from the organized church on earth. More than that, there was no more Presiding Patriarch over a growing family of God on earth, and no valid second anointings passing on sealing power or C&E man to man since (despite the leader's attempts to do other wise).
How can God leave with the church the Patriarchal Order, or even sealing power among them (which it was intended to be directed by a Head Patriarch), when these hugely important things are not even understood by them?
How can any church leader or member, or other fundy leader or member who broke off the church well after the time of Hyrum Smith (well after the break), think that valid second anointings have been passed on man to man, which is supposed to only be valid under Patriarchal Priesthood and under the direction of the Presiding Patriarch, when confusion has reigned about the Office and sealing power, plural marriage, law of adoption and many other things since the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum, AND there have been so many breaks between Presiding Patriarch's?????
This is why it is understandable to many that that the church or any of it's polygamist breakoffs do not hold sealing power or the ability to grant a promise of eternal life embodied in the second anointing ordinance, though the church and many fundy groups still fame claim and perform today.
They cannot hold that which they do not understand or have validly passed along in Patriarchal order father to son.
It needs re-stored back to the earth. That which was at the beginning with our Patriarchal Fathers. We need to turn our hearts to them. We need to learn what they had, and seek with all our might to get it back. They need us. We need them.
Adam, Seth, Enos and his sons had it on the earth for a time up until Enoch (whose righteous city was removed) and Shem/Melchizedek who made it through the flood in hopes to bring back the order back to the earth after a major cleansing.
Cain killed Able, hoping that this honorable office would fall upon him, instead of Able. That barred him and his seed from holding it.
It was restored to Abraham, after becoming a prophet, after passing some tests of loyalty, obedience and with much sacrifice, was able to get back what the first line of Patriarch's had on the earth.
The last man to hold it was Ephraim, son of Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel, son of Isaac, son of Abraham.
Pharaoh fame claimed this Patriarchal Priesthood Order. He enslaved the last people who should have maintained what their Father Abraham brought back. He built temples, focused a lot on resurrection which the Patriarchal Priesthood does have a lot to deal with, and intended it to go through to his first born son. Until God proved he was with Moses and God took that son in a final plague. Pharaoh learned the hard way that he did not hold it.
God sent Moses the prophet to free the Hebrews/Israelites from Egyptian slavery, performed amazing miracles to free them, was trying to get them to a promised land where they too could get back the Patriarchal order that had been lost. After being in the wilderness for 40 years, they never make it to that land, and Moses is taken from them, and they are left to themselves.
God sent many prophets trying to turn them back to the original gospel and priesthood order of things. Even Christ Himself came to return things, and was killed. There was not enough success and time to return them to the order of old and re-gather them into a Patriarchal Family of God.
Maybe Lehi in the Book of Mormon was able to restore it and it descended through his sons for a time. Another thing to ponder. Maybe what the sealed portion speaks more of?
God tried to restore it back to the seed of Abraham and Sons, who are also the seed of Adam, in the last days with Joseph Smith Sr. and his son Hyrum Smith, with Joseph Smith the prophet to facilitate and prepare his Father and elder brother to become such. The Lord was trying to get the Patriarchal Priesthood Order that was had at first into their hands, but with the contention, lack of sacrifice by focusing on and finishing the temple, a Patriarchal Family and order was never fully restored. Hyrum was put into the office, but never had a chance to magnify it. These two brothers were taken at the same time, without naming heirs or successors. It has been put on pause.
God is going to restore that which was at first, and He is going to restore it using one like unto Moses, from the house or descendents of those who held it last. Ephraim was supposed to bring it back. They will. But it is going to come from a different part of the "house" than is expected by the majority of modern Mormons today. I am sure hell will do everything to prevent it. Hell has succeeded in times past. Let us not let that happen again.
So, who will?
Go and do the works of Abraham (seek the greater knowledge and things that he had), and bring back that which he was able to bring back to the earth. You first need: Baptism. Teachings of prophets current and past. Baptism of Fire. Revelation. Some priesthood received or acknowledged. Calling and election. Sealing power. Etc. These things can still be had, despite lacking a Presiding Patriarch and having a full Patriarchal Family gathered on earth. It has happened before in Biblical and Book of Mormon history during Patriarchal breaks, it can happen again.
Then Zion.
Then the millennium.
Where will you be found in the near future?
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