3. Before his day it was called _the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God_. 4. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of His name, they, the Church in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood. 5. All other authorities or offices in the Church are appendages to this Priesthood; 6. But there are two divisions, or grand heads; one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood. 7. The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek. 8. The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the Church, in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things. 9. The Presidency of the High Priesthood, after the Order of Melchisedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the Church. 10. High Priests after the Order of the Melchisedek Priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the Presidency, in administering spiritual things, and also in the office of an Elder, Priest (of the Levitical order), Teacher, Deacon and member. 11. An Elder has a right to officiate in his stead, when the High Priest is not present. 12. The High Priest and Elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeable to the covenants and commandments of the Church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the Church, when there are no higher authorities present. 13. The second Priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations. 14. Why it is called the lesser Priesthood, is because it is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchisedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances. 15. The Bishopric is the Presidency of this Priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same. 16. No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this Priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of Aaron. 17. But as a High Priest of the Melchisedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of Bishop, when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called, {212} and set apart, and ordained unto this power, by the hands of the Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood. 18. The power and authority of the higher, or Melchisedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church.