Melchizedek Priesthood

The Melchizedek Priesthood is the higher priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the lesser being the Aaronic Priesthood. Faithful male members of the Church can receive the Melchizedek Priesthood beginning at age 18. The name of the Melchizedek Priesthood comes from an important high priest who lived during the time of the prophet Abraham.

This greater priesthood was given to Adam and has been on the earth whenever the Lord has revealed His gospel. It was taken from the earth during the Great Apostasy, but it was restored in 1829 when the Apostles Peter, James, and John conferred it upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.