Priestcraft

Lately, Peter Leithart has been blogging about the history of the term ‘priestcraft’, which immediately reminded me of all the mentions of that term in the LDS Standard Works. I always figured that Joseph Smith pinched the term, and the concept, from the evangelical culture of his day, and I think Leithart has uncovered some of those origins. Mormon Bruce R. McConkie defines priestcraft as follows:

Priesthood and priestcraft are two opposites; one is of God, the other is of the devil. When ministers claim but do not possess the priesthood; when they set themselves up as lights to their congregations, but do not preach the pure and full gospel; when their interest is in gaining personal popularity and financial gain, rather than in caring for the poor and ministering to the wants and needs of their fellow men – they are engaged, in a greater or lesser degree, in the practice of priestcrafts.

Apostasy is born of priestcrafts (2 Ne. 10:5; 3 Ne. 16:10; D.&C. 33:4), for those who engage in them follow vain things, teach false doctrines, love riches, and aspire to personal honors. (Alma 1:12, 16). Men are commanded to repent of their priestcrafts (3 Ne. 30:2), and eventually, in the millennial day, these great evils will be done away. (3 Ne. 21:19.)