Although the exact date of the restoration of the Melchizedek is not recorded. We know it was after May 15, 1829, when the Aaronic priesthood was returned to the earth. That occurred on the north side of the farm property where Emma and Joseph lived.
Restored Joseph and Emma Smith farmhouse and grounds in Harmony, Pennsylvania. This is where they lived early in their marriage, in a home provided by Emma Hale Smith’s parents. Most of the translation of the Book of Mormon took place on this farm.
In Doctrine and Covenants 128, Joseph Smith recalled that the appearance of Peter, James, and John occurred “in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river,” but he did not give a date. It was likely sometime after May, and before the end of the year. Having this pinned down isn’t important to my salvation, just a point of interest. 
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Melchizedek Priesthood
from Peter, James, and John near the Susquehanna River
between Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Colesville, New York
So what was different about this higher priesthood level that made it necessary? The Melchizedek Priesthood holds different keys to governance of Christ’s work on the earth. Associated with it are all the authority, knowledge, and covenants that are necessary for the exaltation of God’s children. It includes the authority to govern the Church, preach the gospel, and administer the ordinances of salvation. This is why all young men receive the priesthood with the office of Elder before going on a mission.
The power and authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost is also given with the Melchizek Priesthood. The Holy Ghost is responsible for helping us throughout our lives as we seek knowledge of God and his kingdom. Everyone has the Holy Ghost at times, but being given the gift makes it reside with us all the time, as long as we are righteous.
This is the difference between Peter being able to tell Christ that he knew He was the Son of God, having the Holy Ghost testify of that to him, and later the Pentacost (Acts 2:1-4), which took place in Jerusalem when large numbers of people spoke in tongues and understood all that was said to them. During that Pentacost, the gift of the Holy Ghost was given to members of the early church, and affected others. About 3000 were baptized after that day, because of the knowledge and assurance of the gospel of Christ that came to them. You can read about all of it in Acts 2.
Pentacost by El Greco
Other keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood are the power to administer the ordinances of the church such as: marriage; laying on of hands for healings; blessings of various kinds, such as blessing a baby (not the same as baptism, which happens at 8 or later); setting apart those with callings; judgments which may be needed when transgressions occur, and many similar kinds of things.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:20-23 – Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
Exodus 19:10-11 – And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exodus 32:19 – And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
I thought it was interesting, as I read further on, that Moses took Aaron to task for making the calf, and Aaron said, paraphrased, “Well, they wanted it (Exodus 32:24) So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” He more or less tried to distance himself from the whole thing.
Eventually, both Moses and the Melchizedek Priesthood were taken from the people because they hardened their hearts and would not listen to the Lord. They were left with the tribe of Levi and the Aaronic Priesthood. All things have been restored for the end of times, the final dispensation, however, and in our time are available to help us expand our knowledge and understanding of God’s word.
A Catholic friend of mine asked last week about the term priest, as used in our respective churches. They are not the same, though they have the same root in the Old and New Testaments. Anyone holding any office in the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is allowed to marry, for instance, when old enough. Our priesthood is not cloistered in any way from the general population. They have jobs, wives, children (all at the appropriate time) and serve in the church in addition to all that.
This is not, in any way, a better or a worse meaning of priesthood. It is simply a different service performed by priesthood in each church. I have known many wonderful priests in the Catholic Church, men I considered inspired and guided by God. I make no claim that only members of my church can have a relationship with God or Christ. I believe there are those in all churches whose lives are touched daily by spiritual contact with and service to God. My purpose in these Sunday posts is only to explain how WE have that contact and how WE perform those services to one another and the Lord.
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