MIGHTY MELCHIZEDEK

 

Following the disastrous Babel and confounding of tongues, God proceeded to preserve His ways among the people by establishing communities of righteous groups in various parts of the earth who held the Priesthood:

“One of the most important colonies raised up by the members of the Priesthood during the life time of Noah was in Palestine. Most of this territory was dominated by the seed of Ham. The land was even named after Ham’s oldest son, Canaan. But the seed of Seth had carved out a mountainous kingdom over toward the northern end of the Dead Sea called Salem. This is the territory which surrounds the modern city of Jerusalem (Jeru-salem) (Bible Dictionary under “Salem”). (W. Cleon Skousen, “The First 2,000 Years” p 253)

The kingdom of Salem was governed by the prophet-king called Melchizedek. This amazing, righteous ruler had an effective tool for counteracting wickedness and apostasy that was engulfing his land and this was it: “But Melchizedek, having exercised mighty faith, and having received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace ….” (Alma 13:17)

Throughout history it has been proven by people who have embraced the gospel that peace is one of its by-products. Permanent peace to every soul only comes through repentance, righteousness and saving ordinances of the priesthood.

This is what fascinates me and it should fascinate every member of the Church. Perhaps the most familiar mention of Melchizedek is in connection with Abraham who paid tithes to him following his battle with the kings who took his nephew Lot (JST Genesis 14:36-39; Genesis 14:18-20). There is no more mention of him in the Old Testament. Melchizedek did not remain in existence for long. What we do know of him comes from latter-day revelation and the Book of Mormon.

By the time Abraham needed to find a wife for Isaac of proper lineage, there were none of the righteous people of Melchizedek left in the land of Canaan.  Therefore, he had to send a servant all the way to Mesopotamia to get a wife for Isaac.

And this is what happened to the people of Salem: “Melchizedek and his people had been allowed to enjoy the blessings of Enoch….and were translated and taken up into heaven. And his people wrought righteousness and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken….” (JST 14:32-34).  

My point is this. We now have two groups of saints who have given us the pattern of becoming a Zion people…..the followers of the mighty Enoch and the mighty Melchizedek. Both of them achieved the state of Zion amongst the greatest wickedness of their time. Our time is no different but there is hope for us too, given through repentance, righteousness, and purity of heart: all fruits of the gospel of peace of our Saviour Jesus Christ, our God and our King.

A river of peace floods my mortal being;

I struggle to contain such a merciful gift.

With grace You enlarge

the sparse capacity of my heart

And righteousness moves within me

as the waves of the sea.

I love You more dearly;

I serve you more freely;

I become what I alone could never be.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Christ and the Dove of Peace by Doc Christensen)