By Bradley Campbell

When I speak with Latter-day Saints, we often end up talking about the issue of authority. The questions often asked are “Who has authority?” ” And, “How is this authority passed on?”

Within an LDS framework, few topics seem as essential as the issue of authority. Some Latter-day Saints have explained that Christianity’s “lack” of this priesthood authority is the evidence of a widespread apostasy. As an outsider to the LDS faith, I am struck how precise exercising priesthood authority must be for Latter-day Saints. The sacrament blessing, baptism, conferring the priesthood—all of these require physical expressions of authority that are incredibly particular and precise to be valid.

In Mormonism, proper authority must be conferred and exercised by laying on the hands—specifically, by laying one’s hands on the head of another. This is why the apostles Peter, James, and John needed to physically appear to Joseph Smith to confer the Melchizedek Priesthood. Smith could only hold the Priesthood if the apostles personally laid their hands on his head. The LDS Church website says that laying on of hands

is the procedure revealed by the Lord for performing many priesthood ordinances, such as confirmation, ordination, setting members apart to serve in callings, administering to the sick, and giving other priesthood blessings. Source

While Mormonism views this physical act as essential for conveying authority, priesthood blessings, and receiving the Holy Spirit, Christians disagree. Why? Because the Bible teaches that true authority may be wielded in a variety of ways. While the laying on of hands is certainly practiced, nothing indicates that this physical act is essential for authority to be exercised.

Installing Old Testament Priests

In the days of Moses, God commanded that a community of priests be formed. He gave stipulations for a Levitical priesthood, and instructions for how priests were to minister before him in the tabernacle. When Moses communicated the Law to Israel, it contained specific instructions about how these new priests were to be consecrated.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Aaronic priests were never installed to their positions by a superior laying hands on their head. When the priests were first consecrated for their priestly duties, it was the common people of Israel who were to lay their hands on the priests.

When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites (Numbers 8:10).

When Aaron was installed as Israel’s High Priest, he was not appointed to the position by having anyone lay hands on his head. Instead, Aaron was required to lay his hands on the head of a ram, which was then offered a sacrifice (Exodus 29:19). God authorized the office in His Law and instructed that the priests be installed in two different ways—neither requiring the formal LDS version of laying on of hands.

Jesus and Authority in the Gospels

If anyone should instruct us on how to properly wield authority, it should probably be Jesus. But when one evaluates the examples of Christ in the Gospels, does He consistently lay hands on people’s heads to exercise His authority? Let’s consider what the Gospel of Matthew records about Christ’s authority.

At the end of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7 states that the crowds were astonished at His teaching:

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes (Matt. 7:28-29).

Jesus spoke as a man of authority. His words had a power and weight that stunned His listeners—the scribes and Pharisees did not teach like this man! Jesus’ true authority revealed itself not only through His teaching but also through miraculous deeds. Matthew seems to highlight how Jesus demonstrates His authority through miracles and other signs. Sometimes, Jesus physically touched people to heal them.

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8:2-3).

For those familiar with the Law of Moses, Jesus’ actions here were shocking. He touched an unclean leper and yet was not made unclean. Instead, the leper was cleansed. As a better High Priest, Jesus did not merely pronounce ceremonial cleanliness or uncleanliness like the Old Testament priests. This ultimate High Priest actually cleanses His people. In the case of this leper, Jesus’ touch proved a theological point. Something greater than the Mosaic law was here.

The very next story in Matthew 8 deals directly with the issue of authority.

But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes, and to another, “Come,” and he comes, and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.’ … And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment (Matthew 8:8-10, 13).

This Roman centurion was a man of authority who understood that Jesus was a man of greater authority. The centurion recognized that true authority transcends physical proximity. If a mere centurion can exercise his authority by only saying the word, how much more can the Son of God heal a servant by a word? Christ’s authority may be wielded by whatever means He deems fit, be it by physical touch or by the mere power of His word. 

Matthew 8 continues:

And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick (Matthew 8:14-16).

As if to prove the point, Jesus made clear that he was able to use whatever method He desired for exercising His power. Though he touched Peter’s mother-in-law, he later cast out demons “with a word.” This motif continues with the story of Jesus calming the story:

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing. And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Matthew 8:24-27).

Jesus did not lean down off the side of the boat to lay his hands in the water. Rather, the Lord of the seas spoke. The storm was stilled. The disciples marveled. After Jesus safely crossed the sea, He was brought face-to-face with two demon possessed men who were clearly terrified of what Jesus came to do to them. Mathew records, 

And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters (Matthew 9:31-32). 

One word from the Lord, and the demons fled into the pigs. The Gospel continues on with the story of a paralytic who had been brought to Jesus for healing:

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.(Matthew 9:2-8)

Similar to the story of the centurion and his servant, Matthew specifically mentions Jesus’ actions with the paralytic being expressions of His authority. Not only did He forgive the sins of this man, something which only God has the proper authority to do, he demonstrated that His authority was genuine by performing a miracle. How was this divine authority brought to bear? By the words of Christ. If laying on of hands truly was essential to exercising authority, this moment would have been an excellent opportunity for Jesus to set an example for His followers. He healed the man of His illness to specifically demonstrate His authority to his critics.

Later in the same chapter, Matthew records,

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.(Matthew 9:20-22).

To heal this woman, Jesus did not lay his hands on her head. Rather, the suffering woman touched Jesus’ clothes! Notice also that Jesus locates the effectiveness of her act not in her physical touch, but in her faith.

Many Latter-day Saints firmly believe that when Jesus conferred authority on His apostles, He laid his hands on them. There’s even some LDS artwork illustrating such an event. Surprisingly, nowhere in the Biblical text does it state that Jesus laid His hands on the apostles to ordain or authorize them. Matthew 10 says,

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction (Matthew 10:1).

This event is regularly depicted as involving the laying on of hands, but the text only specifies that Jesus “gave them authority.” Is it possible that Jesus laid His hands on them to grant them authority? Perhaps. Yet it’s worth noting that if so, none of the Gospel writers saw this as important enough to include in the text.

After Jesus’ resurrection, the Gospel of John records, 

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:20-23).

When Jesus sends His apostles out in this text, John records nothing about the laying on of hands. Instead, Jesus breathes on His disciples—which is certainly not the vogue practice in either LDS or Christian traditions. At the very end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus declares that He has been given all authority, and thus his followers are authorized to act in His name.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The entire motif of Matthew has been that Jesus has true authority and can wield it as He sees fit. After His resurrection, He is enthroned in a position of authority over the cosmos. As the reigning Priest-King over His people, He verbally exercises His authority to confer proper authority to His followers.

Christians—a new nation of priests—have the Christ-given authority to make disciples, baptize, and teach. If someone were to see a Christian baptizing someone and ask them, “Who gave you the authority to do that?” a Christian could rightly say, “Jesus.” How? By the sheer power of His word, the same power that healed the sick, cast out demons, and calmed storms.

Laying On Of Hands In Acts

What about the book of Acts? Acts certainly includes a number of examples of the laying on of hands, but it also demonstrates that God’s authority is not confined to this practice. The inciting event of Acts happens on the Jewish holiday of Pentecost. Acts 2 records,

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

When the Holy Spirit came upon the earliest Christians, no one laid their hands on them. In fact, by this point Jesus had already ascended into heaven. Traditionally, one cannot receive the gift of the Holy Ghost without the laying on of hands in the LDS Church. Doctrine and Covenants 33 even says,

“Whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them” (D&C 33:15).

Yet in Acts 2, those in the upper room received the Holy Ghost without any laying on of hands at all. That being said, many stories in Acts certainly do involve the physical laying on of hands. For example, Acts 6 describes the appointment of prototypical deacons by the hands of the apostles:

These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6).

In Acts 8, the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands:

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17).

Likewise, in Acts 9, Ananias lays hands on Saul:

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized (Acts 9:17-18).

And yet, there is far from a perfectly consistent pattern in Acts. In a pivotal moment in Christian history, Peter went to preach the Gospel to the God-fearing Gentile Cornelius. Acts 10 records Peter’s sermon to Cornelius’ household and then states,

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:44-45).

These Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit “while Peter was still saying these things.” No laying on of hands involved. In fact, they hadn’t even been baptized yet! It wasn’t until after they received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues that they received baptism.

These examples highlight a pattern: while the laying on of hands is significant, it is not a universal prerequisite for receiving the Holy Spirit or authority. God’s sovereignty determines the means according to His good purposes.

The Epistles: Receiving The Spirit By Faith

If the Acts narrative is inconsistent concerning the importance of physically laying on hands, perhaps the later Epistles provide some insight into the ideal Christian practice. The Book of Galatians is particularly helpful to consider as Paul addressed the problem of Judaizers who were teaching that Gentile believers needed to follow Jewish ceremonial laws, such as circumcision, in addition to believing in Christ. Paul refuted this by emphasizing that faith alone is sufficient for justification and the reception of the Spirit.

In Galatians 3:2, Paul pointedly asks:

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:2).

Paul’s argument in Galatians 3 highlights that the Galatians received the Spirit, justification, and blessings through faith, not through adherence to the law or any external acts. According to Paul, the simple “hearing with faith” is required for the receiving of the Holy Spirit. He fails to mention the laying on of hands anywhere in Galatians at all.

In Ephesians 1, Paul writes a wondrous introduction recounting “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” which Christians receive “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). He says in that section,

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory (Epheisians 1:13-14).

God granted the spiritual blessing of the Holy Spirit to those who “heard the word of truth” and “believed in him.” As in Galatians, Paul makes clear how Christians may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, but mentions nothing about the physical laying on of hands.

In 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul mentions that Timothy received a “gift from God” when elders laid their hands on him. This gift is never specifically identified, but is related to Timothy’s ministry in Ephesus (1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6). Once again, the epistles present a multi-faceted image about the importance of the laying on of hands.

Important but Not Integral

Contrary to what some Latter-day Saints might believe, Christians do actually still regularly practice the laying on of hands. Believers of different denominations and traditions lay hands when pastors are installed to their office, when missionaries are sent out to foreign countries, and even when a fellow Christian needs healing. The practice certainly has biblical precedent, yet nothing in Scripture permits Christians to conclude that this act is an essential part of such actions. It’s important, but not integral.

Jesus’ authority, the testimony of Acts, and the writings of the Epistles demonstrate that authority may be exercised in diverse ways. Ultimately, authority is brought to bear in accordance with God’s sovereign will, not in accordance with strict physical rituals or historic traditions.