David’s ordination by the hands of the archangel Raphael.
Not realizing I’d ever need to tell my story, I didn’t keep the best of records. I was commanded by the Lord to make an appointment to talk to my bishop about being ordained a High Priest as early as 1998. But I didn’t heed the command because of my lack of self-confidence. This prompting came to me off and on for over a decade.
Finally, around 2013 or so, I gave in and followed the Lord’s command. At that point I was out of excuses. I spoke to my bishop who told me that to become a High Priest, I would need to either age out of Elders Quorum or receive a Stake calling. He stated that it was really just for the keys of running the Church at that level or to have peers so priesthood meetings would be more relevant. This didn’t make sense to me both because the Relief Society didn’t separate out grandmothers, and it wasn’t in line with the teachings of the Joseph Smith version of the Bible.
“And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained a high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch… to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven. And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order.” -IV/JST Genesis 14:28, 31-33
I went home to pray, had I waited too long? Did the Lord have something else for me to do next? I felt peace, knowing I had finally done what the Lord asked me to do, and blessed by His patients with me. When I prayed that night, I felt the peace of the Lord wash over me. I knew there was more to come; what, I did not know.
A few weeks or so later, I was alone, praying. The Lord told me it was time I was ordained a High Priest, as there was a work He had for me. Presuming it was a work in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I asked if I should make another appointment with my Bishop, or if I should speak to the Stake President.
Rather than answer my question, a light came into the room. In the light was a man, not quite as tall as myself. His skin was dark, like bronze, his hair black; yet he was white—hair and skin, glowing with spiritual power. He identified himself as Raphael, a servant of the Lord.
Though startled at first, I was not afraid. I felt a peace wash over me. Not wanting to be deceived, I stuck out my hand to shake his. He grasped my hand in the token of the Law of Sacrifice and I felt a warmth come over me, washing through me with the love and power of God that he had in him. I was immediately reminded of stories in the scriptures, as I shook his hand, of those that had fallen down to worship angels and understood why they had. But I knew he wasn’t a God.
As I let go of his hand, he told me he had been send by God to ordain me a High Priest and set me apart. His blessing was as follows:
”David, servant of God, I bless thee and place upon your head all of the keys of the High Priesthood, even as Abraham had. For it was I, Melchizedek, that ordained Abraham; teaching him, blessing and ordaining him with the keys of the Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God.
”With these keys come the responsibilities of your calling. It was I that taught thee in thy youth, with others in the Lord’s name. And, as I told thee then, you will have a hand in completing the restoration of all things.
”You will see many things and are called to perform a work in preparing the children of men to receive the Lord their God. Even now the horses are chomping at the bits, ready to carry home Christ, our King. Though you are weak, in the Lord you shall be strong. He has prepared you for this day and has prepared others to assist you in this work.
“And this is your ministry: Unity in the Lord, Holiness to the Lord; to go forward and teach every man, woman, and child to love their neighbors even as they are loved by God; for God loves all. And by this love shall Satan be bound, and Jesus shall reign the one true King over all the earth.
“Go forward with strength in God, translating the Word of God, and preaching peace in the name of the Most High; Amen.”
With this he left, the room seeming dark and bland without the light that had emanated from him. I said a prayer in meditation, repeating his words over and over. I thought now that I should receive a call from someone at church, as I believed the work I was to do was to be in that denomination. It was a call that never came
Note: This was not the whole blessing, but all I feel prompted to reveal at this time.
