Several
noteworthy events occurred while the people of Israel were in the wilderness
that focus directly upon the central purpose of this writing. One of these has
to do with the establishment of priesthood authority which gave order and
direction to the affairs of the people. The Lord directed Moses: “And take thou
unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of
Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab
and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons” (Exodus 28:1).
Thus
was initiated the priesthood authority under which the lesser law given through
Moses would be administered. This priesthood order became known as the
Priesthood of Aaron, or the Aaronic Priesthood. Since Moses and Aaron were of
the tribe of Levi, the name “Levitical” has also been applied at times to this
priesthood order. The tribe of Levi, therefore, assumed the responsibility for
ministering all of the ordinances and performances that were required under the
Mosaic law. It must be remembered that this was to have a “schoolmaster” effect
upon the people of Israel.
The
Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood was to continue to be the legitimate source of
authority among Israel until the time the Savior would undertake his earthly ministry. John the Baptist officiated under the
auspices of this priesthood and held the administering keys of authority for
the same. (Dean L. Larsen, People of Destiny [Salt Lake City: Millennial
Press, 2001], 35, emphasis in bold added)
Such reflects the theology one finds in Heb 7:12, where there would be a change or transposition of the status of the Aaronic priesthood (not abrogation as some misinterpret μετατίθημι).