In Mormonism, authority refers to the right and power to act in God’s name. Latter-day Saints teach that this authority was lost after the death of the original apostles and restored through Joseph Smith by heavenly messengers. Because of this, nearly every aspect of LDS doctrine and practice, baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination, temple ordinances, and church leadership, depends on having this restored authority (Gospel Topics: “Priesthood”).
LDS teaching divides authority into two priesthoods: the Aaronic Priesthood, which oversees basic ordinances like baptism, and the Melchizedek Priesthood, which carries the authority to lead the church and perform higher ordinances. At the top of this structure is the president of the church, who holds all priesthood “keys,” meaning the right to direct the use of authority for the entire church (Gospel Principles, ch. 9, “Prophets of God”).
Biblical Christianity teaches that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus Christ alone (Matthew 28:18). He commissions his church through the Word and the sacraments, not through a restored priesthood or a single earthly leader. Scripture is the final authority for faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
