Are ordinances still valid if performed by unworthy priesthood holders?

The following was my quick response to an email from the wife of a priesthood holder (formerly leader), who confessed to inappropriate activities that he has kept from his family for years. That, of course, raised questions about the validity of all ordinances and blessings he has performed for his family over the years.

Thank you for asking this question. I am leaving shortly for the temple and probably should take more time in responding this evening…and will be happy to so if you would like. However, because this pains me deeply that you have suffered over this question, I would like to try and eliminate or at least mitigate your pain as quickly as possible.

In short, when a priesthood holder is unworthy, the sanctity of an ordinance or blessing is violated, but not the validity.

The Lord, in His merciful understanding of how mortal and imperfect we all are, He stands behind His authority and validates every ordinance performed by his imperfect children…His sons, in this case.

So what is a man’s motivation to be worthy?

We commonly use a phrase in the Church that says, “power and authority of the priesthood.” We sometimes think those two descriptions of the priesthood are synonymous. They are not.

In one of the most important sections in the Doctrine and Covenants about priesthood (D&C 121), we read this one verse: “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen.” (v 34) It then goes on to explain what it means to be chosen and not chosen.

In brief, we learn that MANY men have hands laid on their head and receive authority. Only a FEW “choose” to have power through righteousness, as so well described in the rest of D&C 121. The Lord accepts the use of His authority, even when performed unworthily, but the priesthood holder forfeits his privilege of priesthood power through his unworthiness. 

Your husband’s desire to have power, not just authority, led him to the point so that when he was caught he was willing to face “the fire” and “walk the thorny path” to bring power into your home and the lives of his family. While his “official discipline” may only be for a short time (probably until this summer or possibly even sooner), the power of and in the priesthood will not return so quickly. It will depend on how deeply repentant he is and how faithful he will be over the coming months and maybe years.

I hope this can bring comfort and solace that all ordinances and blessings pronounced upon your children are still very valid and your sons now must decide…choose...if they will use their priesthood authority with power or not. So when the scripture says “chosen,” it doesn’t mean the Lord does the choosing, i.e. plays favorites, but that we (priesthood holders) must choose whether or not we will draw the powers of heaven into our use of His authority.