Aaronic Order
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The Aaronic Order, now predominantly referred to as the House of Aaron, was founded in 1942 by Maurice L. Glendenning (February 15, 1891 - October 5, 1969). Briefly a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1929, Glendenning was excommunicated by the LDS Church because he claimed to receive revelations from the angel Elias. In 1944 The Book of Elias was published. In 1978 the Levitical Writings were published. This book was a compilation of the Book of Elias, New Revelations, and the Disciple's Book.
The House of Aaron's mission is "to participate in and hasten the preparation of the Body of Jesus Christ for His second coming." Its vision is to "restore the Biblical, Levitical ministry to its prophesied fulness in Jesus Christ and to reconcile individuals, families, and fellowships to their places in the Body of Christ." The House of Aaron does not believe in or practice plural marriage.
The organization claims not to be a part of the Latter Day Saint Movement, although many of its original members were former Mormons, the House of Aaron basic beliefs have never included the Book of Mormon, nor any other LDS scriptures. The House of Aaron considers its beliefs to be strictly Biblical. The House of Aaron is part of the broader messianic movement united under the Messianic Israel Alliance (MIA).
In 1955 the church established a communal settlement called EskDale, Utah, named after Eskdale, Scotland. The House of Aaron currently has branches in EskDale, Partoun, and Murray, Utah. The House of Aaron's membership is less than 1,000.
The following statement comes from the official House of Aaron website:
The House of Aaron is the Biblical name of the family of Israelite priests ordained by God to serve Him at the Tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, at the temple in Jerusalem. Aaronites were a family within the tribe of Levi. This entire tribe was called by God to minister to him and then to the people. The specific duties of the Levites were to assist Aaron in the work of the Tabernacle, in teaching, ministering in music and judging all the tribes of Israel. God made clear that Levi was to have no inheritance in the land but Him. (Deuteronomy 18:1-2) Thus, no territory was identified as Levi and Aaron's home. Instead, 48 Levitical cities were scattered about the land, some in each tribe to remind Levi that his ministry extended to all the tribes of Israel.
The organization does not consider itself to be part of the Latter Day Saint movement; however, researchers have categorized it as part of the movement because of Glendenning's membership and excommunication from the LDS Church.[1]
[edit] Publications
- Beeston, Blanche W. (1966). Purified as gold and silver. Caxton Printers, Ltd., Caldwell, ID.[2]
- Beeston, Blanche W. (1957). Now my servant; a brief biography of a first-born son of Aaron. Caxton Printers, Ltd., Caldwell, ID.[2]
- Conrad, Robert & The Aaronic Order. Basic Beliefs of the Aaronic Order. The Aaronic Order, Murray, UT.[2][3]
- Glendenning, Maurice L. (1955). Church of the First-Born, The Church of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ, The Church of God : a treatise. Corporation of the President of the Aaronic Order, Salt Lake City, UT.[2]
- The Aaronic Order. (1978). Levitical Writings. Aaronic Order, EskDale, UT.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ J. Gordon Melton (1995, 5th ed.). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Detroit: Gale, ISBN 0810377144) p. 561.
- ^ a b c d e This work is available in the Lee Library of Brigham Young University.
- ^ This pamphlet is available from The Aaronic Order, P.O. Box 57095, Murray, UT 84157-0095.
