“Before the coming of Christ, the Nephites did not have the Aaronic Priesthood ([Smith, Doctrines of Salvation,] 3:87), therefore it should not be confused with the office of priest as found in the Church today. References to priests before Christ’s coming are to high priests holding the Melchizedek Priesthood. Because there were no Aaronic priests, they did not need to distinguish between the two different kinds of priests” (Largey, Book of Mormon Reference Companion, 658).