“Teachers, and Priests”
See 2 Nephi 5:26; Jacob 1:17-18; Alma 45:22. Because there were no Levites in the colony of Lehi (the Nephites and the Mulekites were of the lineage of Joseph and Judah, respectively), we assume that there was no Aaronic Priesthood among the Nephites, at least until the coming of Jesus to the Americas. The words priests and teachers thus appear to be descriptive of their ministerial duties in the higher priesthood rather than referring to offices in the Aaronic Priesthood. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 3:87; Promised Messiah, p. 427; New Witness, p. 311.)
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