What does the Book of Mormon actually say about priestcraft?
I have been working on a contemporary English version of the BoM. I recently came across 2nd Nephi 11:106-109 (LDS 2nd Nephi 26:29-31), which talks about priestcraft.
“Priestcraft” is an interesting concept. Doing much research on the term will show that it is almost exclusively used within the Latter Day Saint movement, and it is most commonly associated with the Book of Mormon. Growing up it became a dogwhistle for looking down upon churches which have paid clergy.
However, I was surprised when I read the verses in question that it doesn’t actually seem to forbid getting paid for clergy work. Let me give you my contemporary English version of these verses:
106 The Divine tells us not to engage in priestcraft, which is when people teach in order to gain worldly notoriety and praise instead of seeking the welfare of Zion. 107 The Divine has forbidden priestcraft.
God has told us to be charitable. Being charitable is a form of love. 108 If you don’t have charity you have nothing. If you have charity you won’t allow anyone who works to build Zion to die. 109 Those who work to build Zion should work to build Zion; if they end up working for money and worldly notoriety they will die.
To me, these verses aren’t what I was taught growing up. What these verses say is that you shouldn’t do good things as a clergy in order to gain worldly notoriety and personal gain; you should do good things to help build a better world.
I think that there are clergy that absolutely abuse their congregation/sect by living ridiculously extravagant lives. 2nd Nephi 12: 12-17 (LDS 2nd Nephi 28:9-14) even gives some examples of these corrupt behaviors and actions:
12 There will be many people who teach these false, vain, and foolish things. They are full of pride and want to hide their actions from God in the dark. However, the blood of the saints will cry out from the ground against them. 13 They have lost their way and become wicked. 14 Because of their pride, false teachers, and false teachings their churches have become corrupted and prideful. 15 They rob the poor by building extravagant churches and buying expensive clothes. They oppress the oppressed and the humble when their pride leads them to do this! 16 They are stubborn and think very highly of themselves. They have all gone astray because of their pride, wickedness, abominations, and harmful sexuality. All except a couple followers of Christ, that is. 17 Even then the followers of Christ make mistakes because of they were taught human concepts.
However, there are also clergy who get a fair and modest stipend, but not because they want to live noteworthy lives, they want to pour their hearts and souls into building communities and helping other people. These people should be able to pay rent, buy food, and go on vacation every once in a while just the same as anyone else.
In short, I think the concept of “priestcraft” means using religion for personal gain instead of building a more peaceful world.