You ask, what is the difference between the Patriarchal Priesthood which the Prophet Joseph held, and the Patriarchal Priesthood and office that was given to the Church and Stake Patriarchs. The answers to your questions are all found in the history and order of the restoration. . . . . . Included in the restoration which was brought to pass by the visitation of Peter, James and John, was the necessary sealing power to seal by the Holy spirit of Promise, with power sufficient to seal the Saints up to Celestial glory with a promise that they would obtain membership in the Church of the Firstborn. In accordance with the Prophet's statement at the October 25th, 1831 conference, this sealing power was an inherent part of the "High Priesthood" and was given to all those who were ordained High Priests in the Melchizedek Priesthood:

"Br. Joseph Smith Jr. said that the order of the High priesthood is that they have power given them to seal up the Saints unto eternal life. And . . . it was the privilege of every Elder present to be ordained to the High priesthood. . . . . .

"Br. Sylvester Smith said that he had the testimony that it was the will of the Lord to seal his saints, and also covenanted to give all to the Lord.....

"Br. Daniel Stanton said that he had a long time since covenanted to do the will of God in all things, and also said that it was his desire to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." (Far West Record 20-21)

You will notice that the Prophet here states that the "High Priesthood" had power to seal the Saints up to "Eternal Life". What is important here is that you recognize the difference between being sealed up to "Eternal Life" and "Eternal Lives". (D&C 132:15-24; TPJS 322) This difference is explained in the 131st. section of the Doctrine and Covenants:

"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase." (D&C 131:1-4)

"Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world. Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not Gods, but angels of God forever and ever. " (D&C 132:15-17)

The Sealing keys of the "High Priesthood", or that Priesthood which was restored by Peter, James and John was sufficient to seal an individual into the lower degree of the Celestial Kingdom, but not in the capacity of husbands, wives, or parents. In other words, this sealing power was not sufficient to create an eternal family unit. Those who are sealed up unto "Eternal Life" are promised that they will dwell with God and Christ in Celestial Glory, but not necessarily as Gods. On the other hand, those who are sealed up unto "Eternal Lives" are sealed up in a family unit as husbands and wives. As such they will be Gods, having an endless increase in posterity or "Eternal Lives". Thus the sealing power of "Eternal Lives" goes beyond the authority that was restored by Peter, James and John. It was not until April 3rd, 1836, that this Priesthood was restored by Elijah in the Kirtland Temple.

From all this it becomes evident that the Prophet established two different orders or divisions of the Patriarchal Priesthood and inherent within each order are certain sealing powers whereby certain blessings can be sealed upon worthy individuals, both for time and all eternity. That this is so is manifest by the fact that Joseph Smith Sr. was ordained as the first Church Patriarch on December 18th, 1833, (UPR 18) which was more than two years before the restoration in the Kirtland Temple, wherein Moses, Elias and Elijah restored the Higher order and fulness of the Patriarchal Priesthood. This being the case it is evident that the office and Priesthood of Church Patriarch must of necessity derive its Priesthood and authority in blessings through the the "High Priesthood" which was restored by Peter, James and John.

Prior to the Nauvoo period, there are several occasions when the Prophet Joseph Smith referred to the High Priesthood as the Patriarchal Priesthood. This he did both in his revelations and speeches. one of the qualifications for becoming a Patriarch was that the individual be ordained a High Priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood. On several occasions, and even in some revelations it was customary during the pre-Nauvoo period was designated on several occasions by the Prophet as the Patriarchal Priesthood. That it is indeed the Patriarchal Priesthood is self evident from the fact that in accordance with the law both the office of Church Patriarch and its attending priesthood descend from father to son. It was this Priesthood and the office of the Church and Stake Patriarchs to which President Brigham Young referred when on August 15th, 1847, he spoke on the "Patriarchal Priesthood" and made the following remarks:

"The Priesthood is again restored on the Earth to bring to man - which we do not receive all at once but we receive grace for grace. When Brother Joseph received the Priesthood he did not receive all at once but he was a Prophet, Seer and Revelator before he received the Fulness of the Priesthood and Keys of the Kingdom. He first received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained under the hands of John the Baptist. He then had not power to lay on hands to confirm the Church (JSH 1:70) but afterwards he received the Patriarchal or Melchizedek Priesthood from under the hands of Peter, James and John . . . . . .

"In Joseph's day we [i.e the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles] had to ordain Patriarchs (D&C 107:39). Could we ordain men to authority greater than we held ourselves? (Heb. 7:7) No. But it is necessary to have patriarchs to bless the people that they may have blessings by the spirit of prophecy and revelation sealed upon their heads and their posterity and know what awaits their posterity. Father Smith was the senior Patriarch in the Church and first Patriarch in our day (UPR 18:1-2, 13, 16, 21-22) and afterwards Hyrum was the senior Patriarch for his father sealed it upon his head (D&C 124:91) but was their power and authority different from all patriarchs in the Church? No. They were all alike in their authority and blessings.

"Elijah is spoken of in the Bible that he should come in the last days to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to their fathers (Malachi 4:6; D&C 110:15). The fulfillment of this scripture is manifest in establishing the Kingdom of God and Priesthood on the Earth in the last days and those who hold the Keys of the Priesthood and Sealing Power have the Spirit and Power of Elijah and it is necessary in order to redeem our dead and save our children (D&C 128:17-18; TPJS 330, 337-340). There is much more importance attached to this than parents are aware of." (TPBY 2:8-15-47; see also WWJ 8-15-47)

*The following is the substance of a letter written to a friend on January 23, 1990. It was written in response to questions regarding the Patriarchal Priesthood.