Anciently, it was understood that those who held the priesthood:
“Should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every hand, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.”
(JST, Genesis 14:30-31)
This statement restored to us in the Joseph Smith Translation was undoubtedly in the brass plates.