Christ is the pattern, the standard, the example in all things. In heavenly councils he was called and ordained to his earthly ministry on account of his exceedingly great faith and good works in that first estate. He complied fully with the discipline and order of that heavenly kingdom.
All who held the priesthood before the day of his mortal ministry were to be types and shadows of what he would be and do as he labored in mortality. Their ordination and ministry were to be living prophecies of his own.
In like manner, all who have been called to the holy priesthood since the day of his coming in the flesh are to serve as he served, imitating his example in all that they do; they are to be living witnesses of what he was.