Priesthood authority is the permission or license to perform specific priesthood duties and comes from ordination to priesthood office and from being set apart for callings in the church. Priesthood authority is conferred by the laying on of hands under the direction of those who have priesthood keys. Women receive this authority in the form of a calling. Men receive this authority in the form of a calling or an office in the priesthood. President Dallin H. Oaks made that clear when he said, “Whoever functions in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned duties."

A man or woman with priesthood authority will have no priesthood power if he or she is unworthy or seeks to exercise control, dominion or compulsion upon others in any degree of unrighteousness.