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You mention a potential “high priest” (kohen gadol) at the Jewish temples of Elephantine and Leontopolis, Egypt, but in each case these would merely be chief priests from the lineage of Aaron within the Tribe of Levi, and even the D&C defines them as lineal Aaronic priests only. Aaronide Kohanim within the Tribe of Levi continue to serve the Jewish community today.
How would they differ, if at all, in authority, from Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the Priest of Midian (kohen), or from the High Priest of Re at Heliopolis, Egypt (kohen), who was the grandfather of Ephraim & Manasseh (Gen 41)? Indeed, how would the lineage of Ephraim & Manasseh be affected by their mother being the daughter of an idolatrous priest? If, as you emphasize, all the Egyptians hail from Egyptus (Zeptah, Daughter of Ptah), where does that leave generic Egyptian priesthood? Even if, as you suggest, the Canaanite Hyksos were in charge in the Delta during the time when a Pharaoh arose who didn’t know Joseph?
Just a few of the questions which I wish you had clarified in this article.
All LDS prophets including Spencer Kimball insisted that the practice of denying the Priesthood was the correct one. Spencer Kimball said he would maintain the practice unless the Lord declared otherwise. The Lord evidently knows how to optimise the chances for his children to inherit the best degree of salvation and acts accordingly to give us the most suitable earthly experiences for that end. If that means no chance of hearing the Gospel in this life, as is true for most of the people who have come to earth in the past, then that is part of the plan. We may not know exactly why these things are so, but we need to trust the Lord’s decisions as to when his children hear the plan or have the chance to receive the priesthood
I think you are mischaracterizing Pres. Kimball and others by claiming they “insisted that the practice of denying the Priesthood was the correct one.” They certainly felt it required divine direction to change the policy, but I think historical sources demonstrate that they struggled to understand its purpose and existence, as we still do today.