them.
Book of Mormon.
_Alma_ 11. 41 the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption
made, except the loosing of the bands of death.
12. 7 been spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all
shall rise. 16, 18, 24.
_Chap_. 40. no resurrection until after the coming of Christ. A time
appointed that all shall rise. Must needs be a space between death and
the resurrection. State of the soul during that time.
3 _Nephi_ 28. 36-40 concerning the change wrought in the disciples who
were to tarry.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 42. 45 especially for those that have not hope of a glorious
resurrection.
43. 18 say to the sleeping nations, ye Saints arise, ye sinners stay
and sleep.
32 he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the twinkling of
an eye.
88. 14 through the redemption that is made for you, is brought to pass
the resurrection of the dead.
101. 31 not sleep but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
130. 18 whatever knowledge we attain to in this life, will rise with us
in the resurrection.
132. 13 all things not ordained of God, shall not remain after the
resurrection.
133. 55 Moses, Elijah and John with Christ in his resurrection
_See a Pamphlet by B. Young_.
_Sermon by J. Smith, J. of D., Vol. 6, page 1_.
" _B. Young " _Vol. 15, page 139_.
" _Geo. Q. Cannon, J. of D., Vol. 17, page 134_.
_Article by P. P. Pratt, Mil. Star, Vol. 2, page 97_.
_Key to Theology, Chapter 15_.
_Sermon by J. Smith, Mil. Star, Vol. 3, page 59_.
_Article by C. W. Penrose, Mil. Star, Vol. 30, page 65_.
_History of J. Smith, April 16, 1843_.
THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD.
"There are, in the church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchisedek and
Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called
the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great
High Priest. Before his day it was called _the Holy Priesthood, after
the Order of the Son of God_. * * * All other authorities or offices in
the church are appendages to this Priesthood;" _Doc. & Cov_. 107. 1-5.
In the ordinances of this Priesthood "The power of Godliness is
manifest; and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the
Priesthood, the power of Godliness is not manifest unto men in the
flesh;" 84. 20, 21.
This Priesthood, or _Order of the Son of God_. is "Without father,
without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life;" _Heb_. 7. 3. Its authority and powers have ever existed,
and there has never been wanting intelligences to manifest them through
its ordinances.
"This greater Priesthood administereth the Gospel and holdeth the key
of the mysteries of the kingdom even the key of the knowledge of God;"
_Doc. & Cov_. 84. 19. That this passage refers to a personal knowledge
of God is evident from _verse_ 22, "For without this no man can see the
face of God, even the Father, and live." This is a distinct line drawn
between the two Priesthoods.
That man could not attain to the knowledge which would admit him
to the presence of God, without the Melchisedek Priesthood, "Moses
plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought
diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of
God; but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence,
therefore the Lord in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against
them) swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the
wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. Therefore he took
Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;" _verses_ 23-25.
The Latter-day Saints have this Priesthood, with its authority,
ordinances and blessings. How they have obtained it, is a very
important question. Peter was the chief of the apostles, in the Gospel
dispensation, from which we understand that the Presidency of the
Melchisedek Priesthood, in that dispensation, was vested in him, and
that it was through him that its succession could be again restored to
the earth. We find that in June, 1829, a revelation was given, making
known the calling of a Council of Twelve Apostles; _Doc & Cov_. 18. 27.
It is evident that between the fifteenth of May, 1829, and the time
when this revelation was given, in June following, Joseph Smith, Jun.,
O. Cowdery, and D. Whitmer were called to the Melchisedek Priesthood.
For the Lord, speaking to O. Cowdery and D. Whitmer, said, "I speak
unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with
the same calling with which he was called;" _verse_ 9.
While Joseph Smith, Jun., is not mentioned here as an apostle, we have
the information in a revelation given April, 1830, that he was the
first apostle and elder of this church, "Which commandments were given
to Joseph Smith, Jun., who was called of God, and ordained an APOSTLE
of Jesus Christ, to be the FIRST ELDER of this church; and to Oliver
Cowdery, who was also called of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be
the SECOND ELDER of this church, and ordained under his hand;" _Doc. &
Cov_. 20. 2, 3.
We are informed in _sec_. 27. 12, under date of September, 1830, who
ordained them; "And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have
sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be
apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your
ministry, and of the same things which I revealed unto them."
The presidency of Peter, James and John are plainly asserted in the
above passages; the thirteenth verse, with the context, informs us
that they bestowed the presidency of this dispensation on Joseph Smith
and others: "Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and
a dispensation of the Gospel for the last time; and for the fulness
of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both
which are in heaven, and which are on earth." We are informed that
these primitive apostles also testified that they held this presidency
of the Melchisedek Priesthood: "The voice of Peter, James and John in
the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville,
Broome County, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as
possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the
fulness of times;" 128. 20.
In the thirty-seventh verse of _sec_. 18, the Lord designated O.
Cowdery and D. Whitmer as two men he had chosen to search out the then
future Twelve, whom the Lord declares, in the twenty-seventh verse were
already called. This selection, of the Council of Twelve Apostles, was
not made until February 14, 1835, over five years afterwards.
The most comprehensive evidence that Joseph Smith. Jun., received the
authority and power of the Holy Priesthood, is that the works of John
the Baptist, of Jesus and his apostles, are being again done on the
earth by his administration. To receive the powers of this Priesthood,
it is necessary that men should obey the laws and ordinances of the
Gospel.
The Lord has personally appeared to some men, and covenanted with them
as he did with Abraham; _Gen_. 12. 1-3. _chap_. 13. 14-17. The Lord
also personally called and authorized his twelve Jewish apostles. So
fully were they authorized to labor for him, and act in his name, that
he said to them, "He that receiveth you receiveth me; and he that
receiveth me receiveth him that sent me;" _Matt_. 10. 40.
More generally, it is from the prophets and apostles of Christ that
men receive the Priesthood. Many received it under the hands of the
apostles of the first Gospel dispensation. Those who have received it
in this latter-day dispensation, have received it from Joseph Smith,
Jun., and O. Cowdery, and, in doing so, have received it through a
legitimate channel from God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. Those
who have received this Priesthood have covenanted with God the Father,
and he with them. This is evidently the view taken of the subject in
the above passage quoted from Matthew.
The doctrine is more fully illustrated in _Doc. & Cov_.: "All they
who receive this Priesthood receiveth me, saith the Lord; for he that
receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth
my Father; and he that receiveth my Father, receiveth my Father's
kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him;
and this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the
Priesthood;" 84. 35-39.
Bible.
_Gen_. 14. 18, 20 Melchisedek, king of Salem, blessed Abraham. _Heb_.
7. 1, 2.
_Psalm_ 110. 4 thou art a priest forever after the order of
Melchisedek. _Heb_. 5. 6, 10. _Chap_. 6. 20.
_Acts_ 14. 23 and when they had ordained them elders in every church.
20. 17 sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church.
_Titus_ 1. 5 and ordain elders in every city.
_Heb_. 2 17 a faithful High Priest, to make reconciliation for the sins
of the people.
3. 1 the Apostle and High Priest of our profession.
4. 14 a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God.
15 not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities.
5. 1 every high priest taken from among men is ordained. 8. 3.
8. 1, 2 Jesus Christ an high priest, and minister of the sanctuary. 3,
5.
10. 19-21 boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
Book of Mormon.
_Mos_. 29. 42 the office of high priest conferred on Alma by his father.
_Alma_ 4. 4 Alma high priest over the church. 20. _Chap_. 5. 3, 49, 51.
6. 1 ordained priests and elders according to the holy order of God. 8.
13. 1, 2. ordained priests after the order of his Son, that the people
might know how to look forward to the redemption of his Son.
3 _Nephi_ 18. 5 one ordained to bless bread, and break it.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 18. 27-39 duty of the Twelve Apostles to preach the Gospel.
21. 1 J. Smith, Jun., to be called a seer, translator, prophet and
apostle.
10, 11 J. Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery ordain each other.
27. 5-11 personages who held important keys of the Priesthood, in
former dispensations.
28. 2 none to receive revelations for the church but J. Smith, Jun.
_Sec_. 102. organization of the first High Council of the church.
106. 1 W. A. Cowdery appointed and ordained a presiding high priest.
107. 33 the Twelve are a traveling presiding High Council, to officiate
in the name of the Lord under the direction of the Presidency of the
church agreeable to the institution of heaven to build up the church,
and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations; first unto the
Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 26. Abraham became a high priest, holding the right belonging to
the fathers.
28. Pharaoh was of that lineage which could not have the right of
Priesthood.
Miscellaneous Passages.
_John_ 15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.
1 _Cor_. 5. 5 offenders to be delivered to Satan by the Priesthood.
2 _Cor_. 5. 20 now then we are embassadors for Christ.
_Heb_. 5. 4 no man taketh this honor, but he that is called of God.
7. 15-28 another priest who is made after the power of endless lives.
9. 11-28 Christ the great sacrifice, the Mediator of the New Testament.
10. 19-21 boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus.
1 _Peter_ 2. 5 an Holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 25.
_Rev_. 1. 6 and hath made us kings and priests unto God. 5. 10. _Chap_.
20. 6.
7. 3 sealed the servants of God in their foreheads.
Book of Mormon.
2 _Nephi_ 6. 2 called of God and ordained after his holy order.
_Mos_. 3. 23 I have spoken what the Lord hath commanded me.
23. 16, 17 none received authority to teach except from God.
_Alma_ 7. 22 ye may walk after the holy order of God. _Chap_ 8. 4.
13. 3 being called and prepared, from the foundation of the world.
5-20 calling, foreordination and eternal duration of the Priesthood.
17. 3 they taught with power and authority from God.
18 Ammon imparted the word of God to his brethren.
49. 30 word of God declared by those ordained after the holy order of
God.
_Hel_. 8. 18 many before Abraham who were called by the order of God.
_Ether_ 12. 10.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Lecture on Faith, Sec_. 2. genealogy of the Priesthood from Adam to
Abraham.
_Sec_. 1. 17, 18 J. Smith, Jun., authorized to declare the Gospel, that
the prophets might be fulfilled.
30 that they might have power to organize the true church.
2. 1, 2 the Priesthood to be revealed by Elijah.
19. 9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing.
29. 4 ye are chosen out of the world to declare my Gospel.
35. 18 the keys of those things that have been sealed, given to J.
Smith, Jun.
42. 11 ordination to be done by one having authority.
65 unto you is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom. 69.
64. 5 the keys of the kingdom not to be taken from J. Smith, Jun.
68. 2 this is an ensample to all who were ordained to this Priesthood.
72. 1 the kingdom and power given to the high priests of the church.
77. 11 those to be sealed out of the tribes of Israel are high priests.
_Rev_. 7. 4-8.
78. 1 hearken to me you who are ordained to the High Priesthood.
84. 6-16 lineage of the Priesthood from the sons of Moses back to Adam.
25, 26 the Lord took Moses and the Holy Priesthood from the midst of
Israel.
29 offices of elder and bishop necessary appendages to the Melchisedek
Priesthood.
33, 34 those faithful to the obtaining of these two Priesthoods, become
the sons of Moses and Aaron.
86. 8 saith the Lord to you with whom the Priesthood hath continued.
10, 11.
113. 8 the strength of Zion is the power of the Priesthood.
121. 21 neither they nor their posterity shall have a right to the
Priesthood.
36-45 the necessity of exercising the powers of the Priesthood in
meekness.
124. 33, 34 temples necessary for the purposes of the holy Priesthood.
91-95 H. Smith clothed with the same Priesthood and gifts as were once
bestowed on O. Cowdery.
123 the offices and keys of the Priesthood, on J. Smith, Jun.
124 H. Smith holds the sealing blessings of the church.
135-145 instructions concerning various quorums.
127. 8 the Lord about to restore many things pertaining to the
Priesthood.
128. 8 nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the Priesthood.
132. 44 then shall you have power by my Holy Priesthood to take her.
58 many things pertaining to the law of the Priesthood.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 13. the same Priesthood, in the beginning and end of the world.
17. thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days.
23. and the Lord ordained Noah after his order.
29. the seed of Abraham to bear this mission and Priesthood to all
nations.
THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD.
John the Baptist was the acknowledged forerunner of Christ, and, as
such, he preached the preparatory Gospel of repentance, and baptism
for the remission of sins. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the
course of Abia, and his mother was of the daughters of Aaron; _Luke_ 1.
5.
Thus the Aaronic Priesthood was the heritage of John the Baptist.
His ministry evidences that he was clothed with its authority. That
the chain of evidence might be complete, regarding this fact, the
Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, Jun., that he was ordained to the
Aaronic Priesthood by an angel; _Doc. & Cov_. 84. 28. Being the first
man ordained to it in the former Gospel dispensation, he holds the
presidency of that Priesthood in all subsequent dispensations.
As a sequence, the man who should open up the last dispensation must
receive it from him. We have the testimony of Joseph Smith, Jun.,
and Oliver Cowdery, that John the Baptist did ordain them to this
Priesthood, using the following words, "Upon you my fellow servants, in
the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the
keys of the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and
of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never
be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an
offering unto the Lord in righteousness;" _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 13.
"The messenger who visited us on this occasion, and conferred this
Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is
called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under
the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the
Priesthood of Melchisedek, which Priesthood he said should in due time
be conferred on us, and that I should be called the first Elder, and
Oliver the second. It was on the fifteenth day of May, 1829, that we
were ordained under the hand of the messenger and baptized;" _His. of
J. Smith, Jun., May_ 15, 1829.
Thus was the succession of the Lesser Priesthood again restored to the
earth.
Bible.
_Gen_. 29. 34 Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah.
50. 7 all the elders of his house, and of the land of Egypt.
_Exo_. 3. 16 go and gather the elders of Israel together.
6. 16 names of the sons of Levi.
17. 5 take with thee of the elders of Israel.
18. 1 Jethro, the priest of Midian.
19. 7 Moses called for the elders. 22.
28. 1 Aaron and his sons set apart to minister in the priest's office.
_Chap_. 29. 44. _Chap_. 30. 30. _Chap_. 40. 13, 15.
_Lev_. 7. 35, 36 Aaron and his sons anointed priests by a statute
throughout all their generations. 4. 15.
_Chap_. 8. Aaron and his sons anointed and clothed in their priestly
garments.
_Chap_. 16. an enumeration of many of the duties of Aaron.
_Num_. 3. 1-10 Aaron and his sons appointed to the priest's office.
3. 12 the Levites taken in place of the first-born of Israel.
_Chap_. 4. an enumeration of some of the duties of the priests and
Levites.
11. 25 the Lord gave his Spirit unto the seventy elders.
16. 10 seek ye the Priesthood also?
_Chap_. 18. the Lord's charge to Aaron and his sons.
35. 2-8 the cities of refuge the inheritance of the Levites.
_Deut_. 10. 8, 9 Levi had no inheritance with his brethren.
21. 5 the Priesthood of Levi had authority to try all manner of
controversy.
31. 28 go gather all the elders of your tribes.
2 _Chron_. 29. enumerates several duties of the Priesthood.
31. 4-11 tithing to be received by the Aaronic Priesthood.
_Psalm_ 99. 6 Moses and Aaron among his priests.
107. 32 praise him in the assembly of the elders.
132. 9 let thy priests be clothed with righteousness.
_Isa_. 61. 6 ye shall be named the priests of the Lord.
66. 21 I will take of them for priests and Levites, saith the Lord.
_Ezek_. 8. 1 I sat in mine house, and the elders of Israel before me.
45. 4 Levitical Priesthood the ministers of the sanctuary.
_Joel_ 1. 14 gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land.
_Mal_. 2. 4-6 God's covenant with Levi for his righteousness.
3. 3 he shall purify and purge the sons of Levi.
_Phil_. 1. 1 to the Saints, bishops and deacons.
1 _Tim_. 3. 1-13 qualifications and duties of bishops and deacons.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 20. 38-71 the duties of elders, priests, teachers, deacons and
members of the church of Christ.
41. 9 E. Partridge ordained first bishop to the church.
42. 12-14 instructions to elders, priests and teachers.
68. 14, 15 bishops to be high priests, unless literal descendants of
Aaron.
16, 17 the first born held the right of presidency in the Aaronic
Priesthood.
22-24 a bishop can be tried only by the First Presidency of the church.
72. 18-20 N. K. Whitney ordained. Duties of bishops.
84. 18 the Lord confirmed a Priesthood on Aaron and his sons for ever.
107 the lesser Priesthood to go before and prepare the way.
_Sec_. 107. the higher and lesser Priesthoods, their organizations,
the duties pertaining to their various offices, and the lineage of the
Priesthood.
EVANGELISTS OR PATRIARCHS.
In the _History of Joseph Smith_, under date of June 27, 1839, will be
found the following: "An Evangelist is a Patriarch, even the oldest man
of the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham. Whenever the Church
of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a Patriarch for
the benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in
giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons," etc.
As the singular number is here used, exclusively, doubtless the Prophet
Joseph, in the above passage, speaks of then Patriarch of the whole
church.
In the _History of Joseph Smith_, under date of September 14, 1840, we
are informed that Joseph Smith, Sen., Patriarch of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at Nauvoo. In a biographical sketch
of him, of the same date, we are informed that he was ordained to this
office, on the eighteenth of December, 1833.
The distinguishing feature between his calling and that of other
patriarchs is, that he was patriarch of the whole church, while others
were ordained patriarchs in the church. Of the latter was John Young,
Sen., who was ordained a patriarch in the church by the Prophet Joseph
Smith, in 1834; _His. of J. Smith, under date of Aug_. 8, 1844.
"It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the church,
to ordain evangelical ministers, (or patriarchs), as they shall be
designated unto them by revelation;" _Doc. & Cov_. 107. 39.
"The order of this (patriarchal) Priesthood was confirmed, to be handed
down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants
of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order was
instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage;" _verses_
40-57.
From the last quotation it is evident that if a man holds the High
Priesthood, by virtue of that Priesthood he is patriarch over his own
posterity, and as such has a right to bestow upon them patriarchal
blessings.
A little more than four months after the death of the Patriarch, Joseph
Smith, Sen., in a revelation given to his son Joseph, occurs the
following: "That my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and
Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, _by blessing
and also by right_, that from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the
patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people, that whoever
he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed;
that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven;" _Doc. &
Cov_. 124. 91-93.
From this we learn, that Joseph Smith, Sen., inherited the Patriarchal
Priesthood, by right from the fathers over the house of Israel in this
dispensation. For this right to have descended to him, by lineage,
he must of necessity be an Ephraimite, for Ephraim, by the right of
appointment and ordination by his father Jacob, is the head of Israel.
This fact is plainly stated in the Scriptures: "Now the sons of Reuben
the firstborn of Israel, for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as
he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of
Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after
the birthright;" 1 _Chron_. 5. 1.
Just before his death, in blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob adopted
the sons of Joseph as his own. Said he, "Let my name be named on them,
and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;" _Gen_. 48. 16. For this
reason, these two sons of Joseph, each, had a name as the head of
tribes in Israel, "and he set Ephraim before Manasseh;" _Gen_. 48. 20.
The Lord further declared through his prophet Jeremiah, "I am a father
to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn;" 31. 9.
By virtue of this adoption of Ephraim, as the head of the house of
Israel, and Joseph Smith, Sen., being the oldest son of Ephraim,
holding the Priesthood in this dispensation, he is Patriarch of the
whole church, by right. This right should be perpetuated in his family,
as the oldest branch of the tribe of Ephraim.
If, from any cause, there should be failure of a son to exercise this
right, then the office would be filled from the next eldest branch of
the family.
This has been the case in the short history of the church. When Joseph
and Hyrum were martyred, the latter had no son old enough to fill the
office of patriarch, and John, his eldest living brother, was ordained
to the office vacated by his death.
After the death of father John Smith, the office reverted back to the
family of Hyrum Smith, for his oldest son John had grown to manhood,
and was ordained Patriarch of the whole church.
Bible.
_Gen_. 8. 21, 22 God covenanted with Noah, that he would not again
destroy all flesh.
9. 1 God blessed Noah and his sons, and said, be fruitful and multiply.
24-27 Noah cursed Canaan, and blessed Shem and Japhet.
12. 1-3 the Lord promised Abraham that in his seed all the families of
the earth should be blessed. 26. 4.