to be set apart unto the Church, to minister even according to the
first; wherefore they shall be High Priests who are worthy, and
they shall be appointed by the First Presidency of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, except they be literal descendants of Aaron. And if they be
literal descendants of Aaron, they have a legal right to the Bishopric,
if they are the first born among the sons of Aaron; for the firstborn
hold the right of the _Presidency_ over this Priesthood, and the _keys_
or authority of the same. No man has a legal right to this office to
hold the _keys_ of this Priesthood, except he be a literal descendant
and the firstborn of Aaron; but as a High Priest of the Melchizedek
Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may
officiate in the office of Bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron
can be found, provided he is called, and set apart and ordained unto
this power under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek
Priesthood. And a literal descendant of Aaron, also, must be designated
by this Presidency, and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained
under the hands of this Presidency, otherwise they are not legally
authorized to officiate in their Priesthood; but by virtue of the
decree concerning their right of the Priesthood descending from father
to son, they may claim their anointing, if at any time they can prove
their lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under
the hands of the above named Presidency. And again, no Bishop or High
Priest who shall be set apart for this ministry, shall be tried or
condemned for any crime, save it be before the First Presidency of the
Church; and inasmuch as he is found guilty before this Presidency, by
testimony that cannot be impeached, he shall be condemned."--Sec. 68,
pars. 14-23, pp. 249-250.
We may here notice, as elsewhere referred to, that it is the Presidency
of the Aaronic Priesthood that is above spoken of, that must be set
apart by the First Presidency, and also tried by them, whether of
lineal descent or High Priests. Newel K. Whitney was appointed and
ordained a Bishop. (See sec. 72, par. 8, p. 257) "Let my servant Newel
K. Whitney, and my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and my servant Sidney
Rigdon, sit in council with the Saints which are in Zion."--Sec. 78,
par. 9, p. 281. Thus it seems that though Bishop Whitney was Bishop
of Kirtland, he sat in council with the Saints which were in Zion,
associated with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, thus showing that he
was not a ward but a general Church Bishop.
"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that it is expedient for my servant
Alam, and Ahashdah, (Newel K. Whitney,) Mahalaleel, and Pelagoram,
(Sidney Rigdon,) and my servant Gazelam, (Joseph Smith,) and Horah,
Olihah, (Oliver Cowdery,) and Shalemanasseh, and Mehemson, (Martin
Harris,) to be bound together by a bond and covenant that cannot be
broken by transgression, (_except judgment shall_ immediately follow,)
in your several stewardships, _to manage the affairs of the poor, and
all things pertaining to the Bishopric_, both in the land of Zion and
in the land of Shinehah (Kirtland.)"--Sec. 82, pars. 11, 12, p. 286.
This proves that President Joseph Smith and his Counselor Sidney Rigdon
were authorized to supervise temporal matters in the Church as well
as the Bishop or with him. Here the Melchizedek Priesthood is united
with the Aaronic to manage the Bishopric in both lands. We continue our
quotations: "Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing
all things with an eye single to the glory of God."--Sec. 82, par. 19,
p. 287.
"Which Abraham received the Priesthood from Melchizedek, who received
it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah; and from Noah
till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers; and from Enoch to
Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the
Priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam,
who was the first man--which Priesthood continueth in the Church of God
in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.
And the Lord confirmed a Priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed,
throughout all their generations--which Priesthood also continueth
and abideth forever with the Priesthood, which is after the holiest
order of God. And this greater Priesthood administereth the Gospel
and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the Kingdom, even the key of
the knowledge of God; therefore, in the ordinances thereof, 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; for without this no man can see the face of
God, even the Father, and live. Now this 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 fullness of his glory. Therefore he took Moses out of their midst,
and the Holy Priesthood also."--Sec. 84, pars. 14-25, pp. 290-1.
We have already shown that there was a Priesthood conferred upon Aaron
and his seed throughout all their generations. It becomes a question
what Priesthood Aaron had before he had bestowed upon him what is
termed the Aaronic Priesthood, when he administered with Moses? "The
greater Priesthood administereth the Gospel and holdeth the key of the
mysteries of the Kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God."
Frederick G. Williams was called and appointed a High Priest and
Counselor to Joseph Smith. His call reads as follows:
"Verily, verily I say unto you, my servant Frederick G. Williams,
listen to the voice of him who speaketh, to the word of the Lord your
God, and hearken to the calling wherewith you are called, even to be a
High Priest in my Church and a Counselor unto my servant Joseph Smith,
Jr., unto whom I have given the keys of the Kingdom, _which belongeth
always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood_: therefore, verily,
I acknowledge him and will bless him and also thee, inasmuch as thou
art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you
in prayer always vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private,
also in thy ministry in proclaiming the Gospel in the land of the
living, and among thy brethren."--Sec. 81, pars. 1-3, p. 284.
From the following we find that God took Moses from the midst of the
children of Israel and also the Holy or Melchizedek Priesthood, leaving
the lesser, or the Aaronic Priesthood. "Therefore, he took Moses out of
their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; and the lesser Priesthood
continued, which Priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of
angels and the preparatory Gospel, which Gospel is the Gospel of
repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of
carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath, caused to continue
with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom
God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's
womb; for he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was
ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto
this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight
the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for
the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power. And again,
the _offices of Elder and Bishop_ are necessary appendages belonging
unto the High Priesthood." Sec. 84, pars. 25-29, p. 291. From this, it
would seem that the law of carnal commandments was a curse. Paul said
the law was added because of transgression. ("It was added because
of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was
made." Gal. iii, 19.) And that it was a yoke which neither they nor
their fathers were able to bear; and that Christ came to fulfill the
law and introduce the Gospel which was greater--a higher law and a
greater Priesthood, viz: the Melchizedek.
Both Elders and Bishops are appendages to the High Priesthood. "And
again, the offices of Teacher and Deacon are necessary appendages
belonging to the lesser Priesthood." (Sec. 84, par. 30, p. 291);
thus Elders and Bishops are appendages to the High Priesthood, while
Teachers and Deacons are appendages to the lesser, which lesser is
an appendage to the higher or Melchizedek. "Therefore, as I said
concerning the sons of Moses--for the sons of Moses, and also the
sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the
house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this
generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed."--Sec. 84,
par. 31, p. 291. When both of these Priesthoods are carried out and
united in their purity, the glory of the Lord will be manifested upon
Mount Zion, in the Lord's house, both operating according to their
callings, position and authority. For it is written, "And the sons of
Moses and Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount
Zion, in the Lord's house, whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have
called and sent forth to build up my Church; for whoso is faithful unto
the obtaining these two Priesthoods, of which I have spoken, and the
magnifying their calling are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing
of their bodies; they become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the
seed of Abraham, and the Church and Kingdom, and the elect of God; and
also 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. Therefore, all those who receive the Priesthood,
receive this oath and covenant of my Father which he cannot break,
neither can it be moved; but whoso breaketh this covenant, after he
hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have
forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. And all
those who come not unto this Priesthood which ye have received, which I
now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of
the heavens, and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels
charge concerning you."--Sec. 84, pars. 32-42, p. 292.
"And let all those who have not families, who receive moneys, send it
up unto the Bishop in Zion, or unto the Bishop in Ohio, that it may be
consecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations and the printing
thereof, and for establishing Zion."--Sec. 84, par. 104, p. 298.
In the same revelation "unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and six Elders," it
is written: "Therefore, take with you those who are ordained unto the
lesser Priesthood, and send them before you to make appointments, and
prepare the way, and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not
able to fill. Behold, this is the way that mine Apostles, in ancient
days, built up my Church unto me.[A] Also the body hath need of every
member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept
perfect."--Sec. 84, pars. 107, 108, no, p. 299.
[Footnote A: Why should not this be the way now?]
We further quote: "For the body is not one member, but many. * * And
the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the
head to the feet, I have no need of you."--I Cor. xii, 14, 21.
"And the Bishop, Newel K. Whitney, also, should travel round about
and among all the Churches, searching after the poor to administer
to their wants by humbling the rich and the proud; he should also
employ an agent to take charge and to do his secular business as he
shall direct."--Sec. 84, pars. 112, 113, p. 299. Thus High Priests,
Seventies, Elders, Bishops, and all men holding the Priesthood were to
be actively engaged in magnifying their Priesthood.
"It is the duty of the Lord's clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep
a history, and a General Church Record of all things that transpire
in Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive
inheritances legally from the Bishop; and also their manner of life,
their faith, and works; and also of all the apostates who apostatize
after receiving their inheritances. It is contrary to the will and
commandment of God, that those who receive not their inheritance by
consecration, agreeably to his law, which he has given, that he may
tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and
burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God;
neither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be
found on any of the records or history of the Church; their name shall
not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the
children written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of
Hosts. Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through
and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake
while it maketh manifest, saying: And it shall come to pass that I, the
Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the sceptre of power
in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter
words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to
set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances
of the Saints, whose names are found, and the names of their fathers,
and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God: while
that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his
hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like
as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning; and all
they who are not found written in the book of remembrance, shall find
none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their
portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing
and gnashing of teeth. These things I say not of myself; therefore,
as the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfill. And they who are of the
High Priesthood, whose names are not found written in the book of the
law, or that are found to have apostatized, or to have been cut off
from the Church; as well as the lesser Priesthood, or the members, in
that day, shall not find an inheritance among the Saints of the Most
High; therefore it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the
Priest, as will be found in the second chapter and sixty-first and
second verses of Ezra."--Sec. 85, pp. 300-2.
"And let the Bishop search diligently to obtain an agent, and let it
be a man who has got riches in store, a man of God, and of strong
faith, that thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt; that the
storehouse of the Lord may not be brought into disrepute before the
eyes of the people."--Sec. 90, pars. 22, 23, p. 325.
"Nevertheless, I am not well pleased with many things, and I am not
well pleased with my servant William E. McLellin, neither with my
servant Sidney Gilbert, and the Bishop also, and others have many
things to repent of; but verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord,
will contend with Zion, and plead with her strong ones, and chasten
her until she overcomes and is clean before me; for she shall not be
removed out of her place. I, the Lord, have spoken it. Amen."--Sec. 90,
pars, 35-37, p. 326.
"My servant Newel K. Whitney, also a Bishop of my Church, hath need
to be chastened and set in order his family, and see that they are
more diligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be
removed out of their place."--Sec. 93, par. 50, p. 332.
"Therefore let my servant Newel K. Whitney take charge of the place
which is named among you, upon which I design to build mine holy house;
and again, let it be divided in lots according to wisdom, for the
benefit of those who seek inheritances, as it shall be determined in
council among you."--Sec. 96, pars. 2, 3, p. 337.
"And again, I say unto you, it is contrary to my commandment and my
will, that my servant Sidney Gilbert[B] should sell my storehouse which
I have appointed unto my people, into the hand of mine enemies. Let not
that which I have appointed be polluted by mine enemies, by the consent
of those who call themselves after my name; for this is a very sore
and grievous sin against me, and against my people, in consequence of
those things which I have decreed and are soon to befall the nations.
Therefore, it is my will that my people should claim, and hold claim
upon that which I have appointed unto them, though they should not be
permitted to dwell thereon."--Sec. 101, pars. 96-99, pp. 358-9.
[Footnote B: This was the Bishop's agent.]
"There are, in the Church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek,
and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first
is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was
such a Great High Priest. Before his day it was called _the Holy
Priesthood after the order of the Son of God_; but out of respect or
reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent
repetition of his name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called
that Priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.
_All other authorities or offices_ in the Church _are appendages_ to
this Priesthood: but there are two divisions or grand heads--one is
the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or Levitical
Priesthood. The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of
Melchizedek. The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency,
and has power and authority over all the offices in the Church, in all
ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things. _The Presidency
of the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, have a right to
officiate in all the offices_ in the Church."--Sec. 107, pars. 1-9, pp.
383-4.
Thus the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency, and has
power and authority over all the offices in the Church, to administer
in spiritual things, while the Presidency of the High Priesthood has a
right to officiate in all the offices in the Church.
"This is the duty of a Bishop who is not a literal descendant of
Aaron, but has been ordained to the High Priesthood after the order
of Melchizedek. Thus shall he be a judge, even a common judge among
the inhabitants of Zion, or in a Stake of Zion, or in any branch of
the Church where he shall be set apart unto this ministry, until the
borders of Zion are enlarged, and it becomes necessary to have other
Bishops or judges in Zion, or elsewhere."--Sec. 107, pars. 73-75, p.
391. (See all of this section.)
He was to be a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion, or in a
Stake of Zion, or in a branch of the Church, _when he shall be set
apart unto his ministry_. His Bishopric is sufficient for any of these
places when set apart: and he can only fill those offices for which he
is set apart. But a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to
the Presidency of this Priesthood, to _the keys_ of this ministry, to
act in the office of Bishop, without Counselors, except in a case when
a President of the High Priesthood is tried.
We have the following on tithing: "Verily, thus saith the Lord, I
require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the
Bishop of my Church of Zion, for the building of mine house, and for
the laying of the foundation of Zion, and for the Priesthood, and
for the debts of the Presidency of my Church; and this shall be the
beginning of the tithing of my people: and after that, those who have
been thus tithed, shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually;
and this shall be a standing law unto them for ever, for my Holy
Priesthood, saith the Lord. Verily I say unto you, it shall come to
pass, that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed
of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall
not be found worthy to abide among you. And I say unto you, if my
people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify
the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept
thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it
shall not be a land of Zion unto you; and this shall be an ensample
unto all the Stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen."--Sec. 119, pp. 418-19.
"A revelation making known the disposition of property tithing:
"Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall
be disposed of by a Council, composed of the First Presidency of my
Church, and of the Bishop and his Council, and by my High Council; and
by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen."--Sec. 120,
pp. 419-20.
"That when he shall finish his work, I may receive him unto myself,
even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time,
and also my servant Edward Partridge, and also my aged servant Joseph
Smith, Sen., who sitteth with Abraham at his right hand, and blessed
and holy is he, for he is mine."--Sec. 124, par. 19, p. 431.
First.--We find from the above that there are two distinctive general
Priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the
Levitical Priesthood.
Second.--That they are both conferred by the Lord; that both are
everlasting, and administer in time and eternity.
Third.--That the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency,
and has power and authority _over all the offices in the Church_, in
all ages of the world, _to administer in spiritual things_.
Fourth.--That the second Priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron;
because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed throughout all their
generations.
Fifth.--That the lesser Priesthood is a part of, or an appendage to the
greater, or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering
outward ordinances. The lesser or Aaronic Priesthood can make
appointments for the greater, in preaching, can baptize, administer
the sacrament, attend to the tithing, buy lands, settle people on
possessions, divide inheritances, look after the poor, take care of the
properties of the Church, attend generally to temporal affairs; act as
common judges in Israel, and assist in ordinances of the Temple, under
the direction of the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood. They hold the
keys of the ministering of angels and administer in outward ordinances,
_the letter of the Gospel_, and the baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins.
Sixth.--That there is a Presidency over each of these Priesthoods, both
over the Melchizedek and the Aaronic.
Seventh.--That while the power of the higher, or Melchizedek is to hold
the keys _of all the_ spiritual _blessings of the Church_; to have the
privilege of receiving the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, to have
the heavens opened to them, to commune with the general assembly and
Church of the Firstborn and to enjoy the communion and presence of God
the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to preside
over all the spiritual officers of the Church, yet the _Presidency_
of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, have a right
to officiate in _all the offices in the Church_, both spiritual and
temporal.
"Then comes the High Priesthood, which is the greatest of all;
wherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the High Priesthood
to preside over the Priesthood, and he shall be called President of the
High Priesthood of the Church; or, in other words, the Presiding High
Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church."--Sec. 107, pars. 64-66,
p. 390.
It is thus evident that this Priesthood presides over all Presidents,
all Bishops, including the Presiding Bishop, over all Councils,
organizations and authorities in the whole Church, in all the world.
That the Bishopric is the Presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood, which
is "an _appendage_ to the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood," and that
no man has a legal right to hold the KEYS of the Aaronic Priesthood,
which presides over all Bishops and all the lesser Priesthood, except
he be a literal descendant of Aaron. But, that "as a High Priest of the
Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser
offices, he may officiate in the office of Bishop" * * * if "_called,
set apart and ordained unto this_ power by the hands of the Presidency
of the Melchizedek Priesthood."
We may here notice that John the Baptist conferred this Priesthood upon
Joseph Smith, and that therefore, as he held it, he had the power to
confer it upon others.
Eighth.--That there are Bishops holding different positions: Bishop
Partridge was a general Bishop over the land of Zion; while Bishop
Whitney was a general Bishop over the Church in Kirtland, Ohio, and
also over all the eastern Churches until afterwards appointed as
Presiding Bishop. That there are also ward Bishops, whose duties are
confined to their several wards. That there are also Bishops' agents,
such as Sidney Gilbert and others.
That the position which a Bishop holds, depends upon his calling and
appointment, and that, although a man holding the Bishopric is eligible
to any office in the Bishopric, yet he cannot officiate legally in any,
except by selection, calling and appointment.
Ninth.--That the power and right of selecting and calling of the
Presiding Bishop and general Bishops is vested in the First Presidency,
who also must try those appointed by them in case of transgression,
except in the case of a literal descendant of Aaron; who, if the
firstborn, possesses a legal right to the keys of this Priesthood;
but even he must be sanctioned and appointed by the First Presidency.
This arises from the fact that the Aaronic is an appendage to the
Melchizedek Priesthood.