anxious to realize the promise of John the Baptist that they should
receive the Higher Priesthood, and to effect a permanent organization.
They assembled in Peter Whitmer's house to beg of the Lord what they so
earnestly desired. "And here," writes the Prophet, "to our unspeakable
satisfaction, did we realize the truth of the Savior's promise--'Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you'--for we had not long been engaged in solemn
and fervent prayer, when the word of the Lord came unto us in the
chamber."[A] It is undoubtedly this manifestation that the Prophet has
in mind when he writes in an address to the Church, "And again what do
we hear? * * * The voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer,
in Fayette, Seneca County."[B]
[Footnote A: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 60.]
[Footnote B: Doc. and Cov. 128:21.]
The voice of the Lord in this assembly gave to the Prophet many
important directions as to how he should proceed in organizing the
Church. He was instructed to ordain Oliver Cowdery an elder in the
Church of Jesus Christ. Then, Oliver Cowdery should ordain Joseph;
and afterwards they should ordain others, as they should be directed
by revelation. These ordinations, however, were to be deferred until
such time as all those who had been baptized could be assembled in a
general meeting. And even then, the young Prophet, to whom these great
revelations had been made, should not force himself upon his followers;
but they were to show by free and voluntary vote whether or not they
were willing to receive him as their spiritual teacher and leader.
After the vote had been taken, these first Elders of the Church were
to bless bread and break it with those assembled, and bless wine and
drink it with them. Then, such as should be indicated by the Spirit
of God should be ordained to the priesthood, and those who had been
baptized should be confirmed by the laying on of hands for the gift
of the Holy Ghost.[C] In order further to instruct his servants, the
Lord gave in addition a revelation to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and
David Whitmer, explaining further the nature of their calling to the
priesthood, making known that there should be twelve apostles called
at some future time, and imparting other instructions relative to the
building up of the Church of Christ, according to the fulness of the
Gospel.[D]
[Footnote C: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 61.]
[Footnote D: Doc. and Cov. sec. 18.]
Not very long afterwards, another revelation was given specifying the
day on which the organization should be effected, and outlining the
duties of Church members. The Lord, in this revelation, says:
"The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one
thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized
and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and
commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the
month, which is called April."[E]
[Footnote E: Doc. and Cov. 20:1.]
Then the revelation proceeds to explain doctrine, and to define the
duties of those holding the priesthood, also of lay members. Thus was
the day fixed by divine revelation when the Church should be organized.
Accordingly on Tuesday, the sixth of April, 1830, Joseph Smith and
his friends met at the house of Peter Whitmer, Sr., in Fayette Seneca
County, New York. The laws of the State of New York required that there
should be at least six members of any religious body to effect an
organization. There were already more than six baptized followers of
Joseph Smith. Since, however, no more than six were required, only six
were chosen for the purpose of organization. They were, Oliver Cowdery,
Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Samuel H. Smith and
David Whitmer.[F] The Prophet writes:
[Footnote F: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 76, footnote.]
"Having opened the meeting by solemn prayer to our heavenly Father, we
proceeded, according to previous commandment, to call on our brethren
to know whether they accepted us as their teachers in the things of
the kingdom of God, and whether they were satisfied that we should
proceed and be organized as a Church, according to said commandment
which we had received. To these several propositions they consented
by a unanimous vote. I then laid my hands upon Oliver Cowdery, and
ordained him an Elder of the 'Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints;' after which he ordained me also to the office of an Elder of
said Church. We then took bread, blessed it, and brake it with them;
also wine, blessed it, and drank it with them. We then laid our hands
on each individual member of the Church present, that they might
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and be confirmed members of the
Church of Christ. The Holy Ghost was poured out upon us to a very great
degree--some prophesied, whilst we all praised the Lord, and rejoiced
exceedingly."[G]
[Footnote G: "History of the Church," Vol. I, pp. 75-79.]
While the members were thus enjoying the manifestations of the Holy
Ghost, another revelation pertaining to the organization of the Church
was given to the Prophet Joseph. It is preserved in the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants as section twenty-one.
"We now proceeded to call out and ordain some others of the brethren to
different offices of the Priesthood, according as the Spirit manifested
unto us; and after a happy time spent in witnessing and feeling for
ourselves the powers and blessings of the Holy Ghost, through the grace
of God bestowed upon us, we dismissed with the pleasing knowledge that
we were now individually members of, and acknowledged of God, 'The
Church of Jesus Christ,' organized in accordance with commandments and
revelations given by Him to ourselves to the order of the Church as
recorded in the New Testament."[H]
[Footnote H: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 79.]
Thus was accomplished, fully ten years after the glorious vision of the
Father and the Son, the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. It was the consummation of another great act in the
drama of the Restoration. Gradually, the story has been building up to
this climax. Gradually, the chosen servants of God have been trained,
and prepared for the great responsibility of organization. Gradually,
the "marvelous work and a wonder" has itself grown and made friends,
that it might bear fruit in membership. And now the number of those
who can testify to the divine origin of the great work is materially
increased. It is not Joseph Smith alone; nor is it he alone with his
associate Oliver; nor is it they alone with the three witnesses; nor
yet is it they alone with the eight witnesses. It is now the Church
membership. On them was poured the abundance of the Holy Ghost this
momentous day. And though there were but six in the legal organization,
all those assembled experienced the rich blessings of the Spirit.
Moreover, from that day forth, the Church began to grow rapidly. On
that very day, indeed, many became converted and were baptized, among
others the father and the mother of the Prophet. At about the same
time, Martin Harris, also, and Orrin Porter Rockwell received baptism.
And thus the Church has increased from six to tens; from tens to tens
of thousands, and from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands,--all
bearing witness that Joseph Smith received divine authority and special
appointment to establish anew the Church of Christ upon the earth.
X.
THE GOSPEL ORDINANCES.
In the preceding chapter it was said that order is a fundamental law
of heaven. Without order there is no system. Without order there is no
method. Without order, in short, chaos is come again.
Having then, organized the Church--and organization, it was said,
means order--the God of heaven would certainly require that all things
pertaining to Church membership and to Church ritual should be done
in an orderly way. He would certainly restore the ancient rules and
ordinances for the accomplishment of certain ends--not that obedience
to the rules, nor the performance of the ordinances, would alone bring
salvation; but that the required observance of the prescribed word
would establish order.
There is a right way and a wrong way to do all things. It is the
following of the right way that brings reward. For example, a company
of soldiers is ordered by their captain to charge up the steep side of
a hill and engage with the enemy at the top. Any other side of the hill
is more easy of ascent than the one designated by the captain. In fact,
that particular one seems almost inaccessible. The soldiers, therefore,
act upon their own judgments and desires. They scatter, and charge up
the hill from all sides. Of course, they may all come finally to the
top of the hill; but they come in broken line and are easily repelled.
The day is lost to them. But why? Is not one ascent as good as another?
Surely, when one is climbing for pleasure. But when one is acting under
organization, there can be but one ascent. The soldiers who chose the
other way, reached the summit of the hill, but in disorder, broken, and
disunited. Moreover, by choosing their own road, they missed the very
point and purpose for which the captain ordered them to charge together
up the steepest way. And what was even worse, by breaking to follow
their own desires, they brought confusion, chaos even, into their ranks.
It may be that the appointed way will not appear to be our way. But
it is for the Master of the organization, for Him who has established
order, to say how we shall proceed, that order, peace and harmony may
persist. With a Church organization restored we should expect to find
restored also the ordinances and ceremonies divinely prescribed for the
continuance of the organization.
First, then, to belong to the Church of Christ, it becomes necessary to
make covenant with Him in His chosen way. That way is baptism. It is
the outward ordinance in covenant of the new condition existing between
the Savior and the saved. This it was that Paul had in mind when he
wrote to the Romans: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
unto Jesus Christ were baptized unto His death? Therefore we are buried
with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness
of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."[A]
And again he wrote to the Galatians: "For ye are all the children of
God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ have put on Christ."[B] It is evident, then, that baptism
is the ordinance of initiation into the Church of Christ; and further,
that that ordinance must be by immersion since it is in the likeness of
the burial of Christ.
[Footnote A: Rom. 6:3-5.]
[Footnote B: Gal. 3:26, 27.]
When John the Baptist, in the glorious appearance to Joseph Smith and
Oliver Cowdery, restored to them the Priesthood of Aaron, he explained
that it held the keys "of baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins."[C] With this priesthood conferred upon them, Joseph and Oliver
became endued with authority to baptize in the name of the Father. John
the Baptist instructed them to baptize each other. Afterwards, as we
have already learned, they were instructed that they should baptize
all who wished to join with them in the Church of Christ. Before the
day the Church was organized, further specific instructions were given
concerning the sacred ordinance of baptism.
[Footnote C: Doc. and Cov. sec. 13.]
"And again, by way of commandment to the Church concerning the manner
of baptism," we read in an early revelation, "all those who humble
themselves before God, and desire to be baptized and come forth with
broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the Church that
they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take
upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him
to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received
of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be
received by baptism into his Church."[D]
[Footnote D: Doc. and Cov. 20:37.]
"Baptism," says the Lord further, "is to be administered in the
following manner unto all those who repent:--The person who is called
of God, and has authority from Jesus to baptize, shall go down into the
water with the person who has presented him or herself for baptism,
and shall say, calling him or her by name--Having been commissioned of
Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then shall he immerse him or her in the
water, and come forth again out of the water."[E]
[Footnote E: Doc. and Cov. 20:72-74.]
After being baptized, the new convert received anciently the gift of
the Holy Ghost. "Men and brethren," cried the assembled Jews on the
day of Pentecost, "what shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."[F]
And this gift of the Holy Ghost was conferred by the laying on of hands
of those having authority so to do. At one time, when the apostles at
Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Gospel they
sent to Samaria Peter and John. These two apostles prayed with the new
converts that they might receive the Holy Ghost. "Then they laid their
hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." There was present
one Simon, a magician. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of
the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
saying. Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands,
he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money
perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
purchased with money."[G]
[Footnote F: Acts 2:37-39.]
[Footnote G: Acts 8:14-20.]
It was to be expected, then, that, having restored the proper form
of baptism, the Lord would restore also the proper way of conferring
the gift of the Holy Ghost. Accordingly, the word of God declares, in
the revelation given during the organization meeting of the Chuch,
that--"An apostle is an elder, and it is his calling to baptize. * * *
And to confirm those who are baptized into the church, by the laying
on of hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to
the scriptures."[H] And again, the Lord says to His elders: "Ye shall
remember the church articles and covenants to keep them; and whoso
having faith you shall confirm in my church by the laying on of the
hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them."[I]
[Footnote H: Doc. and Cov. 20:38-41.]
[Footnote I: Doc. and Cov. 33:14, 15.]
Thus were the essential ordinances of baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost restored in this dispensation. Baptism, however, is applicable
only to those who have reached years of accountability. It may be
administered only to those who are capable of understanding, of
believing, of repenting, and of confessing. This, little children
cannot do; nor have they need so to do, for little children are without
sin.
Once, the devoted parents of Israel brought their children to the
Master, that He might touch them. The disciples, careful of their
beloved Master, rebuked the parents; but He said in His divine way:
"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for
of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you. Whosoever shall
not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter
therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and
blessed them."[J]
[Footnote J: Mark 10:13-16.]
These, then, who were young and without sin--like whom are those in the
kingdom of God--the Master did not lead into the waters of baptism.
He took them in His arms and blessed them. And in accordance with
this pattern, the following instructions were given to the Prophet,
respecting the manner of receiving little children: "Every member of
the Church of Christ having children, is to bring them unto the elders
before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of
Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name."[K]
[Footnote K: Doc. and Cov. 20:70.]
Again, in the same comprehensive revelation given at the organization
of the Church, the Lord gave specific directions for the administration
of the sacrament. As He Himself did when He met with His disciples at
the Last Supper, so He would have His people continue to do. The Lord
says in the modern revelation: "It is expedient that the church meet
together often, to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord
Jesus; and the elder or priest shall administer it--he shall kneel with
the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying--'O God,
the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ,
to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake
of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and
witness unto thee, O God, the eternal Father, that they are willing to
take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep
his commandments which he has given them, that they may always have his
Spirit to be with them. Amen.'"
Afterwards the wine should be administered in the following way: "He
shall take the cup also, and say--'O God, the eternal Father, we ask
thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this
wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in
remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they
may witness unto thee, O God the eternal Father, that they do always
remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.'"[L]
[Footnote L: Doc. and Cov. 20:75-79.]
Not only, however, was the manner of performing the ordinance thus
explained, but important instructions were given also to the saints
that they should not partake of this Holy Sacrament unworthily. For, as
said the Apostle Paul, "whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this
cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and the blood
of the Lord."[M] Moreover, the Lord gave directions also as to what
should be used in the ordinance. The Prophet Joseph was on his way, one
evening, to purchase wine for the sacrament. Suddenly, he was met by a
heavenly messenger, and received the following instructions:
[Footnote M: I Cor. 11:27.]
"Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your
Redeemer, whose word is quick and powerful. For, behold, I say unto
you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,
when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an
eye single to my glory; remembering unto the Father my body which was
laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of
your sins: wherefore a commandment I give unto you, that you shall
not purchase wine neither strong drink of your enemies, wherefore you
shall partake of none, except it is made new among you; yea, in this my
Father's kingdom, which shall be built up on the earth."[N] For this
reason, water came to be used by the saints in the ordinance of the
sacrament, and has been in general use ever since.
[Footnote N: Doc. and Cov. 27:1-4.]
Finally, we may notice one other important ordinance restored through
the ministry of Joseph Smith. Anciently, the Apostle James wrote to
the saints "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the
Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him."[O]
[Footnote O: Jas. 5:14, 15.]
In like manner, the Lord directed the latter-day Prophet, on the ninth
of February, 1831, in the presence of twelve elders of the Church.
Said the Lord in revelation: "Whosoever among you are sick and have
not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all
tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an
enemy. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called,
and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if
they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto
me."[P] Hence, it is the custom in the Church to pray for the sick, and
to administer to them, anointing them with oil, and laying hands upon
them in faith; and many thousands bear witness that the promises of the
Lord have been bountifully fulfilled in this modern age.
[Footnote P: Doc. and Cov. 42:43.]
Thus, through the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, the essential outward ordinances of the Gospel, lost
long ago through the great apostasy, were restored for the blessing and
the salvation of the children of men.
XI.
THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
At the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
on April 6th, 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were
accepted and unanimously sustained as the spiritual teachers and
leaders of the Church. It appears that there was no further attempt
at that time to perfect the organization. Indeed, while the Church
numbered but few members it was unnecessary to have more officers
than those indicated. The few members were banded together for mutual
benefit; and for the time being, a leader was all they needed. In the
revelation given during the organization meeting, a recorder is also
named, and the official position of the young Prophet is pointed out.
The Lord declares:
"Behold, there shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou [i.
e., Joseph Smith] shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God
the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, being inspired of
the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto
the most holy faith."[A]
[Footnote A: Doc. and Cov. 22:1, 2.]
It was not long, however, before the Church grew to such proportions
that more working officers were needed than those two or three first
appointed. As it was in the days of the Savior, when He called the
twelve, and the seventy, and other workers, so it was in latter
days. The phenomenal growth of the Church demanded the completing
of the organization. And "completing" of the organization is all
that was needed. The nature and extent of the organization were
themselves already made plain. In the invaluable revelation on Church
government,[B] the officers of the priesthood are named in order. There
the Lord speaks of apostles, high priests, elders, bishops, priests,
teachers, deacons, high councilors, and so forth. At an earlier date
even than that of the revelation on Church government, the Lord made
known to the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer,
that there should be in due time twelve apostles.[C] But the plan of
Church organization and government was perfected gradually as the
growth of the Church demanded.
[Footnote B: Doc. and Cov. sec. 20.]
[Footnote C: Doc. and Cov. sec. 18.]
At a conference of the Church held at Amherst, Ohio, January 25, 1832,
and again at a general council held at Independence, Missouri, April
26, 1832, the Prophet Joseph was acknowledged and sustained as the
President of the High Priesthood. The Presidency of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, consisting of three members, was not
effected, however, until March 18, 1833. Ten days before, on March 8th,
the Prophet had received a revelation in which it was commanded that he
should continue in the ministry and the presidency. Moreover, the Lord
said:
"Verily, I say unto thy brethren, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G.
Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as
equal with thee in holding the keys of this last kingdom. * * * that
through your [the Prophet's] administration they may receive the word,
and through their administration, the word may go forth unto the ends
of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they
shall turn unto the Jews."[D]
[Footnote D: Doc. and Cov. 90:6-9.]
Accordingly, on the eighteenth of the month, Sidney Rigdon and
Frederick G. Williams were ordained to be first and second counselors
to President Joseph Smith. Thus was the earthly presidency of the
Church established in the dispensation of the fulness of times.