Organization of the Church
1830
The Church Organized
It was made known, shortly after the bestowal of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, that the Church of Jesus Christ was to be organized. It
was after Joseph Smith and his companions had engaged in solemn prayer
that the word of the Lord came to them in the home of Father Peter
Whitmer, "commanding us," the Prophet writes, "that I should ordain
Oliver Cowdery to be an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ; and that
he also should ordain me to the same office; and then to ordain others,
as it should be made known unto us from time to time. We were, however,
commanded to defer this our ordination until such times as it should
be practicable to have our brethren, who had been and who should be
baptized, assembled together, when we must have their sanction to our
thus proceeding to ordain each other, and have them decide by vote
whether they were willing to accept us as spiritual teachers or not;
when also we were commanded to bless bread and break it with them, and
to take wine, bless it, and drink it with them; afterward proceed to
ordain each other according to commandment; then call out such men as
the Spirit should indicate, and ordain them; and then attend to the
laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, upon all those whom
we had previously baptized, doing all things in the name of the Lord."
Fulfilment of the Promise
On the sixth day of April, 1830, the time for the fulfilment of this
promise arrived, Joseph and a few of those who had been baptized
met in the house of Peter Whitmer, Sen., and proceeded, as the Lord
had instructed them, to organize the Church. It was on a Tuesday,
and there were six in number, namely, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery,
Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., David Whitmer and Samuel H. Smith.
The small, but momentous meeting, was opened by solemn prayer. Those
present then proceeded to express their willingness, as instructed by
divine commandment, to accept Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as their
teachers in the things of the kingdom of God. Then they were called
upon to declare whether or not they were willing to proceed to organize
the Church of Jesus Christ. To both propositions they consented with
unanimous voice. "I then laid my hands upon Oliver Cowdery," says the
Prophet, "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
elder of said Church. We then took bread, blessed it, and brake it with
them; and also wine, blessed, 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
marked degree, some prophesied, whilst we all praised the Lord, and
rejoiced exceedingly."
All six of these young men--Hyrum Smith, the oldest, was but 31 years
of age--had been baptized previously to the organization. They were all
again baptized on that memorable day, April 6, 1830.
A Record to be Kept
While they were still in session in this meeting of organization a
revelation (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 21) was given to the Church in which
they were instructed to keep a record. In this record, Joseph Smith
was to be called "a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus
Christ, and elder of the Church through the will of God the Father, and
the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ." The Church was also commanded to
give heed unto all his words and commandments, "as he receiveth them,
as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith," said the Lord.
By doing this "the gates of hell" should not prevail against them,
for the Lord would dispel the powers of darkness. The Prophet would
no longer have to mourn for Zion, for he should have inspiration to
move the cause of Zion in mighty power, for the days of her rejoicing
were at hand. Oliver Cowdery was appointed "the first preacher of the
Church, unto the Church, and before the world, yea, before the Gentiles
and . . . to the Jews also."
Destiny of the Church
In the manner here described, there came into the world a power,
destined to grow and expand until it shall fill the earth, for it is
the "kingdom which shall never be destroyed . . . and it shall stand
forever." At the time of the organization, however, its influence
and power appeared to be insignificant; yet it caused, even then,
consternation and fear in the hearts of the wicked, and strenuous
efforts were launched to bring it to destruction.
Others Called to the Ministry
Before the meeting closed Joseph and Oliver called out others and
ordained them to different offices in the Priesthood, as the Spirit
manifested unto them, presumably to the offices in the Aaronic
Priesthood. The Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon them in
abundance, and after a happy time spent in testimony and witnessing
to each other the blessings of the Lord, they dismissed the meeting,
feeling that they were now individually members of the Church of Jesus
Christ, and acknowledged as such of God. There were others present
besides the six who formed the organization of the Church. Six persons
were required by law to properly form a society or organization of
the kind. Others who were present also received of the Spirit of the
Lord in the meeting and being convinced of the truth came forward and
desired to be united with the Church. Shortly afterwards they were also
baptized. Among these were the Prophet's parents, Joseph Smith, Sen.,
and Lucy Mack Smith; also Martin Harris and Orrin Porter Rockwell.
Baptism a New and Everlasting Covenant
As stated, all six of the original members of the Church were again
baptized on the day of the organization. This action was due, in part
at least, to the fact that baptism is the doorway into the Church as
well as for the remission of sins. There had been a few others baptized
before the sixth of April (see Ch. 9). Some of those previously
baptized raised the question as to why they should again be baptized.
In consequence of their desire to unite with the Church without
re-baptism, the Prophet inquired of the Lord in relation to the matter
and received the following revelation:
"Behold, I say unto you, that all old covenants have I caused to
be done away in this thing, and this is a new and an everlasting
covenant, even that which was from the beginning.
Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times, it
availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by
the law of Moses, neither by your dead works;
For it is because of your dead works, that I have caused this last
covenant and this Church to be built up unto me, even as in days of
old.
Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek
not to counsel your God. Amen" (Doc. and Cov. sec. 22).