PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED The Principles of Succession in Priesthood Authority and the True Pattern of Priesthood Government **************** When

God offers a blessing or nowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, one must put away all his false traditions. Joseph Smith Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. D&C 121:45 *******

Originally Published by the Mexican Mission Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times August 1956 The Office of the Firstborn by William P. Tuc er has been added to this edition. Arranged into Section and Verse by Elder Thomas J. Liddiard March 1988

Revised edition published by Harvard Pratt Stubbs 1990 PREFACE One of the grandest themes and the most important subjects spo en of in holy writ is the fulfillment of the covenant, in the latter days, which the Eternal Father has made to the house of Israel. This covenant is repeatedly referred to throughout holy writ. The Bible prophets, the Boo of Mormon prophets, as well as the modern prophets, have prophesied concerning this great event. But what does this covenant consist of and what do we have in holy writ by which we might now when it will be fulfilled? Upon this subject we have the following from the pen of the Prophet Joseph Smith: The time has at last arrived when the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has set his hand again the second time to recover the remnants of his people, which have been left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea, and with them to bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, and establish that covenant with them, which was promised when their sins should be ta en away. See Isaiah 11; Romans 11:25, 26 and 27, and also Jeremiah 31:31, 32 and 33. This covenant has never been established with the house of Israel, nor with the house of Judah, for it requires two parties to ma e a covenant, and those two parties must be agreed, or no covenant can be made. (TPJS p. 14; DHC 1:313) Here the Prophet gives us three important quotations and tells us plainly that they pertain to the same event. The first quotation, the 11th chapter of Isaiah, is of such importance that the Lord has given us a special revelation explaining it, found in Section 113 of the Doctrine and Covenants. We will here quote the verses that the Prophet most directly alludes to: And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles see : and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isa. 11:1012) The second passage the Prophet here refers us to is preceded by Paul's explanations concerning the parable of the olive tree and the grafting in of the Gentiles. We give the quotation: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceit; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come

in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall ta e away their sins. (Rom. 11:2527) Here Paul tells us plainly what the covenant is, and that it was to be fulfilled when the fulness of the Gentiles be come in or in other words, when the Gentiles are cut off and Israel is grafted bac in. In the 45th section of the Doctrine and Covenants the times of the Gentiles in the latter days are signalized by the light of the gospel brea ing forth among them; and in verses 24 and 25 of that section the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles is signalized by the gathering of the Jews. The Savior tells us in III Nephi 16:4, 5 that the time when God would fulfill his covenant to the whole house of Israel would be signalized by the gathering of the Jews. The third abovementioned reference given by the Prophet concerning this covenant is as follows: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will ma e a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I too them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they bra e, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

April 3, 1956, mar ed the passing of 120 years since the visitation by Elias and his conferment of authority when he committed the dispensation of the Gospel in the Kirtland Temple April 3, 1836. (See D&C 110, with special notice to the Prophet's words in the preface thereto.) The man holding the office and authority that was committed by Elias, or in other words, John the Revelator has, as foretold by the prophets, appeared on the stage of action. The purpose of this boo let is to set forth some of the doctrines he is teaching. [The writer here wishers to express his appreciation for the assistanace rendered him by his brothers in the preparation of this wor . Ervil M. LeBaron President of the Mexican Mission Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times] * * * * * * * *

But this Israel; After inward parts, they shall be

shall be the covenant that I will ma e with the house of those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and my people. (Jer. 31:3133)

PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 1 1 There has been much conjecture, as also many opinions and testimonies given among those calling themselves Latterday Saints, concerning the manner in which the authority of the priesthood has come down since the martyrdom at Carthage, Illinois, to the present time. But comparatively little correct information has been given out to the masses of the people of today. 2 The Prophet Joseph Smith has said: ...it is necessary to now who holds the eys of power, and who does not, or we may be li ely to be deceived. (TPJS p. 336; DHC 6:250) 3 The Prophet Joseph also clearly stated that only a correct nowledge of the priesthood will save a man and give him power to triumph over death. 4 We find no place in all recorded history where a clear picture of the pattern of heaven relative to the organization of the priesthood, in all of its ramifications of authority, is given in plainness to the understanding of the general public. 5 Therefore it is our object to convey to the mind of the public the correct understanding of the priesthood of God, as it has existed upon the earth from the days of Adam to the present time, that the heavenly pattern in priesthood government may be clearly understood the time having fully come when the facts should be published. 6 If we LeBaron brothers are so fortunate as to be able to explain these things correctly, in this time of confusion and turmoil, when all others of our time have utterly failed to do it, then let every man and woman sit in silence and put their hands on their mouths, recognize where the authority is, and cease to spea evil of the servants of God. 7 But if we fail to do this, it becomes our duty to renounce all further pretensions and claims that the blessing that was put upon Joseph Smith, the prophet, by Elias, which blessing was to remain with the Prophet and his lineage, and to come down on the head (one man) of his posterity, is now held among us. * * * * * * * *

PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 2 1 All Latterday Saints should understand that Joseph Smith the Prophet and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, were the two grand heads of priesthood in their day, as were Moses and Aaron in ancient times; and that the Aaronic priesthood includes the Levitical authority in the same sense that all priesthood is Melchizede .

2 We here quote a few statements from President John Taylor: WHAT IS THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD? There were in the days of Moses a tribe of the children of Israel set apart to officiate in some of the lesser duties of the Aaronic priesthood, and their office was called the Levitical priesthood. (JD 21:364, August 8, 1880) 3 THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD AN APPENDAGE TO THE AARONIC Aaron and his sons held the Aaronic priesthood, and the Levites were given unto them to minister unto them to eep his charge, the charge of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle, eep the instruments of the tabernacle, and the charge of the children of Israel... 4 They seemed to have been an appendage to the Aaronic priesthood to assist in the service of the tabernacle and other duties. Aaron and his male descendants were selected for the priesthood, and other Levites as assistants, or an appendage. (IP 4041) 5 SUMMARY From the above it would seem First. That the Levites were selected in the place of the firstborn whom the Lord called his own. Second. That they were given to Aaron to assist him in the minor or lesser duties of the priesthood; but that Aaron and his sons officiated in the leading offices of the priesthood, and not the Levites. Third. That there was a tithing paid to them by the whole house of Israel for their sustenance. Fourth. That they paid a tithe of this to Aaron. Fifth. That on assuming the higher duties of the priesthood of Aaron, the judgments of God overtoo them. Sixth. That their priesthood was only an appendage to the Aaronic priesthood, and not that priesthood itself as held by Aaron and his sons. (IP 43; The Gospel Kingdom, p. 158) 6 The Lord has said:

7 In many places in the Old Testament, we find a clear distinction made between the priesthood that was held by Aaron and his sons and the authority that was put upon the Levites. 8 The Lord, in a revelation given through Aaron, spo e as follows concerning the authority that was put upon Aaron and his sons: And ye shall eep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel... (Num. 18:5) 9 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall eep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail... 10 And the Lord spa e unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge

There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizede Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. (D&C 107:1)

and

of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever. (Num. 18:7, 8) 11 Concerning the authority that was given to the upon the Levites, the same revelation says: And they shall eep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die... 12 And I, behold, I have ta en your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift from the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Num. 18:3, 6) 13 We will not at this point treat the subject of the office Moses held, nor the office of Presiding Bishop which constitutes the third grand head of priesthood; but we will first consider the authority of the second grand head of priesthood, or in other words, the office Aaron held. 14 One reason this priesthood office is referred to as a Levi Levitical office at times, is because Aaron was a descendant of Levi. 15 Another reason for this is that both of these lesser orders of priesthood were placed under one grand head as all priesthood comes under the authority of the office held by Melchizede . Therefore, it should be borne in mind that the Levitical priesthood is Aaronic only in the sense that all priesthood is Melchizede . 16 We feel that no one will dispute the fact that the head of the priesthood; head of, is Presiding Bishop Levitical priesthood is the man holding the office of Presiding Bishop, and that this office does not come down from father to son. 17 However, the office Aaron held did come down from father to son, except where the Lord directed otherwise, from Aaron to John the Baptist. 18 Therefore it is selfevident that Aaron held authority higher than the office of Bishop. 19 His son Eleazar who was his successor to the office he held was the grand head over all priesthood left in Israel after the departure of after Moses. 20 The Bible tells us that Aaron and his seed had authority over the Lord's Sanctuary, the altar and all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; while the Levites merely had authority to perform the outward ordinances and do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, etc. 21 The Levites were made subject to Aaron and his sons. 22 It is true that the right to hold the lesser or selfperpetuating Levitical offices was hereditary, yet the Presiding Bishop should be a literal descendant of Aaron; and this is not a selfperpetuating office, as was the office held by Aaron. 23 We find by the following verse that the office held by Aaron was to come down by lineage and that Aaron was the second grand head of priesthood. 24 The second priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations. (D&C

107:13) 25 By examining carefully the sacred history, both ancient and modern, we find only one office which has come down by lineage from father to son except where the Lord directed otherwise, since the early ages of the world. 26 After Aaron's time this office was called the priesthood of Aaron. 27 The second grand order of priesthood or the patriarchal office Aaron held is referred to in scripture as the priesthood of Aaron, or the second priesthood. These terms are used interchangeably. 28 We assume that no one had a clearer understanding than the Prophet Joseph Smith himself, as pertaining to the authority of the second priesthood. 29 In his explanations respecting three grand orders of priesthood, he said on this subject: The 2nd Priesthood is Patriarchal authority. Go to and finish the more nowledge after, is built temple, and God will fill it with power, and you will then receive more nowledge concerning this priesthood. (TPJS p. 323) 30 This seems to indicate that the patriarchal office is the head authority that presides over the Temple wor , as did Aaron anciently. 31 This is the priesthood that holds the eys of the ministering of angels to all the human family and is important in connection with the temple wor , while the head;authority to bring into presence of God first grand head of priesthood has the necessary authority to bring the people into the presence of God, as did Enoch, who brought his people into a terrestrial state. 32 In the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 321 to 323 are found some very important explanations on priesthood, which were given by the Prophet in connection with the reading of the seventh chapter of Hebrews. 33 Concerning the meaning of these teachings there has been much speculation and many misconstrued ideas have been advanced. 34 With reference to this chapter, the Prophet stated: There are three grand orders of priesthood referred to here. (TPJS p. 322) 35 That the three grand orders explained by the Prophet in the above cited pages and to which Paul referred, may be more clearly comprehended, we quote from the above mentioned chapter. 36 For this Melchizede , ing of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the ings, and blessed him;... 37 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils... 38 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better... 39 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizede , and not be called after the order of Aaron?

40 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Heb. 7:1, 4, 7, 11, 27) 41 From this seventh chapter then we find: 1st.That a priest after the order of Melchizede , in the sense this term is here used, is a man holding the office or authority Melchizede held. 2nd.That a priest after the order of Aaron, in the sense that this term is here used, is a man holding the office or authority Aaron held. 3rd.That there is a distinction made between the office Melchizede held and the patriarchal office Abraham held at the time here mentioned that he gave tithes to Melchizede . 4th.That the priests after the order of Aaron who anciently had charge of the altar and sacrifices pertaining thereto, were High Priests. 5th.That the Levitical priesthood is subject to the priesthood is subject to the patriarchal priesthood which was held by Abraham before he held the office Melchizede held, and which was held by Aaron and his seed down to the time of John the Baptist. 42 Therefore the priesthood;Melchizede PatriarchalLevitical three grand orders referred to here are: 1st.The office Melchizede held. 2nd.The Patriarchal office held by Abraham and Aaron. 3rd.The Levitical priesthood. 43 Note that the Prophet does not say that all the orders of the Orders of Priesthood; Not all the orders of priesthood priesthood are referred to here. * * * * * * * *

PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 3 1 We find by careful study of the Bible that Aaron, anciently, had the Urim and Thummin and presided over the holy things, the spiritual blessings of the Church and Temple wor in concert with Moses, the same as Hyrum held the second office and presided over the spiritual blessings of the Church in concert with Joseph. 2 Many are acquainted with what is written in Section 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning the authority held by Hyrum, wherein he was appointed to be the second grand head of priesthood; to be a prophet, a seer and a revelator unto the Church as well as Joseph, and to act in concert with Joseph in the priesthood. (See D&C 124:9196)

3 Those who now what it means to be sealed up by the Holy Spirit of Promise unto the day of redemption, will understand the following verse. 4 First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you. (D&C 124:124) 5 This office and priesthood which presides over the spiritual blessings and the holy ordinances of the house of God, and which comes down from father to son under normal circumstances, is the same priesthood and anointing that was put upon Aaron and his seed, which came down anciently from father to son, except where the Lord directed otherwise, and presided in the Temple between the time of Moses and the time of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, as may be seen by a study of the following references: Exo. 28:30, 38 Exo. 30:10, 30, 31 Lev. 8:8 Num. 4:28, 33 Num. 18:1, 8 Num. 25:1113 I Chr. 6:49 I Chr. 27:17 II Chr. 17:8 II Chr. 31:10 Neh. 7:64, 65 Neh. 10:37, 38 Heb. 7:27, 28 Lu e 1:6466 Exo. 29:2830 Exo. 40:1315 Lev. 16:2934 Num. 16:10, 40 Num. 20:2429 Num. 27:1821 I Chr. 23:13, 2732 II Chr. 13:9, 10 II Chr. 19:811 Ezra 2:62, 63 Neh. 8:13 Neh. 11:11, 16 Heb. 9:7 Lu e 1:76, 77

6 The Prophet Joseph Smith taught on various occasions that the ordinances of the Gospel have ever been the same and that the order of the house of God always has been and ever will be the same. 7 Therefore those who will contend that the office of Bishop or that of a Levitical priest is all the authority that was put upon Aaron and his seed, should be as ed to explain what they thin the seed of Aaron, officiating in the office Aaron held, were using the temple for, between the time of Moses and the time of John the Baptista tithing office, a Bishop's storehouse, or what? 8 It is true that John the Baptist, in preparing the way of the Lord, did not confirm the people members of any church or bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, as he could not consistently do this for the time was at hand for

reorganization and he could not turn the people over to the Jewish Church. But he told them that one would come after him whose shoes he was unworthy to unloose, who would bestow upon them the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of course at the same time bring them to the true Church. 9 Although John, in performing his singular mission, seemingly did not function in a higher office than that of a Levitical priest, this by no means proves that this was all the authority he held, for surely the one holding the eys of the Levitical priest must be at least a Bishop priesthood must be at least a Bishop. 10 Let us here emphasize what the Lord has said concerning the office of a Bishop: And again, the offices of elder and bishop are necessary Priesthood appendages belonging unto the high priesthood. (D&C 84:29) Here we find that it is just as necessary for a bishop to hold the high priesthood as it is for an elder. 11 It is also stated by the Prophet Joseph Smith: The Jews had to obey his (be damned John's) instructions or be damned, by their own law. (TPJS p. 276) This indicates that John held the highest office in Israel at that time, for the people would surely have to obey the highest authority. 12 Again the Prophet states: The son of Zacharias wrested the eys, the ingdom, the power, the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven . . . (TPJS p. 276) 13 This shows that John was a prophet, seer and revelator to the Jewish nation, even the Lord's anointed. 14 If he had not held the second highest office in the priesthood, would it not have confused the people for him to say, There cometh one mightier than I after me? Since he held the second grand office in the priesthood as did Aaron, this declaration could only indicate that a prophet should come holding the office held by Melchizede and Moses. What compliment to the Savior or testimony in his behalf would it have been for a man holding no higher office than that of a Levitical priest to have said, There cometh one mightier than I? 15 We quote a few statements from Joseph Smith found in the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith from page 271 to 276 inclusive: 16 John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the ingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the eys of power. (TPJS p. 276) 17 Where there is no ingdom of God there is no salvation. What constitutes the ingdom of God? Where there is a prophet, a priest, or a righteous man unto whom God gives His oracles, there is the ingdom of God; and where the oracles of God are not, there the ingdom of God is not. (TPJS p. 272) 18 ...if we do not get revelations, we do not have the oracles of God; and if they have not the oracles of God, they are not the people of God. (TPJS p.

272) 19 ...John came preaching the Gospel for the remission of sins; he had his authority from God, and the oracles of God were with him, and the ingdom of God for a season seemed to rest with John alone. (TPJS p. 272) 20 Zacharias was a priest of God, and officiating in the officiated in Temple, and John was a priest after his father, and held the eys of the Aaronic John and Zacharias held eys of Priesthood... (TPJS p. 273) 21 But, says one, the ingdom of God could not be set up in the days of Baptist;said the ingdom was at hand John, for John said the ingdom was at hand. But I would as if it could be any nearer to them than to be in the hands of John. (TPJS p. 273) 22 By these statements we find that John the Baptist had the ingdom in his hands, the eys of revelation, the oracles of God, the eys power, by Aaronic priesthood authority over the Temple ordinances, of the Aaronic eys of priesthood. This is precisely the authority was held by priesthood Hyrum Smith and the ancient patriarchs.

23 Therefore, seeing that priesthood John was the man li e Aaron who held the second office in the priesthood, yet would only baptize with water, when he said to the Jews in no uncertain terms: ...he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. (Matthew 3:11) 24 It was plain for those who new what John held, to understand that a man li e Moses should come to set in order the house of God and ordain new officers in the church organization. 25 This was the only way this wor could be accomplished, in view of the state of apostasy and corruption in the Jewish Church. For under the circumstances that then existed, it would have been improper to have used force and violence or for the Lord to have brought down destructions upon the people before the wheat was divided from the tares. * * * * * * * *

PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 4 1 It is a common supposition that the elders of Israel, after the time of Moses, did not hold the Melchizede priesthood and that the gift of the Holy Ghost was not enjoyed among the people prior to the time of John the Baptist. 2 These fallacies seem to have arisen from the fact that John did not confer the gift of the Holy Ghost upon those whom he baptized, and because Eleazar, the son of Aaron was the highest authority in the priesthood after the departure of Moses; he being a priest after his father and having been

of God of the eys which

appointed to obtain revelation for the guidance of Joshua. 3 The priests after the order of Aaron presided over the Temple ordinances between the time of Moses and the time of Zacharias, who was slain between the slain between the, and the altar Temple and the altar. 4 How could they have done so without the power of the Holy Ghost? 5 How could they have obtained that gift without the authority of the Melchizede priesthood? 6 The Prophet Joseph Smith gives us the following eys: Every principle proceeding from God is eternal and any principle which is not eternal is of the devil. (TPJS p. 181) The Holy Ghost is God's messenger to administer in all those priesthoods. (TPJS p. 323) 7 This last statement was made after the Prophet had given explanations concerning the three grand orders of priesthood referred to in the 7th chapter of Hebrews. 8 With these statements in mind we will as the reader the following questions. 9 1st.By what authority did Joshua command the sun and the moon to stand still and by what power were the waters of the river Jordan divided? 10 2nd.By what authority did King David and many other faithful servants of the Lord receive their wives during the period of time indicated above? 11 3rd.How is it that the priesthood was conferred upon so many of the ancients, if they had not the gift of the Holy Ghost? How could they minister without it? 12 4th.Upon what principle was the power of the Almighty poured out upon the faithful of ancient Israel, if they obeyed not the Lord's ordinances? 13 5th.How is it, if the Melchizede priesthood did not exist in Israel prior to the time of John the Baptist, that the Jews had the offices of elder and high priest in their church and even thought they had a man li e Moses among them sitting in Moses's seat? For upon this hypothesis the Savior was rejected, condemned as a false prophet, a blasphemer, etc., and put to death. 14 It is evident that the principles and ordinances whereby man might obtain the blessings of heaven, ever have been the same; for the Prophet Joseph Smith tells us: ...He (God) set the ordinances to be the same forever and ever, and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal them. (TPJS p. 168) 15 Again the Prophet says: Now ta ing it for granted that the scriptures say what they mean, and mean what they say, we have sufficient grounds to go on and prove from the Bible that the gospel has always been the same; the ordinances to fulfill its requirements, the same, and the officers to officiate, the same; and the

signs and fruits resulting from the promises, the same:...(TPJS p. 264) 16 The Prophet further states: ...All men are liars who say they are of the true Church without the All men are liars "revelations of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood of Melchizede , which is after the order of the Son of God." (TPJS p. 375) 17 Was then, the Church between the time of Moses and the time of John the Baptist a true Church or was it false? 18 If they had not the Melchizede priesthood during that time they should have had men officiating in the priesthood without the gift of the Holy Ghost. 19 Or else, if the notions and traditions of many are true, the Aaronic priesthood presided over the Melchizede priesthood during that time, for the priests after the order of Aaron consistently stood at the head. 20 It seems that many Bible students of Mormondom have noticed or ta en for granted that Aaron and his successors in the priesthood office he held, necessarily held the high priesthood. 21 In a boo copyrighted by Heber J. Grant for the Department of Education of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints written by Ezra C. Dalby, M. A., principal of West Seminary, Salt La e City, Utah, is found a lesson entitled ELI, THE HIGH PRIEST.22 We quote from the first paragraph: We have already mentioned the name of Eli, the high priest, in connection with Hannah and her child Samuel. He was a descendant of Aaron through his youngest son, and just how Eli came to hold the office that belonged by right of descent to the family of Eleazar, the oldest son of Aaron, is not nown. Perhaps the latter had no descendant at that time, who was qualified for the office. (Land and Leaders of Israel, p. 199) 23 Aaron departed this mortal state before Moses did, yet all the holy things and the spiritual blessings of the Church that were had at that time were had under the authority of Aaron's office. 24 In fact, Moses wor ed through Aaron in the performing of many of the great miracles that were manifested in leading the children of Israel out of bondage. 25 All the ordinances and blessings were had in the Church under Moses, and Aaron presided over the sanctuary and the altar and administered them all. 26 We quote again from the Prophet: Paul told about Moses' proceedings; spo e of the children of Israel being baptized. (1 Cor. 10:14) He new this, and that all the ordinances and blessings were in the Church . . . (TPJS p. 159) 27 The office Aaron held continued to hold the eys of power and the ingdom of God in Israel after the departure of Moses as we see from the following notes ta en down as the Prophet delivered a sermon.

28 The

eys of the Aaronic Priesthood were committed unto him, and he was as

the voice of one crying in the wilderness saying: `Prepare ye the way of the Lord and ma e his paths straight.' 29 The Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, etc. 30 The ingdom of heaven continueth in authority until John. 31 The authority ta eth it by absolute power. 32 John having the power too the Kingdom by authority.

34 Wrested the Kingdom from the Jews. (TPJS p. 319) 35 Thus we see that the oracles continued to the church and the ingdom remained set up on the earth from the time of Aaron to the time of John the Baptist through the prophets who stood in the Aaronic office or Aar, priesthood and presided over the Temple ordinances as was the case with office Eli, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, etc. 36 This grand selfperpetuating patriarchal office rightfully holds the eys of all the spiritual blessings, the wor for the dead, etc., and holds all the eys pertaining to the apostleship and the fulness of the Melchizede priesthood, to act in concert with, yet subordinate to the office Moses held. 37 The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: ...The spirit, power, and calling of powercalling of, Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the ey of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fulness of the Melchizede priesthood and of the ingdom of God on earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the ingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven. (TPJS p. 337)

39 but the patriarchal office he committed to Elisha, together with the Apostleship and the eys necessary to carry on the ingdom. 40 Thus we see that the pathway of eternal progression was open to the ancient Israelites and that the Holy Spirit of Promise, even the spirit of that promise which Abraham received from God, mentioned by Paul in the sixth chapter of Hebrews, could be obtained by them, through obedience to the laws upon which this blessing was predicated. 41 The Prophet Joseph, in answer to the question, Was the priesthood of Melchizede ta en away when Moses died? said: All Priesthood is Melchizede , but there are different portions or degrees of it. That portion which brought Moses to spea with God face to face was ta en away; but that which brought the ministry of angels remained. All the prophets had the Melchizede Priesthood and were ordained by God himself. (TPJS p. 1801) 42 Then if all the prophets had the Melchizede priesthood, surely the

38 This is the office, power and authority that was held by all the head prophets in Israel from Eleazar to Elijah, who was translated, and too with him a part of the eys of the priesthood;

33 How have you obtained all this great Ghost.

nowledge? By the gift of the Holy

prophets from Moses to Christ had it; and this must certainly include Aaron and Melchizede priesthood John the Baptist, the greatest prophet born of woman. 43 And what was to prevent the faithful elders of Israel from having it also? 44 But when and where were all the prophets ordained by God himself? 45 The Prophet explains: Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. (TPJS p. 365)

1 What then was ta en out of Israel when Moses departed? 2 When Moses was translated, the priesthood office which he received from Jethro which brought him to spea with God, the Father, face to face, is all that was ta en away. 3 The two divisions of priesthood authority which pertain to the Church government remained after the departure of Moses the same as the organization stood during his lifetime. 4 No man lost any priesthood or authority because Moses departed. 5 He simply did not appoint a priest after the order of Melchizede in his stead, but remained in a translated condition holding that office. 6 Therefore he left the same pattern of organization explained in Section 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants, commencing at verse 124, in which the Prophet Joseph held an office subordinate to Hyrum at the time the revelation was given. 7 Joseph also held the office which presides over all things. 8 The same pattern of organization existed in the Church at the time the revelation nown as Section 107 was given. 9 Joseph at that time was the grand patriarch and stood at the head, and also held the office of President of the Church, which as Brigham Young said, he held by the voice of the people. 10 The grand priesthood office which presides over all things which was held by Moses and committed by him to Christ and from Christ to priesthood office John the Revelator, had not at that time been committed to the Prophet.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 5

11 At the time the revelation nown as Section 107 was given there were two priesthoods in the Church and two grand heads, the grand patriarch and the Bishop;over temporal blessings Presiding Bishop respectively; the one holding the eys of the spiritual blessings and the other, the eys of the temporal blessings. 12 A year later the office Moses held, as also Noah, etc., was committed which holds authority over them both, as also other authority besides. 13 The Prophet Joseph spo e as follows concerning the office Noah and Moses held: Thus we behold the eys of this Priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that He tal ed with him (Noah) in a familiar and friendly manner, that HE CONTINUED TO HIM THE KEYS, THE COVENANTS, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, with which He blessed Adam at the beginning . . . (TPJS p. 171) 14 After Moses departed from Israel, Eleazar, the son of Aaron stood at the head of the Church as the grand patriarch, holding the eys of the spiritual blessings and presiding over the Sanctuary of the Lord. 15 Aaron, having left only one other faithful living son of whom the Bible gives account, it would seem his lot to have been the presiding Bishop. 16 For Aaron and his sons were to preside over the Aaron Levites. 17 While Moses was living he ruled over Israel politically as well as spiritually and temporally, and gave the laws by which the nation of Israel was to be governed. 18 Thus he acted in a triple capacity. 19 Before his departure, Joshua was appointed to preside over the political branch of government and to command the armies of Israel, for the Lord's people were at that time an independent nation. 20 Joshua then, presided over the political ingdom as well as acting in the office of president of the Church. 21 The presiding patriarch and the presiding bishop were the ghead;held Melchizede priesthood rand heads of priesthoodthe Melchizede and the Levitical respectively. 22 Joshua held a presiding office, which pertains to earthly rule in the political field as also the office of president of the Church. 23 Thus we see that Joshua was under Eleazar in spiritual things, yet over him in political government. He was also over the presiding Bishop in the political field, yet under him in temporal concerns. 24 He occupied the office of president of the Church by appointment through Moses and by the voice of the people, yet he did not hold the priesthood office and sceptre Moses held. 25 This is the difference between a president of the Church who holds the priesthood office Moses held and a president of the Church who does not hold that office. 26 The presiding patriarch, the presiding bishop and the president over the

ingdom in the Prophet Joseph Smith's time, just before his death were: Patriarch before Joseph's death Hyrum Smith, Bishop Newel K. Whitney and president of the ingdom, Young;president of the ingdom Brigham Young. 27 Brigham Young was the modern Joshua, not the modern Young not modern Moses, and would have been under Hyrum in spiritual things, had Hyrum lived, just as Joshua was under Eleazar. 28 Brigham Young did not hold or claim to hold the priesthood sceptre held by Joseph Smith the Prophet. 29 After Joshua didn't hold office o, Moses was ta en from Israel, the children of Israel thought that Joshua held all the authority that Moses held, just the same as the great majority of the Mormon people, after the martyrdom of the Prophet, thought and still believe that Brigham Young held all the authority that Smith;Brigham Y. did not hold same authority as Joseph Smith held. But in neither case is it true. 30 We find by the following what the situation was in the case of Joshua. 31 And the Lord said unto Moses, Ta e thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put SOME of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. (Num. 27:18, 19, 20)

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 6 1 Anciently, when the first grand head of priesthood was ta en from this sphere of action, he left Eleazar, the second grand head. 2 But in modern times, we find a unique situationthe the same time two grand heads of priesthood holding the only two grand selfperpetuating offices both left this sphere of action at the same time. 3 After the martyrdom at Carthage, who held the grand office that Joseph held, and who held the grand office that Hyrum held? 4 It is a fact that cannot be successfully refuted that the office self perpetuating Hyrum held was to be put upon the head of his posterity after him, or as the Lord should direct, the same as the office or priesthood Aaron held was to come down on the head of his posterity after him. 5 However, there are a great many of the professed followers of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who do not now or pay any attention to the fact that the blessing or priesthood office that was put upon Joseph by John the Revelator, who was the Elias in this case, was, according to the word of the Lord, to be put upon the head of his posterity after him.

6 The Lord says: For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head (one man, brac ets ours) of his posterity after him. And as I said unto Abraham concerning the indreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph: In thee and in thy seed shall the indred of the earth be blessed. (D&C 124:5758) 7 The Prophet Joseph, then, was given the same Smith promise that Abraham received from the Lord, concerning the indred of the earth being blessed through his seed. 8 The fulfillment of this great covenant and promise to covenant to Abraham was the central theme of the holy men and sacred writers of old. 9 In fact, all of the great prophets prophesied concerning the fulfillment of this covenant and promise that God made to Abraham. 10 Yet in our time, very few pay any attention to or now anything about the fulfillment of this same great promise to Joseph Smith. 11 The truth is that the great majority of the professed followers of the Prophet, in our day seem to believe and some even teach that the word of the Lord in this covenant has utterly failed or become null and void. 12 If such were the case, it would ma e God a covenant brea er and a liar. 13 Concerning the covenant to Abraham and its fulfillment, the Savior spo e as follows to the ancient Nephites: And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the indreds of the earth be blessed. THE FATHER HAVING RAISED ME UP UNTO YOU FIRST, AND SENT ME TO BLESS YOU in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the indreds of the earth be blessedunto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost THROUGH ME UPON the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall ma e them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel. (3 Nephi 20:25 27) 14 Here we find from the Savior's own words that He Himself was the promised seed who was to be raised up to bless the indreds of the earth. 15 The Apostle Paul also spo e concerning this important subject. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) 16 Parley P. Pratt explained: Jesus Christ was that man spo en of when God said, `In thee and in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed.' (JD 1:180) 17 The promise to Abraham concerning his seed, having been fulfilled through

Christ, it is a selfevident fact, that the same promise and covenant to Joseph Smith concerning his seed, must be fulfilled in a li e manner, which shows that the great prophet spo en of in Isaiah 11:10, Doctrine and Covenants 113:6, Doctrine and Covenants 85:7, Doctrine and Covenants 103:16, Romans 11:2527 and 3 Nephi 20:4345 through whom the indred of the earth are to receive their blessings, must be the seed of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the head of his posterity, even as Christ was the head of head of posterity Abraham's posterity. 18 The Lord said plainly in his promise to the Prophet Joseph: And as I said unto Abraham concerning the indreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph: In thee and in thy seed shall the indred of the earth be blessed. (D&C 124:58) 19 Abraham was given the highest priesthood office and through him the blessings were dispensed to the human family. 20 Christ was given that office, and he was the next after office after Abraham to offer the blessings of the gospel to the whole human family. 21 To Joseph Smith was committed the dispensation of the gospel as it had been committed to Abraham and the blessings of the gospel were offered through him to the whole human family. 22 And according to prophecy the blessings of the gospel are again to be offered to all the human family through a man li e Moses holding this same office, which holds authority over all things pertaining to the Kingdom of God on earth. 23 That the point at issue might be more fully comprehended and that the reader will understand what priesthood office has come down upon the promised seed from the days of Adamwhich promised seed has always had reference to the special servants whom the Lord would raise up, and which priesthood office has always constituted the cornerstone of Zion (Christ being the chief cornerstone), we quote in full the verses to which we allude. 24 And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding house which I have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and his house have place therein, from generation to generation. 25 For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him. 26 And as I said unto Abraham concerning the indreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph: In thee and in thy seed shall the indred of the earth be blessed. 27 Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him have place in that house, from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord. 28 And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a restingplace for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the cornerstone thereof; 29 That he may receive also the counsel from those whom I have set to be as plants of renown, and as watchmen upon her walls. (D&C 124:5661)

30 For the benefit of those who have supposed that the boarding house was the central point at issue in the above cited verses, we as the following questions: 31 1st.What was of greater importance, the anointing and blessing or the mansion? 32 2nd.In view of the prophecies to the effect that Zion would be established in the tops of the mountains, are we to believe that the Lord intended that the posterity of the Prophet should reside in the mansion at Nauvoo for ever and ever? 33 3rd.Which was of greater importance, for the head of the Prophet's posterity to reside in the mansion, or for the indred of the earth to be blessed through the seed of the Prophet? 34 4th.What was referred to as the cornerstone of Zion, the mansion or the man having received the anointing? 35 5th.What was to be the principal source through whom the weary traveler was to receive counsel, the man referred to as the cornerstone or those referred to as watchmen? 36 6th.What was of greater importance, for the seed of the Prophet to inherit the house built at Nauvoo or for the anointing and blessing the Prophet had received under the hand of Elias, to be put upon the head of the Prophet's posterity? 37 For testimony, other than that of the writer, that the Prophet received this anointing under the hand of Elias, see the references in the Doctrine and Covenants relative to the above cited verses. The reference pertaining to verse 57 refers us to verse 58 and vice versa. 38 The references pertaining to both of these verses refer us to the 12th verse of Section 110 which says: After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. 39 It will be of interest to the reader to note from the Prophet's own words in the preface to Section 110, that it was authority that Elias conferred, referring to the event as the Visitation by Elias and his conferment of authority. 40 This authority that Elias conferred would not have been lesser authority than that conferred by John the Baptist and Peter, James and John, because the authority they restored has the power to appoint all lesser offices. 41 Therefore, it could have been nothing other than the authority and office that Moses held which he received from his fatherinlaw Jethro, and which has held the authority of the dispensation of the gospel in all ages of the world. 42 Concerning this grand office the Prophet Joseph Smith taught as follows: 43 Although there are two Priesthoods, yet the Priesthood;comprehends Aaronic Melchizede Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood, and is the grand head;comprehends Aaronic or Levitical priethood grand head, and holds the highest authority which pertains to the priesthood, and the of the Kingdom;comprehended by Melchizede priesthood eys of the Kingdom

of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth, and is the channel through which all nowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven. 44 Its institution was prior to `the foundation of this earth, or the morning stars sang together, or the Sons of God shouted for joy,' and is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which He will ma e nown His purposes to the end of time. (Joseph Smith's Teachings, p. 112) 45 Again the Prophet said: Now the doctrine of translation is a power which belongs to this Priesthood. There are many things which belong to the powers of the Priesthood and the eys thereof, that have been ept hid from before the foundation of the world; they are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times. (Joseph Smith's Teachings, p. 117)

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 7 1 Although the Savior, John the Revelator and Joseph the Prophet have held the highest priesthood office since Moses was translated, yet there are eys pertaining to the priesthood, which have not been held by mortal man since the time of Elijah, pertaining to ordinances of the priesthood, which he must yet come to restore, as explained in the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 171 to 173 inclusive. 2 We quote: Thus we behold the eys of this Priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that He tal ed with him (Noah) in a familiar and friendly manner, that He continued to him the eys, the covenants, the power and the glory, with which He blessed in familiar manner as was Noah & Adam at the beginning; and the offering of sacrifice, which also shall be continued at the last time; for all the ordinances and duties that ever have been required by the Priesthood, under the directions and commandments of the Almighty in any of the dispensations, shall all be had in the last dispensation, therefore all things had under the authority of the Priesthood at any former period, shall be had again, bringing to pass the restoration spo en of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets; then shall the sons of Levi offer and acceptable offering to the Lord. `And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord.' (See Malachi 3:3)

3 It will be necessary here to ma e a few observations on the doctrine set forth in the above quotation, and it is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice (i.e.,) the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future; but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the Priesthood, or with the Prophets. 4 The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. We frequently have mention made of the offering of sacrifice by the servants of the Most High in ancient days, prior to the law of Moses; which ordinances will be continued when the Priesthood is restored with all its authority, power and blessings. 5 Elijah was the last Prophet that held the eys of the Priesthood, and who will, before the last dispensation, restore the authority and deliver the eys of the Priesthood, in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness. It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing; but the sons of Levi were too prejudiced. `And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord,' etc., etc. Why send Elijah? Because he holds the eys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and without the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness. 6 It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed. This was not the case; if you read Leviticus 2:23, you will observe that the priests too a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was ept for the maintenance of the priests; so that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the altar but the blood is sprin led, and the fat and certain other portions are consumed. 7 These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and ever will exist when the powers of the Melchizede Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spo en of by the Holy Prophets be brought to pass. It is not to be understood that the law of Moses will be established again with all its rites and variety of ceremonies; this has never been spo en of by the prophets; but those things which existed prior to Moses' day, namely, sacrifice, will be continued. 8 It may be as ed by some, what necessity for sacrifice, since the Great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to which, if repentance, baptism, and faith existed prior to the days of Christ, what necessity for them since that time? The Priesthood has descended in regular line from father to son, through their succeeding generations. (See Boo of Doctrine and Covenants.) (October 5, 1840.) DHC 4:207212. (TPJS p. 171173) 9 We have quoted the above to show, among other things, that there is a difference between eys and offices, and yet that at times these terms are used interchangeably. It will be noted that at the beginning of this quotation the term eys is used in eys two different senses. First, with reference to the office Noah held and next with reference to functions, duties, powers and authority pertaining to that office.

10 Elijah was the last prophet that held certain eys, yet he did not hold the first priesthood office as did Noah, but the second or patriarchal office, which was committed by him to Elisha. 11 Peter, James and John held eys as a quorum which they received on the Mount, yet they there received neither the office Noah held nor the office Elijah held, but they held as a quorum the third authority in the priesthood, the first office being held by the Savior and the second having been ta en to the grave by John the Baptist. 12 The Savior was made a priest after the order of Melchizede as stated by Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews. Therefore, the Savior had received from priesthood from Moses the priesthood office which Melchizede put upon Melchizede Abraham, and therefore had in His hands the dispensation of the gospel. 13 If He had not appointed a successor to this office, it would have been necessary for Him to have come personally to commit to the Prophet Joseph the dispensation of the gospel, or in other words all the authority Abraham had held. 14 Therefore theElias who committed the dispensation of the gospel, had to be someone who was a priest after the order of Melchizede and Abraham after the Savior had departed this life.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 8 1 The highest priesthood office has continued in an unbro en chain from the days of Adam to the present time. 2 All who have held it since the days of Adam, have been properly appointed thereunto by their predecessor. 3 This is what the Prophet Joseph Smith had reference to when he made the following statements: 4 There has been a chain of authority and power from Adam down to the present time. (TPJS p. 191) 5 And again: . . . I say, in the name of the Lord, that the ingdom of God was set up on the earth from the days of Adam to the present time. (TPJS p. 271) 6 The chain of authority here mentioned by the Prophet could not have reference to the chain of patriarchal authority which was instituted in the days of Adam and came down by lineage as explained in Section 107 of the

Doctrine and Covenants, because that line of authority has not always remained upon the earth. 7 But the first grand office of the priesthood which is over all lesser authority, is that which has remained upon the earth since the days of authority Adam. 8 This is necessarily the case, because, in order for the ingdom of God to have been set up through a chain of authority from the days of Adam to the present time, one of the grand offices which holds the oracles of God would have had to have been upon the earth, forming an unbro en chain during that time. 9 Let us trace the line of authority of this greater priesthood and see the manner in which this office has come down from the beginning to the present time. 10 We find that Enoch was the man who held that office after the departure of Adam, which is shown by the following: 11 Enoch was twentyfive years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam; and he was sixtyfive and Adam blessed him. And he saw the Lord, and he wal ed with him, and was before his face continually; and he wal ed with God three hundred and sixtyfive years, ma ing him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated. (D&C 107:48, 49) 12 The Prophet Joseph Smith tells us who held this office after Enoch: 13 The next great, grand Patriarch (after Enoch) who held the eys of the priesthood was Lamech. . . . The Priesthood continued from Lamech to Noah. (TPJS p. 171) 14 That this office came down from Lamech to Noah, from Noah to Melchizede , and from Melchizede to Abraham, we feel no man should dispute. 15 On this subject Abraham wrote: In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my father, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence; 16 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great nowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater nowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to eep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers. 17 It was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundations of the earth to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, on the first man, who is Adam, our first father, through the fathers unto me. 18 I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed. (Pearl of Great Price, Abr. 1:14) 19 Here we find that the priesthood which constitutes the highest office, is

called the right of the firstborn, which means the right to stand in the stead of the firstborn in His absence; the firstborn being Christ. 20 Also, that this office came down through the fathers, or in other words, through the men who held the rights of a father over the human family which were held by Enoch. 21 In other words, this is the authority over all things pertaining to the ingdom of God on earth. 22 This office came down to of ear Abraham from before the foundations of the earth. 23 Who held it after him? It was the prophet Esaias, and not Isaac, as many suppose. 24 The Lord says concerning this matter: And the sons of Moses, according to the Holy Priesthood which he received under the hand of his fatherinlaw, Jethro; 25 And Jethro received it under the hand of Caleb; 26 And Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu; 27 And Elihu under the hand of Jeremy; 28 And Jeremy under the hand of Gad; 29 And Gad under the hand of Esaias; 30 And Esaias received it under the hand of God. 31 Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham, and was blessed of him. (D&C 84:613) 32 Let it here be understood that this greater priesthood or Holy Priesthood does not have reference to the Melchizede priesthood held by the elders of Israel in Egypt when Moses was sent to deliver Israel from bondage; but to the highest office pertaining to the priesthood government upon the earth. 33 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the the Kingdom; priesthood, greater ey of the mysteries of the ingdom, even the ey of the nowledge of God. (D&C 84:19) 34 This means that this greater priesthood administers the gospel, presides over the dispensation of the gospel to, or the diffusion of the gospel among the human family; and holds the ey of the revelation of the mysteries of the ingdom to the inhabitants of the eartheven the office through which the condition might be brought about that God might be personally nown by the people, that He might converse with them and wal among them, as in the days of Enoch; which condition Moses sought diligently to bring about, but the people hardened their hearts. 35 Therefore, the Lord too Moses and this office also, out of their midsts. This is precisely what is meant by the following verses: 36 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;

37 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord, in his wrath, for his anger was indled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. 38 Therefore, he too Moses out of their midst, and the Holy priesthood also. (D&C 84:2325) 39 By the above cited verses we see that the children of Israel in the wilderness failed to obtain the greater blessing, having hardened their hearts, so that Israel hardened hearts against Moses, through the sceptre of power he held, could not bring them into the presence of God; therefore, the Lord too Moses, together with the priesthood office he held, out of their midst. 40 Moses held all the authority necessary to have brought to pass the restoration of all things that were had under the authority of the priesthood during the administration of Adam and Enoch. 41 All things that were ta en out of Israel by his office Moses, it was his mission to restore. Therefore, when the time should come that the Lord should see fit to bless the human family, or any portion of it with the administration of a man holding the priesthood office Moses held, it would be his place to restore that office. 42 In due time that office was put upon Christ. Therefore the chain of authority continued from Moses to Him. 43 Although the Savior held the highest office pertaining to priesthood government upon the earth, all the eys of the priesthood held by Meridian Moses and Aaron were not restored in the dispensation of the Meridian of Time. 44 Nor were all the eys of the priesthood committed to the Prophet Smith;all eys not committed to Joseph Smith.

45 We find by examining the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith that as we have shown, there are eys and ordinances pertaining to the priesthood which must yet be restored. 46 Among other things the Prophet said: Elijah was the last Prophet that held the eys of the Priesthood, and who will, before the last dispensation, restore the authority and deliver the eys of the priesthood, in order that all of the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness. (TPJS p. 172) 47 By this statement, together with the information preceding and following it, which we have already quoted, we see that the restoration of all things is not yet consummated, and that Elijah will yet have to come and restore certain eys which he was the last prophet to hold. 48 After Moses was translated, he had the mission to restore all the authority and eys he too with him. 49 The eys of the gathering of Israel, he restored to the Prophet Smith; eys of gathering restored to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple, not having committed them prior to that time.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 9 1 Having explained the manner in which an unbro en chain of of authority and power came down from Adam to the Savior through the fathers, let us now explain how the ingdom of God has been set up on the earth from the days of Christ to the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith and how that chain of authority has continued unbro en to the present time. 2 We quote a statement from the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 158: The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior, Peter, James, & John, Moses, and Elias, gave the eys to to Peter, James and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him. (TPJS p. 158) 3 Peter, James and John, then received certain eys on the Mount, which were necessary for them to receive in order to accomplish the wor they were called to do. 4 But these three did not receive at that time, the priesthood sceptre of power and authority which office only one man can hold at a time on the earth, for the Savior swayed that sceptre to the hour of His death. 5 That the Prophet Joseph Smith held this office, is evident, for the Lord said to him: For I have conferred upon you the eys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and ma e nown unto you all things in due time. (D&C 132:45) 6 John was the apostle who was given the greater wor and it was through him that the ingdom of God was to remain set up on the earth from the days of the ancient apostles to the time of the latterday restoration, which can be seen by a careful study of the seventh section of the Doctrine and Covenants, a part which we quote. 7 I say unto thee, Peter, this was a good desire; but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater wor yet among men than what he has before done. Yea, he has underta en a greater wor ; therefore I will ma e him as flaming fire and a ministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth. 8 And I will ma e thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the eys of this ministry until I come. (D&C 7:57) 9 By this it is clear that the power and eys of this ministry were given to these three abovenamed apostles; but John was to be translated and remain on the earth to hold the office held by Moses and Christ.

10 That John, the beloved disciple, was the last of the ancient prophets to hold the highest priesthood office, is a fact that cannot be refuted. 11 That he would be the one to restore all things that he was the last one to hold, none should doubt; for it was just as necessary for him to restore that which he was the last one to hold, as it was for Elijah to restore those things which he was the last prophet to hold. 12 John was the Elias to whom was given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel.

14 Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse? 15 A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things. (D&C 77:9) 16 That the tribes of Israel were to be gathered through the authority Elias held is beyond controversy. 17 Therefore, it would be necessary in order to accomplish this great wor , for him to restore that authority. 18 The Lord has told us who this latterday Elias or restorer was:

little boo eaten by, (D&C 77:14) John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation? 20 A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things. (D&C 77:14) 21 It will here be noted that the revelation from which this verse is ta en, was given in March, 1832, nearly three years after Peter, James and John, together had restored certain things they held jointly. 22 At that time, Elias had not as yet committed that which he alone was the last to hold. 23 His exceedingly long mission was yet incomplete and the ordinance which he must perform in order to gather the tribes of Israel and restore the priesthood office which presides over all things, and wherein the Lord restores all things, was yet a future event. 24 It was not until the temple was built at Kirtland, Ohio, that Elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the everlasting gospel, which no man can have fully under his hand without receiving the priesthood, the office or appointment to stand as God, which Joseph the Prophet received at that time under the hand

19 Q. What are we to understand by the little boo

which was eaten by Revelator;

13 The Lord gives us the following

eys:

of to Joseph Smith John. 25 We again quote what the Prophet revealed concerning this grand event that is recorded in Section 110 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 26 After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. (D&C 110:12) 27 We here find that the blessing was to come to all generations after Joseph and Oliver, through them and their seed; or in other words through them and those who should hold in fuure the offices they received at that time. 28 It is well nown where the blessing once put upon Oliver, was placed after he had stepped aside. 29 But what about the priesthood sceptre which was restored for the last time, through which the greater blessing was to come to the indred of the earth? 30 That the Lord's proceedings in these latter days concerning this matter might be more clearly understood, let us examine His past dealings with His people. 31 In the days of Abraham the Lord intervened and had the sceptre put upon Esaias, and in the course of time this office was hidden from Israel and the world. 32 The Patriarch, Jacob, who was the second grand head of priesthood upon the earth after Isaac, went with his family into Egypt. 33 The history and the trend of events that followed this move is one of the most commonly read parts of the Bible. 34 After the children of Israel were brought into bondage in Egypt, and even to the time Moses was sent to deliver them, what did they now about the sceptre being concealed in the deserts of Midian? 35 They did not now that there was authority on the earth higher than that which was held by Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. 36 They did not now that a shepherd, having fled Egypt to save his life, would get the priesthood sceptre through Jethro, the great high priest of Midian and come to their deliverance. 37 Notwithstanding the miracles performed by the Savior, did the Jews believe he had the authority? After His crucifixion, did all the Saints now that the highest office was held by John? No, they did not, but thought Peter, who was the chief apostle, was the head. 38 The Christian world, even including the great majority of the Mormon people, believe this to the present time. 39 In modern times, the Lord has acted upon the same principles in relation to this matter, as He did in past ages. 40 He has said that he would send a man holding the sceptre of power to set His house in ordera man unto whom should rightly belong the priesthood and the Kingdom;necessary for the gathering eys of the ingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of His people in the last days. (See D&C 113:6)

41 The priesthood which should rightly belong to this messenger is the same priesthood which has come down through the fathers from the beginning and remained upon the earth through John the Beloved, being hid from the world with Christ in God. 42 We quote a few verses which the Lord spo e directly to Joseph Smith and to his successors in this priesthood. It will be noted by reading this revelation that it covers future time, down to the dividing of the wheat from the tares, when the field is left to be burned. 43 Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers. 44 For ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in GodTherefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spo en of by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began. 45 Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel. The Lord hath said it. Amen. (D&C 86:811) 46 For the benefit of those who thin these verses, heretofore, have been correctly understood by and explained to the Mormon people, we as the following questions: 47 1st.At the time this revelation was given, what priesthood had continued with any man through the lineage of his earthly fathers? 48 2nd.Does the priesthood mentioned in these verses, each time it is mentioned or alluded to, have reference to the same thing? 49 3rd.Who are the lawful heirs of the priesthood here spo en of who have been hid from the world? When and in what manner were they hid? 50 4th.Whose life and what priesthood had remained until the time this revelation was given? 51 5th.In view of what is written in verses 57 and 58 of Section 124, what priesthood or office could have remained with any man's lineage, other than that of the Prophet, that has anything to do with the restoration of all things? 52 6th.Through what priesthood, other than the office Moses held, could a savior be raised up unto the Lord's people Israel? 53 A reference at the bottom of the page concerning the word savior in verse 11, refers us to Romans 11:2531, a part of which we quote: 54 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceit; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 55 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 56 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall ta e away their sins. (Rom. 11:2527) 57 Here we find that the very time when the man holding the sceptre was to come forth and commence his wor of delivering the Lord's people out of bondage, was

to be when the fulness of the Gentiles should be come in, or in other words, when the times of the Gentiles were over or fulfilled. 58 The Lord says: Behold I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power; 59 Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them li e as Moses led the children of Israel. 60 For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of are seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretchedout arm. 61 And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be. (D&C 103:1518) 62 When the time drew near for the Savior to come, holding the office Moses held, to declare Himself publicly and minister in that capacity in fulfillment of His mission, he was preceded by a forerunner, holding the office Aaron held, who came to prepare a people for His ministry. 63 Now that the time is at the doors for the coming of the Son of Man in power and great glory, it is necessary that a man should prepare the way who holds the

64 One of the reasons that a man must come holding the office through which the Lord restores all things, is that a people must be prepared to enter into the terrestrial state, which condition cannot be brought about through any other channel or authority. 65 There must be a man with all the eys and authority held by Enoch, in order to bring the people into the presence of God and usher in the Millennium. 66 For unless every ordinance belonging to the priesthood is restored and attended to in righteousness, the Ancient of Days will not sit in council with his faithful children to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man, as spo en of by the Prophet Joseph Smith. (See TPJS p. 157 and D&C 116) 67 Until all of these ordinances are properly attended to the Eternal Father will not visit his children upon the earth, for the Lord says: 68 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. (D&C 84:20) 69 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; (D&C 84:21) 70 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live. (D&C 84:2022) 71 The power of godliness, which must be manifest unto men in the flesh, that they may see the face of the Father and live, includes a nowledge of godliness, which no mortal can obtain except through the ordinances of the priesthood. 72 It is through nowledge obtained only through obedience to all the ordinances of the Father's house or pertaining to His family that one's calling and election is made sure.

priesthood sceptre Moses held, together with all the

eys pertaining thereunto.

73 It is the nowledge of godliness, obtained through obedience and sacrifice, that enables man to become li e God. 74 On this point the Prophet stated: . . . Knowledge is the power of salvation. (TPJS p. 306) 75 When the blessing is sealed upon a man's head, ma ing his calling and election sure, it destines him to become a priest of God eternally in the highest sense of the wordan heir of the title God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. 76 This is what constitutes the fulness of the fulness of God's priesthood priesthood of God. 77 This is what qualifies a man as a patriarch, priest and ing over his own posterity eternally; and this blessing is infinitely more important to the individual than any office pertaining to the Church or ingdom of God upon the earth. 78 This is what the Prophet had reference to when he said: The anointing and sealing is to be called, elected and made sure. (TPJS p. 323) 79 Joseph Smith also said on this subject: If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by eeping all the commandments and obeying all of the ordinances of the house of the Lord. (TPJS p. 308) 80 This does not have reference to the office Melchizede held, which is referred to as the fulness of the Melchizede priesthood, concerning which the Prophet stated: 81 Those holding the fulness of the Melchizede Priesthood are ings and priests of the Most High God, holding the eys of power and blessings. In fact, that Priesthood is a perfect law of theocracy, and stands as God to give laws to the people, administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam. (TPJS p. 322) 82 The priesthood which constitutes a perfect law of theocracy, and stands as God to give laws to the people, administering endless lives unto them, is the one man priesthood which was held by Enoch, Melchizede and God to the people Moses, which can be held by only one man on the earth at a time. 83 For only one man on the earth at a time can stand as God to the people as the Prophet Joseph did. 84 This is what he had reference to when he said: God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He will ma e me be God to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don't li e it, you must lump it. (TPJS p. 363) 85 The office Melchizede held is the office of Melchizede , priesthood which is by oath and covenant. 86 A man holding that office has never led the people astray.

87 It is the priesthood which has come down from before the foundations of the earth and was held by Adam in the beginning. 88 It has remained upon the earth from the days of remain to all eternity Adam to the present time and will remain to all eternity. 89 Hence, it is referred to as having neither beginning of days nor end of life. 90 The Prophet explained: @PAGE BREAKIN = The Melchizede Priesthood holds the right from the eternal God, and not by descent from father and mother; and that priesthood is as eternal as God Himself, having neither beginning of days nor end of life. (TPJS p. 323) 91 Thus we see the difference between the Melchizede priesthood which every faithful elder has the right to hold over his own posterity and the office priesthood;difference between office and priesthood Melchizede held over the whole family of Adam.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 10 1 When the Melchizede priesthood is conferred upon a man, he is called to stand up for God and to magnify this priesthood. 2 He is called to try out for the blessings of eternal lives, that he may obtain the crown over the ingdom of our God. 3 Then if that man continues faithful in eeping his covenants, obeys all the laws and commandments of the Lord and lives by every word which proceeds forth out of the mouth of God, he will secure unto himself the right to hold that priesthood in the eternal worlds. 4 When it is confirmed upon him that he may hold it eternally, and obtain in the hereafter all the blessings associated therewith, he is chosen, his calling and election is made sure. 5 On this subject the Lord says: Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? 6 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson. 7 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. (D&C 121:3436)

8 Concerning the calling and election, the Prophet concerning calling and election Joseph Smith taught: 9 After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints . . . (TPJS p. 150) 10 For a man to be numbered with the chosen seed of Abraham, through having his calling and election made sure, is the result of obtaining the through magnifying calling Melchizede priesthood, which includes the Aaronic, and magnifying his calling. 11 In order for a man holding the Melchizede priesthood to fully magnify his calling, he must obey every law and ordinance of the Gospel, as the way is opened by the Lord for him to do so, and offer unto the Lord every sacrifice required at his hands, as well as do the wor required of him. 12 Concerning the blessings in store for the faithful who magnify their priesthood, the Lord has said: 13 For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spo en, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. 14 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and ingdom, and the elect of God. (D&C 84:3334) 15 Those who obtain the blessings referred to in these two verses are the only ones who are chosen and receive the fulness of the priesthood of God, as a result of obeying the commandments, the ordinances, and the law of sacrifice. 16 The above quotation continues: And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; 17 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; 18 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; 19 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's ingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. (D&C 84:3538) 20 All that the Father has is given to only those who ma e their calling and election surethose who are chosen and receive the fulness of the priesthood of God. 21 They who receive this priesthood receive the Savior, as is explained by the Prophet Joseph Smith. 22 . . . If a man love me, he will eep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and ma e our abode with him. (John 14:23) 23 Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord

Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will ta e up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect nowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visionsIsaiah, Eze iel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Firstborn;held communion with Saints Church of the Firstborn. (TPJS p. 150151) 24 All the Saints who pay the price receive this blessing after they have obtained the fulness of the priesthood of God, but only one man on earth at a time is given the office Moses held. 25 The Lord, in all ages of the world has promised by promised by, to sustain 1st Grand Head oath and covenant to sustain the man acting in that office. 26 The man acting as His mouthpiece to the whole human family, who stands as God to the people, will not lead them astray. 27 But the oath and covenant which belongs to the covenant priesthood which is confirmed upon men when their calling and election is made sure, is the covenant which all receive who are made ings and priests eternally after the holy order of God. 28 After men have received this after fulness ofman may fall priesthood, there is a possibility of their falling away. 29 Concerning this the Prophet Joseph Smith taught: 30 . . . according to the Scripture, if men have received the good word of God, and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame; so there is a possibility of falling away; you could not be renewed again, and the power of Elijah can not seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals and power of the priesthood. (TPJS p. 339) 31 The priesthood that is confirmed upon a man when he receives the good word of Godwhen the Lord says unto him in effect, Son, thou shalt be exalted, is the priesthood the Lord had reference to when He said: 32 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. 33 Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he can not brea , neither can it be moved. 34 But whoso brea eth 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. (D&C 84:3941) 35 It is the Melchizede priesthood that had been conferred upon those present when this revelation was given, that the Lord had reference to when he said: 36 And wo unto 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; . . . (D&C 84:42) 37 Those who receive this blessing become the friends of God, even God's high priests, notwithstanding the office or calling they may hold in the Church or Kingdom in this life, or whether or not they hold any office at all. 38 This blessing is pertaining to men's individual family affairs, and has reference to the office which a man holds over his own posterity eternally, when he is made a patriarch, priest, and ing, and sealed up to become a joint heir with Jesus Christ. 39 The only way men's faith can be measured is by the sacrifices they are willing to ma e. 40 Obedience to all the commandments of the Lord in eeping with the baptismal, sacramental and Temple covenants, requires the sacrifice of all earthly things as explained in the sixth Lecture on Faith, formerly published in the Doctrine and Covenants. 41 Concerning this grand principle the Prophet Joseph Smith taught: The sacrifice required of Abraham in the offering up of Isaac, shows that if a man would attain to the eys of the ingdom of an endless life; he must sacrifice all things. (TPJS p. 322) 42 The faith of men increases in accordance with the sacrifices they ma e that are required by God at their hands. 43 Those who have made every sacrifice required of them, will reap the blessings predicated upon the observance of that law, even though they had died without a nowledge of the gospel. 44 However, when men have a full opportunity to secure unto themselves the greatest blessings and fail to do so because they aspire to the honors of men, they can only reap the reward spo en of by the Prophet Joseph Smith when he said: When God offers a blessing or nowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. (TPJS p. 322) 45 The Prophet also said: God cursed the children of Israel because they would not receive the last law from Moses. (TPJS p. 322) 46 This has special reference to the law of consecration and the Enoch; law of consecration order of Enoch as pertaining to temporal concerns. 47 And this is what the Saints must come to, in these latter days, before the Millennium is ushered in, or be smitten and wasted at the coming of the Lord. 48 Therefore a man with the eys and authority Moses held must be here to administer all the blessings which were offered to the children of Israel under Moses.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 11 1 The restoration of all the ordinances will not be brought to pass until there is a people prepared to receive them. 2 Those who are to receive these blessings must submit to all the laws restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and be united under the banner of heaven, according to the principles of the law of the Celestial Kingdom, that a to laws of temple might be built, suited to the performance of all the ordinances pertaining to the Melchizede priesthood; whereby the restoration of all things necessary to bring the people into a terrestrial state, might be consummated. 3 The faithful, in all past ages have loo ed forward to the fulfillment of the words of the prophets relative to the earth being brought into this condition, which event is now very near, but before it comes, the restoration of all things spo en by the mouths of all the holy prophets, must be consummated. 4 The Prophet said in relation to this subject: This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. They loo ed for a city, etc., 'whose builder and ma er is God.' (Hebrews 11:10) Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them; but they prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spo e of the dispensation of the fullness of times, when God would gather together all things in one, etc.; and those men to whom these eys have been given, will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect. (TPJS p. 159) 5 Here we find that in the first ages of the world there were Eliases raised up who tried to restore these very glories, which shows that an Elias in one sense of the word is a man holding the priesthood necessary to bring the people into the presence of God. 6 An Elias, in this sense, is a man holding the office through which restoration is brought about under his administration. 7 One writer stated: Joseph Smith was the Elias, the restorer, the presiding messenger, holding the eys of the 'dispensation of the fulness of times.' (The Vision, p. 94) 8 As we have shown, Joseph Smith did not hold all the eys of the priesthood pertaining to the last dispensation, therefore an Elias li e unto him must be raised up to consummate the restoration spo en of by the prophets. 9 It is true that John the Baptist was, in one sense, an Elias, because he restored the eys and office he too with him to the grave. 10 He has been called an Elias, in still another sense, because he came in his earthly ministry in the spirit and power of Elias.

11 The Prophet Joseph says: And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater wor , holding the eys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world. 12 John's mission was limited to preaching and baptizing . . . (TPJS p. 335, 336) 13 From the Inspired Version of the Bible we give the words of the Savior concerning two Eliases. 14 And his disciples as ed him, saying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? 15 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, as the prophets have written. 16 And again I say unto you that Elias has come already, concerning whom it is written, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and they new him not, and have done unto him, whatsoever they listed. (Matthew 17:911 I.V.) 17 The preparatory wor given to John, in relation to the spirit of Elias, among other things, was to prepare the people to receive certain blessings which under normal circumstances, could be administered under the authority of the office he held. 18 The reader will note carefully the following statement: The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the priesthood of Elias, or the priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. (TPJS p. 335) 19 The office Aaron was ordained unto is called the priesthood of Elias because that office has authority necessary to prepare men for the greater revelation of God, which those who have received their second anointings are in line to receive. 20 The authority necessary to give men their individual blessings necessary to ma e their calling and election sure comes under this priesthood. 21 The eys necessary to do this wor are sometimes called the eys of Elijah because he was one of the great patriarchs who held these eys. 22 However for the human family to receive collectively the blessings that are held in store and associated with the ushering in of the latter day glories and the bringing about of a terrestrial condition, the people must be organized after the pattern established by Adam and Enoch. 23 This must be brought about in fulfillment of the prophets, as Parley P. Pratt stated: . . . that the ings, nobles, presidents, rulers, judges, counsellors, and senators, which compose the general assembly of the Church of the firstborn in all these different spheres of temporal and spiritual existence, may sit in grand Council, and hold a Congress or court on the earth, to concert measures for the overthrow of the mystery of iniquity," the thrones of tyrants,

the sanctuaries of priestcraft and superstition, and the reign of ignorance, sin and death." (JD 2:46) 24 There are three grand divisions of power, authority and government which pertain to the Order of Enoch and the Church of the Firstborn. 25 There are three grand offices which stand at the head of these three grand divisions of the Church and priesthood government. 26 And there is one office which stands at the head of them all, and presides over all things. 27 This office constitutes what is termed the Firstborn cannot exist without, right of the Firstborn; and without this office, the firstborn office Church of the Firstborn, with all of its ramification of organization, as established under the authority of Adam and Enoch in their time, cannot exist upon the earth. 28 The man holding the office of presiding patriarch, held by blessings Aaron and Hyrum, presides over all the spiritual blessings of the church in concert with the man holding the right of the Firstborn, and has the authority to perform all the ordinances pertaining to the house of God. 29 The man who stands as the the things, third grand head of priesthood, occupying the office of with first grand head Presiding Bishop over the Kingdom of God upon the earth, stands next in authority to the man li e Moses as pertaining to temporal things, and has authority to transact all business pertaining to the temporal concerns of the ingdom of God in concert with the man holding the office Moses held. 30 The man occupying the office held by branches Joshua and Brigham Young, that Joshua received under the hand of Moses, and Brigham obtained under the hand of Joseph Smith, which pertained to the ingdom of God government that was organized under Moses, and again in Nauvoo the spring before the Prophet was illed, has authority to transact all the business pertaining to the department of the ingdom of God government that Joshua and Brigham presided over in the times indicated in concert with the man holding the right of the Firstborn which has come down in regular succession from before the foundations of the earth. 31 The Prophet Joseph said: The Priesthood was first given to formed Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the eys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed . . . (TPJS p. 157) 32 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; therefore, all things therein and pertaining thereto become subject, when the will of the Father is done on earth as it is done in heaven, to the office which presides over all things. 33 This is the condition that will exist when the ingdoms of this world become the ingdoms of our God and His Christ. 34 This is the order of Enoch, and this is the condition his people were brought to which enabled them to go into the terrestrial state.

35 The order of Enoch, with all of its ramifications of authority and organization, is what constitutes the Church of the Firstborn, whether it be on earth, or in heaven. 36 This is the ingdom spo en of in the second chapter of the Boo of Daniel, concerning which the Prophet Joseph Smith stated in a sermon delivered May 2, 1844. 37 I calculate to be one of the instruments (In other words, there was to be more than one.brac ets ours) of setting up the ingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord, and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world. . . . It will not be by sword or gun that this ingdom will roll on: the power of truth is such that all nations will be under the necessity of obeying the Gospel. (TPJS p. 366) 38 The organization and establishment of this ingdom was commenced in Kirtland, Ohio, after John the Beloved had committed the dispensation and restored the office which always presides over this ingdom when it is fully organized on the earth. 39 Upon this subject, Heber C. Kimball testified: Here, in the Territory of Deseret, is the ingdom of God, and here are the officers pertaining to that ingdom; and here is the organization that is organized after the order of God, and it is organized after the Church of the First Born. 40 Let me explain what the Church of the First Born is. It is the first Church that ever was raised up upon this earth; that is the first born Church. That is what I mean; and when God our Father organized that Church, He organized it just as His Father organized the Church on the earth where He dwelt; and that same order is organized here in the City of Great Salt La e; and it is that order that Joseph Smith the Prophet of God organized in the beginning in Kirtland, Ohio. Brother Brigham Young, myself, and others were present when that was done, and when those officers received their endowments, they were together in one place. They were organized and received their endowments and blessings, and those eys were placed upon them, and that ingdom will stand forever. (JD 5:129) 41 Aaron and his successors in the priesthood office he held, were given the mission to prepare the people for the greater revelation of God, which in one sense, was to prepare them for the mission of Christ and the restoration of the office office of Moses held. 42 Both John the Baptist and Joseph Smith the prophet, came in the spirit and power of Elias, to prepare the people for the restoration of this grand office and the establishment of the Church of the Firstborn. 43 After that office was restored to the Prophet office upon Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, the highest office he had held prior to that time, was put upon Oliver Cowdery; afterwards on Joseph Smith senior and later upon Hyrum Smith. 44 The office which presides over and holds the eys of the patriarchal priesthood, which was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage from Seth to John the Baptist, was ta en from the earth with John when he was beheaded. 45 Although this is a question that seems to be little understood; the priesthood office which John the Baptist restored May 15, 1829 was what he had been the last man to hold.

46 The offices of the lesser or Levitical John's death priesthood were had in the Christian Church after the death of John the Baptist, yet there were no more priests after the order of Aaron; but there was a priest after the order of Melchizede at the head. 47 Many suppose that the office of eys Levitical priest holds the eys of the to, ministering of angels, which tradition is false. 48 Let us carefully examine the wording used by Joseph and Oliver from John the Baptist in ordaining Joseph and Oliver. 49 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the eys 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 ta en again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. (D&C 13) 50 Relative to this the Lord said: Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron. (D&C 27:8) 51 Here we learn that John was sent to Joseph and Oliver to confer the first office or priesthood that was given to them that they MIGHT be called and ordained even as Aaron. 52 Inasmuch as John the Baptist was a priest after the order of Aaron, and WAS called and ordained even as Aaron, it is evident that John at that time did not confer everything he had held in his earthly ministry. 53 Therefore when he said, Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the eys of the ministering of angels, . . . (D&C 13) he had reference to nothing more nor less than the patriarchal office Aaron held; for this is the office which has held the eys of the ministering of angels to the human family since the early ages of the world. 54 Joseph at that time was appointed to hold the eys of that priesthood or in other words the office of the presiding patriarch, yet the eys which Aaron held were not committed to the Prophet on that occasion. Nor have they all been restored to this day, as we have shown. 55 Then when was the Prophet called and ordained even as Aaron? 56 First, he was given the office by John the Baptist. 57 Next, he had the Melchizede Prophet priesthood conferred upon him by Peter, James and John.

59 After the Prophet had received all these things, he held the ingdom of God in his hands singlehanded as did John the Baptist who Christ referred to

58 Next, Peter, James and John gave him the the Mount through Elias.

eys which they had received on

as the greatest prophet born of woman; and that is all he held when he organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 12 1 The Prophet Joseph Smith from the very beginning of the Church, held one of the two grand selfperpetuating priesthood offices, which is evidenced by the following words which were given in February, 1831. 2 O hear en, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall spea unto you. 3 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand. 4 And this ye shall now assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be ta en, if he abide in me. 5 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be ta en from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead. (D&C 43:14) 6 At the time this revelation was given the office Moses held had not as yet been committed to the Prophet, therefore, the office above referred to could have been none other than the office John the Baptist held. 7 The fact that he came alone to restore it shows that it is a selfperpetuating office. 8 Furthermore, the Prophet Joseph could not at that time have held alone the eys that Peter, James and John held as a quorum except by virtue of this office. 9 Let us now see how the Church organization was carried on anciently. 10 Prior to the time that Christ began his ministry, the wor of the ministry in the Jewish Church was carried on under the authority of the Jewish Church carried on under second grand head of priesthood. 11 After John the Baptist was beheaded, the wor of the ministry in the Christian church was carried on exclusively under the authority of the lesser authority first grand head of priesthood, which of course, includes all lesser authority. 12 It is true that the office of evangelical minister was had in the Christian Church after the death of John the Baptist; but these patriarchs were ordained under the authority of the quorum of the Twelve. 13 Concerning this matter, the Lord, in modern times, has said:

It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the church, to ordain evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation (D&C 107:39) 14 Though the Twelve had the authority to ordain patriarchs, this is no indication that they had the authority to institute a second grand head of priesthood, as was John the Baptist. 15 If any patriarch of the Christian era had held the authority held by John, then it would not have been John's place to come to restore that office. 16 It was by virtue of the authority of this office that the organization was carried on between the time of Eleazar and the coming of Christ. 17 In order for the Church organization to be carried on authoritatively, it must be done by virtue of at least one of the two grand selfperpetuating priesthood offices which hold the right to appoint the lesser authorities. 18 The lesser authority in the priesthood cannot appoint the greater, for as John Taylor said, a stream cannot rise higher than its fountain. 19 After the Savior was crucified, the sceptre was again hid from the world, and the second grand head of priesthood not being on the earth, the burden of the ministry and of leading the Church rested squarely on the shoulders of the Apostles, so far as the world was concerned. 20 The Jewish nation having rejected the priesthood sceptre and the church of the Firstborn, and the second grand priesthood office which holds the oracles of God and the eys of power not being upon the earththe eys to lead the people into the Celestial ingdom were placed upon a quorum of three. 21 This is the least number in the absence of the two grand heads or priesthood presidents which can constitute a quorum equal in authority in holding the Kingdom;quorum of 3 necessary in absence of 2 G. heads eys of the ingdom, yet subordinate to the grand patriarch holding the eys of power that were held by John the Baptist, Isaac, Methuselah and Seth. 22 These eys were given to eys of ingdom Peter, James, and John.

24 John the Revelator remained and carried on the ingdom and held the eys single handed by virtue of the first grand selfperpetuating priesthood office, which he received by appointment from Christ. 25 Li e unto the three Nephite apostles who were translated, he ministered among the people until they became so wic ed that the Lord would not suffer him to longer remain. 26 Thus the murderers who crucified the Lord of Life, were thwarted in their attempts to destroy the ingdom of God from off the earth. 27 Although John held the office which presides over all things, he also held a lesser office and functioned as a counselor to Peter in the quorum of Revelator counsellor to Peter First Presidency; yet it was not to perpetuate this office that he was translated.

23 They in turn could appoint as many as were necessary to accomplish the wor in view while they lived, yet they did not have the authority to appoint another presidency.

28 The mission of the ancient apostles was to lead the people to salvation, as well as to establish the name of Christ among the children of men. 29 The eys, the nowledge and authority to accomplish this is what was given to those men at that time. 30 Thus those three men were entrusted with a very great and important wor . Consequently, the greater part of the Christian world have ta en for granted that the authority Peter held is the highest office in the priesthood ever instituted on earth.

32 In this dispensation, because of the lac of preparation among the people to receive the greater blessings, and because of the unrelenting determination of the wic ed to imprison, persecute and shed the blood of the prophets of Godthe Lord in His wisdom has seen fit to again bring the apostleship of the First Presidency and the Twelve to the front before the world, and to eep the two grand heads of priesthood either totally or partially concealed. 33 The conditions existing among the Mormon people themselves in the early days of the Church seem to have constituted one of the important reasons for this. 34 Although there has been much said concerning the righteousness and mighty wor s of the Saints who helped carry the burden of the Lord's wor and endured the heat of the day in the lifetime of the Prophet Joseph Smith and afterwards crossed the plains, settled in Utah and caused the desert to blossom as the rose, the true condition of the people of the Church in the early days of Utah is portrayed by the following words by selfishness of Elders of Israel Brigham Young: 35 I have had visions and revelations instructing me how to organize this people so that they can live li e the family of heaven, but I cannot do it while so much selfishness and wic edness reign in the Elders of Israel. 36 Many would ma e of the greatest blessings a curse to them, as they do now the plurality of wivesthe abuse of that principle will send thousands to hell. 37 There are many great and glorious privileges for the people, which they are not prepared to receive. 38 How long it will be before they are prepared to enjoy the blessings God has in store for them, I now notit has not been revealed to me. 39 I now the Lord wants to pour blessings upon this people, but were He to do so in their present ignorance, they would not now what to do with them. They can receive only a very little and that must be administered to them with great care... JD 9:269) 40 There are many great and important things pertaining to the ingdom of God which Brigham Young understood that he could not reveal to the public. He understood the organization of the Church of the Firstborn and he new who held the office which presides over that Church, but could not reveal these

31 The sceptre having been hid from the world second grand priesthood office having been ta certainly appeared on the surface that Peter, authority; and that Peter, the chief apostle,

with Christ in God, and the en from the earth, it James and John held the highest was the very head.

things to the people of his time because they were not prepared to receive them.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 13 1 That the Church, after being established in the Roc y Mountains, did not follow the pattern of Heaven in relation to the presentation of the authorities of the Church so far as the second grand priesthood office is concerned, is attested to by the following statement by President Joseph F. Smith. 2 We have not always carried out strictly the order of the priesthood; we have varied from it to some extent; but we hope in due time that, by the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will be led up into the exact channel and course that the Lord has mar ed out for us to pursue, and adhere strictly to the order that He has established. I will read from a presentation of priesthood revelation that was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, at Nauvoo, Hancoc County, Illinois, January 19, 1841, (D&C 124) which stands as the law of the church in relation to the presentation of the authorities of the Holy Priesthood as they were established in the Church, and from which I feel we have no right to depart. The Lord says: 3 `First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith, to be a Patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my Church, even the Holy Spirit of day of redemption promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.' 4 It may be considered strange that the Lord should give first of all the Patriarch; yet I do not now any law, any revelation or any commandment from God to the contrary, that has ever been given through any of the Prophets or Presidents of the Church. At the same time we well now that this order has not been strictly followed from the day we came into these valleys until nowand we will not ma e any change at present. (Con. Rep., Nov. 10, 1901, p. 71) 5 As indicated by the above testimony, it is not the order of the priesthood for the Presidency and the Twelve to ta e precedence over the Patriarchy in holding the Kingdom;order of priesthood in holding eys of the ingdom and in administering the spiritual blessings. 6 Let us here call the attention of the reader to the fact that in the time of the Savior, as well as in the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the eys of the ingdom were not committed to the apostles at the time of their ordination to the presidency and the quorum of Twelve, but at a later date. 7 Therefore, the wor that comes under the authority of these offices is one commission, and to hold the eys of the ingdom is another. 8 What constitutes the eys of the ingdom, in the sense that they were held by the Apostles after the crucifixion of the Savior and the martyrdom of the

Prophet Joseph Smith? Simply the commission, authority and nowledge to perform all of the ordinances necessary, at a given time, to ma e man's calling and election sure. 9 This is what constitutes the apostleship, and not membership in any special quorum. 10 The authority of the First Presidency or the appointment Twelve traveling council in itself does not constitute the eys of the ingdom, the oracles of God, the authority over the temple wor , and the independent right, without further appointment, to stand as the prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church as did the ancient patriarchs. 11 However, as can be observed by understanding the following quotation, the man holding the patriarchal office and the eys that were held by Hyrum Smith and John the Baptist, which office was instituted in the days of Adam and came down by lineage anciently, does hold all of this authority. 12 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William be appointed, ordained, and anointed, as counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may ta e the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing and also by right; 13 That from henceforth he shall hold the eys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people. 14 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. 15 And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph; 16 That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph; and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the eys whereby he may as and receive, and be crowned with the same blessings, and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery; 17 That my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever. (D&C 124:9196) 18 The man holding the eys pertaining to the office Hyrum held, has the authority that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 This is the sealing authority, whereby men are sealed up by the Holy Spirit of Promise, unto the day of redemption, that Hyrum was appointed to hold by his father. 20 This is the authority that has been placed to preside over the office authority to preside over temple wor and the spiritual blessings of the church in the different ages of the world. 21 Relative to this matter let us examine the testimony of Johnson; testimony of Benjamin F. Johnson.

22 And now returning to the council and the last charge. Let us remember that by revelation he had organized the Holy Priesthood, and that by command of the Lord (D&C 124 and 125) had ta en from the First Presidency his brother by command of the Hyrum to hold as Patriarch, the sealing power, the first and highest honor due to priesthood; that he had returned the eys of endowments, to the last anointing, and sealing, together with the eys for the salvation for the dead, with the eternity of the marriage covenant and the power of endless lives. 23 All these eys he held, and under these then existing conditions he stood before that association of his select friends, including all of the Twelve, and with great feeling and animation he graphically reviewed his life of persecution, labor and sacrifice for the church and the ingdom of God, both of which he declared were now organized upon the earth, the burden of which had become too great for him longer to carry, that he was weary and tired with the weight he had so long borne, and he then said, with great vehemence: 24 `And in the name of the Lord, I now sha e from my shoulders the responsibility of bearing off the Kingdom of God to all the world, and here and now I place that responsibility, with all the eys, powers and privileges pertaining thereto, upon the shoulders of you the I now sha e from my shoulders "Twelve Apostles, in connection with this council; and if you will accept this, to do it, God shall bless you mightily and shall open your way; and if you do it not you will be damned.'" (Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson to Elder George S. Gibbs, Ensign Vol I. No. 1011, p. 11) 25 In the above quotation are found a number of important facts. 26 1st.That the eys that were given to the Twelve the spring before the martyrdom were given to Hyrum prior to that time to hold single handed by virtue of the patriarchal office.

28 3rd.That all the authority that was put upon the Twelve was the authority that rightfully belongs to that quorum. 29 4th.That the Twelve were to hold this authority in connection with the council of the general authorities of the priesthood. 30 5th.That neither the office Joseph held, nor the office Hyrum held, nor the authority of the First Presidency was given to the Twelve. 31 Consequently, when the eys were put upon the to grand heads Twelve, at that time, they were to hold them subordinate to both grand heads of the priesthood. 32 It should be understood that all priesthood authority that was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith was restored for the last time. 33 It has not been commonly nown, however, that prior to the martyrdom at Carthage, there were two men chosen and properly appointed to hold these appointed prior to martyrdom two grand offices after Joseph and Hyrum were gone.

27 2nd.That Joseph held all of those Hyrum did.

eys single handed at the same time

* * * * * * * *

PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 14 1 It should be borne in mind that the priesthood which remained on the earth through John the Beloved, was to continue upon the earth through Joseph Smith and his lineage until the restoration of all things spo en by the prophets should be consummated. 2 Also, it should be remembered that the "never to be ta en again" (Sec. 13) priesthood and authority restored by until John the Baptist was never to be ta en from the earth again until the an offering sons of Levi offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. 3 As strange as it may seem the priesthood sceptre that was held by the Prophet Joseph Smith his remained upon the earth. 4 Brigham Young did not hold it, nor did he ma e any such claims. 5 But to the contrary, he, together with his counselors in the Presidency; authority of First Presidency as well as their successors have consistently and positively affirmed that all the authority they have held in this capacity is that which was held by Peter, James and John as a quorum. 6 We quote the testimony of Brigham Young. 7 Peter comes along with James and John and ordains Joseph to be an Apostle, and then Joseph ordains Oliver, and David Whitmer, and Martin Harris; and then they were ordered to select twelve more and ordain them. It was done. (JD, 6:29) 8 When Peter, James and John, who constituted the and John First Presidency of the Church anciently, committed to Joseph Smith the authority which they held as a quorum, to build up the ingdom of God, they committed precisely what they had received as a quorum on the Mount, together with the Melchizede committed to Jos. S. by PJ&J priesthood. 9 They came as a quorum to restore the authority they had held as a quorum, and Peter, who held the office of President of the Church, too the lead. 10 They were to hold the eys of the ministry (See D&C 7:7) until Christ should come, therefore, it was perfectly consistent for them to confer the Melchizede priesthood upon Joseph and ordain him to be an Apostle, and that P, J and John, John the Baptist should wor under their direction. 11 We again quote from Brigham Young. I say unto you Latterday Saints, that the Seventies follow the Twelve Apostles, and the Twelve Apostles follow in the wa e of the First Presidency, and the First Presidency follow in the wa e of Peter, James and John... (Deseret News Wee ly, June 6, 1877) 12 The First Presidency then, of which Presidency Brigham Young was president, did not claim as a quorum any higher office or authority than was held by Peter, James and John as a quorum.

13 We again quote the words of the Prophet concerning the event of Peter, James and John receiving the eys. 14 The Savior, Moses, and Elias, gave the eys to Peter, James and John, on the mount... (TPJS p. 158) 15 The Savior having been given the office Moses held, which only one man can hold on the earth at a time, it is evident that Peter, James and John were given, as a quorum, some lesser authority or commission.

17 When it is understood who this Elias was who appeared with appeared with Moses, it becomes easier to understand what authority the subordinate to office John held First Presidency of the Church, as a quorum, can rightfully hold. 18 We quote from the Inspired Version of the Bible: 19 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses, or in other words, John the Baptist and Moses; and they were tal ing with Jesus. (Mar 9:3, I.V.) 20 The Elias who appeared on the Mount to assist in giving the eys to Peter, James and John, having been none other than John the Baptist, the authority given these three could not have been a commission other than that which was subordinate to the offices held by both the Savior and John the Baptist. 21 For the office John had held, he did not restore at that time, but he continued to hold it until it was conferred upon Joseph Smith, the Prophet, May 15, 1829. 22 Therefore, seeing that neither of the two grand priesthood offices was given to any of the three above named apostles on the Mount, they could only have been given, to hold as a quorum, the eys which John the Baptist had held alone by virtue of the second grand priesthood office. 23 Some contend that the Elias who appeared on the Mount was Elijah and not John the Baptist and that Joseph Smith was mista en on this point. 24 However, the argument is hollow, for Elijah and office as Elijah John both held the same office, so in either case the principles pertaining to priesthood authority would be the same. 25 After the Prophet Joseph had been ordained to be a priest after the order of Aaron to hold the eys of this priesthood, he held the office Aaron held and was the grand patriarch; but not until Peter, James and John had conferred upon him the priesthood;committed to Joseph by Peter, James and John Melchizede committed to JS by P, J & John priesthood and committed to him the commission to roll forth the ingdom, which they received as a quorum on the Mount, could he hold the ingdom of God in his hands as did John the Baptist. 26 No man alone, can hold the ingdom of God in his hands and the eys of power, who does not hold the Melchizede priesthood, as also one of the alone can hold eys without two grand offices which have held the eys of power and revelation in the different ages of the world.

16 It is also evident that Elias, who assisted in giving the held at least as high authority as they received.

eys to them,

27 In the absence of the two grand heads of priesthood, as well as in their presence, it requires a quorum of three presidents or presiding high priests, duly appointed and commissioned, whose apostleship is complete, to form a unit equal in authority and power, yet subordinate in presidency to the grand patriarch, in holding the eys of the spiritual blessings and the authority to roll forth the ingdom. 28 It requires a quorum of Twelve men holding the holy Apostleship, to form a unit equal in authority, yet subordinate in presidency, in holding the eys of the ingdom with the quorum of the three apostles constituting the First Presidency of the Church. 29 It requires a quorum of seventy men endowed with the apostleship to form a quorum equal in power and authority, yet subordinate in presidency to the Twelve apostles who constitute the second quorum in authority in the Church. 30 Moses, anciently left the burden of the people upon a quorum of seventy men who held the eys as a quorum and formed a unit equal in authority and power yet subordinate in presidency to Eleazar the son of Aaron. 31 The authority Peter, James and John held as a to two grand heads quorum is always subordinate to the authority of the two grand selfperpetuating priesthood offices.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 15 1 Had John the Baptist lived, he would have acted in the priesthood in concert with the Savior as Aaron acted in concert with Moses, and would have held authority in the Church over Peter, James and John. 2 The son of Zacharias, having held the eys of power, it was necessary for him to restore them. 3 For this reason he appeared with Moses on the Mount. 4 However, no man was made a priest after the order of Aaron on that occasion for John did not restore the office he had ta en to the grave with him until he appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, May 15, 1829. 5 A partial account of this we quote from the teachings of the Prophet. 6 In the first place, suffice it to say, I went into the woods to inquire of the Lord, by prayer, His will concerning me, and I saw an angel, and he laid his hands upon my head, and ordained me to a Priest after the order of Aaron, and to hold the eys of this Priesthood, which office was to preach repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and also to baptize. 7 But I was informed that THIS OFFICE did not extend to the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost; that that office was a greater wor , and was to be given afterward;

8 but that my ordination was a preparatory wor , or a going before, which was the spirit of Elias; for the spirit of Elias was a going before to prepare the way for the greater, which was the case with John the Baptist. (TPJS p. 335) 9 By the above we find that the office Aaron held does not, in itself, possess the authority to lay on hands to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost. 10 Let not the reader be confounded by this statement, because no earthly Church office whatever, has power and authority to lay on hands to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost. 11 This is done exclusively by the authority of the power to bestow gift of Holy Ghost Melchizede priesthood itself. 12 This priesthood is eternal in its nature, and therefore all blessings which are eternal, and are to continue with the faithful eternally, must be bestowed by its authority and power. 13 The Melchizede priesthood, which is as eternal as God, Himself, is the office which every faithful man who becomes a ing and a priest unto God, will hold in the eternal worlds over his own posterity. 14 This priesthood, when magnified, is what secures unto man the eternal rights pertaining to family government; thus enabling them to hold the sceptre of power over their own families in the eternal worlds, even as God holds that power over His family. 15 It is through magnifying the high priesthood that a man's dominion over his own ingdom will become everlasting, and shall flow unto him, without compulsory means, forever and ever. 16 There are many duties which come under the authority of all the higher offices, which are attended to by the authority of the office a man is given, and not necessarily by the authority of the Melchizede priesthood. 17 Therefore, it does not follow, because the Aaronic priesthood has authority in itself to perform outward ordinances, as does the Levitical priesthood, that Aaron did not hold the Melchizede priesthood, that through magnifying the same, his calling and election might be made sure. (See D&C 84:3234) 18 In order to perform all the wor assigned unto him, in presiding over the Lord's Sanctuary, and the Levites, the altar and all the holy things of the children of Israel, Aaron had to hold the Melchizede priesthood. 19 He had to receive all the ordinances pertaining to the priesthood and the Sanctuary of the Lord in order to come repeatedly into the presence of the Lord, as also to be able to perform these ordinances for others. * * * * * * * *

PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 16

1 That the order and organization through which God has dispensed the spiritual blessings of his church, to the members thereof, in the different ages of the world may be more fully understood, let us carefully examine what the Lord has revealed in these latter days concerning this branch of government. 2 This ramification of authority and government, pertaining to the Firstborn; authority and government preparatory to Church of the Firstborn, which has in its trust the dispensing of the spiritual blessings, together with the education and preparation of the people of the earth to receive the same, was legalized under the title of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, April 6, 1830, under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who at that time held the same authority that John the Baptist held.

4 Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging to my priesthood, that ye may hold the eys thereof, even the priesthood which is after the order of Melchizede , which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son. 5 First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you." (D&C 124:123124) 6 Next after the Patriarch, in this department of the Church of the Firstborn, there are to be three men holding the Melchizede priesthood, to constitute a quorum and Presidency;authority of First Presidency; who are also to receive the oracles for the whole Church and hold the eys of the ingdom subordinate to the Patriarch. 7 But in order for these to hold equal voting power in this capacity with the Patriarch holding the office Hyrum held, they must be united and act as a quorum. 8 The next quorum in authority over the Church is the quorum of the Twelve Traveling Council. 9 This quorum may also receive the oracles of God and the eys of the ingdom, to hold subordinate to the First Presidency, and forms a quorum equal in voting power and in authority over everything under them. 10 The next quorum in authority in the Church is the first Seventy; equal to Twelve in voting power Quorum of Seventy. 11 This quorum is subordinate to the Twelve but holds equal voting power with the same, and when necessary, may receive the oracles and eys of the ingdom, perform all the ordinances of the gospel, and lead the people into the Celestial ingdom. 12 This quorum did receive all of these things in the days of received eys & oracles under Moses, when he was laboring diligently to get all of the ordinances performed for the whole multitude, that they might come into the presence of God, as did the people of Enoch.

3 That more than one man at a time can hold eys pertaining to the Melchizede priesthood whereby spiritual blessings are given to those prepared to receive them, is explained by the Lord as follows:

13 When the ingdom of God is fully set up on the earth, it is the duty of the man who holds the office Moses held, to preside over all things pertaining thereunto and to properly coordinate all the different organizations of the priesthood that the people might be prepared to enter the terrestrial state. 14 The special duty of the grand patriarch, who holds the to preside over spiritual blessings second priesthood office, is to preside over the administration of the spiritual duties of blessings to the whole Church.

16 It is the special duty of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles to bear off the ingdom to the nations of the earth, gather the people, and regulate the affairs of the Church abroad. 17 It is the duty of the Seventy to assist the Twelve in all their labors, wherever necessary. 18 The man holding the priesthood sceptre and also the Presiding Patriarch and each of these three quorums, may possess the eys of nowledge and be appointed to perform all the ordinances necessary to ma e men's calling and election sure. 19 Also when it is necessary, those eys needed to perform the wor for the living and the dead, may be placed upon as many men holding the holy priesthood; special duties of quorums appointed by, Melchizede priesthood as may be needed to accomplish the purposes of the Lord, yet they are always subordinate and responsible to the authority that appoints them. 20 Before the winding up scene is consummated and the Savior comes in the clouds of heaven to ta e vengeance on the wic ed, it will be found necessary to call 144,000 men to assist in the great wor of performing the ordinances for all those who shall go into the terrestrial state, when the earth receives its paradisiacal glory. 21 Concerning this grand event we read from the Doctrine and Covenants: 22 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and fortyfour thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel twelve thousand out of every tribe? A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, indred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn. (D&C 77:11) 23 On this subject the Prophet Joseph Smith also stated: I am going on in my progress for eternal life. It is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your dead, but you will have to go through all the ordinances for them, the same as you have gone through to save yourselves. 24 There will be 144,000 saviors on Mount Zion, and with them an innumerable host that no man can number. 25 Oh! I beseech you to go forward, go forward and ma e your calling and

15 The special duty of the First Presidency is to preside over all the wor of the ministry in Zion in instructing and preparing the people to receive their of First Presidency blessings under the authority of the presiding Patriarch.

your election sure; and if any man preach any other Gospel than that which I have preached, he shall be cursed; . . . (TPJS p. 366) 26 When the 144,000 high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, are called to do this wor and appointed to hold this power, they will hold it, mind you, subordinate to the grand patriarch after the order of Seth, of John the Baptist, and Hyrum Smith; who will in turn hold that power under the man holding the office held by Enoch, Moses, John the Revelator and Joseph Smith the Prophet.

1 During the short administration of the Savior, he prepared only one quorum, of which we have record, on whom He placed these eys. 2 This quorum was formed by Peter, James and John, who constituted the Presidency; Peter, James and John First Presidency. 3 The Apostle John, besides acting as a counselor to Peter in the First Presidency of the Church, held the highest priesthood office. 4 But why did the Savior place the Presidency? Keys of the ingdom on the First Presidency instead of upon the Presiding Patriarch? Because that office was ta en from the earth at the death of existent upon earth John the Baptist. 5 After that time, the earth second grand head of priesthood is not mentioned in the New Testament as having existed upon the earth. 6 In the Prophet Joseph Smith's time, the situation was a little different; the priesthood and office John the Baptist held was the first priesthood to be restored. 7 This was followed by the restoration of the Melchizede priesthood. 8 As time went on the First Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve were organized. 9 Then, after the Temple was built at Kirtland, Moses, Elijah and John the Revelator; came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. 10 Prior to that time, Joseph had held the patriarchal office restored by John the Baptist. 11 After John the Revelator had committed the office which presides over all things, Oliver Cowdery was appointed to hold the patriarchal office. 12 These two were given the promise by John, that through them and their seed, all generations after them would be blessed; or in other words, through their successors in these two grand offices.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 17

13 Prior to the coming of Elias to the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836, to restore the highest priesthood office, Joseph the Prophet had functioned in two important capacities, simultaneously. First, he acted in the office of Presiding Patriarch, and second, as President of the Church. 14 After the coming of John the Revelator, he continued to function in a dual capacity. 15 Having had committed to him the office which presides over all things, he conferred the patriarchal office upon Oliver Cowdery, but continued to act as President of the Church. 16 Shortly before the death of the Prophet and Patriarch, the Kingdom; placed on Twelve by commission eys of the ingdom were placed upon the quorum of the Twelve. 17 This quorum, then, was made equal in holding the eys, with the quorum of the three constituting the First Presidency. 18 Therefore, there were four units which separately held the by four units eys of power and authority necessary to administer all the spiritual blessings of the Church to everyone under them. 19 These four units consisted of Joseph, the first grand head of priesthood; Hyrum, the second grand head of priesthood; the First Presidency, and the quorum of the Twelve. 20 At the very time that all hell was enraged and the host of the enemies of righteousness were combined to shed the blood of the prophets and destroy the ingdom of God from the earth, the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the forces of the Kingdom of God in such a manner that the enemy was baffled and their purposes thwarted. 21 He laid a foundation as firm as the Roc of Ages for the perpetuation of the ingdom of God upon the earth.

blessings of the Church rested upon Eleazar, the Patriarch and Mosesblessings rested upon Eleazar second grand head of priesthood. 23 After the Savior was crucified, the second grand priesthood office, not being on the earth, and the priesthood sceptre being hid from the world, the eys of the spiritual blessings rested with Peter, James and John, who constituted the First Presidency of the Church. 24 However, before the death of the Prophet power units before death Joseph Smith, he prepared three separate units holding the eys of power; any one of which could step forward and roll forth the ingdom whenever the Lord should direct. 25 The first of these three units, which according to the instructions of the Prophet, was to step forward after the martyrdom, and roll forth the ingdom before the world, was the quorum of Twelve, who had been given the eys just prior to the Prophet's death.

26 Concerning the authority placed on the Twelve at that time, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith stated:

22 After Moses was translated, the

eys of the spiritual of Moses

Moreover, a short time before his martyrdom the Prophet bestowed upon the Twelve Apostles who constituted the second quorum in the Church. All the eys and all the ordinances and Priesthood necessary for them to hold in order to carry on the great and glorious wor of universal salvation. (Scrap Boo of Mormon Literature 2:86) 27 Because the eys of the spiritual blessings were placed on the quorum of the Twelve at one particular time, for a very important reason, and because they were given the commission to come out before the world and carry the burden of the Kingdom; Placed on Twelve by commission Kingdom at that time, a great many have either supposed that all higher offices and authority were ta en from the earth, or else they have deceived themselves or been misled into believing that the apostleship of the Twelve is the highest authority pertaining to the Melchizede priesthood. 28 However, if those eys and that commission had not been placed on the quorum of the Twelve, all they could have done was carry on the proselyting wor of which the quorum of the Twelve by right of office holds the eys. 29 If these eys referred to had not been placed on that quorum before the martyrdom at Carthage, in order for the spiritual wor of the ingdom to have been carried on, either the First Presidency would have had to remain intact and hold them or one of the two grand heads of priesthood would have had to step forward to carry on. 30 This, however, was not the plan; for the Prophet had laid the foundation of a much wiser program.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED

S e c t i o n 18 1 The two grand priesthood offices, the first of which came down from before the foundaions of the earth and the second of which was instituted in the days of priesthood instituted in days of Adam to come down by lineage as explained in Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants, were restored to the earth for the last time. 2 If any man supposes that either of these two grand offices were ta en from the earth at the time of the martyrdom at Carthage, he is greatly mista en. 3 Both of these grand offices are selfperpetuating and they are the only offices pertaining to the priesthood and Church government that possess this power. 4 There is a great difference in the authority of the Patriarchs who receive their ordination under the authority of the Twelve and the authority of the Patriarch who holds the eys of power and the oracles of God as did Hyrum Smith.

5 A patriarch ordained under the authority of the Council of Twelve has no authority to perpetuate the office he holds. 6 However the Patriarchal office which was put upon Isaac, which Isaac put upon Jacob; and Jacob put upon Joseph; and Joseph put upon Ephraim, is a selfperpetuating office. 7 That this office and authority is what Hyrum Smith held is clearly indicated by the blessing he received under the hand of his father at the time he was appointed to hold this office in his father's stead. 8 We quote: I now as my Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ to bless thee with the same blessing which Jacob blessed his son Joseph, for thou art his true descendant, and thy posterity will be numbered with the house of Ephraim, and with them thou shalt stand up to crown the tribes of Israel; when they come shouting to Zion. 9 We also quote the blessing given to Hyrum by his father, just prior to the death of the latter: My son Hyrum, I seal upon your head your patriarchal blessing, which I placed upon your head before, for that shall be verified. In addition to this, I now give you my dying blessing. You shall have a season of peace, so that you shall have sufficient rest to accomplish the wor which God has given you to do. You shall be firm as the pillars of heaven to the end of your days. I seal upon your head the patriarchal power, and you shall bless the people. This is my dying blessing upon your head in the name of Jesus. Amen. (History of Joseph Smith by his mother, Lucy Smith, p. 309) 10 Hyrum's appointment to the patriarchal office by his father is mentioned by the Prophet Joseph in an epistle to the Twelve while on their mission to England. 11 You will also receive intelligence of the death of my father; which event, although painful to the family and to the Church generally, yet the sealing testimony of the truth of the wor of the Lord was indeed satisfactory. Brother Hyrum succeeds him as succeeds father Patriarch of the Church, according to his last directions and benedictions. (TPJS p. 177) 12 The right of the Firstborn which Melchizede appointed Abraham to hold was put upon Esaias and came down from him to Jethro as explained in Section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 13 Moses received this authority under the hand of Jethro, and therefore he stood as God to the people, holding the sceptre of power. 14 Aaron was given the grand patriarchal office and stood next to office stood next to Moses in priesthood authority. 15 These two great heads of priesthood held the only two selfperpetuating offices pertaining to earthly Church and priesthood government. 16 These two offices having been restored in these latter days for the last time, it stands selfevident that they were not ta en from the earth at the time of the martyrdom at Carthage. 17 The Prophet, having foreseen his departure from this life, expressed his

desire for Hyrum to remain and lead the Church after he was gone. 18 Had Hyrum lived, he would have been over Brigham Young in authority in the Church after the death of the Prophet as he was before. 19 The eys that were placed upon the quorum of Twelve shortly before the Prophet's death, were committed to Hyrum prior to that time, which eys he held single handed by virtue of the patriarchal office, as we see from the following testimony from the pen of Benjamin F. Johnson, which we again quote: 20 And now returning to the council and the last charge. Let us remember that by revelation he had organized the Holy Priesthood, and that by command of the Lord (D&C 124 and 125) had ta en from the First Presidency his brother by command of the Hyrum to hold as Patriarch, the sealing power, the first and highest honor due to priesthood; that he had returned the eys of endowments, to the last anointing, and sealing, together with the eys for the salvation for the dead, with the eternity of the marriage covenant and the power of endless lives . . . (Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson to George S. Gibbs, Ensign, Vol. I, No. 1011, pg. 11) 21 Here we find that Hyrum as well as Joseph held the sealing power which is the highest honor due to priesthood; and that Hyrum received from Joseph the eys that he received from Peter, James and John and held them single handed by virtue of the office he was appointed to by his fatherjust as Joseph held them earlier by virtue of the office he was appointed to by John the Baptist. 22 Elijah was the head prophet in Israel and held the same office, eys and authority pertaining to the Lord's sanctuary as did Aaron and Hyrum. 23 The office Elijah held was committed to Elisha and so on down to John the Baptist who received this office by appointment through his father, before witnesses while yet a child, as indicated in the first chapter of Lu e. 24 It is true that all the eys that were held by Aaron and Elijah have not yet been restored; yet the office Elisha received through appointment by Elijah together with the eys of the Holy apostleship came on down from Elisha to came from Elisha to John the Baptist. 25 That Hyrum held a higher office than Brigham at the time of the martyrdom is indicated by the following statement from Heber C. Kimball: 26 Brother Joseph has passed behind the veil, and he pulled off his shoes, and some one else puts them on, until he passes the veil to Brother Joseph. President Young is our President, and our head, and he puts the shoes on first. If Brother Hyrum had remained here, he would have put them on. Hyrum has gone with Joseph and is still his counselor. The Twelve have received the order of priesthood" eys of the Kingdom, and as long as there is one of them left, he will hold them in preference to anyone else." (Times and Seasons 5:664) 27 Although the burden of the Twelve was increased after the death of the Prophet and Patriarch and after the First Presidency of the Church was dissolved; yet, did the Twelve hold any higher authority, office, or eys after the martyrdom than they did before? Most assuredly not. 28 Because they were appointed as a quorum to lead the people, did that appointment place on any one of them the office Hyrum had held? Most assuredly not.

29 Did that appointment place on any one of them the sceptre Joseph had held? The very idea borders onto the absurd. 30 Did Brigham's seniority in the Twelve place on him the sceptre that Joseph the Prophet had held? Not any more than the priesthood office Christ held was put upon Peter, James and John when they were given the eys on the Mount. 31 Did Brigham Young's transfiguration before the people confer on him the priesthood sceptre and ma e him a modern Moses? Not any more than the fact that the waters of the river Jordan rolled bac , according to the words of Joshua, gave him the office Moses held. 32 Hyrum's successor in the Patriarchal office he held was over Brigham Young in priesthood authority just as much as Hyrum was. 33 No member of the quorum of the Twelve by virtue of the eys that were placed on that quorum, could inherit the office Hyrum had held, any more than the office John the Baptist had held, could be inherited by Peter, James or John because they received the eys on the Mount. 34 One of the reasons why the names of the successors of the Prophet and patriarch in the two grand selfperpetuating priesthood offices, were not published to the world, was to avoid another martyrdom. 35 The principal reasons, however, were undoubtedly to baffle the enemy, and outgeneral those who in the future should apostatize from the fulness of the gospel within the church as well as to thwart the evil purposes of the enemies of righteousness throughout the world. 36 These two offices were concealed and held in reserve to accomplish the future purposes of the Lord; and it was for this reason that the order of the priesthood was not followed strictly, in relation to the presentation of the authorities of the priesthood after the Church moved to the Roc y Mountains. 37 The second grand head of priesthood was held in the bac ground, that when the enemies of righteousness, from within the Church and from without, should hedge up the way of carrying out the commission that was placed on the Twelve by the Prophet Joseph, the man holding this office, could step forward and roll forth the ingdom. 38 Thus the stage was set for the second grand priesthood office to come to the fore at a critical time, supersede all lesser authority as John the Baptist did anciently, and prepare the way for the coming forth of the one mighty and strong as John the Baptist prepared the way for the Savior to come holding the sceptre of power. 39 Brigham Young, by virtue of seniority in the quorum of Twelve, could not possibly have succeeded Hyrum Smith in the office and authority he held, much less have inherited the priesthood sceptre of power held by Joseph the Prophet. 40 Neither of the two selfperpetuating priesthood offices can be inherited by virtue of seniority of ordination to any quorum or council; but any man who attains to either of these two offices, must be properly appointed thereunto, according to the law of the priesthood, as in former ages of the world. 41 We here wish to draw the attention of the reader to a historical event

in the life of a faithful and valiant old man by the name of John Smith, an uncle to the Prophet and a wise counselor to him, and who was prominent in the Church in his day. 42 He went to Carthage during the final incarceration of Joseph and Hyrum, in Carthage jail. 43 He visited Carthage jail late in the afternoon of June 26, 1844, the account of which is given as follows: 44 Patriarch John Smith came from Macedonia to jail to see his nephews, Joseph and Hyrum. The road was thronged with mobbers. Three of them snapped their guns at him, and he was threatened by many others who recognized him. The guard at the jail refused him admittance. 45 Joseph saw him through the prison window, and said to the guard, `Let the old gentleman come in, he is my uncle.' The guard replied they did not care who the hell he was uncle to, he should not go in. 46 Joseph replied, `You will not hinder so old and infirm a man as he is from coming in,' and then said, `Come in, uncle;' on which, after searching him closely the guard let him pass into the jail, where he remained about an hour. (TPJS p. 382383) 47 When this old patriarch left Carthage jail he had received the appointment to hold the patriarchal office and eys held by Hyrum, to hold in trust and to put upon one of Hyrum's sons who should qualify for that office. He had received the patriarchal priesthood before that time. 48 It was by the authority of this martyrdom patriarchal office that the First Presidency was again instituted after the martyrdom. 49 Through this authority the organization of the Church was perpetuated as in ancient times. 50 Let the reader here ta e careful note, that although many evangelical ministers were ordained under the hand of the Apostles in the dispensation of the meridian of time, none of them held the office which John the Baptist too with him when he departed this life and which he restored.

51 Li ewise, many patriarchs have been ordained in this last dispensation, yet none have held the office Hyrum held without having been properly appointed by their predecessor. 52 In due time the Patriarchy was put upon patriarchal office from uncle John John Smith, the son of Hyrum, who in turn put that grand office upon Joseph F. Smith, which office eventually was held by John W. Woolley. see Government of the Church of God by Thomas J. Liddiard, pages 133 and 134. 53 It is through this authority that the socalled Fundamentalist movement has been carried on upon an independent basis. 54 William Smith was ordained under the authority of the Twelve to the office of Patriarch to the Church. But he, having received this office under the authority of the Twelve, was subject unto them and did not hold the office of Patriarch over the Church in holding the eys of the spiritual blessings as did Hyrum.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED S e c t i o n 19 1 The Twelve Apostles were the highest quorum in authority in the Church after the martyrdom and they held the highest authority ever given to men in the flesh. 2 The highest authority consists of the eys and commission to perform all of the ordinances of the holy priesthood and all of the blessings necessary to ma e men's calling and election sure. 3 When a quorum of men receives all of those things, their ma es it complete apostleship becomes complete. 4 There may be any number of men the Lord should appoint, holding the apostleship, all assistants to the quorum of Twelve, and functioning in order under their direction; 5 yet the Twelve must function in harmony with the must function in harmony with First Presidency and the First Presidency must function in harmony with the authority through which they receive the oracles. 6 The First Presidency was dissolved when the Prophet Presidency dissolved at death of Joseph Smith was illed and the men holding the highest offices in the priesthood which remained, so far as the world was able to find out, were members of the quorum of Twelve. 7 All the Church, as well as the world, had ample opportunity to now who the members of that quorum were and it is well nown that the names of lesser officers were not held secret. 8 Yet there were men holding priesthood offices higher than the Twelve, whose names the Twelve would not ma e public, as stated by Heber C. Kimball in the same meeting during which the transfiguration of Brigham Young too place. 9 He said: There are men here brethren, who have got There are men here brethren" authority, but we don't want to mention their names, for the enemy will try to ill them." (Times and Seasons 5:663) 10 There were at that time, two men holding offices higher than the Twelve,

11 One of these two men who was present that day and witnessed the transfiguration, was a young man who had been with the Church from its infancy, who had waded through tribulations, and who when but twenty years of age was ta en captive by the mob at the time the Saints were being driven from the state of Missouri. 12 He had ta en active part in defending the Saints about the time Apostle

whose lives would have been placed in jeopardy, had not secrecy been with respect to the offices they held.

ept

David Patten was shot. 13 He was repeatedly threatened with death if he would not betray his brethren through divulging secrets which would jeopardize their lives. 14 Many were determined to see him shot and he was obliged to sleep in the open in the dead of winter in the midst of snow with no overcoat or covering and with the Haun's Mill and McBride murderers as his guards. 15 He was told his life would be spared if he would forsa e Mormonism. 16 However, his heart did not faint, nor did his nees tremble. 17 He was firmly resolved to lay down his life rather than to forsa e the gospel or betray his brethren. 18 The name of this man was Benjamin F. Johnson. 19 He became to the Prophet what John the Beloved was to the Savior. 20 He was the bosom friend and companion of the Prophet during the Prophet's lifetime, more so than any other man, and was more closely and intimately associated with him over a longer period of time than any other man, excepting the Prophet's own father and brothers. 21 He was adopted by the Prophet and sealed to him as a son. 22 He was appointed to stand at the head of the Prophet's posterity and given the priesthood sceptre which was held and restored by sceptre restored by John the Revelator and which constitutes the office which holds the eys over the the Firstborn; Benjamin F. Johnson held eys over Church of the Firstborn upon this earth. 23 This was ept secret by command of God, for this is the priesthood that was to be hid from the world, until the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled and the man holding this office should be called forth to usher in the times of Israel and set in order the house of God. 24 Shortly before the death of Benjamin F. Johnson, he called his grandson, Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr., who was also a grandson of the Prophet Joseph by adoption and sealing, to his bedside. 25 He gave him many instructions and said to him: When I die, my mantle will fall upon you, even as the mantle of Elijah fell upon Elisha, when he ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. 26 He told his grandson Dayer to stay on the front ran s of the Saints in their march to the South and to never go bac over the old trail, but to raise his family in Mexico. 27 He gave him a charge to use his influence to get all true Saints who would hear en, and especially his own posterity, to move to Mexico and stay there; 28 for, said he, The time is near at hand when the judgements of God will rest heavily upon the people of the United States; plagues will be poured out to the overflowing upon the whole land and the entire nation will be swept with the besom of

destruction. 29 He also said: The next great wor pertaining to the building up of the ingdom of God in the last days will transpire in the South, and the Lord has a great and important wor for you and your sons in that land. 30 Shortly before the death of Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr., he sent for his son F. LeBaron; Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr. sent for son, Joel F. LeBaron, who was at that time wor ing in the mountains in the region of the old Babicora Hacienda. 31 After a very pleasant and heartwarming visit, as Joel was about to depart, his father called him to his bedside and gave him a very strict and solemn charge. 32 He there put all of his earthly affairs in Joel's hands and put him under a covenant and promise to carry on the wor he had commenced, and to build on the foundation that he had laid, and said unto him: 33 When I die my mantle will fall upon you, even as the mantle of Elijah fell upon Elisha, and even as the mantle of my grandfather fell upon me; and you will have to round up your shoulders and bear it, because there is no one else qualified. I have tried to qualify your older brothers, but have only met with rebellion and opposition. 34 After having said these things, together with many other things, he laid his hands upon Joel's head and blessed him and appointed him to hold after he was gone, everything which he had received from Benjamin F. Johnson. 35 He told Joel that great things would be required at his hands, and said that the Lord would uphold him and strengthen him and give him wisdom to solve the many problems that would come before him in carrying out his life's wor . 36 He also gave him the promise at that time that he would not fail. 37 After this he called in our mother to be a witness of that which he had done. 38 I, Ervil M. LeBaron, was present and witnessed all of these proceedings. 39 This happened on or about the first day of February 1951, at our father's home near Galeana, in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. 40 Our father passed from this mortal existence on the 19th day of the same month, and from that day forth, Joel F. LeBaron has held the sceptre in Israel. 41 Having been commanded of God, he is now about setting the house of God in order, as foretold in the 85th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, and is dividing the wheat from the tares as foretold in Section 86. 42 He is now organizing the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, after the pattern established by Adam, Enoch, Abraham and established pattern after Joseph Smith the Prophet.

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PRIESTHOOD EXPOUNDED

S e c t i o n 20 1 Therefore, all those who will not believe the gospel as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith and comply with the law of the Lord as set forth in the 85th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, will find no inheritance among the people of God, and ere they are aware, the judgements of the Almighty will overta e them. 2 And those who are of the high priesthood, as well as those who are of the lesser priesthood, who reject these things and fail to come to this standard will shortly be severed from the ordinances of the house of God; and put forth from the priesthood as polluted. 3 The time is now upon us when the Lord must and will have a company of Saints who will follow Him to the cross, if needs be, to bear off the ingdom to the nations of the earth. 4 The great sifting time has now come and the test is being applied. 5 We invite all men who are truly interested in the cause of Zion and the rolling forth of the wor of the Lord and who are willing to support the principles of the gospel of peace as taught by Joseph Smith the Prophet and Jesus Christ, to come to the standard of truth, which is now being proclaimed. 6 In closing we quote from the word of the Lord concerning events pertaining to these last times. 7 And for this cause, that men might be made parta ers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity. 8 To prepare the wea for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord's errand in the day when the wea shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight. 9 And by the wea things of the earth the Lord shall thrash the nations by the power of his Spirit. 10 And for this cause these commandments were given; they were commanded to be ept from the world in the day that they were given, but now are ready to go forth unto all flesh. 11 And this according to the mind and will of the Lord, who ruleth over all flesh. 12 And unto him that repenteth and sanctified himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life. 13 And upon them that hear en not to the voice of the Lord shall be fulfilled that which was written by the prophet Moses, that they should be cut off from among the people. (D&C 133:5763)

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