Joseph Smith on Priesthood

8/7/2019 Joseph Smith on Priesthood

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/joseph-smith-on-priesthood 1/4

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rriestiioodpriest1166dmen in tbeirambitiontheir ambition have ever sought

for power to rule and to exercise a controlingtrohngfroling influence over their fellow menand generally but little regard has beenhad to the way and means oyby which theyhave come into possession of such powerneither when obtained has it been alwaysused with an eye single to the benefit or

salvation of mankind the desire weadmit is a very natural one from thefact that man is designed by god andcapacitatedcapacitated in his organization to bobe arurulerr inin a greater or less degree inin themany grades that exist from havinghaying ruleover his own passions propensities andpersonpersontothatto that of afamilyafmilyaf mily tribe communityor society a state or nationnation an empire ora kingdom and even his ambition may

Maspireas irelre to rule the world or like god perpcper radventadventuredentureentureureurc to sway the sceptresccptrosceptry of unnum-bered worlds

I1 all power is not immediately derivedfrom the same source but all legitimaterihightrightht of government is in the priesthood01of god tyrants and usurpersusurp ers underthe titles of emperors kings and prostloats have dominion upon thothe earthwhich has been obtained and is main-tained bypy thetho sword and by blood allaailali of which isis a usurpation of power gainedby might and not bby rightgbt the verysound of thothe word priesthoodrieshods&od to every

man who has a correct idea of the govern-ment of god imparts a sensation thateither elevates his soul with joy or if hebetoelssoalsseals its influence is not within his reachit abandons him to despair it impliesa divine right to govern and control ex-ercised by godygod and imparted to whom

lieileiioilollolio will and when held bymanby man underhis approbation is superior to every otherpowerower and therefore cannot virtuallyvirtuallvirtuvirtuallyallali beeebe called in question by any other Mthissright of government is so secured thatno man can take the honour or powerthereof unto himself for god calls whomhelie will and confers it upon him in hisown appointed way hence no man canobtain it without believing and confessingthat there is a medium of immediate com-municationmuni cation between him and his godand all men who are called as was aaronby direct revelation and ordained untothe holynolyai1i 01 y priesthood are ordained formen iinn things pertaining to god thatreconreconciliationcii iatlon maybemay be brought to passbass

by thisth is we learnearn that the priesthoodadministers in a perfect organization orgovernment because it isis the governmentI1overnmentgovernmentovern ment

ordained and upheld by aperilperieperfectct beingit is a holy and just authority because it

administers in things pertapentapertaininpertaininginin tto agodd19

and partakes of the virtue of allailalia I1 his at-tributes it is reasonable then for us toconclude that god would require obedienceand respect to bobe paid to his governmentwherever found and that those who holdthe Priestpriesthoodhoodbood should be recognized ashis messengers

upon a point so self evident we have noneed to reason further to authorize us toremark that in the administration of aperfect law there must be perfect obedi-ence to that law on the part of the sub-

jects who are governed byb itlti otherwisethere is a violation of thewe law whichmust be atoned for by the transgressorif it were not so the honour of the lawhw



595945915011 priesthoodwould not be maintained but the law of god being perfect not only provides forthe salvation of all through mercy but itis also armed with justice that its su-

premacy may be maintained by metingout a just recompense to the transgressorthis priesthood i is now among men

upon the earth andana is intuccetsfulinsucces&fulinsuccessful opera-tion

afor their salvation the king him-

self who holds all power in this priest-hood was upon the earth more thaneighteen hundred years ago and desiredto reign by virtue of it but mankindwould not suffer him ilehelie was holy butmanmen were so wicked they could not ap-preciatepreci ate his goodgoodnessnees nor his power

thereforethey

destroyed him and wouldnot suffer him to live upon the earthand what was the result that sameholy power and saving influence whichhebe possessed hebe conferred upon menwho were not so perfect as himself andordained them to be the medium of hispower that peradventure their labourslaboureand ministrations might be more adaptedto the low grovellinggro velling and degraded con-dition of those who were to receivereceive themand because of it bobe better appreciated

than hislaboursandhislabourslaboure

and motives werethe minds of men generally are notcapacitated to recelreceivelyelrerye thethei ministiminiatiministrationsationsactions of perfect beings hencehericehelice each grade of intel-ligencesreligenig eltcoscescs is administered unto by the nextabove in capacity power and glory likeunto the way of life toatonto a saint which is fromgrace to grace and from faith to faithliving by that which is in part until thatwhich is perfect shall come when thegovernment of god is thoroughly estab-lished upon the earth through the imme-diate agency of men and angelsarigels undergods own supervision and has so fargained the susupremacymacy over contendingpowers that tiretEreteremacythec kings person can besafe among men and be duly honouredhonouredbbyY themhem then will he again come to reignand bring in that abicwbicwhichh is perfect thenshall auniversal day of peace and righteous-nessneasbenessbebe enjoyed by those who inherit theearth for the king has decreed that allwho cannot abide and honour the perfectadministration of his laws in that dayshall be

destroyed fromootoff oftorf the earthAccordingaccordingtbtb exampleskamples which are re-

corded in sacredsd dredgred writ and which haveactually been witnessedd bby many of thesaints of thethilthalthat present dlipensatloridlipetisraldli menare called to recreceive6iv6 64 vriosthobtpritfetnootl hnanddin yirttwvirtueofitontionty perfonrrperfor5i att c6thihcferttiin work

for whichwbieh they seem adapted and after-wards they are suffered to dishodisbodis honournour thatpriesthood by using the influence whichthey have gained to lead others astrayand

therebydishonourhonourdis and reproach have

at times been brought upon those whoconsidered it a duty to listen to theircounselcoungboungel by being enabled thus to ac-complishcom plish their covetous lustful and un-lawful ends they have brought disgracedisgraceand suffering upon others incurreincurredincurred thewrath ok or god and the disapprobation of his people upon themselves and thepower of the priesthood has altogetherdeparted from them for its virtue willnot abide with those who violate its laws

because of these facts and the apparentimpoimpotootlonafoottono of or inelmeninclinch ulotioiluti WHOIIIw110111 001ooiolodconfers authority the question is some-times asked to what extent is obedienceto those who holdboldhoidboid the priesthood requiredthis isis a very important question and onewhich should be understood by all saintsin attempting to answer this questionwe would repeat in short what we havealready written that willing obedience tothe laws of god administered by thepriesthood is indispensable to salvation

but wewould

furtheradd

thata proper

conservative to this power exists for thebenehtof bcneft6f all and none are zrequiredequiredi&totamely and blindly submit to a man bbe-cause hebe has a portion of the priesthoodwe have heardbeard men who holdboldhoid the priest-hood remark that theywouldthey would do any thingthey were told to do by those who pre-sided over them if ifjiheytreythey knew it waswrong but sucllobdisuch owdfencef ence as this is worsethan folly adustdus it is slavery in the ex-treme and the man who would thus wil-lingly degrade himself should not claima rank among intelligent beings untilheuntil heturns from his folly A man of god whoseeks for the redredemptionm tion of his fellowswould despise the idtideidea of seeing anotherbecome his slave who hadbad an equal right r

with himself to the favour of god hohewould rather seosee him stand by his side asworn enemy to wrong so long as therewas place found for it among menothers in thetbeabe extreme exercise of theiralmighty 1 hutiutauthorityhority have taught that

suchobedience was

necessary and thatno matter what the saints were told to dordoidotby their presidents they should do itvitwithoutvii houthoui ashirigasklrig any questions

when the eldersh1derseidershoders of israel will s lifarqifareiganQi garfargan f

inindulge16 e in these extreme notiobotionotionsiofppbnstofrobtadlencediencediance as to tcachthemtoteach theal to thethepcopleyitip9004



priesthood 595

is generally because they have it in theirhearts to do wrong themselves and wishto pave the way to accomplish that wrongor else because they have done wrong and

wish to use the cloak of their authority tocover it with lest it should habo discoveredby their superiors who would require anatonement at their hands

wewo would ask Fforor what is the priest-hood given unto men it is that theymay have a right to administer the law of god have they then a right to makevoid that I1lawaw verilvenilvernlyverily nono when thothelaw of gogodd has gone orthforth from his ownmouth anandd been declared by the mouthsof his prophets and apostles saying11

thoushalt not lie who canpan saystay by the

vhtuetirtuetirtle of his priesthood you mamay lie andbe approved the lord and afisifisllis pro-phets havohwohave declared it as a law unto hispeople 11 thou shalt not commit adulterythen who can say thou ramayestest commitadulteryad ulten and it will be no 65sin it is writ-ten as a law unto the saints 11 thou shaltshallshaitnotrotpotrnotot kill then we ask again who cankillhill and be forgiven and in like mannenren itmightitmghb bobe asked of all the laws of god who has thothe rihightrightdightlit to make themvoid none canpareancar ravolirovok kovok cpe the 4pcrcc4pfce buthutilimbywboinitwasnimhim by whom it was given nemnewneitherier canthe laws of god be trampled upon withimimpunitynityanity or revokedrevolted by a lesser powerthiuthauthan that by which thoythey were framed itis written of god that he cannot lieuoilo thennonedonerone need suppose that ilehellelie will approve of it through his authority which is on theearth neither is lieilelle the son of man thatliehelleile should repent therefore ileholio will main-tain the law by which his kingdom isgoverned should any think that tileytheycan giveglyeglye counsel to gratify their lustslustlutts or

answer avaricious ends and sysaysky no onooneseeth us while they indulge therein anddelightde light in sin as a sweet morsel theytirey willvilllearn wh sorrow that an eyewhieheyeeyo which neversleepssheps has been upon their path and hoileliothat seeth in secret shall mako manifestand reward openly every man accordipgaccordingaccord pgipgto his deeds whether good or evil i

if a man could have as much authorityasa the almighty it would not authorizehim to do wrong nor coursel another todo wrong and the man that will ad-

minister with partiality for the sake of screening iniquity will find hisills stewardabsbsrimslimslin willwili be feikentakenftiken fvmhlmfrom himtnin MMadministeringinhterinj th6govmthe govenontofgd jqnujfbqdthere are three parties coneorrieac60de azviztheVICelcele subject waillwhctw1ill is governed thetho person

who governs and the person by whosepermission or under whose agrobationjapprobationhohe governs should a person be0 requiredto violatevio lateaa known law by his Presipreslpresidentdentidents

or if heis

notsatisfied

withthe counsecounsel

couns6which liehelleile gives hebe should not openly rebelagainst that president but if ttheyey cannotsee eye to eye he should appeal privately tothe next higher power or president andandrwherowberoabero three are thus brought togetherwho have a sspiritirit to do right riglitmillhightrighteight willprevailrevall and pharmonharmony be maintainedwhile such is the clacterclachercharacter of ghodsigodsigods11government that its genius and policy areto the end that iniquity may be sweptfrom off the earth persons need not think to excuse themselves for performing a1.1known unlawful act simply because theytheswere told to do it by another if such anexcuse as this would justify none wouldever need to comecomo under condemnationfor men would be sure to find some oneon whom to lay the burden of their sinsthe day has come when every oneoneronor mayexpect to answer for their own sins with-out attempting to cloak them with anothers priesthood

great is the responsibility of that manwhojswhoswho ja j3 called to give counsel which in-volves

ini i

the salvation of another and whensuch counsel is given it should be of thatpuropure character that the powers above himupon the oarthearth with angels and god camcawcahapprove lieileilollolio will then have no occasionto destroy his own influence and powerby telling others that it will be no sinfor them to commit adultery to lieor steal &cac &cac if they are told to doit by the priesthood and thereby per-vert the right ways of the lord and bringreproach upon thothe honour of his cause

the lord asks for no such confidencein his priesthood as this neither do goodmen who are under its influence thepriesthood never demands a wrong atthe handsbands of another though men whohold the priesthood may make such a dewde-mand

w

as hashaabas sometimes been tbocasethetho casecaso andfor which they have had to suffer

where the authority of f god lsiisiis thereshould the confidence of all men be re-posed sufficiently to obey its lawsbutnotlaw but notnodto violate them for we have not yet

learned that it has power enough tbtbsavesavthe transgressor in his sins some menhave been so wisewiso as to think the littleauthority they had was sufficient for themto set aside law and revelation and melgout justice and judgment upon theiriheii6ownwn



596 HISTORY OFor JOSEPH SMITH

responsibility but in the end they have are under the greatest restrictions thefound that responsibility to be greater law of their sphere is greater than that of than they could bear those who are less inin power and the re-

strictionsthese sentiments are not advanced with strict ions and penalty of that law are pro-portionably

the idea of defining thelimits

of divineportion ably

greattherefore

they areauthority nor that any one can find lan-guage

under the greater obligation to maintainage to portray the extent of the rights the virtue of the law and the institutions9andanad powers of the priesthood for to of god otherwise confidence could not

fully comprehendm rehendprehend it would be to comerocompro be reposed in them but distrust and evilhendbend coxcouGgod but they are offered with the surmisingssurm isings would be the result disaffec-

tionconsideration that saints may be led to would be found lurking in everyasjesjeseethe7tbe skill and wisdom manimanifestedfesA in its avenue of society and by thus severingorganization how safely it is guarded the cords of union it would prove thethofrom the impositions of men and the im-possibility

destruction of any peopless bultbuit of sin prevailing where it is A voice from the heavens hasbagbas againyudulyly aandiiiliiailiil wisely administered and that been heardbeard breaking the silence of ages

none need be imposed upon if they under-stand

with a purpose and determination tothe rights and priviprivilegesi 1 Iageseges wwhichhichaich it establish thethu kiii8doinlilngiloiii of god and lntkazintrust

guarantees to them then if they donotdo biot jiot duce a celestial government upon theavail themselves of those nightright they are earth and if mankind will respect andleft without excuse extreme exercise of obey those laws when revealed to thempower in cases of such importance and theythei shall be saved and inherit a celestialupon matters of such infinite moment glory therefore had we a voice like thotheshould be studiously avoided when we sound of the trump of the archangelconsider that every one must render a that could be heardbeard by all living or hadfaithful account of his stewardship we the power of a god to penetrate and

some have supposed that the more au-thority

make every heart to feel and realize themen have in the kingdom of god truth we would proclaim it abroad in the

thefreagreaterter is their liberty to disregard earscars of all living repent ye repent yeiycyel

I1 V

hisHishawssTawslaws and that their greatness con-sists

for the hour of gods judgment has comein thbirtheir Alalmostmosto unlimited privi-

legesI1 anandd theither transgressor shallshailshali verishfromibtpcrishfromoft

which leave them without re-strictions

the earth while the meek shall be re-deemedstrict ions but this is a mistaken idea to inherit it for over

those who are the greatest inin authority

HISTORY OF JOSEPH smit41rS MINIMI

Continuedcontinuedfrontpagecontinuedfromfrom page 585.585

again judge rylandwrote amos

reese esq circuitcircitit attorney of the samecounsel as follofollowsvvs

lexington nov 242118331833

dear sir I11 have been requested bythe governor to inform him about theoutrageous acts of unparalleled violencethat have lately happened in jackson countyand have also been requested to examine in-to these outrages and take steps to punishthe guilty and screen the innocent

I1 cannot proceed unless some person shallbe willing to make the proper informationbefore me I1 now request you to inform mewhether the mormonscormons are willing to takelegal steps against thetho citizens of jacksoncounty whether they wish to return thereorop not and let me know all the matters con

nectednecked with this unhappy affair

itwill be

necessary for you to see thothe persons injuredand be informed of their desires and intendstionseions the military force will repair to jackson county to aid the execution of anyorder I1 make on this subject be particularin your information to me I1 am willing togo any time to jackson county for the purpose of holdingofholding a court of inquiry and bindingover to keep the peace such persons as I1 shallthink ought to beb berestrainedrestrained

it is a disgrace to the state for such actsactto happen within its limits and the disgrac6disgracewill attach to our official characters if woweneglect to take proper means to ensure thopunishment dueduo such offenders PI1 wish to know whether joshua Llewialewlalewisewisand hiram page handed the writ to thethothisheriff of jackson county that I1 made andissued on their affidavit against some of thothe

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Joseph Smith on Priesthood