ITS PRIESTHOOD, ORGANIZATION, DOCTRINES, ORDINANCES AND HISTORY.  
BY ELDER JOHN JAQUES.
 
PRIESTHOOD.
 
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there are two Priesthoods—the Melchisedek, and the Aaronic, the latter including the Levitical.
 
The Melchisedek is the higher Priesthood, comprising apostles, patriarchs, high priests, seventies, and elders, and holds the right of presidency, with the authority to administer in all or any of the offices, ordinances, and affairs of the Church. "The power and authority of the higher or Melchisedek Priesthood is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church, to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the First-born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant."
 
An apostle has the right to administer in the various offices of the Church, especially in spiritual things. So also, according to their respective callings, have a patriarch, a high priest, a seventy, and an elder. But the special office of a patriarch is to give patriarchal blessings, and the particular calling of a seventy is to travel and preach the Gospel and to be an especial witness in all the world, building up the Church and regulating {435} the affairs of the same in all nations, under the direction of the higher authorities of the Church.
 
All officers superior to elders are frequently termed elders. The duties of an elder are thus defined: "An apostle is an elder, and it is his calling to baptize; and to ordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons; and to administer bread and wine, the emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ; and to confirm those who are baptized into the Church, by the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures; and to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the Church; and to confirm the Church, by the laying on of the hands, and the giving of the Holy Ghost; and to take the lead of all meetings. The elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God."
 
The Aaronic, with the Levitical, Priesthood is a subordinate priesthood. It is called the lesser Priesthood because it is an appendage to the Melchisedek or higher Priesthood, and acts under its direction and supervision.
 
The Aaronic Priesthood comprises bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons, and has power to administer in certain ordinances and in the temporal affairs of the Church. "The power and authority of the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the Gospel—the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;" also to sit as a common judge in Israel.
 
The bishopric is the presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same. "The office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things." First-born sons, literal descendants of Aaron, have a legal right to the bishopric. No other man has a legal right to the presidency of this Priesthood, and a first-born descendant of Aaron must be designated by the First Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood, "and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained under the hands of this presidency," before he is legally authorized to officiate in the Priesthood. "But as a high priest of the Melchisedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood."
 
A bishop who is a first-born descendant of Aaron can sit as a common judge in the Church without counselors, except when a president of the High Priesthood is tried. But a {436} bishop from the High Priesthood must not sit as a judge without his two counselors. In both cases the jurisdiction of bishops is original, but not exclusive.
 
Over all the other bishops in the Church there is a presiding bishop, with two counselors. William B. Preston is the present presiding bishop, and Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder are his counselors.
 
The duties of a priest are "to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament, and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties; and he may ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons; and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present; but when there is an elder present he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the priest is to assist the elder, if occasion requires."
 
The duties of a teacher are "to watch over the Church always, and be with and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking; and see that the Church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty; and he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest."
 
The duties of a deacon are to assist the teacher in his duties in the Church, if occasion requires. But deacons have more especially to do with temporalities and are expected to see that the meeting houses are in comfortable condition for the use of the officers and members of the Church in their various meetings. It is also the duty of the deacons, under the direction of the bishops, to look after the welfare of the poor, and endeavor to supply their necessities.
 
Teachers and deacons are "appointed to watch over the Church, to be standing ministers unto the Church." "But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands. They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ."
 
No man can hold any office in the Priesthood, in either kind, unless by authoritative call and ordination, or by special appointment of God.
 
As a general rule, though with some limitations, an officer in the Priesthood has power to ordain men to the same office {437} that he holds, when the candidates are properly called and vouched for.
 
ORGANIZATION.
 
The First Presidency of the Church, also known as the First Presidency of the High Priesthood, consists of a president and two counselors. Wilford Woodruff is the present president, and George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith are his two counselors. It is the duty of the First Presidency to preside over the affairs of the Church, and they can officiate in any or all of its offices. "Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding high priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church, form a quorum of the presidency of the Church." "The duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole Church, and to be like unto Moses." "Yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the Church."
 
The Twelve Apostles are a traveling presiding high council, next in order of authority to the First Presidency. On the death of the President of the Church, the presiding authority falls on the next council in precedence, which is the council of the Twelve Apostles, and continues with that council until another First Presidency is installed. The presidency of the council of the Twelve Apostles is decided by seniority or ordination. The duties of the Twelve Apostles are to preach the Gospel and build up the Church and regulate the affairs of the same in all nations, under the direction of the First Presidency. It is the privilege and duty of the council of the Twelve Apostles, when sent out, to open the Gospel door to the various nations of the earth, and, when they need assistance, it is their duty to call preferentially on the Seventies to fill the calls for preaching and administering the Gospel.
 
The Seventies are organized into various councils of seventy, commonly termed quorums. Each council of seventy has seven presidents, chosen out of the seventy, one of the seven presiding over the others and over the whole seventy. The seven presidents of the first council of seventies also preside over all the councils of seventies. There are now one hundred and three councils of seventies, seventy members in each council when it is full.
 
In each Stake of Zion the High Priesthood assemble in council at stated times, perhaps once a month, for counsel and {438} instruction in their duties, with a president and two counselors presiding over them.
 
Elders are organized in councils of ninety-six, each council with a president and two counselors.
 
Priests are organized in councils of forty-eight, each with a president and two counselors. This president must be a bishop.
 
Teachers are organized in councils of twenty-four, each with a president and two counselors.
 
Deacons are organized in councils of twelve, each with a president and two counselors.
 
At the gathering places of the Latter-day Saints, the branches of the Church are organized into Stakes of Zion. In Utah these stakes are generally, but not necessarily, coextensive with counties. Each stake has a president, with his two counselors, and has also a high council, consisting of twelve high priests. The president of a stake, with his two counselors, presides over the high council of that stake. The jurisdiction of the high council of a stake is appellate in most cases, but original in some. The decisions of a high council are usually, but not invariably, final. On an appeal from the decision of a high council, a hearing and decision can be had from a general assembly of the various councils of the Priesthood, which is the end of controversy in the Church, but such appeals are very rarely taken.
 
The jurisdiction of all councils in the Church is ecclesiastical, extending to fellowship and standing only, the extreme judgment in all cases being excommunication.
 
Each stake is divided into an irregular number of wards, over each of which a bishop, with his two counselors, presides.
 
Each ward has its own meeting house, as a rule.
 
Each stake has also its own meeting house generally, for the holding of conferences and other meetings. In Utah and adjacent Territories and States there are thirty-two stakes, comprising about four hundred and twenty-five bishops' wards. Salt Lake City is divided into twenty-two wards, the usual size of each of which is a square of nine ten-acre blocks, though most of the wards in the outskirts are considerably larger.
 
Each stake as a rule holds a quarter-yearly conference, usually continuing two days.
 
The church holds two general conferences yearly. They are held almost invariably in April and October, commencing on the sixth day of each of those months, and generally lasting three or four days. Occasionally special general conferences are held.
 
{439}
DOCTRINES.
 
The Latter-day Saints believe in the Bible as an inspired record of the dealings of God with men in the eastern hemisphere, and consequently believe in the creation or organization of the heavens and the earth by the word of God.
 
They believe that God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and that they were cast out therefrom for transgression, thereby bringing suffering and death into the world, including banishment from the presence of God.
 
That Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that by his death he made atonement for the sins of Adam and of the whole world, so that men, by individual acceptance of the terms, can have their own sins forgiven or remitted and be reconciled to God.
 
That in order to obtain this forgiveness or remission and reconciliation, men must have faith in God and in Jesus Christ, repent of and forsake their sins, be baptized for the remission of them, have hands laid upon them by authorized ministers for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and live a pure life, keeping the commandments of God and walking in holiness before him.
 
That members of the Church should partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, at stated times, and assemble frequently to worship God and to be instructed in regard to their duties and privileges.
 
That it is the duty of the members of the Church to pay first a tenth part of their property, and afterward a tenth of their increase or income for the advancement of the work of God.
 
That revelations from God and miraculous manifestations of his power were not confined to the apostolic and earlier ages, nor to the eastern hemisphere, but may be enjoyed in this age or in any dispensation or country.
 
That the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are revelations from God, the former being an inspired record of his dealings with the ancient inhabitants of this continent and the latter consisting of revelations from him in this dispensation.
 
That he gave revelations to Joseph Smith and inspired him to translate the Book of Mormon and to organize the Church of Christ anew upon the earth in our day.
 
{440} That this is the dispensation of the fulness of times, in which all things will be gathered together in one, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth.
 
That the Gospel must be preached in all the world for a witness, and then the end shall come.
 
That those who believe in the Gospel and receive the testimony of the servants of God should gather themselves together as one people upon this continent, to build up communities, cities, and temples to the name of the Lord, and to establish Zion, that they may escape the judgments which God is about to send upon the wicked, and be prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ to take upon him his power and reign on the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
That men and women should not indulge in the lusts of the flesh, and thereby corrupt, debase and destroy themselves and others.
 
That marriage, whether monogamic or polygamic, is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, when such marriage is contracted and carried out in accordance with the law of God.
 
That the ten commandments are as binding now as when delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai, and that the two supreme commandments, into which Jesus Christ resolved the ten, are, with the ten, as binding now as when he was upon the earth in the flesh; which two commandments are as follows: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
 
That every man is free to accept or reject the Gospel, but that he cannot receive remission of sins, nor be reconciled to God, nor enjoy eternal life in his presence, on any other terms than obedience to the Gospel.
 
That men will be rewarded or punished according to their works, whether good or evil.
 
That the dead, who did not obey the Gospel in this life, can hear and accept of it in the spirit world, their mortal relatives or friends attending to the ordinances of the Gospel in their behalf.
 
That all mankind will be resurrected from the dead and will come forth to judgment and receive either reward or punishment, which will be various in degree, according to capacity, merit, and demerit.
 
That the earth glorified will be the dwelling place of resurrected, glorified and immortal beings, who will have {441} previously passed their mortal probation thereon, and that they will dwell upon it forever in the light and knowledge and glory of God.
 
ORDINANCES.
 
There are certain ordinances connected with the Gospel, most of which are essential to complete salvation, and all are desirable to be observed under proper circumstances.
 
The first ordinance is the baptism of water for the remission of sins. "Baptism is to be administered in the following manner unto all those who repent: The person who is called of God, and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented him or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name, 'Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.' Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water."
 
Baptism is analogous to the door of the Church. No person can become a member without baptism, and no person is eligible for baptism without repentance of sins committed. Consequently the candidate must have arrived at the years of accountability, and be capable of repentance. "All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the Church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his Church."
 
Children are eligible for baptism on attaining the age of eight years, previous to which age they are not considered accountable before God for their transgressions.
 
No person who has been excommunicated from the Church can be re-admitted without repentance and baptism as at the first.
 
Baptism for the dead is administered in a similar manner to baptism for the living, a living person acting as proxy for the dead person on whose account the baptism is administered.
 
After baptism the candidates are confirmed members of the Church by the laying on of hands, that they may receive the Holy Ghost.
 
The duty of "every member of the Church of Christ having {442} children, is to bring them unto the elders, before the Church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name."
 
The laying on of hands is an ordinance also in the giving of patriarchal or other blessings to members of the Church, in ordination to office in the Priesthood, in setting persons apart to particular duties or callings or missions, and in administering to the sick in connection with anointing with consecrated oil and the prayer of faith.
 
In regard to the ordinance or sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the members of the Church are required to meet together often to partake of the bread and wine (or water, when pure home-made grape wine cannot be had) in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. An elder, a bishop or a priest can administer it. Usually the officer officiating breaks the bread into small pieces, kneels with the members of the Church assembled, and calls upon God, the Father, in solemn prayer, saying, "O God, the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen."
 
After the members have partaken of the bread, the person officiating takes the cup and engages in prayer, saying, "O God, the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine [or water] to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen."
 
There is also the ordinance of marriage.
 
No person has authority to preach the Gospel, or administer in any ordinance thereof, unless he holds the Priesthood, and then to administer only in such ordinances as the particular office to which he has been ordained empowers him and often only by special calling and appointment.
 
HISTORY.
 
In the spring of 1820, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared in vision to Joseph Smith, at Manchester, {443} Ontario County, New York, while he was praying for wisdom. During several years following he enjoyed the ministration of angels, and received from them much instruction in the things of God.
 
On the 22d of September, 1827, an angel of the Lord delivered into his hands the metal plates which contained the ancient record known as the Book of Mormon, engraved in reformed Egyptian characters, and hid in the earth by divine direction about fourteen hundred years ago. In 1829 the plates were shown by an angel to three witnesses. Afterward eight witnesses saw them, and handled some of them. The testimony of these eleven witnesses is published with the Book of Mormon. With the plates was found a Urim and Thummim, consisting of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate, by means of which Joseph Smith translated the record into English by the gift and power of God.
 
On the 15th of May, 1829, John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, laid his hands upon them, and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, in the following words: "Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys 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 taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."
 
The same year the ancient apostles, Peter, James and John appeared to them and ordained them to the apostleship of the Melchisedek Priesthood.
 
On the 6th of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, with six members, at Fayette, Seneca County, New York, by Joseph Smith, then twenty-four years old, who was instructed and empowered to that purpose by revelation from God. The Book of Mormon was printed at Palmyra, New York, and published the same year.
 
The Church rapidly increased in numbers and many located at Kirtland, Ohio.
 
In 1831, ............