,,items ,,on ,,the ,,priesthood ,,presented ,,to ,,the ,,latter ,,day ,,saints ,,by ,,president ,,john ,,taylor 99 99 99 99 ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1 ,,utah 99 99 99 99 #ahii ,,the ,,following ,,items ,,on ,,priesthood ,,are ,,presented ,,to ,,the ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,by ,,president ,,john ,,taylor4 99 99 99 99 ,as there is more or less uncertainty existing in the minds of many of the ,bishops and others in regard to the proper status and authority of the ,bishopric and what is denominated the ,aaronic or ,levitical ,priesthood1 ,i thought it best to lay before the brethren a general statement of the subject1 as contained in the ,bible and ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants4 ,with this view1 ,i have made copious extracts from both of the above sacred records1 and so arranged them that they can be readily comprehended by those who hold the ,priesthood and are conversant with the holy order of ,god2 adding only such remarks1 for explanation1 as the plain statements warranted2 preferring to give generally the simple quotations1 and to let them speak for themselves4 ,in the elucidation of this subject ,i have necessarily had to refer1 more or less1 to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 as the two ,priesthoods are inseperably united1 the one with the other4 ,i have also given a brief ,scriptural synopsis of the ,levitical ,priesthood1 as recorded in the ,old ,testament4 ,the following views have been submitted to the ,council of the ,twelve and have received their sanction2 they were also laid before the ,priesthood ,meeting at the ,semi-,annual ,conference1 held in the ,assembly ,hall1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,october #ith1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahhj1 and were unanimously accepted by the large body of ,priesthood present on that occasion4 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,aaronic ,,priesthood4 ,,as ,,contained ,,in ,,the ,,bible4 ,first4--,the ,aaronic1 or ,levitical ,priesthood1 spoken of in the revelations as being lesser than the ,melchizedek2 ,aaron was made the mouthpiece of ,moses1 while ,moses was as a ,god to ,aaron4 ,the ,lord having called ,moses to deliver ,israel1 the ,prophet realized his weakness and plead to be excused4 ,we quote from the ,scriptures3 ,and the anger of the ,lord was kindled against ,moses1 and he said1 ,is not ,aaron the ,levite thy brother8 ,i know that he can speak well4 ,and also1 behold1 he cometh forth to meet thee3 and when he seeth thee1 he will be glad in his heart4 ,and thou shalt speak unto him1 and put words in his mouth3 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and with his mouth1 and will teach you what ye shall do4 ,and he shall be thy spokesman unto the people3 and he shall be1 even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth and thou shalt be to him instead of ,god4--,ex4 iv1 #ad-af4 ,it would seem from the foregoing that the ,lord was angry with ,moses1 because he doubted the ability of ,god to sustain him and to enable him to speak3 ,and the ,lord said unto him4 ,who hath made man's mouth8 or who maketh the dumb1 or deaf1 or the seeing1 or the blind8 have not ,i the ,lord8 ,now therefore go1 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and teach thee what thou shalt say4 ,and he said1 ,o1 my ,lord1 send1 ,i pray thee1 by the hand of him whom thou wilt send4--,ex4 iv1 #aa-ac4 ,the ,lord further says3 ,and thou shalt take this rod in thine hand1 wherewith thou shalt do signs4--,ex4 iv1 #ag4 ,and the ,lord said to ,aaron1 ,go into the wilderness to meet ,moses4 ,and he went1 and met him in the ,mount of ,god1 and kissed him4 ,and ,moses told ,aaron all the words of the ,lord who had sent him1 and all the signs which he had commanded him4--,ex4 iv1 #bg-bh4 ,these are that ,aaron and ,moses1 to whom the ,lord said1 ,bring out the children of ,israel from the land of ,egypt according to their armies4 ,these are they which spake to ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt1 to bring out the children of ,israel from ,egypt3 these are that ,moses and ,aaron4--,ex4 vi1 #bf1 #bg4 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses and ,aaron in the land of ,egypt4--,ex4 xii1 #a4 ,it may be noticed that ,aaron was with ,moses1 that ,god called him and spake to him and ,moses1 and that he assisted in bringing the message to ,pharaoh1 and was a prophet to ,moses before he held the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 or before that ,priesthood known to us as the ,aaronic or ,levitical ,priesthood was given4 ,but it would seem also that the ,lord spake to ,aaron himself2--how and on what principle8 ,the ,lord also said to ,moses1 ,i will be with thy mouth1 and with his mouth1 and will teach you what ye shall do4 ,and ,aaron spake all the words which the ,lord had spoken unto ,moses1 and did the signs in the sight of the people4 ,the ,lord had before spoken to ,moses on this subject2 he now spake to ,aaron4 ,hence ,paul says1 ,no man taketh this honor unto himself3 but he that is called of ,god as was ,aaron4 ,what did the ,lord say to him8 ,go into the wilderness to meet ,moses4 ,and then ,moses told ,aaron all the words of the ,lord1 who had sent him4 ,moses was thus his instructor and guide1 or in other words1 acted as a ,god to him4 ,thus1 ,aaron being selected to assist ,moses and to be his mouthpiece1 went with him to ,egypt1 and was with him in his intercourse with ,pharaoh1 and in the deliverance of the children of ,israel from ,egypt4 ,but ,moses always took the lead1 and when ,moses' father-in-law1 ,jethro1 met him1 ,moses sat to judge the people not ,aaron3 and the people stood by ,moses1 from the morning unto the evening4 ,and when ,jethro saw the excessive labors of ,moses1 he counseled him1 ,if ,god should command him to choose able men to be rulers of thousands1 of hundreds1 of fifties1 and of tens2 to judge the smaller cases1 while ,moses should have charge of the most important4 ,thus ,moses1 and not ,aaron1 was the most prominent personage in these matters4 ,we further find that ,aaron was permitted to go up to ,mount ,sinai4 ,and the ,lord said unto him ,moses1 ,away1 get thee down1 and thou shalt come up1 thou1 and ,aaron with thee3 but let not the ,priests and the people break through to come up unto the ,lord1 lest he break forth upon them4--,ex4 xix1 #bd4 ,it may be here asked1 ,who were these ,priests8 for the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 as we know it1 was not then introduced4 ,but ,moses was his leader1 and it was he who obtained the word of the ,lord1 and it was he with whom the ,lord conversed4 ,for we find1 ,and ,moses went up unto ,god1 and the ,lord called unto him out of the mountain1 saying1 ,thus shalt thou say to the house of ,jacob1 and tell the children of ,israel4 99 99 99 ,and the ,lord came down upon ,mount ,sinai1 on the top of the mount3 and the ,lord called ,moses up to the top of the mount2 and ,moses went up4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,go down1 charge the people lest they break through unto the ,lord to gaze1 and many of them perish4--,ex4 xix1 #c1 #bj1 #ba4 ,moses always took the lead3 ,and he said unto ,moses1 ,come up unto the ,lord1 thou1 and ,aaron1 ,nadab1 and ,abihu1 and seventy of the ,elders of ,israel2 and worship ye afar off4 ,and ,moses alone shall come near the ,lord3 but they shall not come nigh2 neither shall the people go up with him4--,ex4 xxiv1 ,i1 #b4 ,they saw ,god and did eat and drink3 ,and upon the nobles of the children of ,israel he laid not his hand3 also they saw ,god1 and did eat and drink4 7v4 #aa47 ,and afterwards ,moses was with the ,lord forty days4 ,and ,moses went into the midst of the cloud1 and gat him up into the mount3 and ,moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights4 7v4 #ah47 ,by what power did ,aaron see ,god8 ,may we not suppose it was by the power of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood8 for without that no man can see the face of ,god and live4 ,it1 the ,melchizedek1 holds the keys of the mysteries of the ,kingdom1 even the key of the knowledge of ,god4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #hd1 p4 #bij47 ,moses had these keys2 but ,aaron also saw ,god1 as well as the seventy ,elders of ,israel1 and the people saw his glory and heard his voice4--,ex4 xx1 #bb2 ,deut4 iv1 #cf4 ,it would seem that ,aaron and the seventy ,elders of ,israel then had the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 and the ,aaronic was about being combined with it1 as we have them now4 ,moses held the keys of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 and presided over the whole4 ,aaron was then in possession of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood2 but another or lesser ,priesthood was about to be conferred upon him1 which was done soon after4 ,we quote1 ,and take thou unto thee ,aaron thy brother1 and his sons with him1 from among the children of ,israel1 that he may minister unto me in the ,priest's office1 even ,aaron1 ,nadab and ,abihu1 ,eleazar and ,ithamar1 ,aaron's sons4 ,and thou shalt make holy garments for ,aaron thy brother1 for glory and for beauty4--,ex4 xxviii1 #a1 #b4 ,does it not seem probable that ,aaron1 when he received this lesser ,priesthood1 was in the same position 7as to ,priesthood7 that our ,presiding ,bishop is1 holding the ,melchizedek and lesser ,priesthoods1 but presiding over the latter1 and ,moses presiding over all--the ,melchizedek as well as the ,aaronic or ,levitical1 the latter being an appendage to the former8 ,for we read that the law was added because of transgression2 added to what8 ,was there anything but the ,gospel to add it to8 ,the children of ,israel1 at this time1 had the ,gospel and the pattern of the ark1 and the commandments were given under its auspices4 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 ,and look that thou make them after their pattern1 which was shewed thee in the mount4--,ex4 xxv1 #dj4 7,see also the whole chapter47 ,and further1 the words of the ,lord1 the book of the covenant or law of the ,lord were given under the ,gospel4 7,see ,ex4 xxiv1 #a-h47 ,and the sacrifices and burnt offerings were also performed under the ,gospel2 and as the great ,presiding ,high ,priest1 ,moses1 gave directions concerning the sacrifices1 and himself sprinkled half of the blood upon the altar1 and put half into basins1 hence we have the following3 ,and ,moses took half of the blood1 and put it in basins2 and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar4 ,and he took the book of the covenant1 and read in the audience of the people3 and they said1 ,all the ,lord hath said will we do1 and be obedient4 ,and ,moses took the blood1 and sprinkled it on the people1 and said4 ,behold the blood of the covenant1 which the ,lord hath made with you concerning all these words4--,ex4 xxiv1 #f-h4 ,moses was with the ,lord forty days in the mount receiving these things1 viz41 the laws and covenants1 the pattern of the ark and tabernacle1 and the tables4 7,see ,ex4 xxiv to xxxii47 ,we here have a statement of the manner in which ,aaron and his sons were set apart to administer in the ,aaronic ,priest's office1 while yet under the ,gospel2 for we read1 ,and ,aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation1 and shalt wash them with water4 ,and thou shalt take the garments1 and put upon ,aaron the coat1 and the robe of the ephod1 and the ephod1 and the breastplate1 and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod3 and thou shalt put the mitre upon his head1 and put the holy crown upon the mitre4 ,then shalt thou take the anointing oil1 and pour it upon his head1 and anoint him4 ,and thou shalt bring his sons1 and put coats upon them4 ,and thou shalt gird them with the girdles1 ,aaron and his sons1 and put the bonnets on them3 and the ,priests office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute3 and ,,thou shalt consecrate ,aaron and his sons4 ,ex4 xxix1 #d-i4 ,further1 ,and thou shalt anoint them1 as thou didst anoint their father1 that they may minister unto me in the ,priest's office3 for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting ,priesthood throughout their generations4--,ex4 xl1 #ae4 ,we find that in all this ,moses was the chief actor4 ,sometime after1 for certain reasons specified1 ,aaron was to be gathered to his people1 and not be permitted to enter the land1 as stated4 ,aaron shall be gathered unto his people3 for he shall not enter into the land which ,i have given unto the children of ,israel1 because ye rebelled against my word at the water of ,meribah4 ,take ,aaron and ,eleazar his son1 and bring them up unto ,mount ,hor3 and strip ,aaron of his garments1 and put them upon ,eleazar his son3 and ,aaron shall be gathered unto his people1 and shall die there4 ,and ,moses did as the ,lord commanded3 and they went up into ,mount ,hor in the sight of all the congregation4 ,and ,moses stripped ,aaron of his garments1 and put them upon ,eleazar his son2 and ,aaron died there in the top of the mount3 and ,moses and ,eleazar came down from the mount4--,num4 xx1 #bd-bh4 ,what the sin was that ,moses and ,aaron committed does not distinctly appear1 except it was in taking glory to themselves instead of giving ,god the glory4 ,for ,god had commanded ,moses to take the rod1 he and ,aaron1 and smite the rock1 which he did4 ,in doing this1 however1 ,moses said3 ,hear now1 ye rebels3 must we fetch you water out of this rock8 99 99 99 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses and ,aaron1 ,because ye believed me not1 to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of ,israel1 therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which ,i have given them4--,num4 xx1 #aj-ab4 ,this is the water of ,meribah 7or strife7 because the children of ,israel strove with the ,lord and he was sanctified in them4 ,david1 in referring to this1 says3 ,they angered him also at the waters of strife1 so that it went ill with ,moses for their sakes3 because they provoked his spirit1 so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips4--,psalm cvi1 #cb1 #cc4 ,the same judgment afterwards overtook ,moses1 and also for the same reason4 ,for1 ,the ,lord said unto ,moses1 get thee up into this mount ,abarim1 and see the land which ,i have given unto the children of ,israel4 ,and when thou hast seen it1 thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people1 as ,aaron thy brother was gathered4 ,for ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of ,zin1 in the strife of the congregation1 to sanctify me at the water before their eyes1 that is the water of ,meribah1 in ,kadesh1 in the wilderness of ,zin4--,num4 xxvii1 #ab-ad4 ,deut4 xxxii1 #dh-eb4 ,moses plead with the ,lord to have this sentence reversed1 but the ,lord would not grant his prayer4 ,he said ,i pray thee1 let me go over1 and see the good land that is beyond ,jordan1 that goodly mountain1 and ,lebanon4 ,but the ,lord was wroth with me for your sakes1 and would not hear me3 and the ,lord said unto me4 ,let it suffice thee2 speak no more unto me of this matter4 ,get thee up into the top of ,pisgah1 and lift up thine eyes westward1 and northward1 and southward1 and eastward1 and behold it with thine eye2 for thou shalt not go over this ,jordan4--,deut4 iii1 #be-bg4 ,and when ,moses found that the ,lord would not permit him to go to the goodly land1 he still felt interested about the welfare of the people4 ,for we read3 ,and ,moses spake unto the ,lord1 saying1 ,let the ,lord1 the ,god of the spirits of all flesh1 set a man over the congregation1 which may go out before them1 and which may go in before them1 and which may lead them out1 and which may bring them in2 that the congregation of the ,lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,take thee ,joshua1 the son of ,nun1 a man in whom is the spirit1 and lay thine hand upon him2 and set him before ,eleazer the ,priest1 and before all the congregation2 and give him a charge in their sight4 ,and thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him1 that all the congregation of the children of ,israel may be obedient4 ,and he shall stand before ,eleazar the ,priest1 who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of ,urim before the ,lord3 at his word shall they go out1 and at his word they shall come in1 both he1 and all the children of ,israel with him1 even all the congregation4 ,and ,moses did as the ,lord commanded him3 and he took ,joshua1 and set him before ,eleazar the ,priest1 and before all the congregation3 and he laid his hands upon him1 and gave him a charge1 as the ,lord commanded by the hand of ,moses4--,num4 xxvii1 #ae-bc4 ,in his day ,moses was the law-giver and leader of the children of ,israel4 ,when he died some of ,moses' honor was conferred upon ,joshua1 not all2 ,joshua then was to be under the priestly direction of ,eleazar1 the son of ,aaron1 who was to ask counsel for him after the judgment of ,urim4 ,thus the lesser ,priesthood began to bear rule in the person of ,eleazar1 the son of ,aaron1 although in operation it did not bear rule in ,aaron's time4 ,and while the keys and powers of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood were withdrawn in the person of ,moses1 the ,aaronic ,priesthood was maintained in all its powers in the person of ,eleazar4 ,joshua indeed led the people1 but had not the gifts and powers of the ,priesthood which ,moses had1 holding indeed the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 but possessing only some of ,moses' honor4 ,moses died1 according to the chronological record of the ,bible1 in the year ,b4 ,c4 #adea4 ,upwards of three hundred years afterwards we find ,eli officiating as ,priest2 and although he was a good man1 he did not control his sons1 nor stop their iniquitous practices2 for which he and his sons were reproved by the ,lord4 ,and ,samuel took his place1 and he selected and anointed ,saul1 who had1 as ,joshua1 part of ,moses' honor4 ,and the ,aaronic ,priesthood continued to exercise its priestly power1 more or less1 until ,christ2 of which as appears ,john was the last legitimate ,high ,priest4 ,in the new translation the removal of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood is clearly defined as follows3 ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses3 ,hew thee two other tables of stone1 like unto the first1 and ,i will write upon them also1 the words of the law1 according as they were written at first on the tables which thou brakest3 but it shall not be according to the first1 for ,i will take away the priesthood out of their midst2 therefore my holy order or the ,melchizedek1 and the ordinances thereof1 shall not go before them2 for my presence shall not go up in their midst1 lest ,i destroy them4 ,but ,i will give unto them the law as at the first1 but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment2 for ,i have sworn in my wrath1 that they shall not enter into my presence1 into my rest1 in the days of their pilgrimage4--,ex4 xxxiv1 #a1 #b4 ,the ,lord said unto ,moses3 ,thou canst not see my face at this time1 lest mine anger is kindled against thee also1 and ,i destroy thee and thy people2 for there shall no man among them see me at this time and live2 for they are exceeding sinful4 ,and no sinful man hath at any time2 neither shall there be any sinful man at any time1 that shall see my face and live4--,n4 ,t4 ,ex4 xxxiii1 #bj4 ,he did1 however1 place him in the cleft of a rock1 and covered him with ,his hand1 and permitted him to see ,his back parts2 but not ,his face4 ,a little while before this1 ,moses and ,aaron1 ,nadab and ,abihu1 and seventy of the ,elders of ,israel saw ,god1 and did eat and drink4--,ex4 xxiv1 #i-aa4 ,but now ,moses even1 could not see his face1 nor any of the people go near him1 and when ,moses had been a second time on the mount and his face shone so that they could not look upon him1 ,moses had to put a vail on his face4--,ex4 xxxiv1 #bi-ce4 ,paul in referring to this says3 ,and not as ,moses1 which put a vail over his face1 that the children of ,israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished3 but their minds were blinded2 for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the ,old ,testament2 which vail is done away in ,christ4 ,but even unto this day1 when ,moses is read1 the vail is upon their heart4 ,nevertheless when it shall turn to the ,lord1 the vail shall be taken away4--,,ii4 ,cor4 iii1 #ac-af4 ,from the foregoing and from the whole history of the ,aaronic ,priesthood until the coming of ,christ1 it appears that1 with the exception of some prominent prophets who held the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 as the direct gift of ,god1 without1 it would seem1 the power to confer it upon others--not having an organization--there was very little of the manifestation of the gift and power of ,god among the people of the ,jews1 so that it might truly be said1 ,there arose not a prophet since in ,israel like unto ,moses1 whom the ,lord knew face to face1 in all the signs and the wonders which the ,lord sent him to do in the land of ,egypt1 to ,pharaoh1 and to all his servants1 and to all his land2 and in all that mighty hand1 and in all that great terror1 which ,moses showed in the sight of all ,israel4--,deut4 xxxiv1 #aj-ab4 ,from the foregoing it is evident3 ,first4--,that the ,melchizedek ,priesthood was greater than the ,aaronic1 and that while it ruled1 it controlled all matters pertaining to the government and instruction of the people1 and that it organized and directed the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 which was in reality an appendage to the greater4 ,second4--,that when the ,melchizedek ,priesthood was in a great measure withdrawn1 as there was no regular organization of that ,priesthood1 it was left to a great extent to the guidance and direction of the ,lord1 who1 from time to time1 inspired different men as ,prophets1 who came to the people with the word of the ,lord1 receiving their inspiration and calling directly from him1 as ,ezekiel1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,daniel and others4 ,but that a portion of ,moses' spirit rested upon ,joshua1 upon the seventy ,elders of ,israel1 upon the ,prophets in the days of ,elijah1 ,elisha and others4 ,third4--,that the ,aaronic ,priesthood continued in its full force1 having a complete organization1 which it received under the hands of ,moses1 or through the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,fourth4--,that the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 being continued1 it held the ,urim and ,thummim1 and gave direction to ,joshua1 who was set apart by ,moses1 and to ,saul1 ,david1 ,solomon and others1 who were anointed and set apart to their kingly power1 and to rule over and to lead and direct ,israel1 and that this state of things continued until ,christ4 ,the ,high ,priests of the ,aaronic ,priesthood being the acknowledged representatives of ,god1 holding the priestly power3 whilst the kings were anointed by them1 or by their priestly authority1 and the kings and rulers had to get the word of the ,lord from the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 or through the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,fifth4--,it is further evident that this ,priesthood became1 in many instances1 very corrupt1 and incurred the displeasure of ,god1 and that many of the kings also1 though anointed1 perverted their office and calling1 and instead of being the protectors and saviors of ,israel1 helped to lead them astray4 ,sixth4--,it is evident that all the ,aaronic ,priesthood did not have the ,urim and ,thummim1 nor did they call1 anoint and direct kings1 or bear rule in the nation4 ,but only the ,high ,priest--one man--and that one man presided over and directed the action of the kings1 telling them when to go out to war1 and when not to go1 and giving unto them the word of the ,lord through the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,seventh4--,that they only had one tabernacle1 one ark of the covenant1 or one temple at one time2 and not as we1 many stakes1 many temples1 and many services4 ,but then they1 when ,moses left1 were under the ,aaronic1 and we are under the ,melchizedek ,priesthood2 they were under the law and the ,mosaic dispensation2 we are under the ,gospel1 and in the dispensation of the fullness of time1 and have consequently labors and duties to perform which did not belong to them4 ,it may be proper here to remark that there was a council1 called a senate of the children of ,israel4--,acts v1 #ba4 ,the ,high ,priest called this council together4 ,the council1 it is said1 was composed of seventy men or judges1 and to have taken its rise from the installment of the seventy ,elders spoken of in ,num4 xi1 #af1 #ag4 ,they were to be known by ,moses to be ,elders of the people and officers over them--,able men1 such as fear ,god1 men of truth1 hating covetousness--a portion of ,moses' spirit was to be given unto them1 and they were to help him to bear the burdens of the people4 ,as ,saul was anointed by ,samuel to be captain over the ,lord's inheritance1 and the ,spirit of the ,lord was to come upon him1 and he was to prophesy and be turned into another man4 7,see ,i4 ,samuel x1 #f47 ,and ,god gave him another heart1 and all the signs came to pass that day1 and he prophesied4 ,this senate or council was known by the name of the ,sanhedrim1 and it is said1 sat in the form of a half moon4 ,this council is spoken of in ,john xi1 #dg-eb4 ,then gathered the ,chief ,priests and ,pharisees a council4 99 99 ,and one of them named ,caiaphas1 the ,high ,priest1 said 99 99 it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people4 99 99 ,and this spake he not of himself2 but being ,high ,priest that year1 he prophesied that ,jesus should die for that nation1 and not for that nation only2 but that also he should gather together in one the children of ,god that were scattered abroad4 ,now ,caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the ,jews1 that it was expedient that one man should die for the people4--,john xviii1 #ad4 ,this council had not the power of death1 7ver4 #ca47 7,see also ,acts iv1 v and vi47 ,about this ,sanhedrim there is little or nothing said in the ,old ,testament nor of the organization of this court4 ,it is thought by some it existed after the captivity1 or in the days of the ,maccabees only4 ,there is another remarkable thing about the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 or at least about the early action of ,aaron1 as an associate of ,moses4 ,when ,moses was first called upon to deliver ,israel from ,egyptian bondage1 he told the ,lord that they would not believe him1 nor hearken unto his voice1 and ,moses was told to cast his rod upon the ground1 and it became a serpent1 and he fled from before it2 but when the ,lord told ,moses to take it by the tail1 and he caught it1 it became a rod again4 ,then the ,lord told him to put his hand into his bosom1 and when he took it out it was leprous4 ,he was told to put it into his bosom again1 and it was restored and like his other flesh4 ,still1 ,moses was unconvinced and said1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i am not eloquent1 neither heretofore1 nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant2 but ,i am slow of speech and of a slow tongue4 ,and the ,lord said unto him4 ,who hath made man's mouth8 or who maketh the dumb1 or deaf1 or the seeing1 or the blind8 have not ,i the ,lord8 ,now therefore1 go1 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and teach thee what thou shalt say4--,ex4 iv1 #aj-ab4 ,yet ,moses was not satisfied and shrank from his mission1 and said3 ,o my ,lord1 send1 ,i pray thee1 by the hand of him whom thou wilt send4 ,and the anger of the ,lord was kindled against ,moses1 and he said4 ,is not ,aaron the ,levite thy brother8 ,i know1 that he can speak well4 ,and also1 behold1 he cometh forth to meet thee3 and when he seeth thee1 he will be glad in his heart4 ,and thou shalt speak unto him1 and put words in his mouth3 and ,i will be with thy mouth1 and with his mouth1 and will teach you what ye shall do4 ,and he shall be thy spokesman unto the people3 and he shall be1 even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth1 and thou shalt be to him instead of ,god4 ,and thou shalt take this rod in thine hand1 wherewith thou shalt do signs4 7,see the whole of chap4 iv1 ,ex47 ,from the above it would seem that if ,moses would have done as the ,lord requested him1 ,aaron would not have been called4 ,moses shrank from the responsibility2 and though the ,lord was angry with him yet he gave unto him a helper in ,aaron4 ,a revelation through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 says3 ,now this ,moses plainly taught to the children of ,israel in the wilderness1 and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of ,god2 but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence1 therefore the ,lord in his wrath 7for his anger was kindled against them7 swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness1 which rest is the fullness of his glory4 ,therefore he took ,moses out of their midst1 and the ,holy ,priesthood also2 and the lesser ,priesthood continued1 which ,priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory ,gospel1 which ,gospel is the ,gospel of repentance and of baptism1 and the remission of sins1 and the law of carnal commandments1 which the ,lord in his wrath1 caused to continue with the house of ,aaron among the children of ,israel until ,john1 whom ,god raised up1 being filled with the ,holy ,ghost from his mother's womb2 for he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood1 and was ordained by the angel of ,god at the time he was eight days old unto this power1 to overthrow the kingdom of the ,jews1 and to make straight the way of the ,lord1 before the face of his people to prepare them for the coming of the ,lord1 in whose hand is given all power4--,doc4 and ,cov4 ,sec4 #hd1 pars4 #bc-hh4 pp4 #bij-a4 ,again1 ,paul says1 ,if therefore perfection were by the ,levitical ,priesthood1 7for under it the people received the law17 what further need was there that another ,priest should rise after the order of ,melchizedek1 and not be called after the order of ,aaron8 ,for the ,priesthood being changed1 there is made of necessity a change also of the law4--,heb4 vii1 #aa1 #ab4 7,see also chapters viii1 ix and x47 ,john the ,baptist came as the forerunner of ,christ1 and baptized him as stated4 ,then cometh ,jesus from ,galilee to ,jordan unto ,john1 to be baptized of him4 ,but ,john forbade him1 saying1 ,i have need to be baptized of thee1 and comest thou to me8 ,and ,jesus answering said unto him4 ,suffer it to be so now3 for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness4 ,then he suffered him4 ,and ,jesus1 when he was baptized1 went up straightway out of the water3 and lo1 the heavens were opened unto him1 and he saw the spirit of ,god descending like a dove1 and lighting upon him3 and lo1 a voice from heaven1 saying4 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4--,matt1 iii1 #ac-ag4 ,on inquiry being made1 ,jesus said of ,john the ,baptist1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,among them that are born of women1 there hath not risen a greater than ,john the ,baptist2 notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he4--,matt1 xi1 #aa4 ,again ,jesus said1 ,and if ye will receive it1 this is ,elias which was for to come4 ,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear4 7vers4 #ad1 #ae47 ,but they would not receive it3 they beheaded ,john and crucified ,jesus2 hence the restoration1 the mission of ,elias was postponed until he appeared to ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery in the ,kirtland ,temple4 7,doc4 and ,gov4 ,sec4 ex1 p4 #dje47 ,at which time ,elijah came1 as ,malachi says3 ,behold1 ,i will send you ,elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord3 and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children1 and the heart of the children to their fathers1 lest ,i come and smite the earth with a curse4--,mal4 iv1 #e1 #f4 ,it seems from the foregoing that ,moses had the greater or ,melchizedek ,priesthood2 that when he was taken1 the keys went with him2 that the ,aaronic ,priesthood ruled until ,christ1 and the people were under the law2 that when ,christ came he introduced a better covenant and restored the ,gospel2 and that the ,bishopric was1 and the ,aaronic ,priesthood is1 under the ,melchizedek1 and an appendage thereto1 as are also all ,elders appendages to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood2 and it is also evident that the ,presidency of that ,priesthood presides over all1 as did ,melchizedek1 ,moses1 ,joseph ,smith1 etc41 with ,jesus at the head1 as the great ,presiding ,high ,priest4 ,but if1 as ,paul says1 the ,priesthood being changed1 then is made of necessity a change also of the law2 or in other words1 a change from the law of carnal commandments and ordinances to the law of the ,gospel4 ,yet the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 as the ,melchizedek1 is an everlasting ,priesthood1 as before exhibited1 and continueth forever as an appendage to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood2 and hence in the old apostolic days1 when under an organization of the ,melchizedek1 the latter is the most prominent1 and very little is said about the ,levitical or ,aaronic3 probably on account of the peculiar traditions and superstitions of the ,jews1 which made it almost impossible for them to comprehend the greater or ,melchizedek4 ,yet the ,aaronic cannot be ignored1 and in the dispensation of the fullness of times it again comes forth1 as one of the grand aids or appendages to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood2 and hence in the ushering in of this dispensation1 ,john the ,baptist appears on the stage and confers the ,aaronic ,priesthood upon ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,having therefore traced out these two ,priesthoods1 principally from the old ,scriptures1 we how turn to the revelations given by ,joseph ,smith in the introduction of the ,priesthood1 as revealed by the ,latter-day ,prophet in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness of times4 ,,principally ,,on ,,the ,,aaronic ,,priesthood ,,or ,,bishopric4 ,,the ,,aaronic ,,priesthood ,,conferred4 ,words of the ,angel1 ,john1 7the ,baptist17 spoken to ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 and ,oliver ,cowdery1 as he 7the angel7 laid his hands upon their heads and ordained them to the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 in ,harmony1 ,susquehanna ,county1 ,pennsylvania1 ,may #aeth1 #ahbi3 ,upon you1 my fellow servants1 in the name of ,messiah1 ,i confer the ,priesthood of ,aaron1 which holds the keys of the ministering of angels1 and of the ,gospel of repentance1 and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 and this shall never be taken again from the earth1 until the sons of ,levi do offer again an offering unto the ,lord in righteousness4--,doc4 and ,cov41 ,sec #ac1 p4 #ajh4 ,we quote from some of the first revelations given to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith upon this subject4 ,every ,president of the ,high ,priesthood 7or ,presiding ,elder17 ,bishop1 ,high ,councilor1 and ,high ,priest1 is to be ordained by the direction of a ,high ,council or ,general ,conference4 ,presiding ,elders1 ,traveling ,bishops1 ,high ,councilors1 ,high ,priests1 and ,elders1 may have the privilege of ordaining where there is no branch of the ,church4--,doc4 and ,cov41 ,sec4 #bj1 pars4 #fg1 #ff1 p4 #abg4 ,at this time ,presidents of the ,high ,priesthood1 ,presiding ,elders1 ,bishops1 ,high ,councilors1 and ,high ,priests were placed on the same footing4 ,it may be observed that ,traveling ,bishops are here referred to4 ,these were given for the regulation of the newly organized branches or churches4 ,from the above we learn3 ,that before the appointment of ,bishops there were revelations given and arrangements made for this office4 ,whilst the following teaches us3 ,that certain men among the ,saints should be appointed by the voice of the ,church1 to look after the poor and needy1 and to govern the affairs of the property of the ,church4 ,and now ,i give unto the ,church in these parts1 a commandment that certain men among them shall be appointed1 and they shall be appointed by the voice of the ,church2 and they shall look to the poor and the needy1 and administer to their relief1 that they shall not suffer2 and send them forth to the place which ,i have commanded them4--,sec4 #ch1 pars4 #cd1 #ce1 p4 #afc4 ,the place referred to at that time was ,kirtland1 ,geauga ,co41 ,ohio4 7par4 #cb47 ,edward ,partridge was ordained a ,bishop--the first ,bishop in the ,church--and was called ,feb4 #d1 #ahca4 ,he was to spend all his time in the labors of the ,church4 ,we quote3 ,and again1 ,i have called my servant ,edward ,partridge1 and give a commandment1 that he should be appointed by the voice of the ,church1 and ordained a ,bishop unto the ,church1 to leave his merchandise and to spend all his time in the labors of the ,church3 to see to all things as it shall be appointed unto him1 in my laws in the day that ,i shall give them4--,sec4#da1 pars4 #i1 #aj1 p4 #afh4 ,he was to see to all things1 as it shall be appointed unto him1 in my laws ,who was to give these laws8 in the day that ,i shall give them4 ,newel ,k4 ,whitney was the second ,bishop--called to be a ,bishop1 ,dec4 #d1 #ahca4 ,and now1 verily ,i say unto you1 my servant ,newel ,k4 ,whitney is the man who shall be appointed and ordained unto this power4 ,even so4 ,amen4--,sec4 #gb1 par4 #h1 p4#beg4 ,and again1 ,i say unto you1 that my servant ,edward ,partridge shall stand in the office wherewith ,i have appointed him4 ,and it shall come to pass1 that if he transgresses1 another shall be appointed in his stead4 ,even so4 ,amen4--,sec4 #db1 par4 #aj1 p4 #afi2 ,feb4 #i1 #ahca4 ,property was to be consecrated for the poor1 and laid before the ,bishop and his counselors1 who are to be two ,elders or ,high ,priests4 7,see sec4 #db4 pars4 #cj1 #ca1 p4 #aga7 ,the residue was to be kept in a storehouse for the poor and needy1 as shall be appointed by the ,high ,council and the ,bishop and his ,council and for purchasing ,church lands1 building houses of worship1 building up the ,new ,jerusalem2 of course he was to act as a general ,bishop of the ,church1 7he was not confined to a ward17 to receive and distribute property1 appoint stewardships1 etc4 ,it will be perceived that the ,high ,council then had a voice in these matters4 ,it is written3 ,and inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor ye will do it unto me1 and they shall be laid before the ,bishop of my ,church and his ,counselors1 two of the ,elders1 or ,high ,priests1 such as he shall or has set apart for that purpose4 ,and it shall come to pass1 that after they are laid before the ,bishop of my ,church1 and after that he has received these testimonies concerning the consecration of the properties of my ,church1 that they cannot be taken from the ,church agreeable to my commandments2 every man shall be made accountable unto me1 a stewart over his own property1 or that which he has received by consecration1 inasmuch as is sufficient for himself and family4 ,and again1 if there shall be properties in the hands of the ,church1 or any individuals of it1 more than is necessary for their support1 after this first consecration1 which is a residue to be consecrated unto the ,bishop1 it shall be kept to administer to those who have not1 from time to time1 that every man who has need may be amply supplied1 and receive according to his wants4 ,therefore the residue shall be kept in my storehouse1 to administer to the poor and the needy1 as shall be appointed by the ,high ,council of the ,church1 and the ,bishop and his ,council4 ,and for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit of the ,church1 and building houses of worship1 and building up of the ,new ,jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed4--,sec4 #db1 pars4 #ca-ce1 ,,pp4 #aga-b4 ,the ,bishop was to receive his support1 and also his ,counselors1 or a remuneration for services4 ,we read3 ,and the ,elders1 or ,high ,priests who are appointed to assist the ,bishop1 as ,counselors in all things1 are to have their families supported out of the property which is consecrated to the ,bishop1 for the good of the poor1 and for other purposes1 as before mentioned2 or they are to receive a just remuneration for all their services1 either a stewartship or otherwise1 as may be thought best or decided by the ,counselors and ,bishop1 and the ,bishop1 also1 shall receive his support1 or a just remuneration for all his services in the ,church4--,sec4 #db1 pars4 #ga-gc1 ,p4 #age4 7,see also p4 #beg47 ,and unto the ,bishop of the ,church1 and unto such as ,god shall appoint and ordain to watch over the ,church1 and to be ,elders unto the ,church1 are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts4--,sec4 #df1 par4 #bg1 p4 #aic4 ,certain gifts were here referred to4 ,not only ,bishops but ,elders were to have this power4 ,we further find that ,edward ,partridge was to appoint unto this people their portion--every man equal1 giving him a writing--and every man was to deal honestly1 and be and receive alike2 one ,church must not use the money of another ,church without making arrangements to pay it4 ,a storehouse was to be appointed4 ,the ,bishop was to receive unto himself and family what was needed for his wants1 and for those of his family4 ,this was to be an example unto ,edward1 ,partridge1 and to all ,churches4 ,and let my servant1 ,edward ,partridge1 when he shall appoint a man his portion1 give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his portion4 99 99 ,and let that which belongeth to this people not be taken and given unto that of another ,church2 wherefore1 if another ,church would receive money of this ,church let them pay unto this ,church again according as they shall agree2 and this shall be done through the ,bishop or the agent1 which shall be appointed by the voice of the ,church4 ,and again1 let the ,bishop appoint a storehouse unto this ,church1 and let all things1 both in money and in meat1 which is more than is needful for the want of this people1 be kept in the hands of the ,bishop4 ,and let him also reserve unto himself for his own wants1 and for the wants of his family1 as he shall be employed in doing this business4 ,and thus ,i grant unto this people a privilege of organizing themselves according to my laws2 and ,i consecrate unto them this land for a little season1 until ,i1 the ,lord1 shall provide for them otherwise1 and command them to go hence2 and the hour and the day is not given unto them1 wherefore let them act upon this land as for years1 and this shall turn unto them for their good4 ,behold this shall be an example unto my servant ,edward ,partridge1 in other places1 in all ,churches4--,sec4 #ea1 pars4 #d1 #aj-ah1 pp4 #bjc1 #bjd4 ,first4--,from the above we find that bishops were first spoken of as early as ,april1 #ahcj4 7,see sec4 #bj1 p4 #aba47 ,second4--,certain men were to be appointed to look after the poor and administer to their relief and govern the affairs of the property of the ,church4 7,see sec4 #ch1 pars4 #cd-cf1 p4 #afc1 ,january #b1 #ahca47 ,third4--,edward ,partridge was called to be the first ,bishop1 7,see sec4 #da1 par4 #i1 p4 #afh1 ,february #ahca17 and to spend all his time in the labors of the ,church4 ,fourth4--,that ,newel ,k4 ,whitney was called and appointed to this office as the second ,bishop of this ,church4 ,fifth4--,after this1 besides ,bishops' agents1 there were other ,bishops appointed4 ,george ,miller was appointed to the ,bishopric1 and had it sealed upon his head4 ,i therefore say unto you1 ,i seal upon his head the office of a ,bishopric1 like unto my servant ,edward ,partridge1 that he may receive the consecrations of mine house1 that he may administer blessings upon the heads of the poor of my people1 saith the ,lord4 ,let no man despise my servant ,george1 for he shall honor me4--,sec4 #abd1 par4 #ba1 p4 #dca4 ,also1 ,he who is appointed to administer spiritual things1 the same is worthy of his hire1 even as those who are appointed to a stewardship to administer in temporal things4--,sec4 #gj1 par4 #ab1 p4 #bed4 ,there seems to be a difference in the duties of ,bishops2 ,brother ,miller's was to be like ,edward ,partridge's whose duties are distinctly marked out as follows3 ,and again1 verily ,i say unto you1 my servant ,george ,miller is without guile2 he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart2 and for the love which he has to my testimony ,i1 the ,lord1 love him4--,sec4 #abd1 par4 #bj 7see also par4 #ba71 p4 #dca4 ,at the same time and in the same manner ,vinson ,knight1 ,samuel ,h4 ,smith1 and ,shadrach ,roundy were appointed to preside over the ,bishopric4 ,and again1 ,i say unto you1 ,i give unto you ,vinson ,knight1 ,samuel ,h4 ,smith1 and ,shadrach ,roundy1 if he will receive it1 to preside over the ,bishopric2 a knowledge of said ,bishopric is given unto you in the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants4--,sec4 #abd1 par4 #ada1 p4 #ddf4 ,vinson ,knight was a ,bishop1 the two others were of course his ,counselors4 ,we find from the foregoing and from what follows that there were several kinds of ,bishops1 as well as ,bishops' agents4 ,bishop ,edward ,partridge was appointed to preside over the ,saints in ,zion1 to purchase lands1 divide inheritances1 and sit as a judge in ,israel1 as a general ,bishop to that district of country1 and he had a special agent to assist him1 viz41 ,sidney ,gilbert4 ,bishop ,whitney was appointed ,bishop in ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 yet he had charge of all the ,churches in the eastern country1 as a general ,bishop4 ,neither of these1 at that time1 were presiding ,bishops over the ,bishopric4 ,george ,miller was appointed to fill the place of ,edward ,partridge and officiate in the same order of ,bishopric4 ,vinson ,knight was appointed to preside over the ,bishopric with ,samuel ,h4 ,smith and ,shadrach ,roundy for counselors1 and at the same time that ,george ,miller was appointed to take the place of ,edward ,partridge4 ,then there were ,alanson ,ripley and others4 ,sidney ,gilbert was to be an agent unto this ,church in the place that shall be appointed by the ,bishop4 7,sec #ec1 par4 #d1 p4 #bji47 ,and let my servant ,sidney ,gilbert stand in the office which ,i have appointed him1 to receive moneys1 to be an agent unto the ,church1 to buy land in all the regions round about1 inasmuch as can be in righteousness1 and as wisdom shall direct4 99 99 ,and again1 verily ,i say unto you1 let my servant ,sidney ,gilbert plant himself in this place1 and establish a store1 that he may sell goods without fraud that he may obtain money to buy lands for the good of the ,saints1 and that he may obtain whatsoever things the disciples may need to plant them in their inheritances4--,sec4 #eg1 pars4 #f1 #h1 pp4 #bae-af4 ,the ,lord says ,edward ,partridge was also to stand in the office which ,i have appointed him1 to divide the ,saints their inheritance1 even as ,i have commanded2 and also those whom he has appointed to assist him4--,sec4 #eg1 par4 #g1 p4 #bae 99 99 ,let the ,bishop and the agent make preparations for those families which have been commanded to come to this land1 as soon as possible1 and plant them in their inheritance4--,sec4#eg1 par1 #ae1 p4 #baf4 ,i have selected my servant ,edward ,partridge1 and have appointed unto him his mission in this land2 but if he repent not of his sins1 which are unbelief and blindness of heart1 let him take heed lest he fall4 ,behold his mission is given unto him1 and it shall not be given again4 ,and whoso standeth in his mission is appointed to be a judge in ,israel1 like as it was in ancient days1 to divide the lands of the heritage of ,god unto his children1 and to judge his people by the testimony of the just1 and by the assistance of his counselors1 according to the laws of the kingdom which are given by the ,prophets of ,god2 for verily ,i say unto you1 my law shall be kept on this land4 ,let no man think he is ruler1 but let ,god rule him that judgeth1 according to the counsel of his own will2 or1 in other words him that counseleth or sitteth upon the judgment seat4--,sec4 #e #h pars4 #ad-bj1 p4 #bah4 ,let the residue of the ,elders 99 99 hold a conference2 and ,edward ,partridge was empowered to direct the conference which should be held by certain ,elders4 7,sec4 #eh1 pars4 #fa1 #fb1 p4 #bbb47 ,and let my servant ,edward ,partridge impart of the money which ,i have given him1 a portion unto mine ,elders who are commanded to return4--,sec4 #fj1 pars4 #aj1 #aa1 p4 #bbf4 ,if not able1 they were not required to return it4 ,let my servant ,newel ,k4 ,whitney retain his store1 or in other words1 the store yet for a little season4 ,nevertheless let him impart all the money which he can impart1 to be sent up unto the land of ,zion4 ,behold these things are in his own hands1 let him do according to wisdom4 ,verily ,i say1 let him be ordained as an agent unto the disciples that shall tarry1 and let him be ordained unto this power4--,sec4 #dc1 pars4 #db-de1 pp4 #bcf-g4 ,it would seem from the above that ,bishop ,whitney was not yet a ,bishop when he was ordained to be an agent4 ,and even the ,bishop1 who is a judge1 and his ,counselors1 if they are not faithful in their stewardships1 shall be condemned1 and others shall be planted in their stead4 ,sec4 #fd1 par4 #dj1 p4 #bdc4 ,we find from the following that ,bishops must be selected from the ,high ,priests and be set apart to the ,bishopric4 ,there remaineth hereafter1 in the due time of the ,lord1 other ,bishops to be set apart unto the ,church1 to minister even according to the first2 wherefore they shall be ,high ,priests who are worthy1 and they shall be appointed by the ,first ,presidency of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 except they be literal descendants of ,aaron4 ,and if they be literal descendants of ,aaron1 they have a legal right to the ,bishopric1 if they are the first born among the sons of ,aaron2 for the firstborn hold the right of the ,presidency over this ,priesthood1 and the keys or authority of the same4 ,no man has a legal right to this office to hold the keys of this ,priesthood1 except he be a literal descendant and the firstborn of ,aaron2 but as a ,high ,priest of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices1 he may officiate in the office of ,bishop when no literal descendant of ,aaron can be found1 provided he is called1 and set apart and ordained unto this power under the hands of the ,first ,presidency of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,and a literal descendant of ,aaron1 also1 must be designated by this ,presidency1 and found worthy1 and anointed1 and ordained under the hands of this ,presidency1 otherwise they are not legally authorized to officiate in their ,priesthood2 but by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the ,priesthood descending from father to son1 they may claim their anointing1 if at any time they can prove their lineage1 or do ascertain it by revelation from the ,lord under the hands of the above named ,presidency4 ,and again1 no ,bishop or ,high ,priest who shall be set apart for this ministry1 shall be tried or condemned for any crime1 save it be before the ,first ,presidency of the ,church2 and inasmuch as he is found guilty before this ,presidency1 by testimony that cannot be impeached1 he shall be condemned4--,sec4 #fh1 pars4 #ad-bc1 pp4 #bdi-bej4 ,we may here notice1 as elsewhere referred to1 that it is the ,presidency of the ,aaronic ,priesthood that is above spoken of1 that must be set apart by the ,first ,presidency1 and also tried by them1 whether of lineal descent or ,high ,priests4 ,newel ,k4 ,whitney was appointed and ordained a ,bishop4 7,see sec4 #gb1 par4 #h1 p4 #beg7 ,let my servant ,newel ,k4 ,whitney1 and my servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 and my servant ,sidney ,rigdon1 sit in council with the ,saints which are in ,zion4--,sec4 #gh1 par4 #i1 p4 #bha4 ,thus it seems that though ,bishop ,whitney was ,bishop of ,kirtland1 he sat in council with the ,saints which were in ,zion1 associated with ,joseph ,smith and ,sidney ,rigdon1 thus showing that he was not a ward but a general ,church ,bishop4 ,therefore1 verily ,i say unto you1 that it is expedient for my servant ,alam1 and ,ahashdah1 7,newel ,k4 ,whitney17 ,mahalaleel1 and ,pelagoram1 7,sidney ,rigdon17 and my servant ,gazelam1 7,joseph ,smith17 and ,horah1 ,olihah1 7,oliver ,cowdery17 and ,shalemanasseh1 and ,mehemson1 7,martin ,harris17 to be bound together by a bond and covenant that cannot be broken by transgression1 7except judgment shall immediately follow17 in your several stewardships1 to manage the affairs of the poor1 and all things pertaining to the ,bishopric1 both in the land of ,zion and in the land of ,shinehah 7,kirtland47--,sec4 #hb1 pars4 #aa1 #ab1 p4 #bhf4 ,this proves that ,president ,joseph ,smith and his ,counselor ,sidney ,rigdon were authorized to supervise temporal matters in the ,church as well as the ,bishop or with him4 ,here the ,melchizedek ,priesthood is united with the ,aaronic to manage the ,bishopric in both lands4 ,we continue our quotations3 ,every man seeking the interest of his neighbor1 and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of ,god4--,sec4 #hb1 par4 #ai1 p4 #bhg4 ,which ,abraham received the ,priesthood from ,melchizedek1 who received it through the lineage of his fathers1 even till ,noah2 and from ,noah till ,enoch1 through the lineage of their fathers2 and from ,enoch to ,abel1 who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother1 who received the ,priesthood by the commandments of ,god1 by the hand of his father ,adam1 who was the first man--which ,priesthood continueth in the ,church of ,god in all generations1 and is without beginning of days or end of years4 ,and the ,lord confirmed a ,priesthood also upon ,aaron and his seed1 throughout all their generations--which ,priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the ,priesthood1 which is after the holiest order of ,god4 ,and this greater ,priesthood administereth the ,gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the ,kingdom1 even the key of the knowledge of ,god2 therefore1 in the ordinances thereof1 the power of ,godliness is manifest1 and without the ordinances thereof1 and the authority of the ,priesthood1 the power of ,godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh2 for without this no man can see the face of ,god1 even the ,father1 and live4 ,now this ,moses plainly taught to the children of ,israel in the wilderness1 and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of ,god2 but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence1 therefore the ,lord in his wrath 7for his anger was kindled against them7 swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness2 which rest is the fullness of his glory4 ,therefore he took ,moses out of their midst1 and the ,holy ,priesthood also4--,sec4 #hd1 pars4 #ad-be1 pp4 #bij-a4 ,we have already shown that there was a ,priesthood conferred upon ,aaron and his seed throughout all their generations4 ,it becomes a question what ,priesthood ,aaron had before he had bestowed upon him what is termed the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 when he administered with ,moses8 ,the greater ,priesthood administereth the ,gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the ,kingdom1 even the key of the knowledge of ,god4 ,frederick ,g4 ,williams was called and appointed a ,high ,priest and ,counselor to ,joseph ,smith4 ,his call reads as follows3 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 my servant ,frederick ,g4 ,williams1 listen to the voice of him who speaketh1 to the word of the ,lord your ,god1 and hearken to the calling wherewith you are called1 even to be a ,high ,priest in my ,church and a ,counselor unto my servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 unto whom ,i have given the keys of the ,kingdom1 which belongeth always unto the ,presidency of the ,high ,priesthood3 therefore1 verily1 ,i acknowledge him and will bless him and also thee1 inasmuch as thou art faithful in counsel1 in the office which ,i have appointed unto you in prayer always vocally and in thy heart1 in public and in private1 also in thy ministry in proclaiming the ,gospel in the land of the living1 and among thy brethren4--,sec4 #ha1 pars4 #a-c1 p4 #bhd4 ,from the following we find that ,god took ,moses from the midst of the children of ,israel and also the ,holy or ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 leaving the lesser1 or the ,aaronic ,priesthood4 ,therefore1 he took ,moses out of their midst1 and the ,holy ,priesthood also2 and the lesser ,priesthood continued1 which ,priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory ,gospel1 which ,gospel is the ,gospel of repentance and of baptism1 and the remission of sins1 and the law of carnal commandments1 which the ,lord in his wrath1 caused to continue with the house of ,aaron among the children of ,israel until ,john1 whom ,god raised up1 being filled with the ,holy ,ghost from his mother's womb2 for he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood1 and was ordained by the angel of ,god at the time he was eight days old unto this power1 to overthrow the kingdom of the ,jews1 and to make straight the way of the ,lord before the face of his people1 to prepare them for the coming of the ,lord1 in whose hand is given all power4 ,and again1 the offices of ,elder and ,bishop are necessary appendages belonging unto the ,high ,priesthood4 ,sec4 #hd1 pars4 #be-bi1 p4 #bia4 ,from this1 it would seem that the law of carnal commandments was a curse4 ,paul said the law was added because of transgression4 7,it was added because of transgressions1 till the seed should come to whom the promise was made4 ,gal4 iii1 #ai47 ,and that it was a yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear2 and that ,christ came to fulfill the law and introduce the ,gospel which was greater--a higher law and a greater ,priesthood1 viz3 the ,melchizedek4 ,both ,elders and ,bishops are appendages to the ,high ,priesthood4 ,and again1 the offices of ,teacher and ,deacon are necessary appendages belonging to the lesser ,priesthood4 7,sec4 #hd1 par4 #cj1 p4 #bia72 thus ,elders and ,bishops are appendages to the ,high ,priesthood1 while ,teachers and ,deacons are appendages to the lesser1 which lesser is an appendage to the higher or ,melchizedek4 ,therefore1 as ,i said concerning the sons of ,moses--for the sons of ,moses1 and also the sons of ,aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the ,lord1 which house shall be built unto the ,lord in this generation1 upon the consecrated spot as ,i have appointed4--,sec4 #hd1 par4 #ca1 p4 #bia4 ,when both of these ,priesthoods are carried out and united in their purity1 the glory of the ,lord will be manifested upon ,mount ,zion1 in the ,lord's house1 both operating according to their callings1 position and authority4 ,for it is written1 ,and the sons of ,moses and ,aaron shall be filled with the glory of the ,lord1 upon ,mount ,zion1 in the ,lord's house1 whose sons are ye2 and also many whom ,i have called and sent forth to build up my ,church2 for whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two ,priesthoods1 of which ,i have spoken1 and the magnifying their calling are sanctified by the ,spirit unto the renewing of their bodies2 they become the sons of ,moses and of ,aaron and the seed of ,abraham1 and the ,church and ,kingdom1 and the elect of ,god2 and also all they who receive this ,priesthood receiveth me1 saith the ,lord2 for he that receiveth my servants receiveth me2 and he that receiveth me receiveth my ,father2 and he that receiveth my ,father receiveth my ,father's ,kingdom2 therefore all that my ,father hath shall be given unto him2 and this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the ,priesthood4 ,therefore1 all those who receive the ,priesthood1 receive this oath and covenant of my ,father which he cannot break1 neither can it be moved2 but whoso breaketh this covenant1 after he hath received it1 and altogether turneth therefrom1 shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come4 ,and all those who come not unto this ,priesthood which ye have received1 which ,i now confirm upon you who are present this day1 by mine own voice out of the heavens1 and even ,i have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you4--,sec4 #hd1 pars4 #cb-db1 p4 #bib4 ,and let all those who have not families1 who receive moneys1 send it up unto the ,bishop in ,zion1 or unto the ,bishop in ,ohio1 that it may be consecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations and the printing thereof1 and for establishing ,zion4--,sec4 #hd1 par4 #ajd1 p4 #bih4 ,in the same revelation unto ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 and six ,elders1 it is written3 ,therefore1 take with you those who are ordained unto the lesser ,priesthood1 and send them before you to make appointments1 and prepare the way1 and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not able to fill4 ,behold1 this is the way that mine ,apostles1 in ancient days1 built up my ,church unto me4,a ,also the body hath need of every member1 that all may be edified together1 that the system may be kept perfect4--,sec4 #hd1 pars4 #ajg1 #ajh1 no1 p4 #bii4 ,footnote ,a3 ,why should not this be the way now8 ,we further quote3 ,for the body is not one member1 but many4 99 99 ,and the eye cannot say unto the hand1 ,i have no need of thee3 nor again the head to the feet1 ,i have no need of you4--,i ,cor4 xii1 #ad1 #ba4 ,and the ,bishop1 ,newel ,k4 ,whitney1 also1 should travel round about and among all the ,churches1 searching after the poor to administer to their wants by humbling the rich and the proud2 he should also employ an agent to take charge and to do his secular business as he shall direct4--,sec4 #hd1 pars4 #aab1 #aac1 p4 #bii4 ,thus ,high ,priests1 ,seventies1 ,elders1 ,bishops1 and all men holding the ,priesthood were to be actively engaged in magnifying their ,priesthood4 ,it is the duty of the ,lord's clerk1 whom he has appointed1 to keep a history1 and a ,general ,church ,record of all things that transpire in ,zion1 and of all those who consecrate properties1 and receive inheritances legally from the ,bishop2 and also their manner of life1 their faith1 and works2 and also of all the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances4 ,it is contrary to the will and commandment of ,god1 that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration1 agreeably to his law1 which he has given1 that he may tithe his people1 to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning1 should have their names enrolled with the people of ,god2 neither is their genealogy to be kept1 or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the ,church2 their name shall not be found1 neither the names of the fathers1 nor the names of the children written in the book of the law of ,god1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,yea1 thus saith the still small voice1 which whispereth through and pierceth all things1 and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest1 saying3 ,and it shall come to pass that ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 will send one mighty and strong1 holding the sceptre of power in his hand1 clothed with light for a covering1 whose mouth shall utter words1 eternal words2 while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth1 to set in order the house of ,god1 and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the ,saints1 whose names are found1 and the names of their fathers1 and of their children1 enrolled in the book of the law of ,god3 while that man1 who was called of ,god and appointed1 that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of ,god1 shall fall by the shaft of death1 like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning2 and all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance1 shall find none inheritance in that day1 but they shall be cut asunder1 and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers1 where are wailing and gnashing of teeth4 ,these things ,i say not of myself2 therefore1 as the ,lord speaketh1 he will also fulfill4 ,and they who are of the ,high ,priesthood1 whose names are not found written in the book of the law1 or that are found to have apostatized1 or to have been cut off from the ,church2 as well as the lesser ,priesthood1 or the members1 in that day1 shall not find an inheritance among the ,saints of the ,most ,high2 therefore it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the ,priest1 as will be found in the second chapter and sixty-first and second verses of ,ezra4--,sec4 #he1 pp4 #cjj-b4 ,and let the ,bishop search diligently to obtain an agent1 and let it be a man who has got riches in store1 a man of ,god1 and of strong faith1 that thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt2 that the storehouse of the ,lord may not be brought into disrepute before the eyes of the people4--,sec4 #ij1 pars4 #bb1 #bc1 p4 #cbe4 ,nevertheless1 ,i am not well pleased with many things1 and ,i am not well pleased with my servant ,william ,e4 ,mc,lellin1 neither with my servant ,sidney ,gilbert1 and the ,bishop also1 and others have many things to repent of2 but verily ,i say unto you1 that ,i1 the ,lord1 will contend with ,zion1 and plead with her strong ones1 and chasten her until she overcomes and is clean before me2 for she shall not be removed out of her place4 ,i1 the ,lord1 have spoken it4 ,amen4--,sec4 #ij1 pars1 #ce-cg1 p4 #cbf4 ,my servant ,newel ,k4 ,whitney1 also a ,bishop of my ,church1 hath need to be chastened and set in order his family1 and see that they are more diligent and concerned at home1 and pray always1 or they shall be removed out of their place4--,sec4 #ic1 par4 #ej1 p4 #ccb4 ,therefore let my servant ,newel ,k4 ,whitney take charge of the place which is named among you1 upon which ,i design to build mine holy house2 and again1 let it be divided in lots according to wisdom1 for the benefit of those who seek inheritances1 as it shall be determined in council among you4--,sec4 #if1 pars4 #b1 #c1 p4 #ccg4 ,and again1 ,i say unto you1 it is contrary to my commandment and my will1 that my servant ,sidney ,gilbert,b should sell my storehouse which ,i have appointed unto my people1 into the hand of mine enemies4 ,let not that which ,i have appointed be polluted by mine enemies1 by the consent of those who call themselves after my name2 for this is a very sore and grievous sin against me1 and against my people1 in consequence of those things which ,i have decreed and are soon to befall the nations4 ,therefore1 it is my will that my people should claim1 and hold claim upon that which ,i have appointed unto them1 though they should not be permitted to dwell thereon4--,sec4 #aja1 pars4 #if-ii1 pp4 #ceh-i4 ,footnote ,b3 ,this was the ,bishop's agent4 ,there are1 in the ,church1 two ,priesthoods1 namely1 the ,melchizedek1 and ,aaronic1 including the ,levitical ,priesthood4 ,why the first is called the ,melchizedek ,priesthood is because ,melchizedek was such a ,great ,high ,priest4 ,before his day it was called the ,holy ,priesthood after the order of the ,son of ,god2 but out of respect or reverence to the name of the ,supreme ,being1 to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name1 they1 the ,church1 in ancient days1 called that ,priesthood after ,melchizedek1 or the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,all other authorities or offices in the ,church are appendages to this ,priesthood3 but there are two divisions or grand heads--one is the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 and the other is the ,aaronic or ,levitical ,priesthood4 ,the office of an ,elder comes under the ,priesthood of ,melchizedek4 ,the ,melchizedek ,priesthood holds the right of ,presidency1 and has power and authority over all the offices in the ,church1 in all ages of the world1 to administer in spiritual things4 ,the ,presidency of the ,high ,priesthood after the order of ,melchizedek1 have a right to officiate in all the offices in the ,church4--,sec4 #ajg1 pars4 #a-i1 pp4 #chc-d4 ,thus the ,melchizedek ,priesthood holds the right of ,presidency1 and has power and authority over all the offices in the ,church1 to administer in spiritual things1 while the ,presidency of the ,high ,priesthood has a right to officiate in all the offices in the ,church4 ,this is the duty of a ,bishop who is not a literal descendant of ,aaron1 but has been ordained to the ,high ,priesthood after the order of ,melchizedek4 ,thus shall he be a judge1 even a common judge among the inhabitants of ,zion1 or in a ,stake of ,zion1 or in any branch of the ,church where he shall be set apart unto this ministry1 until the borders of ,zion are enlarged1 and it becomes necessary to have other ,bishops or judges in ,zion1 or elsewhere4--,sec4 #ajg1 pars4 #gc-ge1 p4 #cia4 7,see all of this section47 ,he was to be a common judge among the inhabitants of ,zion1 or in a ,stake of ,zion1 or in a branch of the ,church1 when he shall be set apart unto his ministry4 ,his ,bishopric is sufficient for any of these places when set apart3 and he can only fill those offices for which he is set apart4 ,but a literal descendant of ,aaron has a legal right to the ,presidency of this ,priesthood1 to the keys of this ministry1 to act in the office of ,bishop1 without ,counselors1 except in a case when a ,president of the ,high ,priesthood is tried4 ,we have the following on tithing3 ,verily1 thus saith the ,lord1 ,i require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the ,bishop of my ,church of ,zion1 for the building of mine house1 and for the laying of the foundation of ,zion1 and for the ,priesthood1 and for the debts of the ,presidency of my ,church2 and this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people3 and after that1 those who have been thus tithed1 shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually2 and this shall be a standing law unto them for ever1 for my ,holy ,priesthood1 saith the ,lord4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 it shall come to pass1 that all those who gather unto the land of ,zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties1 and shall observe this law1 or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you4 ,and ,i say unto you1 if my people observe not this law1 to keep it holy1 and by this law sanctify the land of ,zion unto me1 that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon1 that it may be most holy1 behold1 verily ,i say unto you1 it shall not be a land of ,zion unto you2 and this shall be an ensample unto all the ,stakes of ,zion4 ,even so4 ,amen4--,sec4 #aai1 pp4 #dah-ai4 ,a revelation making known the disposition of property tithing3 ,verily1 thus saith the ,lord1 the time is now come1 that it shall be disposed of by a ,council1 composed of the ,first ,presidency of my ,church1 and of the ,bishop and his ,council1 and by my ,high ,council2 and by mine own voice unto them1 saith the ,lord4 ,even so4 ,amen4--,sec4 #abj1 pp4 #dai-bj4 ,that when he shall finish his work1 ,i may receive him unto myself1 even as ,i did my servant ,david ,patten1 who is with me at this time1 and also my servant ,edward ,partridge1 and also my aged servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 who sitteth with ,abraham at his right hand1 and blessed and holy is he1 for he is mine4--,sec4 #abd1 par4 #ai1 p4 #dca4 ,first4--,we find from the above that there are two distinctive general ,priesthoods1 namely1 the ,melchizedek and ,aaronic1 including the ,levitical ,priesthood4 ,second4--,that they are both conferred by the ,lord2 that both are everlasting1 and administer in time and eternity4 ,third4--,that the ,melchizedek ,priesthood holds the right of ,presidency1 and has power and authority over all the offices in the ,church1 in all ages of the world1 to administer in spiritual things4 ,fourth4--,that the second ,priesthood is called the ,priesthood of ,aaron2 because it was conferred upon ,aaron and his seed throughout all their generations4 ,fifth4--,that the lesser ,priesthood is a part of1 or an appendage to the greater1 or the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 and has power in administering outward ordinances4 ,the lesser or ,aaronic ,priesthood can make appointments for the greater1 in preaching1 can baptize1 administer the sacrament1 attend to the tithing1 buy lands1 settle people on possessions1 divide inheritances1 look after the poor1 take care of the properties of the ,church1 attend generally to temporal affairs2 act as common judges in ,israel1 and assist in ordinances of the ,temple1 under the direction of the greater or ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,they hold the keys of the ministering of angels and administer in outward ordinances1 the letter of the ,gospel1 and the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4 ,sixth4--,that there is a ,presidency over each of these ,priesthoods1 both over the ,melchizedek and the ,aaronic4 ,seventh4--,that while the power of the higher1 or ,melchizedek is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the ,church2 to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the ,kingdom of heaven1 to have the heavens opened to them1 to commune with the general assembly and ,church of the ,firstborn and to enjoy the communion and presence of ,god the ,father1 and ,jesus the ,mediator of the new covenant1 and to preside over all the spiritual officers of the ,church1 yet the ,presidency of the ,high ,priesthood1 after the order of ,melchizedek1 have a right to officiate in all the offices in the ,church1 both spiritual and temporal4 ,then comes the ,high ,priesthood1 which is the greatest of all2 wherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the ,high ,priesthood to preside over the ,priesthood1 and he shall be called ,president of the ,high ,priesthood of the ,church2 or1 in other words1 the ,presiding ,high ,priest over the ,high ,priesthood of the ,church4--,sec4 #ajg1 pars4 #fd-ff1 p4 #cij4 ,it is thus evident that this ,priesthood presides over all ,presidents1 all ,bishops1 including the ,presiding ,bishop1 over all ,councils1 organizations and authorities in the whole ,church1 in all the world4 ,that the ,bishopric is the ,presidency of the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 which is an appendage to the greater or ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 and that no man has a legal right to hold the ,,keys of the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 which presides over all ,bishops and all the lesser ,priesthood1 except he be a literal descendant of ,aaron4 ,but1 that as a ,high ,priest of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices1 he may officiate in the office of ,bishop 99 99 99 if called1 set apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the ,presidency of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,we may here notice that ,john the ,baptist conferred this ,priesthood upon ,joseph ,smith1 and that therefore1 as he held it1 he had the power to confer it upon others4 ,eighth4--,that there are ,bishops holding different positions3 ,bishop ,partridge was a general ,bishop over the land of ,zion2 while ,bishop ,whitney was a general ,bishop over the ,church in ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 and also over all the eastern ,churches until afterwards appointed as ,presiding ,bishop4 ,that there are also ward ,bishops1 whose duties are confined to their several wards4 ,that there are also ,bishops' agents1 such as ,sidney ,gilbert and others4 ,that the position which a ,bishop holds1 depends upon his calling and appointment1 and that1 although a man holding the ,bishopric is eligible to any office in the ,bishopric1 yet he cannot officiate legally in any1 except by selection1 calling and appointment4 ,ninth4--,that the power and right of selecting and calling of the ,presiding ,bishop and general ,bishops is vested in the ,first ,presidency1 who also must try those appointed by them in case of transgression1 except in the case of a literal descendant of ,aaron2 who1 if the firstborn1 possesses a legal right to the keys of this ,priesthood2 but even he must be sanctioned and appointed by the ,first ,presidency4 ,this arises from the fact that the ,aaronic is an appendage to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,that the ,presiding ,bishop1 who presides over all ,bishops1 and all of the lesser ,priesthood1 should consult the ,first ,presidency in all important matters pertaining to the ,bishopric4 ,tenth4--,that in regard to the appointment and trial of ward ,bishops1 it appears that they stand in the same relationship to the ,presidents of ,stakes as the early ,bishops did to the ,first ,presidency1 who presided over the ,stake at ,kirtland2 but that those ,presidents should consult with the ,first ,presidency on these and other important matters1 and officiate under their direction in their several ,stakes4 ,that in regard to the office and calling of ,bishops it is very much like the office and calling of ,high ,priests4 ,all ,high ,priests are eligible to any office in the ,church1 when called1 ordained and appointed to fill such office4 ,the ,first ,presidency are ,high ,priests4 ,the ,twelve are ,high ,priests1 ,high ,councilors are ,high ,priests1 ,presidents of ,stakes are ,high ,priests1 and all their ,counselors2 ,bishops and their ,counselors are ,high ,priests3 but it does not follow that all ,high ,priests are ,first ,presidents1 members of the ,twelve ,apostles1 ,presidents of ,stakes1 ,high ,councilors1 ,bishops or ,bishops' ,counselors1 they only obtain these offices by selection and appointment from the proper source1 and when not appointed to any specific calling1 they are organized in a ,stake quorum1 under a ,president and ,council4 ,so although the ,bishopric is eligible to fulfill any office to which they may be appointed1 all are not presiding ,bishops1 all are not general ,bishops1 or special ,bishops1 or ward ,bishops1 or even ,bishops' agents2 they occupy their several offices1 as do the ,high ,priests1 by selection1 appointment1 as well as ordination1 and that the ,presidency of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood presides over1 calls1 directs1 appoints and counsels all4 ,it is further evident that as the ,melchizedek ,priesthood holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the ,church1 and that the ,presidency thereof has a right to officiate in all the offices of the ,church1 therefore that ,presidency has a perfect right to direct or call1 set apart and ordain ,bishops1 to fill any place or position in the ,church that may be required for that ministry to perform in all the ,stakes of ,zion1 or throughout the world4 ,thus1 after going through the whole matter1 we come back to a term frequently used among us3 ,obey counsel4 ,,the ,,levitical ,,priesthood4 ,as the ,levitical ,priesthood is referred to in the ,old ,testament scriptures1 as well as in the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 the following quotations and remarks may throw some light upon the subject3 ,,levites ,,and ,,levitical ,,priesthood4 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying3 ,bring the tribe of ,levi near1 and present them before ,aaron the ,priest1 that they may minister unto him4 ,and they shall keep his charge1 and the charge of the whole congregation1 before the tabernacle of the congregation1 to do the service of the tabernacle4 ,and they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation1 and the charge of the children of ,israel1 to do the service of the tabernacle4 ,and thou shalt give the ,levites unto ,aaron and to his sons1 they are wholly given unto them out of the children of ,israel4 ,and thou shalt appoint ,aaron and his sons1 and they shall wait on their ,priest's office3 and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death4--,num4 iii3 #e1 #aj4 ,aaron and his sons held the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 and the ,levites were given unto them to minister unto them to keep his charge1 the charge of the congregation1 to do the service of the tabernacle1 keep the instruments of the tabernacle1 and the charge of the children of ,israel4 ,and ,i1 behold1 ,i have taken the ,levites from among the children of ,israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of ,israel2 therefore the ,levites shall be mine2 because all the firstborn are mine2 for on the day that ,i smote all the firstborn in the land of ,egypt ,i hallowed unto me all the firstborn in ,israel1 both man and beast3 mine they shall be3 ,i am the ,lord4--,num4 iii1 #ab1 #ac4 ,all the firstborn the ,lord claimed as belonging to him1 because when he destroyed the firstborn of the ,egyptians1 he spared the firstborn of the ,israelites4 ,but the ,levites were appointed to fill the place of the firstborn of all ,israel1 and they were commanded to be numbered1 viz41 all the males from a month old and upward1 to assist ,aaron and his sons in the service of the tabernacle2 at that time there were twenty-two thousand of them4 7,ibid1 ver4 #ci47 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying3 ,take the ,levites instead of all the first born among the children of ,israel1 and the cattle of the ,levites instead of their cattle2 and the ,levites shall be mine3 ,i am the ,lord4 7ver4 #dd1 #de47 ,the remainder of the ,israelites had to redeem their firstborn1 and the money for the redemption was given by ,moses to ,aaron and his sons according to the word of the ,lord4 7ver4 #ej1 #ea47 ,they seemed to have been an appendage to the ,aaronic ,priesthood to assist in the service of the tabernacle and other duties4 ,aaron and his male descendants were selected for the ,priesthood1 and the other ,levites as assistants1 or an appendage4 ,the ,levites had forty-eight cities and their suburbs provided for them from among the possessions of the other tribes3 ,first came by lot the children of ,aaron3 ,and the children of ,aaron the ,priest1 which were of the ,levites1 had by lot out of the tribe of ,judah1 and out of the tribe of ,simeon1 and out of the tribe of ,benjamin1 thirteen cities4--,josh1 xxi1 #d4 7,see the whole of the chapter for a division of cities to the remainder of the ,levites1 or the tribe of ,levi1 who were thus provided for as distinct from the other tribes47 ,all the cities of the ,levites within the possession of the children of ,israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs4--,josh1 xxi1 #da4 ,it may here be observed that both ,moses and ,aaron belonged to the tribe of ,levi1 and that the ,levites had a tithing given to them4 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,aaron1 ,thou shalt have no inheritance in their land1 neither shalt thou have any part among them3 ,i am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of ,israel4 ,and1 behold1 ,i have given the children of ,levi all the tenth in ,israel for an inheritance1 for their service which they serve1 even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation4--,num4 xviii1 #bj1 #ba4 7,see also the chapter47 ,there is a peculiarity about this tithing1 for while one-tenth was given to the ,levites1 they1 the ,levites1 were commanded to give one-tenth of the tithe to ,aaron4 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying4 ,thus speak unto the ,levites1 and say unto them4 ,when ye take of the children of ,israel the tithes which ,i have given you from them for your inheritance1 then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it 99 99 99 for the ,lord1 even a tenth part of the tithe 99 99 and ye shall give thereof the ,lord's heave offering to ,aaron the ,priest4 ,num4 xviii1 #be-bh4 ,it would seem that while the ,levites were called to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation 7ver4 #f71 that the ,priest's office belonged especially to ,aaron and his family4 ,the ,lord1 in speaking to ,aaron1 says1 ,and ,i1 behold1 ,i have taken your brethren the ,levites from among the children of ,israel3 to you they are given as a gift for the ,lord1 to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation4--,num4 xviii1 #f4 ,it furthermore appears that while the ,levites were given to ,aaron1 that ,aaron and his sons were to hold the ,priest's office4 ,therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your ,priest's office for everything of the altar1 and within the vail2 and ye shall serve3 ,i have given your ,priest's office unto you as a service of gift3 and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death4--,num4 xviii1 #g4 ,in the case of ,korah1 ,dathan and ,abiram1 whom the earth opened and swallowed up for assuming the ,priest's office1 ,moses said unto ,korah1 hear1 ,i pray you1 ye sons of ,levi3 ,seemeth it but a small thing unto you1 that the ,god of ,israel hath separated you from the congregation of ,israel1 to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the ,lord1 and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them8 ,and he hath brought thee near to him1 and all thy brethren the sons of ,levi with thee3 and seek ye the ,priesthood also8--,num4 xvi1 #h-aj4 ,and also the whole chapter1 in which is depicted the terrible judgment of ,god upon them for assuming the ,priest's office4 ,from the above it would seem-- ,first4--,that the ,levites were selected in the place of the firstborn whom the ,lord called his own4 ,second4--,that they were given to ,aaron to assist him in the minor or lesser duties of the ,priesthood2 but that ,aaron and his sons officiated in the leading offices of the ,priesthood1 and not the ,levites4 ,third4--,that there was a tithing paid to them by the whole house of ,israel for their sustenance4 ,fourth4--,that they paid a tithe of this to ,aaron4 ,fifth4--,that on assuming the higher duties of the ,priesthood of ,aaron1 the judgments of ,god overtook them4 ,sixth4--,that their ,priesthood was only an appendage to the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 and not that ,priesthood itself as held by ,aaron and his sons4 ,,transcriber',s ,,notes3 ,where the original reads peolpe1 this edition reads people4 ,where the original reads thh1 this edition reads the4 ,where the original reads ,willaims1 this edition reads ,williams4 ,where the original reads ,aopostles1 this edition reads ,apostles4 ,where the original reads authotities1 this edition reads authorities4 ,where the original reads too frequent repetion1 this edition reads too frequent repetition4 ,where the original reads ,was there anything but the ,gospel to add it to to81 this edition reads ,was there anything but the ,gospel to add it to8 ,a case of a quotation mark appearing without a partner has been corrected by adding the partner1 after comparison with the original quoted material4