{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_46221/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_46221","id":"gutenberg_46221","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46221","summary":null,"tags":["Aaronic Priesthood (Mormon Church)","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Latter Day Saints","Latter Day Saints -- Controversial literature","Latter Day Saints -- Doctrines"],"text":"ITEMS ON THE PRIESTHOOD\n\nPRESENTED TO\n\nTHE LATTER DAY SAINTS\n\nBY\n\nPRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR\n\n* * * *\n\nSALT LAKE CITY, UTAH\n\n* * * *\n\n1899\n\n\n\nTHE FOLLOWING ITEMS ON PRIESTHOOD ARE PRESENTED\n\nTO THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS BY PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR.\n\n* * * *\n\nAs there is more or less uncertainty existing in the minds of many of\nthe Bishops and others in regard to the proper status and authority\nof the Bishopric and what is denominated the \"Aaronic or Levitical\"\nPriesthood, I thought it best to lay before the brethren a general\nstatement of the subject, as contained in the Bible and Book of\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\nWith this view, I have made copious extracts from both of the above\nsacred records, and so arranged them that they can be readily\ncomprehended by those who hold the Priesthood and are conversant with\nthe holy order of God; adding only such remarks, for explanation, as\nthe plain statements warranted; preferring to give generally the simple\nquotations, and to let them speak for themselves.\n\nIn the elucidation of this subject I have necessarily had to refer,\nmore or less, to the Melchizedek Priesthood, as the two Priesthoods are\ninseperably united, the one with the other. I have also given a brief\nScriptural synopsis of the Levitical Priesthood, as recorded in the Old\nTestament.\n\nThe following views have been submitted to the Council of the Twelve\nand have received their sanction; they were also laid before the\nPriesthood Meeting at the Semi-Annual Conference, held in the Assembly\nHall, Salt Lake City, October 9th, A. D. 1880, and were unanimously\naccepted by the large body of Priesthood present on that occasion.\n\n* * * *\n\n\n\nTHE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD.\n\nAS CONTAINED IN THE BIBLE.\n\nFirst.--The Aaronic, or Levitical Priesthood, spoken of in the\nrevelations as being \"lesser\" than the Melchizedek; Aaron was made the\nmouthpiece of Moses, while Moses was as a God to Aaron. The Lord having\ncalled Moses to deliver Israel, the Prophet realized his weakness and\nplead to be excused. We quote from the Scriptures:\n\n\"And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is\nnot Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And\nalso, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he\nwill be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words\nin his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and\nwill teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the\npeople: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee _instead of a mouth_\nand thou shalt be to him instead of God.\"--Ex. iv, 14-16.\n\nIt would seem from the foregoing that the Lord was angry with Moses,\nbecause he doubted the ability of God to sustain him and to enable him\nto speak: \"And the Lord said unto him. Who hath made man's mouth? or\nwho maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I\nthe Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach\nthee what thou shalt say. And he said, O, my Lord, send, I pray thee,\nby the hand of _him whom_ thou wilt send.\"--Ex. iv, 11-13.\n\nThe Lord further says: \"And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand,\nwherewith thou shalt do signs.\"--Ex. iv, 17.\n\n\"And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And\nhe went, and met him in the Mount of God, and kissed him. And Moses\ntold Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the\nsigns which he had commanded him.\"--Ex. iv, 27-28.\n\n\"These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the\nchildren of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.\nThese are they which spake to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring out the\nchildren of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.\"--Ex.\nvi, 26, 27. \"And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of\nEgypt.\"--Ex. xii, 1.\n\nIt may be noticed that Aaron was with Moses, that God called him and\nspake to him and Moses, and that he assisted in bringing the message\nto Pharaoh, and was a prophet to Moses before he held the Aaronic\nPriesthood, or before that Priesthood known to us as the Aaronic or\nLevitical Priesthood was given. But it would seem also that the Lord\nspake to Aaron himself;--how and on what principle? The Lord also said\nto Moses, \"I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach\nyou what ye shall do.\" And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had\nspoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. The\nLord had before spoken to Moses on this subject; he now spake to Aaron.\nHence Paul says, \"No man taketh this honor unto himself: but he that\nis called of God as was Aaron.\" What did the Lord say to him? \"Go into\nthe wilderness to meet Moses.\" And then Moses told Aaron all the words\nof the Lord, who had sent him. Moses was thus his instructor and guide,\nor in other words, acted as a God to him. Thus, Aaron being selected\nto assist Moses and to be his mouthpiece, went with him to Egypt, and\nwas with him in his intercourse with Pharaoh, and in the deliverance\nof the children of Israel from Egypt. But Moses always took the lead,\nand when Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, met him, \"Moses sat to judge the\npeople [not Aaron]: and the people stood by Moses, from the morning\nunto the evening.\" And when Jethro saw the excessive labors of Moses,\nhe counseled him, If _God should command him_ to choose able men to be\nrulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens; to judge the\nsmaller cases, while Moses should have charge of the most important.\nThus Moses, and not Aaron, was the most prominent personage in these\nmatters.\n\nWe further find that Aaron was permitted to go up to Mount Sinai. \"And\nthe Lord said unto him [Moses], Away, get thee down, and thou shalt\ncome up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the Priests and the\npeople break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon\nthem.\"--Ex. xix, 24. It may be here asked, Who were these Priests? for\nthe Aaronic Priesthood, as we know it, was not then introduced. But\nMoses was his leader, and it was he who obtained the word of the Lord,\nand it was he with whom the Lord conversed. For we find, \"And Moses\nwent up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain,\nsaying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the\nchildren of Israel. * * * And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on\nthe top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the\nmount; and Moses went up. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge\nthe people lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of\nthem perish.\"--Ex. xix, 3, 20, 21. Moses always took the lead: \"And he\nsaid unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and\nAbihu, and seventy of the Elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.\nAnd Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh;\nneither shall the people go up with him.\"--Ex. xxiv, I, 2. They _saw\nGod_ and did eat and drink: \"And upon the nobles of the children of\nIsrael he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.\"\n(v. 11.) And afterwards Moses was with the Lord forty days. \"And Moses\nwent into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and\nMoses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.\" (v. 18.) By what\npower did Aaron see God? May we not suppose it was by the power of the\nMelchizedek Priesthood? for without that no man can see the face of God\nand live. It, the Melchizedek, holds the keys of the mysteries of the\nKingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. (Doc. and Cov., sec. 84,\np. 290.) Moses had these keys; but Aaron also saw God, as well as the\nseventy Elders of Israel, and the people saw his glory and heard his\nvoice.--Ex. xx, 22; Deut. iv, 36.\n\nIt would seem that Aaron and the seventy Elders of Israel then had\nthe Melchizedek Priesthood, and the Aaronic was about being combined\nwith it, as we have them now. Moses held the keys of the Melchizedek\nPriesthood, and presided over the whole. Aaron was then in possession\nof the Melchizedek Priesthood; but another or lesser Priesthood was\nabout to be conferred upon him, which was done soon after. We quote,\n\"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him,\nfrom among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the\nPriest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar,\nAaron's sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother,\nfor glory and for beauty.\"--Ex. xxviii, 1, 2.\n\nDoes it not seem probable that Aaron, when he received this lesser\nPriesthood, was in the same position (as to Priesthood) that our\nPresiding Bishop is, holding the Melchizedek and lesser Priesthoods,\nbut presiding over the latter, and Moses presiding over all--the\nMelchizedek as well as the Aaronic or Levitical, the latter being an\nappendage to the former? For we read that the law was added because of\ntransgression; added to what? Was there anything but the Gospel to add\nit to? The children of Israel, at this time, had the Gospel and the\npattern of the ark, and the commandments were given under its auspices.\nAnd the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, \"And look that thou make them\nafter their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.\"--Ex. xxv, 40.\n(See also the whole chapter.) And further, the words of the Lord, the\nbook of the covenant or law of the Lord were given under the Gospel.\n(See Ex. xxiv, 1-8.) And the sacrifices and burnt offerings were also\nperformed under the Gospel; and as the great Presiding High Priest,\nMoses, gave directions concerning the sacrifices, and himself sprinkled\nhalf of the blood upon the altar, and put half into basins, hence we\nhave the following:\n\n\"And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half\nof the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the\ncovenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All\nthe Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the\nblood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said. Behold the blood of\nthe covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these\nwords.\"--Ex. xxiv, 6-8. Moses was with the Lord forty days in the mount\nreceiving these things, viz., the laws and covenants, the pattern of\nthe ark and tabernacle, and the tables. (See Ex. xxiv to xxxii.)\n\nWe here have a statement of the manner in which Aaron and his sons were\nset apart to administer in the Aaronic Priest's office, while yet under\nthe Gospel; for we read, \"And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto\nthe door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them\nwith water. And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the\ncoat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate,\nand gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: and thou shalt put\nthe mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. Then\nshalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and\nanoint him. And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.\nAnd thou shalt gird them with the girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put\nthe bonnets on them: and the _Priests office shall be theirs for a\nperpetual statute:_ and THOU shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.\" Ex.\nxxix, 4-9.\n\nFurther, \"And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their\nfather, that they may minister unto me in the Priest's office: for\ntheir anointing shall surely be _an everlasting Priesthood throughout\ntheir generations._\"--Ex. xl, 15. We find that in all this Moses was\nthe chief actor. Sometime after, for certain reasons specified, Aaron\nwas to be gathered to his people, and not be permitted to enter the\nland, as stated. \"Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall\nnot enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel,\nbecause ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron\nand Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto Mount Hor: and strip Aaron\nof his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be\ngathered unto his people, and shall die there. And Moses did as the\nLord commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the\ncongregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them\nupon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and\nMoses and Eleazar came down from the mount.\"--Num. xx, 24-28.\n\nWhat the sin was that Moses and Aaron committed does not distinctly\nappear, except it was in taking glory to themselves instead of giving\nGod the glory. For God had commanded Moses to take the rod, he and\nAaron, and smite the rock, which he did. In doing this, however,\nMoses said: \"Hear now, ye rebels: must we fetch you water out of\nthis rock? * * * And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye\nbelieved me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,\ntherefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I\nhave given them.\"--Num. xx, 10-12. This is the water of Meribah (or\nstrife) because the children of Israel strove with the Lord and he was\nsanctified in them. David, in referring to this, says: \"They angered\nhim also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses\nfor their sakes: because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake\nunadvisedly with his lips.\"--Psalm cvi, 32, 33.\n\nThe same judgment afterwards overtook Moses, and also for the same\nreason. For, \"The Lord said unto Moses, get thee up into this mount\nAbarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of\nIsrael. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto\nthy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against\nmy commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation,\nto sanctify me at the water before their eyes, that is the water of\nMeribah, in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.\"--Num. xxvii, 12-14.\nDeut. xxxii, 48-52.\n\nMoses plead with the Lord to have this sentence reversed, but the Lord\nwould not grant his prayer. He said \"I pray thee, let me go over, and\nsee the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and\nLebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would\nnot hear me: and the Lord said unto me. Let it suffice thee; speak\nno more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah,\nand lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and\neastward, and behold it with thine eye; for thou shalt not go over this\nJordan.\"--Deut. iii, 25-27. And when Moses found that the Lord would\nnot permit him to go to the goodly land, he still felt interested about\nthe welfare of the people. For we read: \"And Moses spake unto the Lord,\nsaying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man\nover the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go\nin before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them\nin; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no\nshepherd. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua, the son of\nNun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set\nhim before Eleazer the Priest, and before all the congregation; and\ngive him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put _some_ of thine\nhonor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may\nbe obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the Priest, who shall\nask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his\nword shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, _both_ he,\nand all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. And\nMoses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him\nbefore Eleazar the Priest, and before all the congregation: and he laid\nhis hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the\nhand of Moses.\"--Num. xxvii, 15-23.\n\nIn his day Moses was the law-giver and leader of the children of\nIsrael. When he died some of Moses' honor was conferred upon Joshua,\nnot all; Joshua then was to be under the priestly direction of Eleazar,\nthe son of Aaron, who was to ask counsel for him after the judgment\nof Urim. Thus the lesser Priesthood began to bear rule in the person\nof Eleazar, the son of Aaron, although in operation it did not bear\nrule in Aaron's time. And while the keys and powers of the Melchizedek\nPriesthood were withdrawn in the person of Moses, the Aaronic\nPriesthood was maintained in all its powers in the person of Eleazar.\nJoshua indeed led the people, but had not the gifts and powers of the\nPriesthood which Moses had, holding indeed the Melchizedek Priesthood,\nbut possessing only _some of Moses' honor_.\n\nMoses died, according to the chronological record of the Bible, in the\nyear B. C. 1451. Upwards of three hundred years afterwards we find\nEli officiating as Priest; and although he was a good man, he did not\ncontrol his sons, nor stop their iniquitous practices; for which he and\nhis sons were reproved by the Lord. And Samuel took his place, and he\nselected and anointed Saul, who had, as Joshua, part of Moses' honor.\nAnd the Aaronic Priesthood continued to exercise its priestly power,\nmore or less, until Christ; of which as appears John was the _last\nlegitimate High Priest_.\n\nIn the new translation the removal of the Melchizedek Priesthood is\nclearly defined as follows: \"And the Lord said unto Moses: Hew thee\ntwo other tables of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon\nthem also, the words of the law, according as they were written at\nfirst on the tables which thou brakest: but it shall not be according\nto the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst;\ntherefore my holy order [or the Melchizedek], and the ordinances\nthereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in\ntheir midst, lest I destroy them. But I will give unto them the law as\nat the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment;\nfor I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my\npresence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage.\"--Ex. xxxiv,\n1, 2.\n\nThe Lord said unto Moses: \"Thou canst not see my face at this time,\nlest mine anger is kindled against thee also, and I destroy thee and\nthy people; for there shall no man among them see me at this time and\nlive; for they are exceeding sinful. And no sinful man hath at any\ntime; neither shall there be any sinful man at any time, that shall see\nmy face and live.\"--N. T. Ex. xxxiii, 20. He did, however, place him in\nthe cleft of a rock, and covered him with His hand, and permitted him\nto see His back parts; but not His face. A little while before this,\nMoses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the Elders of Israel\nsaw God, and did eat and drink.--Ex. xxiv, 9-11. But now Moses even,\ncould not see his face, nor any of the people go near him, and when\nMoses had been a second time on the mount and his face shone so that\nthey could not look upon him, Moses had to put a vail on his face.--Ex.\nxxxiv, 29-35.\n\nPaul in referring to this says: \"And not as Moses, which put a vail\nover his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look\nto the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded;\nfor until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading\nof the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even\nunto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.\nNevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken\naway.\"--II. Cor. iii, 13-16.\n\nFrom the foregoing and from the whole history of the Aaronic Priesthood\nuntil the coming of Christ, it appears that, with the exception of\nsome prominent prophets who held the Melchizedek Priesthood, as the\ndirect gift of God, without, it would seem, the power to confer it\nupon others--not having an organization--there was very little of the\nmanifestation of the gift and power of God among the people of the\nJews, so that it might truly be said, \"There arose not a prophet since\nin Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the\nsigns and the wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of\nEgypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; and in\nall that mighty hand, and in all that great terror, which Moses showed\nin the sight of all Israel.\"--Deut. xxxiv, 10-12.\n\nFrom the foregoing it is evident:\n\nFirst.--That the Melchizedek Priesthood was greater than the Aaronic,\nand that while it ruled, it controlled all matters pertaining to the\ngovernment and instruction of the people, and that it organized and\ndirected the Aaronic Priesthood, which was in reality an appendage to\nthe greater.\n\nSecond.--That when the Melchizedek Priesthood was in a great measure\nwithdrawn, as there was no regular organization of that Priesthood, it\nwas left to a great extent to the guidance and direction of the Lord,\nwho, from time to time, inspired different men as Prophets, who came\nto the people with the word of the Lord, receiving their inspiration\nand calling directly from him, as Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and\nothers. But that a portion of Moses' spirit rested upon Joshua, upon\nthe seventy Elders of Israel, upon the Prophets in the days of Elijah,\nElisha and others.\n\nThird.--That the Aaronic Priesthood continued in its full force, having\na complete organization, which it received under the hands of Moses, or\nthrough the Melchizedek Priesthood.\n\nFourth.--That the Aaronic Priesthood, being continued, it held the Urim\nand Thummim, and gave direction to Joshua, who was set apart by Moses,\nand to Saul, David, Solomon and others, who were anointed and set apart\nto their kingly power, and to rule over and to lead and direct Israel,\nand that this state of things continued until Christ. The High Priests\nof the Aaronic Priesthood being the acknowledged representatives of\nGod, holding the priestly power: whilst the kings were anointed by\nthem, or by their priestly authority, and the kings and rulers had to\nget the word of the Lord from the Aaronic Priesthood, or through the\nUrim and Thummim.\n\nFifth.--It is further evident that this Priesthood became, in many\ninstances, very corrupt, and incurred the displeasure of God, and that\nmany of the kings also, though anointed, perverted their office and\ncalling, and instead of being the protectors and saviors of Israel,\nhelped to lead them astray.\n\nSixth.--It is evident that all the Aaronic Priesthood did not have the\nUrim and Thummim, nor did they call, anoint and direct kings, or bear\nrule in the nation. But only the High Priest--one man--and that one man\npresided over and directed the action of the kings, telling them when\nto go out to war, and when not to go, and giving unto them the word of\nthe Lord through the Urim and Thummim.\n\nSeventh.--That they only had one tabernacle, one ark of the covenant,\nor one temple at one time; and not as we, many stakes, many temples,\nand many services. But then they, when Moses left, were under the\nAaronic, and we are under the Melchizedek Priesthood; they were under\nthe law and the Mosaic dispensation; we are under the Gospel, and in\nthe dispensation of the fullness of time, and have consequently labors\nand duties to perform which did not belong to them.\n\nIt may be proper here to remark that there was a council, called a\n\"senate of the children of Israel.\"--Acts v, 21. The High Priest called\nthis council together. The council, it is said, was composed of seventy\nmen or judges, and to have taken its rise from the installment of the\nseventy Elders spoken of in Num. xi, 16, 17. They were to be known by\nMoses to be Elders of the people and officers over them--\"Able men,\nsuch as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness\"--a portion of\nMoses' spirit was to be given unto them, and they were to help him to\nbear the burdens of the people. As Saul was anointed by Samuel to be\ncaptain over the Lord's inheritance, and the Spirit of the Lord was to\ncome upon him, and he was to prophesy and be turned into another man.\n(See I. Samuel x, 6.) And God gave him another heart, and all the signs\ncame to pass that day, and he prophesied.\n\nThis senate or council was known by the name of the Sanhedrim, and\nit is said, sat in the form of a half moon. This council is spoken\nof in John xi, 47-52. \"Then gathered the Chief Priests and Pharisees\na council. * * And one of them named Caiaphas, the High Priest, said\n* * it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people. *\n* And this spake he not of himself; but being High Priest that year,\nhe prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for\nthat nation only; but that also he should gather together in one the\nchildren of God that were scattered abroad.\" \"Now Caiaphas was he\nwhich gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man\nshould die for the people.\"--John xviii, 14. This council had not the\npower of death, (ver. 31.) (See also Acts iv, v and vi.) About this\nSanhedrim there is little or nothing said in the Old Testament nor of\nthe organization of this court. It is thought by some it existed after\nthe captivity, or in the days of the Maccabees only.\n\nThere is another remarkable thing about the Aaronic Priesthood, or at\nleast about the early action of Aaron, as an associate of Moses. When\nMoses was first called upon to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage,\nhe told the Lord that they would not believe him, nor hearken unto\nhis voice, and Moses was told to cast his rod upon the ground, and it\nbecame a serpent, and he fled from before it; but when the Lord told\nMoses to take it by the tail, and he caught it, it became a rod again.\nThen the Lord told him to put his hand into his bosom, and when he took\nit out it was leprous. He was told to put it into his bosom again, and\nit was restored and like his other flesh. Still, Moses was unconvinced\nand said, \"O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since\nthou hast spoken unto thy servant; but I am slow of speech and of a\nslow tongue. And the Lord said unto him. Who hath made man's mouth? or\nwho maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I\nthe Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach\nthee what thou shalt say.\"--Ex. iv, 10-12. Yet Moses was not satisfied\nand shrank from his mission, and said: \"O my Lord, send, I pray thee,\nby the hand of _him_ whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the Lord\nwas kindled against Moses, and he said. Is not Aaron the Levite thy\nbrother? I know, that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh\nforth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his\nheart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and\nI will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what\nye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he\nshall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt\nbe to him instead of God. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand,\nwherewith thou shalt do signs.\" (See the whole of chap. iv, Ex.)\n\nFrom the above it would seem that if Moses would have done as the Lord\nrequested him, Aaron would not have been called. Moses shrank from the\nresponsibility; and though the Lord was angry with him yet he gave unto\nhim a helper in Aaron. A revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith,\nsays: \"Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the\nwilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they\nmight behold the face of God; but they hardened their hearts and could\nnot endure his presence, therefore the Lord in his wrath (for his anger\nwas kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his\nrest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fullness of his glory.\nTherefore he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood\nalso; and the lesser Priesthood continued, which Priesthood holdeth\nthe key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory Gospel, which\nGospel is the Gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission\nof sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his\nwrath, caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children\nof Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy\nGhost from his mother's womb; for he was baptized while he was yet in\nhis childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was\neight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews,\nand to make straight the way of the Lord, before the face of his people\nto prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given\nall power.\"--Doc. and Cov. Sec. 84, pars. 23-88. pp. 290-1. Again,\nPaul says, \"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood,\n(for under it the people received the law,) what further need was\nthere that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek,\nand not be called after the order of Aaron? For the Priesthood being\nchanged, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.\"--Heb.\nvii, 11, 12. (See also chapters viii, ix and x.) John the Baptist\ncame as the forerunner of Christ, and baptized him as stated. \"Then\ncometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.\nBut John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and\ncomest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him. Suffer it to be\nso now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he\nsuffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out\nof the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the\nspirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo, a\nvoice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well\npleased.\"--Matt, iii, 13-17. On inquiry being made, Jesus said of John\nthe Baptist, \"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women,\nthere hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding\nhe that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.\"--Matt,\nxi, 11. Again Jesus said, \"And if ye will receive it, this is Elias\nwhich was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\"\n(vers. 14, 15.) But they would not receive it: they beheaded John\nand crucified Jesus; hence the restoration, the mission of Elias was\npostponed until he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the\nKirtland Temple. (Doc. and Gov. Sec. ex, p. 405.) At which time Elijah\ncame, as Malachi says: \"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet\nbefore the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he\nshall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of\nthe children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a\ncurse.\"--Mal. iv, 5, 6.\n\nIt seems from the foregoing that Moses had the greater or Melchizedek\nPriesthood; that when he was taken, the keys went with him; that the\nAaronic Priesthood ruled until Christ, and the people were under the\nlaw; that when Christ came he introduced a better covenant and restored\nthe Gospel; and that the Bishopric was, and the Aaronic Priesthood\nis, under the Melchizedek, and an appendage thereto, as are also all\nElders appendages to the Melchizedek Priesthood; and it is also evident\nthat the Presidency of that Priesthood presides over all, as did\nMelchizedek, Moses, Joseph Smith, etc., with Jesus at the head, as the\ngreat Presiding High Priest.\n\nBut if, as Paul says, the Priesthood being changed, then is made of\nnecessity a change also of the law; or in other words, a change from\nthe law of carnal commandments and ordinances to the law of the Gospel.\nYet the Aaronic Priesthood, as the Melchizedek, is an everlasting\nPriesthood, as before exhibited, and continueth forever as an appendage\nto the Melchizedek Priesthood; and hence in the old apostolic days,\nwhen under an organization of the Melchizedek, the latter is the most\nprominent, and very little is said about the Levitical or Aaronic:\nprobably on account of the peculiar traditions and superstitions of\nthe Jews, which made it almost impossible for them to comprehend the\ngreater or Melchizedek. Yet the Aaronic cannot be ignored, and in the\ndispensation of the fullness of times it again comes forth, as one of\nthe grand aids or appendages to the Melchizedek Priesthood; and hence\nin the ushering in of this dispensation, John the Baptist appears on\nthe stage and confers the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and\nOliver Cowdery.\n\nHaving therefore traced out these two Priesthoods, principally from the\nold Scriptures, we how turn to the revelations given by Joseph Smith\nin the introduction of the Priesthood, as revealed by the Latter-day\nProphet in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness of times.\n\n\n\nPRINCIPALLY ON THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD OR BISHOPRIC.\n\nTHE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD CONFERRED.\n\n\"Words of the Angel, John, (the Baptist,) spoken to Joseph Smith, Jr.,\nand Oliver Cowdery, as he (the angel) laid his hands upon their heads\nand ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, in Harmony, Susquehanna\nCounty, Pennsylvania, May 15th, 1829:\n\n\"Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the\nPriesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels,\nand of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the\nremission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth,\nuntil the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in\nrighteousness.\"--Doc. and Cov., Sec 13, p. 108.\n\nWe quote from some of the first revelations given to the Prophet Joseph\nSmith upon this subject. \"Every President of the High Priesthood (or\nPresiding Elder,) Bishop, High Councilor, and High Priest, is to be\nordained by the direction of a High Council or General Conference.\nPresiding Elders, Traveling Bishops, High Councilors, High Priests, and\nElders, may have the privilege of ordaining where there is no branch\nof the Church.\"--Doc. and Cov., Sec. 20, pars. 67, 66, p. 127. At this\ntime Presidents of the High Priesthood, Presiding Elders, Bishops, High\nCouncilors, and High Priests were placed on the same footing. It may be\nobserved that Traveling Bishops are here referred to. These were given\nfor the regulation of the newly organized branches or churches.\n\nFrom the above we learn: That before the appointment of Bishops there\nwere revelations given and arrangements made for this office. Whilst\nthe following teaches us:\n\nThat certain men among the Saints should be appointed by the voice of\nthe Church, to look after the poor and needy, and to govern the affairs\nof the property of the Church. \"And now I give unto the Church in these\nparts, a commandment that certain men among them shall be appointed,\nand they shall be appointed by the voice of the Church; and they shall\nlook to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief, that\nthey shall not suffer; and send them forth to the place which I have\ncommanded them.\"--Sec. 38, pars. 34, 35, p. 163. The place referred to\nat that time was Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. (par. 32.)\n\nEdward Partridge was ordained a Bishop--the first Bishop in the\nChurch--and was called Feb. 4, 1831. He was to _spend all his time\nin the labors of the Church_. We quote: \"And again, I have called my\nservant Edward Partridge, and give a commandment, that he should be\nappointed by the voice of the Church, and ordained a Bishop unto the\nChurch, to leave his merchandise and to spend all his time in the\nlabors of the Church: to see to all things as it shall be appointed\nunto him, in my laws in the day that I shall give them.\"--Sec.41, pars.\n9, 10, p. 168. He was to \"see to all things, as it _shall be appointed\nunto him, in my laws_\" [Who was to give these laws?] \"in the day that I\nshall give them.\"\n\nNewel K. Whitney was the second Bishop--called _to be_ a Bishop, Dec.\n4, 1831. \"And now, verily I say unto you, my servant Newel K. Whitney\nis the man who shall be appointed and ordained unto this power. Even\nso. Amen.\"--Sec. 72, par. 8, p.257. \"And again, I say unto you, that\nmy servant Edward Partridge shall stand in the office wherewith I have\nappointed him. And it shall come to pass, that if he transgresses,\nanother shall be appointed in his stead. Even so. Amen.\"--Sec. 42, par.\n10, p. 169; Feb. 9, 1831.\n\nProperty was to be consecrated for the poor, and laid before the Bishop\nand his counselors, who are to be two Elders or High Priests. (See sec.\n42. pars. 30, 31, p. 171) The residue was to be kept in a storehouse\nfor the poor and needy, as shall be appointed by the High Council and\nthe Bishop and his Council and for _purchasing Church lands, building\nhouses of worship_, building up the New Jerusalem; of course he was to\nact as a general Bishop of the Church, (he was not confined to a ward,)\nto receive and distribute property, appoint stewardships, etc. It will\nbe perceived that the High Council then had a voice in these matters.\nIt is written:\n\n\"And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor ye will do\nit unto me, and they shall be laid before the Bishop of my Church and\nhis Counselors, two of the Elders, or High Priests, such as he shall\nor has set apart for that purpose. And it shall come to pass, that\nafter they are laid before the Bishop of my Church, and after that\nhe has received these testimonies concerning the consecration of the\nproperties of my Church, that they cannot be taken from the Church\nagreeable to my commandments; every man shall be made accountable unto\nme, a stewart over his own property, or that which he has received by\nconsecration, inasmuch as is sufficient for himself and family. And\nagain, if there shall be properties in the hands of the Church, or any\nindividuals of it, more than is necessary for their support, after\nthis first consecration, which is a residue to be consecrated unto the\nBishop, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not, from\ntime to time, that every man who has need may be amply supplied, and\nreceive according to his wants. Therefore the residue shall be kept in\nmy storehouse, to administer to the poor and the needy, as shall be\nappointed by the High Council of the Church, and the Bishop and his\nCouncil. And for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit\nof the Church, and building houses of worship, and building up of the\nNew Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed.\"--Sec. 42, pars.\n31-35, PP. 171-2.\n\nThe Bishop was to receive his support, and also his Counselors,\nor a remuneration for services. We read: \"And the Elders, or High\nPriests who are appointed to assist the Bishop, as Counselors in all\nthings, are to have their families supported out of the property\nwhich is consecrated to the Bishop, for the good of the poor, and for\nother purposes, as before mentioned; or they are to receive a just\nremuneration for all their services, either a stewartship or otherwise,\nas may be thought best or decided by the Counselors and Bishop, and the\nBishop, also, shall receive his support, or a just remuneration for all\nhis services in the Church.\"--Sec. 42, pars. 71-73, P. 175. (See also\np. 257.)\n\n\"And unto the Bishop of the Church, and unto such as God shall appoint\nand ordain to watch over the Church, and to be Elders unto the Church,\nare to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts.\"--Sec.\n46, par. 27, p. 193. Certain gifts were here referred to. Not only\nBishops but Elders were to have this power. We further find that Edward\nPartridge was to appoint unto this people their portion--every man\nequal, giving him a writing--and every man was to deal honestly, and\nbe and receive alike; one Church must not use the money of another\nChurch without making arrangements to pay it. A storehouse was to be\nappointed. The Bishop was to receive unto himself and family what was\nneeded for his wants, and for those of his family. This was to be an\nexample unto Edward, Partridge, and to all Churches.\n\n\"And let my servant, Edward Partridge, when he shall appoint a man\nhis portion, give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his\nportion. * * And let that which belongeth to this people not be taken\nand given unto that of another Church; wherefore, if another Church\nwould receive money of this Church let them pay unto this Church\nagain according as they shall agree; and this shall be done through\nthe Bishop or the agent, which shall be appointed by the voice of\nthe Church. And again, let the Bishop appoint a storehouse unto this\nChurch, and let all things, both in money and in meat, which is more\nthan is needful for the want of this people, be kept in the hands of\nthe Bishop. And let him also reserve unto himself for his own wants,\nand for the wants of his family, as he shall be employed in doing this\nbusiness. And thus I grant unto this people a privilege of organizing\nthemselves according to my laws; and I consecrate unto them this\nland for a little season, until I, the Lord, shall provide for them\notherwise, and command them to go hence; and the hour and the day is\nnot given unto them, wherefore let them act upon this land as for\nyears, and this shall turn unto them for their good. Behold this shall\nbe an example unto my servant Edward Partridge, in other places, in all\nChurches.\"--Sec. 51, pars. 4, 10-18, pp. 203, 204.\n\nFirst.--From the above we find that bishops were first spoken of as\nearly as April, 1830. (See sec. 20, p. 121.)\n\nSecond.--Certain men were to be appointed to look after the poor and\nadminister to their relief and govern the affairs of the property of\nthe Church. (See sec. 38, pars. 34-36, p. 163, January 2, 1831.)\n\nThird.--Edward Partridge was called to be the first Bishop, (See sec.\n41, par. 9, p. 168, February 1831,) \"and to spend all his time in the\nlabors of the Church.\"\n\nFourth.--That Newel K. Whitney was called and appointed to this office\nas the second Bishop of this Church.\n\nFifth.--After this, besides Bishops' agents, there were other Bishops\nappointed. George Miller was appointed to the Bishopric, and had it\nsealed upon his head.\n\n\"I therefore say unto you, I seal upon his head the office of a\nBishopric, like unto my servant Edward Partridge, that he may receive\nthe consecrations of mine house, that he may administer blessings upon\nthe heads of the poor of my people, saith the Lord. Let no man despise\nmy servant George, for he shall honor me.\"--Sec. 124, par. 21, p. 431.\n\nAlso, \"He who is appointed to administer spiritual things, the same is\nworthy of his hire, even as those who are appointed to a stewardship to\nadminister in temporal things.\"--Sec. 70, par. 12, p. 254.\n\nThere seems to be a difference in the duties of Bishops; Brother\nMiller's was to be like Edward Partridge's whose duties are distinctly\nmarked out as follows: \"And again, verily I say unto you, my servant\nGeorge Miller is without guile; he may be trusted because of the\nintegrity of his heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony\nI, the Lord, love him.\"--Sec. 124, par. 20 (see also par. 21), p. 431.\n\nAt the same time and in the same manner Vinson Knight, Samuel H. Smith,\nand Shadrach Roundy were appointed to preside over the Bishopric.\n\n\"And again, I say unto you, I give unto you Vinson Knight, Samuel H.\nSmith, and Shadrach Roundy, if he will receive it, to preside over the\nBishopric; a knowledge of said Bishopric is given unto you in the Book\nof Doctrine and Covenants.\"--Sec. 124, par. 141, p. 446. Vinson Knight\nwas a Bishop, the two others were of course his Counselors.\n\nWe find from the foregoing and from what follows that there were\nseveral kinds of Bishops, as well as Bishops' agents. Bishop Edward\nPartridge was appointed to preside over the Saints in Zion, to purchase\nlands, divide inheritances, and sit as a judge in Israel, as a general\nBishop to that district of country, and he had a special agent to\nassist him, viz., Sidney Gilbert.\n\nBishop Whitney was appointed Bishop in Kirtland, Ohio, yet he had\ncharge of all the Churches in the eastern country, as a general\nBishop. Neither of these, at that time, were presiding Bishops over\nthe Bishopric. George Miller was appointed to fill the place of Edward\nPartridge and officiate in the same order of Bishopric. Vinson Knight\nwas appointed to preside over the Bishopric with Samuel H. Smith and\nShadrach Roundy for counselors, and at the same time that George Miller\nwas appointed to take the place of Edward Partridge. Then there were\nAlanson Ripley and others. Sidney Gilbert was to be an agent unto this\nChurch in the place that shall be appointed by the Bishop. (Sec 53,\npar. 4, p. 209.)\n\n\"And let my servant Sidney Gilbert stand in the office which I have\nappointed him, to receive moneys, to be an agent unto the Church,\nto buy land in all the regions round about, inasmuch as can be in\nrighteousness, and as wisdom shall direct. * * And again, verily I say\nunto you, let my servant Sidney Gilbert plant himself in this place,\nand establish a store, that he may sell goods _without fraud_ that he\nmay obtain money to buy lands for the good of the Saints, and that he\nmay obtain whatsoever things the disciples may need to plant them in\ntheir inheritances.\"--Sec. 57, pars. 6, 8, pp. 215-16.\n\nThe Lord says Edward Partridge was also to \"stand in the office\nwhich I have appointed him, to divide the Saints their inheritance,\neven as I have commanded; and also those whom he has appointed to\nassist him.\"--Sec. 57, par. 7, p. 215 * * \"Let the Bishop and the\nagent make preparations for those families which have been commanded\nto come to this land, as soon as possible, and plant them in their\ninheritance.\"--Sec.57, par, 15, p. 216. \"I have selected my servant\nEdward Partridge, and have appointed unto him his mission in this land;\nbut if he repent not of his sins, which are unbelief and blindness of\nheart, let him take heed lest he fall. Behold his mission is given unto\nhim, and it shall not be given again. And whoso standeth in his mission\nis appointed to be a judge in Israel, like as it was in ancient days,\nto divide the lands of the heritage of God unto his children, and to\njudge his people by the testimony of the just, and by the assistance of\nhis counselors, according to the laws of the kingdom which are given by\nthe Prophets of God; for verily I say unto you, my law shall be kept\non this land. Let no man think he is ruler, but let God rule him that\njudgeth, according to the counsel of his own will; or, in other words\nhim that counseleth or sitteth upon the judgment seat.\"--Sec. 5 8 pars.\n14-20, p. 218. \"Let the residue of the Elders * * hold a conference;\"\nand Edward Partridge was empowered to direct the conference which\nshould be held by certain Elders. (Sec. 58, pars. 61, 62, p. 222.)\n\n\"And let my servant Edward Partridge impart of the money which I\nhave given him, a portion unto mine Elders who are commanded to\nreturn.\"--Sec. 60, pars. 10, 11, p. 226. If not able, they were not\nrequired to return it.\n\n\"Let my servant Newel K. Whitney retain his store, or in other words,\nthe store yet for a little season. Nevertheless let him impart all the\nmoney which he can impart, to be sent up unto the land of Zion. Behold\nthese things are in his own hands, let him do according to wisdom.\nVerily I say, let him be ordained as an agent unto the disciples that\nshall tarry, and let him be ordained unto this power.\"--Sec. 43, pars.\n42-45, pp. 236-7. It would seem from the above that Bishop Whitney was\nnot yet a Bishop when he was ordained to be an agent.\n\n\"And even the Bishop, who is a judge, and his Counselors, if they are\nnot faithful in their stewardships, shall be condemned, and others\nshall be planted in their stead.\" Sec. 64, par. 40, p. 243.\n\nWe find from the following that Bishops must be selected from the High\nPriests and be set apart to the Bishopric.\n\n\"There remaineth hereafter, in the due time of the Lord, other Bishops\nto be set apart unto the Church, to minister even according to the\nfirst; wherefore they shall be High Priests who are worthy, and\nthey shall be appointed by the First Presidency of the Melchizedek\nPriesthood, except they be literal descendants of Aaron. And if they be\nliteral descendants of Aaron, they have a legal right to the Bishopric,\nif they are the first born among the sons of Aaron; for the firstborn\nhold the right of the _Presidency_ over this Priesthood, and the _keys_\nor authority of the same. No man has a legal right to this office to\nhold the _keys_ of this Priesthood, except he be a literal descendant\nand the firstborn of Aaron; but as a High Priest of the Melchizedek\nPriesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may\nofficiate in the office of Bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron\ncan be found, provided he is called, and set apart and ordained unto\nthis power under the hands of the First Presidency of the Melchizedek\nPriesthood. And a literal descendant of Aaron, also, must be designated\nby this Presidency, and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained\nunder the hands of this Presidency, otherwise they are not legally\nauthorized to officiate in their Priesthood; but by virtue of the\ndecree concerning their right of the Priesthood descending from father\nto son, they may claim their anointing, if at any time they can prove\ntheir lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under\nthe hands of the above named Presidency. And again, no Bishop or High\nPriest who shall be set apart for this ministry, shall be tried or\ncondemned for any crime, save it be before the First Presidency of the\nChurch; and inasmuch as he is found guilty before this Presidency, by\ntestimony that cannot be impeached, he shall be condemned.\"--Sec. 68,\npars. 14-23, pp. 249-250.\n\nWe may here notice, as elsewhere referred to, that it is the Presidency\nof the Aaronic Priesthood that is above spoken of, that must be set\napart by the First Presidency, and also tried by them, whether of\nlineal descent or High Priests. Newel K. Whitney was appointed and\nordained a Bishop. (See sec. 72, par. 8, p. 257) \"Let my servant Newel\nK. Whitney, and my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and my servant Sidney\nRigdon, sit in council with the Saints which are in Zion.\"--Sec. 78,\npar. 9, p. 281. Thus it seems that though Bishop Whitney was Bishop\nof Kirtland, he sat in council with the Saints which were in Zion,\nassociated with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, thus showing that he\nwas not a ward but a general Church Bishop.\n\n\"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that it is expedient for my servant\nAlam, and Ahashdah, (Newel K. Whitney,) Mahalaleel, and Pelagoram,\n(Sidney Rigdon,) and my servant Gazelam, (Joseph Smith,) and Horah,\nOlihah, (Oliver Cowdery,) and Shalemanasseh, and Mehemson, (Martin\nHarris,) to be bound together by a bond and covenant that cannot be\nbroken by transgression, (_except judgment shall_ immediately follow,)\nin your several stewardships, _to manage the affairs of the poor, and\nall things pertaining to the Bishopric_, both in the land of Zion and\nin the land of Shinehah (Kirtland.)\"--Sec. 82, pars. 11, 12, p. 286.\n\nThis proves that President Joseph Smith and his Counselor Sidney Rigdon\nwere authorized to supervise temporal matters in the Church as well\nas the Bishop or with him. Here the Melchizedek Priesthood is united\nwith the Aaronic to manage the Bishopric in both lands. We continue our\nquotations: \"Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing\nall things with an eye single to the glory of God.\"--Sec. 82, par. 19,\np. 287.\n\n\"Which Abraham received the Priesthood from Melchizedek, who received\nit through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah; and from Noah\ntill Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers; and from Enoch to\nAbel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the\nPriesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam,\nwho was the first man--which Priesthood continueth in the Church of God\nin all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.\nAnd the Lord confirmed a Priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed,\nthroughout all their generations--which Priesthood also continueth\nand abideth forever with the Priesthood, which is after the holiest\norder of God. And this greater Priesthood administereth the Gospel\nand holdeth the key of the mysteries of the Kingdom, even the key of\nthe knowledge of God; therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power\nof Godliness is manifest, and without the ordinances thereof, and the\nauthority of the Priesthood, the power of Godliness is not manifest\nunto men in the flesh; for without this no man can see the face of\nGod, even the Father, and live. Now this Moses plainly taught to the\nchildren of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify\nhis people that they might behold the face of God; but they hardened\ntheir hearts and could not endure his presence, therefore the Lord in\nhis wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they\nshould not enter into his rest while in the wilderness; which rest is\nthe fullness of his glory. Therefore he took Moses out of their midst,\nand the Holy Priesthood also.\"--Sec. 84, pars. 14-25, pp. 290-1.\n\nWe have already shown that there was a Priesthood conferred upon Aaron\nand his seed throughout all their generations. It becomes a question\nwhat Priesthood Aaron had before he had bestowed upon him what is\ntermed the Aaronic Priesthood, when he administered with Moses? \"The\ngreater Priesthood administereth the Gospel and holdeth the key of the\nmysteries of the Kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.\"\n\nFrederick G. Williams was called and appointed a High Priest and\nCounselor to Joseph Smith. His call reads as follows:\n\n\"Verily, verily I say unto you, my servant Frederick G. Williams,\nlisten to the voice of him who speaketh, to the word of the Lord your\nGod, and hearken to the calling wherewith you are called, even to be a\nHigh Priest in my Church and a Counselor unto my servant Joseph Smith,\nJr., unto whom I have given the keys of the Kingdom, _which belongeth\nalways unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood_: therefore, verily,\nI acknowledge him and will bless him and also thee, inasmuch as thou\nart faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you\nin prayer always vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private,\nalso in thy ministry in proclaiming the Gospel in the land of the\nliving, and among thy brethren.\"--Sec. 81, pars. 1-3, p. 284.\n\nFrom the following we find that God took Moses from the midst of the\nchildren of Israel and also the Holy or Melchizedek Priesthood, leaving\nthe lesser, or the Aaronic Priesthood. \"Therefore, he took Moses out of\ntheir midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; and the lesser Priesthood\ncontinued, which Priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of\nangels and the preparatory Gospel, which Gospel is the Gospel of\nrepentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of\ncarnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath, caused to continue\nwith the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom\nGod raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's\nwomb; for he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was\nordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto\nthis power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight\nthe way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for\nthe coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power. And again,\nthe _offices of Elder and Bishop_ are necessary appendages belonging\nunto the High Priesthood.\" Sec. 84, pars. 25-29, p. 291. From this, it\nwould seem that the law of carnal commandments was a curse. Paul said\nthe law was added because of transgression. (\"It was added because\nof transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was\nmade.\" Gal. iii, 19.) And that it was a yoke which neither they nor\ntheir fathers were able to bear; and that Christ came to fulfill the\nlaw and introduce the Gospel which was greater--a higher law and a\ngreater Priesthood, viz: the Melchizedek.\n\nBoth Elders and Bishops are appendages to the High Priesthood. \"And\nagain, the offices of Teacher and Deacon are necessary appendages\nbelonging to the lesser Priesthood.\" (Sec. 84, par. 30, p. 291);\nthus Elders and Bishops are appendages to the High Priesthood, while\nTeachers and Deacons are appendages to the lesser, which lesser is\nan appendage to the higher or Melchizedek. \"Therefore, as I said\nconcerning the sons of Moses--for the sons of Moses, and also the\nsons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the\nhouse of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this\ngeneration, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed.\"--Sec. 84,\npar. 31, p. 291. When both of these Priesthoods are carried out and\nunited in their purity, the glory of the Lord will be manifested upon\nMount Zion, in the Lord's house, both operating according to their\ncallings, position and authority. For it is written, \"And the sons of\nMoses and Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount\nZion, in the Lord's house, whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have\ncalled and sent forth to build up my Church; for whoso is faithful unto\nthe obtaining these two Priesthoods, of which I have spoken, and the\nmagnifying their calling are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing\nof their bodies; they become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the\nseed of Abraham, and the Church and Kingdom, and the elect of God; and\nalso all they who receive this Priesthood receiveth me, saith the Lord;\nfor he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth\nme receiveth my Father; and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my\nFather's Kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto\nhim; and this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth\nto the Priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the Priesthood,\nreceive this oath and covenant of my Father which he cannot break,\nneither can it be moved; but whoso breaketh this covenant, after he\nhath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have\nforgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. And all\nthose who come not unto this Priesthood which ye have received, which I\nnow confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of\nthe heavens, and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels\ncharge concerning you.\"--Sec. 84, pars. 32-42, p. 292.\n\n\"And let all those who have not families, who receive moneys, send it\nup unto the Bishop in Zion, or unto the Bishop in Ohio, that it may be\nconsecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations and the printing\nthereof, and for establishing Zion.\"--Sec. 84, par. 104, p. 298.\n\nIn the same revelation \"unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and six Elders,\" it\nis written: \"Therefore, take with you those who are ordained unto the\nlesser Priesthood, and send them before you to make appointments, and\nprepare the way, and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not\nable to fill. Behold, this is the way that mine Apostles, in ancient\ndays, built up my Church unto me.[A] Also the body hath need of every\nmember, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept\nperfect.\"--Sec. 84, pars. 107, 108, no, p. 299.\n\n[Footnote A: Why should not this be the way now?]\n\nWe further quote: \"For the body is not one member, but many. * * And\nthe eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the\nhead to the feet, I have no need of you.\"--I Cor. xii, 14, 21.\n\n\"And the Bishop, Newel K. Whitney, also, should travel round about\nand among all the Churches, searching after the poor to administer\nto their wants by humbling the rich and the proud; he should also\nemploy an agent to take charge and to do his secular business as he\nshall direct.\"--Sec. 84, pars. 112, 113, p. 299. Thus High Priests,\nSeventies, Elders, Bishops, and all men holding the Priesthood were to\nbe actively engaged in magnifying their Priesthood.\n\n\"It is the duty of the Lord's clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep\na history, and a General Church Record of all things that transpire\nin Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive\ninheritances legally from the Bishop; and also their manner of life,\ntheir faith, and works; and also of all the apostates who apostatize\nafter receiving their inheritances. It is contrary to the will and\ncommandment of God, that those who receive not their inheritance by\nconsecration, agreeably to his law, which he has given, that he may\ntithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and\nburning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God;\nneither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be\nfound on any of the records or history of the Church; their name shall\nnot be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the\nchildren written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of\nHosts. Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through\nand pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake\nwhile it maketh manifest, saying: And it shall come to pass that I, the\nLord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the sceptre of power\nin his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter\nwords, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to\nset in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances\nof the Saints, whose names are found, and the names of their fathers,\nand of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God: while\nthat man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his\nhand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like\nas a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning; and all\nthey who are not found written in the book of remembrance, shall find\nnone inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their\nportion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing\nand gnashing of teeth. These things I say not of myself; therefore,\nas the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfill. And they who are of the\nHigh Priesthood, whose names are not found written in the book of the\nlaw, or that are found to have apostatized, or to have been cut off\nfrom the Church; as well as the lesser Priesthood, or the members, in\nthat day, shall not find an inheritance among the Saints of the Most\nHigh; therefore it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the\nPriest, as will be found in the second chapter and sixty-first and\nsecond verses of Ezra.\"--Sec. 85, pp. 300-2.\n\n\"And let the Bishop search diligently to obtain an agent, and let it\nbe a man who has got riches in store, a man of God, and of strong\nfaith, that thereby he may be enabled to discharge every debt; that the\nstorehouse of the Lord may not be brought into disrepute before the\neyes of the people.\"--Sec. 90, pars. 22, 23, p. 325.\n\n\"Nevertheless, I am not well pleased with many things, and I am not\nwell pleased with my servant William E. McLellin, neither with my\nservant Sidney Gilbert, and the Bishop also, and others have many\nthings to repent of; but verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord,\nwill contend with Zion, and plead with her strong ones, and chasten\nher until she overcomes and is clean before me; for she shall not be\nremoved out of her place. I, the Lord, have spoken it. Amen.\"--Sec. 90,\npars, 35-37, p. 326.\n\n\"My servant Newel K. Whitney, also a Bishop of my Church, hath need\nto be chastened and set in order his family, and see that they are\nmore diligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be\nremoved out of their place.\"--Sec. 93, par. 50, p. 332.\n\n\"Therefore let my servant Newel K. Whitney take charge of the place\nwhich is named among you, upon which I design to build mine holy house;\nand again, let it be divided in lots according to wisdom, for the\nbenefit of those who seek inheritances, as it shall be determined in\ncouncil among you.\"--Sec. 96, pars. 2, 3, p. 337.\n\n\"And again, I say unto you, it is contrary to my commandment and my\nwill, that my servant Sidney Gilbert[B] should sell my storehouse which\nI have appointed unto my people, into the hand of mine enemies. Let not\nthat which I have appointed be polluted by mine enemies, by the consent\nof those who call themselves after my name; for this is a very sore\nand grievous sin against me, and against my people, in consequence of\nthose things which I have decreed and are soon to befall the nations.\nTherefore, it is my will that my people should claim, and hold claim\nupon that which I have appointed unto them, though they should not be\npermitted to dwell thereon.\"--Sec. 101, pars. 96-99, pp. 358-9.\n\n[Footnote B: This was the Bishop's agent.]\n\n\"There are, in the Church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek,\nand Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first\nis called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was\nsuch a Great High Priest. Before his day it was called _the Holy\nPriesthood after the order of the Son of God_; but out of respect or\nreverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent\nrepetition of his name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called\nthat Priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.\n_All other authorities or offices_ in the Church _are appendages_ to\nthis Priesthood: but there are two divisions or grand heads--one is\nthe Melchizedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or Levitical\nPriesthood. The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of\nMelchizedek. The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency,\nand has power and authority over all the offices in the Church, in all\nages of the world, to administer in spiritual things. _The Presidency\nof the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, have a right to\nofficiate in all the offices_ in the Church.\"--Sec. 107, pars. 1-9, pp.\n383-4.\n\nThus the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency, and has\npower and authority over all the offices in the Church, to administer\nin spiritual things, while the Presidency of the High Priesthood has a\nright to officiate in all the offices in the Church.\n\n\"This is the duty of a Bishop who is not a literal descendant of\nAaron, but has been ordained to the High Priesthood after the order\nof Melchizedek. Thus shall he be a judge, even a common judge among\nthe inhabitants of Zion, or in a Stake of Zion, or in any branch of\nthe Church where he shall be set apart unto this ministry, until the\nborders of Zion are enlarged, and it becomes necessary to have other\nBishops or judges in Zion, or elsewhere.\"--Sec. 107, pars. 73-75, p.\n391. (See all of this section.)\n\nHe was to be a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion, or in a\nStake of Zion, or in a branch of the Church, _when he shall be set\napart unto his ministry_. His Bishopric is sufficient for any of these\nplaces when set apart: and he can only fill those offices for which he\nis set apart. But a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to\nthe Presidency of this Priesthood, to _the keys_ of this ministry, to\nact in the office of Bishop, without Counselors, except in a case when\na President of the High Priesthood is tried.\n\nWe have the following on tithing: \"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I\nrequire all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the\nBishop of my Church of Zion, for the building of mine house, and for\nthe laying of the foundation of Zion, and for the Priesthood, and\nfor the debts of the Presidency of my Church; and this shall be the\nbeginning of the tithing of my people: and after that, those who have\nbeen thus tithed, shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually;\nand this shall be a standing law unto them for ever, for my Holy\nPriesthood, saith the Lord. Verily I say unto you, it shall come to\npass, that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed\nof their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall\nnot be found worthy to abide among you. And I say unto you, if my\npeople observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify\nthe land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept\nthereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it\nshall not be a land of Zion unto you; and this shall be an ensample\nunto all the Stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen.\"--Sec. 119, pp. 418-19.\n\n\"A revelation making known the disposition of property tithing:\n\n\"Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall\nbe disposed of by a Council, composed of the First Presidency of my\nChurch, and of the Bishop and his Council, and by my High Council; and\nby mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen.\"--Sec. 120,\npp. 419-20.\n\n\"That when he shall finish his work, I may receive him unto myself,\neven as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time,\nand also my servant Edward Partridge, and also my aged servant Joseph\nSmith, Sen., who sitteth with Abraham at his right hand, and blessed\nand holy is he, for he is mine.\"--Sec. 124, par. 19, p. 431.\n\nFirst.--We find from the above that there are two distinctive general\nPriesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the\nLevitical Priesthood.\n\nSecond.--That they are both conferred by the Lord; that both are\neverlasting, and administer in time and eternity.\n\nThird.--That the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency,\nand has power and authority _over all the offices in the Church_, in\nall ages of the world, _to administer in spiritual things_.\n\nFourth.--That the second Priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron;\nbecause it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed throughout all their\ngenerations.\n\nFifth.--That the lesser Priesthood is a part of, or an appendage to the\ngreater, or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering\noutward ordinances. The lesser or Aaronic Priesthood can make\nappointments for the greater, in preaching, can baptize, administer\nthe sacrament, attend to the tithing, buy lands, settle people on\npossessions, divide inheritances, look after the poor, take care of the\nproperties of the Church, attend generally to temporal affairs; act as\ncommon judges in Israel, and assist in ordinances of the Temple, under\nthe direction of the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood. They hold the\nkeys of the ministering of angels and administer in outward ordinances,\n_the letter of the Gospel_, and the baptism of repentance for the\nremission of sins.\n\nSixth.--That there is a Presidency over each of these Priesthoods, both\nover the Melchizedek and the Aaronic.\n\nSeventh.--That while the power of the higher, or Melchizedek is to hold\nthe keys _of all the_ spiritual _blessings of the Church_; to have the\nprivilege of receiving the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, to have\nthe heavens opened to them, to commune with the general assembly and\nChurch of the Firstborn and to enjoy the communion and presence of God\nthe Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to preside\nover all the spiritual officers of the Church, yet the _Presidency_\nof the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, have a right\nto officiate in _all the offices in the Church_, both spiritual and\ntemporal.\n\n\"Then comes the High Priesthood, which is the greatest of all;\nwherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the High Priesthood\nto preside over the Priesthood, and he shall be called President of the\nHigh Priesthood of the Church; or, in other words, the Presiding High\nPriest over the High Priesthood of the Church.\"--Sec. 107, pars. 64-66,\np. 390.\n\nIt is thus evident that this Priesthood presides over all Presidents,\nall Bishops, including the Presiding Bishop, over all Councils,\norganizations and authorities in the whole Church, in all the world.\n\nThat the Bishopric is the Presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood, which\nis \"an _appendage_ to the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood,\" and that\nno man has a legal right to hold the KEYS of the Aaronic Priesthood,\nwhich presides over all Bishops and all the lesser Priesthood, except\nhe be a literal descendant of Aaron. But, that \"as a High Priest of the\nMelchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser\noffices, he may officiate in the office of Bishop\" * * * if \"_called,\nset apart and ordained unto this_ power by the hands of the Presidency\nof the Melchizedek Priesthood.\"\n\nWe may here notice that John the Baptist conferred this Priesthood upon\nJoseph Smith, and that therefore, as he held it, he had the power to\nconfer it upon others.\n\nEighth.--That there are Bishops holding different positions: Bishop\nPartridge was a general Bishop over the land of Zion; while Bishop\nWhitney was a general Bishop over the Church in Kirtland, Ohio, and\nalso over all the eastern Churches until afterwards appointed as\nPresiding Bishop. That there are also ward Bishops, whose duties are\nconfined to their several wards. That there are also Bishops' agents,\nsuch as Sidney Gilbert and others.\n\nThat the position which a Bishop holds, depends upon his calling and\nappointment, and that, although a man holding the Bishopric is eligible\nto any office in the Bishopric, yet he cannot officiate legally in any,\nexcept by selection, calling and appointment.\n\nNinth.--That the power and right of selecting and calling of the\nPresiding Bishop and general Bishops is vested in the First Presidency,\nwho also must try those appointed by them in case of transgression,\nexcept in the case of a literal descendant of Aaron; who, if the\nfirstborn, possesses a legal right to the keys of this Priesthood;\nbut even he must be sanctioned and appointed by the First Presidency.\nThis arises from the fact that the Aaronic is an appendage to the\nMelchizedek Priesthood.\n\nThat the Presiding Bishop, who presides over all Bishops, and all of\nthe lesser Priesthood, should consult the First Presidency in all\nimportant matters pertaining to the Bishopric.\n\nTenth.--That in regard to the appointment and trial of ward Bishops, it\nappears that they stand in the same relationship to the Presidents of\nStakes as the early Bishops did to the First Presidency, who presided\nover the Stake at Kirtland; but that those Presidents should consult\nwith the First Presidency on these and other important matters, and\nofficiate under their direction in their several Stakes.\n\nThat in regard to the office and calling of Bishops it is very much\nlike the office and calling of High Priests. All High Priests are\neligible to any office in the Church, when called, ordained and\nappointed to fill such office. The First Presidency are High Priests.\nThe Twelve are High Priests, High Councilors are High Priests,\nPresidents of Stakes are High Priests, and all their Counselors;\nBishops and their Counselors are High Priests: but it does not follow\nthat all High Priests are First Presidents, members of the Twelve\nApostles, Presidents of Stakes, High Councilors, Bishops or Bishops'\nCounselors, they only obtain these offices by selection and appointment\nfrom the proper source, and when not appointed to any specific calling,\nthey are organized in a Stake quorum, under a President and Council.\nSo although the Bishopric is eligible to fulfill any office to which\nthey may be appointed, all are not presiding Bishops, all are not\ngeneral Bishops, or special Bishops, or ward Bishops, or even Bishops'\nagents; they occupy their several offices, as do the High Priests, by\nselection, appointment, as well as ordination, and that the Presidency\nof the Melchizedek Priesthood presides over, calls, directs, appoints\nand counsels all. It is further evident that as the Melchizedek\nPriesthood holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church,\nand that the Presidency thereof has a right to officiate in all the\noffices of the Church, therefore that Presidency has a perfect right\nto direct or call, set apart and ordain Bishops, to fill any place\nor position in the Church that may be required for that ministry to\nperform in all the Stakes of Zion, or throughout the world. Thus, after\ngoing through the whole matter, we come back to a term frequently used\namong us: Obey counsel.\n\n\n\nTHE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.\n\nAs the Levitical Priesthood is referred to in the Old Testament\nscriptures, as well as in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, the\nfollowing quotations and remarks may throw some light upon the subject:\n\nLEVITES AND LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.\n\n\"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Bring the tribe of Levi near,\nand present them before Aaron the Priest, that they may minister unto\nhim. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole\ncongregation, before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the\nservice of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of\nthe tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of\nIsrael, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the\nLevites unto Aaron and to his sons, they are wholly given unto them out\nof the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons,\nand they shall wait on their Priest's office: and the stranger that\ncometh nigh shall be put to death.\"--Num. iii: 5, 10.\n\nAaron and his sons held the Aaronic Priesthood, and the Levites were\ngiven unto them to minister unto them to keep his charge, the charge\nof the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle, keep the\ninstruments of the tabernacle, and the charge of the children of Israel.\n\n\"And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of\nIsrael instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the\nchildren of Israel; therefore the Levites shall be mine; because all\nthe firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn\nin the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel,\nboth man and beast: mine they shall be: I am the Lord.\"--Num. iii, 12,\n13.\n\nAll the firstborn the Lord claimed as belonging to him, because when he\ndestroyed the firstborn of the Egyptians, he spared the firstborn of\nthe Israelites. But the Levites were appointed to fill the place of the\nfirstborn of all Israel, and they were commanded to be numbered, viz.,\nall the males from a month old and upward, to assist Aaron and his sons\nin the service of the tabernacle; at that time there were twenty-two\nthousand of them. (Ibid, ver. 39.)\n\n\"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Take the Levites instead of\nall the first born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the\nLevites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am\nthe Lord.\" (ver. 44, 45.)\n\nThe remainder of the Israelites had to redeem their firstborn, and\nthe money for the redemption was given by Moses to Aaron and his sons\naccording to the word of the Lord. (ver. 50, 51.)\n\nThey seemed to have been an appendage to the Aaronic Priesthood to\nassist in the service of the tabernacle and other duties. Aaron and\nhis male descendants were selected for the Priesthood, and the other\nLevites as assistants, or an appendage.\n\nThe Levites had forty-eight cities and their suburbs provided for them\nfrom among the possessions of the other tribes: First came by lot the\nchildren of Aaron: \"And the children of Aaron the Priest, which were of\nthe Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe\nof Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.\"--Josh,\nxxi, 4. (See the whole of the chapter for a division of cities to the\nremainder of the Levites, or the tribe of Levi, who were thus provided\nfor as distinct from the other tribes.) \"All the cities of the Levites\nwithin the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight\ncities with their suburbs.\"--Josh, xxi, 41.\n\nIt may here be observed that both Moses and Aaron belonged to the tribe\nof Levi, and that the Levites had a tithing given to them. \"And the\nLord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land,\nneither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine\ninheritance among the children of Israel. And, behold, I have given the\nchildren of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their\nservice which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the\ncongregation.\"--Num. xviii, 20, 21. (See also the chapter.)\n\nThere is a peculiarity about this tithing, for while one-tenth was\ngiven to the Levites, they, the Levites, were commanded to give\none-tenth of the tithe to Aaron.\n\n\"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Thus speak unto the Levites,\nand say unto them. When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes\nwhich I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall\noffer up an heave offering of it * * * for the Lord, even a tenth part\nof the tithe * * and ye shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering to\nAaron the Priest.\" Num. xviii, 25-28.\n\nIt would seem that while the Levites were called \"to do the service\nof the tabernacle of the congregation\" (ver. 6), that the Priest's\noffice belonged especially to Aaron and his family. The Lord, in\nspeaking to Aaron, says, \"And I, behold, I have taken your brethren\nthe Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given\nas a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the\ncongregation.\"--Num. xviii, 6.\n\nIt furthermore appears that while the Levites were given to Aaron, that\nAaron and his sons were to hold the Priest's office. \"Therefore thou\nand thy sons with thee shall keep your Priest's office for everything\nof the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given\nyour Priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger\nthat cometh nigh shall be put to death.\"--Num. xviii, 7.\n\nIn the case of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, whom the earth opened and\nswallowed up for assuming the Priest's office, \"Moses said unto\nKorah, hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: Seemeth it but a small\nthing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the\ncongregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service\nof the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation\nto minister unto them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all\nthy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: _and seek ye_ the Priesthood\nalso?\"--Num. xvi, 8-10. And also the whole chapter, in which is\ndepicted the terrible judgment of God upon them for assuming the\nPriest's office.\n\nFrom the above it would seem--\n\nFirst.--That the Levites were selected in the place of the firstborn\nwhom the Lord called his own.\n\nSecond.--That they were given to Aaron to assist him in the minor or\nlesser duties of the Priesthood; but that Aaron and his sons officiated\nin the leading offices of the Priesthood, and not the Levites.\n\nThird.--That there was a tithing paid to them by the whole house of\nIsrael for their sustenance.\n\nFourth.--That they paid a tithe of this to Aaron.\n\nFifth.--That on assuming the higher duties of the Priesthood of Aaron,\nthe judgments of God overtook them.\n\nSixth.--That their Priesthood was only an appendage to the Aaronic\nPriesthood, and not that Priesthood itself as held by Aaron and his\nsons.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:\n  Where the original reads \"peolpe,\" this edition reads \"people.\"\n  Where the original reads \"thh,\" this edition reads \"the.\"\n  Where the original reads \"Willaims,\" this edition reads \"Williams.\"\n  Where the original reads \"Aopostles,\" this edition reads \"Apostles.\"\n  Where the original reads \"authotities,\" this edition reads \"authorities.\"\n  Where the original reads \"too frequent repetion,\" this edition reads \"too\n   frequent repetition.\"\n  Where the original reads \"Was there anything but the Gospel to add it to\n   to?,\" this edition reads \"Was there anything but the Gospel to add it to?\"\n  A case of a quotation mark appearing without a partner has been corrected\n   by adding the partner, after comparison with the original quoted material.","title":"Items on the Priesthood, presented to the Latter-day Saints","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":15008}