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Theses and Dissertations

1973

Prophetic Authority in the Teachings of Modern Prophets Prophetic Authority in the Teachings of Modern Prophets

Clifford Gary Bennett Brigham Young University - Provo

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BYU ScholarsArchive Citation BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Bennett, Clifford Gary, "Prophetic Authority in the Teachings of Modern Prophets" (1973). Theses and Dissertations. 4520. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4520

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PROPHETIC AUTHORITY IN THE TEACHINGS

OF MODERN PROPHETS

A thesis

presented to the

department of church history and doctrine

brigham young university

in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree

master of arts

tyby

clifford gary bennett

august 1973

odbuluochA gary andersonandersen committee member

v

jfr3

typed bybys mary 13 bennett

li

russetsrussejsalassel1 brrv rich committee ctelcmandhacha n

114bizhik

faf1

this thesis by clifford gary bennettsbennettybennetttbennettaBen isnetty accepted in its present

form loytoy the department of church history and doctrine in the college of

religious instruction of brigham young university as satisfying the

thesis requirements for the debreedegree of master of arts

M

bythe

de e

kz46rson

dredro

dredrs

ackmowusdgments

the writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the follow-

ing

to the prophets past and present whose inspired writings are the

living substance of this study

to the writers wife marymaxymaltmait abnbnB Bennetbennett without whose support thiswork could never have been accomplished

to dr richard 4 andersonAnder professorsongsont in the college of religion

whose active help made possible the completion of this study

to the executive committee of the board of trustees with an

especial mention of elder thomas si monson of the council of the twelve

who was actively encouraging to the graduate school and to the depart-

ment of church history and doctrine of brigham young university for

permission to pursue this study

to dr lamarimmarlemarlekar C berrett chairman of the department of church

history and doctrine for his encouragement

to dr russell R rich committee chairmanChair formang his counsel aid

and criticisms

to dr rodney turner minor committee membermemberg for his doctrinal

insights and criticisms

to dr A gary anderson acting committee member during the

absence of dr turner who read the thesis and offered helpful suggestionssuggestion

finally to brigham young university a campus set on a hillwhose light though imperfect is an inspiration to the writer who counts

it as one of his great privileges to have been a student theretheres

iii

S

ACKNOWIFaugmentsadgments

tv

se

to marygmary carol kristen

ivvi

I1

PURPOSES OF THE STUDY 0 0 0 & 0

fdaUSATABLEIRLBLEtabek OF CONTENTS

page

acknowledgments

v

chapter

1 introduction TO THE STUDY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

THE PROBLEM

6

ULTIMATE AUTHORITY 0 0 0 6 0 0 s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 6

ULTIMATE AUTHORITY AND MAN 0 0 a 0 0 0 6 0 0 0

14

SURVEY HISTORY OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITYIN PAST dispensations 21

THE WORLD WITHOUT PROPHETIC AUTHORITY 29

conclusion 0 0 0 0 0 & 0 c 0 & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 30

3 THE BASIS OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITY IN THETIMtle dispensationOF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES

31

v

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 illdedication 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 iv

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABIEOF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 & 0 6 0 a 0 0

to

0 0 0 a 0 a a 6 4 6 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

limitations AND METHOD OF THE STUDY

0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 2

justificationjustifications S 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 2

STATEMENT OF clarification 0 0 0 9 e 9 s e s 9 4

definition OF TERMSTEMteltrl 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

2 AUTHORITY AND PROPHETSIPROPHETS definitions AND SHORT HISTORYOF PROPHETIC AUTHORITY IN PAST dispensations

0 0 a 0 a 10

delegation OF GODSGODOS AUTHORITY TO MAN s 0 a 0 0 9 0 e a 11

OVERVIEW OF THE PROPHETIC OFFICE AND ITS AUTHORITYAUTHOFITY

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31

THE IASTLAST dispensation IN perspective

nanimanthani

lo10

as6s

THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OF THE LAST dispensation

32

FULL restoration OF THE PROPHETIC OFFICEIN THE IASTLAST dispensation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40

testimonies OF THE ELEVEN PRESIDING PROPHETS OF THISdispensation REGARDING THEIR PROPHETIC AUTHORITY 0 0 9 43

SUMMATION

1

introduction 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 to 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 to to to to to to 151

PROBIRMSPROBLEMS IN FOLLOWING PROPHETS 0 e 0 0 0 0 0 O0 s 0 6 0 0 0 55

conclusion 86

5 PROPHETIC AUTHORITY AS IT RELATESRETATES TO THE WORLD AS A WHOLE to a 87

THE PROPHETIC stewardship OVER ALL THE WORLD 87

THE WORLDPSWORLDS NEED FOR tmTHE PROPHETS

0 0 0 a 9 32

SPECIFIC authorities RESTORED TO JOSEPH SMITH

0 0 0 0 0 0 O0 s 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 a lq49

4 obligations OF CHURCH MEMBERSWieK TOBERS THE PROPHETIC OFFICE a to to 9 51

s to to to e s e a to 9 a to to

50

to s to 9 to s87

0 a to to 0 0 0 0 0 0 90

THE TESTIMONY OF THE PROPHETSPROPHITS IS THAT makMANkak UNAIDEDCANNOT GOVERN OR SAVE HIMSELF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 111 0 0 0 0 0 0 93

THE NEED OF THE WORIDWORLDwohld TO ACCEPT THE GOSPELOGOSPEL BECOME

KNOWIFBIRKNOWLEDG ABOUTABLE THE PROPHETS AND9 ACCEPT THEM

AS TRUE MINISTERS OF CHRIST 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 e 0 0 0 0 0 6 94

BLESSINGS FOR THE WORLD IN ACCEPTING PROPHETICAUTHORITY to 0 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 to e 0 0 97

THE CURSING THAT FOLLOWS REJECTION OF PROPHETICAUTHORITY 0 0 0 0 6 0 41 0 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 41

d

MINIS S

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 98

conclusion 0 4 0 0 0 0 41 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .1001000100

6 conclusion s to to to 9 0 41 0 0 0 tik111 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .1011010101eloisiol

bibliography 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 0 to 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 al 0 0 6 0 0 107.1070107

vi

loo

iol

107

iatterlatter nts

churchonchurchof

chapter 1

introduction TO THE STUDYstudt

THE IRROBIEMPROBUSM

the members of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday

are unique in the modern christian world because they believe in the

existence of present day prophets of god they also believe that in every

age prophets of god have contributed to moral stability for those accept-

ing their authority leadership of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints speaks with an assurance that is unusual among contemporary

churches the statement of LDS prophets on the reality and signific-

ance of theirkheir authority provides for an unusual opportunity to study

prophetic authority as understood by latterdaylatteriatter saintsday in modern times

the general problem therefore lsis what is prophetic authority and how

does it function in latterdaylatter saintday theology

delimitations ANDAMD KETHODMETHOD OF THE STUDY

an analysis of the statements on prophetic authority by those

eighty or so men who have been sustained by the church of jesus christ

of latterdaylatter saintsday as prophets seers and revelators has been

accomplished

primaryPritt sourcesnryary have emphasized the holy scriptures of the

church of jesus christ of latterdaylatteriatterletterietter saintsday the official history of

the church of jesus christ of latterday saints a seven volume work

assuxencethat

theirauthority

day ants

journaljournel of discoursestDiscoursest

sogsos

2

edited tyby B H robertsRoberrobertspbober the yejfjdigcoji conference

reportssssssmf g8888 0 e t les an direct statements of the

denominated prophets ofat the church found elsewhere in latterdaylatter saintday

literature

PURPOSES OF THE STUDY

this study has attempted to answer ten specific questions about

prophets and prophetic authority from the standpoint of the doctrinal

beliefs of the LDS church they are 1 1 what is a prophet

2 why have prophets been such an integral part of gods program

through the ages 3 what is prophetic authority and to what extent

does it relate to the church rembermember to the world as a whole 4 was

christ the consummation of the prophets in the sense that there has been

no need for prophets since christ 5 Is christ himself a prophet

if so how does he relate to the other prophets 6 how does the

presidingpre prophettiding of the church ofol01 jesus christ of latterdayletterlatteriatterietter saintsdaydey

relate to other prophets Is a fullness of salvation obtainable

without the ministry of prophets Is salvation merely an individual

affair 8 could the presiding prophet or the president of the church

lead the church astray how does humanhunan fallibility affect prophetic

authority under what circumstances if any could the individual church

member feel free to reject prophetic authority 9 on whatwhit basis does

one judge true prophets from false ones 10 how does obedience to

prophetic authority relate to the agency of the individual

justification

A survey of current church literature theses and dissertationdissertations

messages of the first presidepmPreside andpM directstatements odtheofthedenominatedprophets

7

currentchurch

tst

ies

iallallat

1972o19720 llis1141ilis

3harocharo ld

edeedo

joseph fielding smith the tenth president prophet seer and

revelator of the church has recently pled for the spirit of obedience2and conformity to come upon the church especially the youth again

and again the men accepted by the church as modern prophets are stating

that

3

has revealed that a study of this nature has not yet been accomplishaccomplished

if we keep our eye on the president we will never be

3led astray elder gordon B hinckley of the council of the twelve

said in a recent conferenceconferences

I1 give you my testimony that the happiness of the latterdaylattersaints

daythethepepeaceace of the latterdaylatter saintsday the progress of the

latterdayletterlatterietter saintsday the prosperity of the latterdaylatter saintsday andthe eternal salvation and exaltation of this people lie inwalking in obedience to the counsels of the priesthood of god

in his conference address given during the most recent april

1973 conference of the church elder mark E petersen of the council of

the twelve stated unequivocablyunequivocally that salvation for the human family is

in the church and of course the president of the church by definition

presides over the church assuming this position to be correct in

it should be noted that the author has found many sourceshelpful prophetic authority is partially discussed in many places inLDS literaturelitera sometureo of the more prominent of these include the

gjy0 by haroldharoid glen clarki priesthood and churchgovernment by john A widstoeVidwid tgchingsteachindeachinstoe of the living prophets astudent manual approved by the adult correlation committee of thechurch of jesusjesuajebus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday mormon Doctrindoctrine by bruceR mcconkiemcconkleMcCon andkletkleikiei mvlngfogphetsfor living church a studentmanual approved by the youth and young adult correlation committeeof the church of jesus christ of latterdayiatterlatter saintsday

2joseph fielding smith ogden temple dedicatory prayer theensjlfla II11 march 19721922 11

harold B lee conference report october 1970 ppap 152153152

gordon

153

B hinckley Conferenceconferjmg report october 1971 P 162

mark E petersen deseret newsmewsflews church news april 14 1973p 14

4

5

foundmany

art of governing alonaion 9

dedicatoryprayerensi

it 1970t4 hinckleyconference R t5

day

et

ter

lit

uvine ts for a

sidingiding ageaermee

160igo hereafter cited asteachings

pretatpretetionslons expressed throughout the paper are given according to the

official scripturesscripture and writing of the LDSLD churchSo

definition OF TERMS

the prophetprophe grosidingpresgrogmonno py

retationsrotations

4

latterdaylatteriatterletter saintday theology a thorough understanding of prophetic

authority would be essential to a believer

STATEMENT OF cluificationgiabification

inasmuch as this thesis deals exclusively with doctrines and

interpretations of latterdayiatterlatterylatterlettery saintday theology it is to be understood

without calling further attention to it that the doctrines and inter-

pretations

dent ofoflkofl thethgehg iiililhillhhiilh iesjhies seeraseerjjh and reyelatorrevelatorsrevelatorRey ielator

these terms will refer to that prophet who presides among the peoplepeoplemeo

the

meo

high priest who holds directing powers over all others under christechrist

prophetpr unlessi otherwise indicated this term will refer to

any person who has the spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of

jesus christychristo which comes through the holy ghostghosts

prophetic authorityt willvillviii referrofercefer most specifically to that

authority possessed by the presiding prophetsprophet the president of the church

of jesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday unless otherwise indicatedindica

thetjie

tede

churchychigchschurcht that is the hurchchurch of jesus christ the organized

joseph fielding smithpsmith teachingTeach ofitaipa the prophet josephjoaeph smithsnithsalt lakelmkeimke citycityicitti deserett book co t971

P

s

&l president of the churchechurchw presipresl

priesthoodg greatiulh priests seer

6

autho I1

6josephfielding9 1971p pe

deacteac to

phetphat joaejose

retat

lesal

SELsekints7johnajohn

5

followers of christ possessing priesthood and the oracles of god

specifically this term refers to the church of jesusjesu christ of latterday saints in this dispensation

priesthood

4

Priest 8hoods

it is the rule and government of god whether on earth or inthe heaven and it is the only legitimate power the only authoritythat is acknowledged by him to rule and regulate the affairs of hiskingdomking whendorodomo every wrong thing shall be put right and all usurasurpers shall be put down when he whose right it is to reign shalltake the dominion then nothing but the priesthood will bear ruleit alone will sway the sceptresceptmasceptry of authority in heaven and on earthfor this is the legitimacy of god7

7john taylor journal of discourses G D watt and othersreporters london latterdaylatter saintsday book depotdepots 18548618548691854 869 I186 it 148148t

hereafter cited as JD

oraciescleseles

s

godt

t do

goda

seitselt

peopdeop ietletleg

chapter 2

AUTHORITY AND PROPHTSIPROPHETS definitions AND SHORT HISTORY

OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITY IN PAST dispensations

god has established all things in their order the house of godis a house of order and not a house of confusion in this housegod himself is the supreme head and he must be obeyed christ isin the image and likeness of his being his begotten son and hestands as our saviour and our god we must walk in his paths andobserve his precepts to do them or we will be cut off next untogod and christ in the earth is placed one unto whom the keys ofpower and authority of the holy priesthood are conferred andunto whom the right of presidencypresidencpresidence is given he is gods mouthpieceto his people in all things pwtainingpe3rtaining to the building up of zionand to the spiritual and temporal salvation of the people he isas gods viceregentviceregentivice I1regent do not hesitate to announce this truth forit is his word and therefore it is truetruee 1

ULTIMATE AUTHORITY

on january 16thl6thlath that year he wilford woodruff attended a conferenceof young men in ogden city where he explained to them the importanceof divine authoritythoritydhority and showed the meaning of those keys which un-lock the door of salvation to the human family those keys he ex-plained had been in the keeping of gods trusted servants from themost ancient times

Q

author or originator source power to influence

1joseph F smith conference report april 1898 p 68

thias F cowleygowley the life of wilford woodruff salt lake citycityicittibookcraft inc 1964 ppap 5335534

3

35e

A merriam webster JfeMAM ffjl11Springfielspringfieldtspringfield G & G merriam company publishers 1963p 14

6

authority

P

an explanation of the importance of ultimate authority is stillnecessary the basic definition of authority as found in websters

third new international dictionary includes the fundamentals of

fe 1898v pe

2mathias woodruffsalt19649

webster s third newkew international dictidiati146

pla ined

dt

presidenceno7

roq6oqgog

hinghini

edeedo

smisnith teacdeac

iatterlatter daydeydex saintst edeedo

actsets

9josephajoseph

7

4to the theist god himself is the ultimate authority god is the

sovereign he made the people and the earth and he has the right to

reign the scriptures teach thatthathetthet in him we live and move

and have our beingbeings and that also all things were made by

7him A modemmodern revelation as accepted by latterdaylatteriatterletterdetter saintsday states

he comprehendethcomprehend all things and all things are before himhinand all things are round about him and he is above all thingsand in all things and is through all things and is round aboutall things and all things are by him and of himhir even god for-ever and ever

and again verily I1 say unto you he hath given a law unto allthings by which they move in their times and their seasons0

joseph smith has said god has moremorelnorel power than all other beings9because he has greater knowledge he has power over allali 7

4generally speaking the atheist recognizes no noauthorityauthoritycoauthority asabsolute all authority to the atheist is relevant to the fallibilitieswilitiesbili ofties the order of things as hetiehietle perceives them his non lecogrecognitionaition of divine authority changes nothingnoth howeverhowingo isaiahevereevero has wellwritten of such for shall the work say of him that made it hemade me not or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it hehad no understanding isaiah 29162906290.62906 the testimony of scripture isthat finally all will recognize the ultimate authority of god yeaevery knee shall bow and every tongue confess before him yea evenat the last day when all men shall stand to be judged of him thenshall they confess that he is god then shall they confessconf whoesso livewithout god in the world that the judgment of an everlasting punish-ment is just upon them mosiah 2731 thus all will acknow-ledge as nebuchadnezzar of babylon was brought to acknowledge thatto

0 0 the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men daniel 425

joseph smith hisris tory of the churchy of jesus christ oflattda&dj ed B H roberts t2d ed rev salt lakeleke citydeseret book co 1959601959 VI60 15 hereafter cited as HC

cts 17287 john 13Q

doctrine and covenants salt lake city theT churchhe of jesuschrist of latterdayiatterlatter saintsday 1952 8841428841 hereafter42 cited as dac

Qjoseph fielding smith teachings of the prophet joseejosephJosepjosegh smithhSmith

salt laketake oltycity deseret book co 19737 p 288 hereafter cited asteachimteachingsmeachim

5

1060 0

himl

unaoseasons 0

overall

0

0

5

hv

8doetrine

1971pro josephsmith

po9

eth

hing

histontad

theaothemo

witnesserwitnessor testatortestators

concerning

9

his position relative to the father christ has

said

then answered jesus and said unto themthea verily verily I1 sayunto you the son can do nothing of himselfhimsel but what he seeth the

matthew 6il36tl3

the doctrine and covenants salt lakeiakelekedekeaake citycityscites the church ofjesus christ of latterdaylatteriatterdatterietterletter saintsday published by george Q cannon & sonsgoco 1891 lectures on faithmaithmalth

8

perhaps christ best articulated the total place of god when he said

in his prayer to the father of0 0 for thine is the kingdom and the

power and the glory for ever amen

to the members of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylattersaints

day

god remains the absolute authority but that authority is more

particularized in the words of the prophet joseph smithsmiths

god is the only supreme governor and independent being inwhom all fullness and perfection dwell who is omnipotent omn-ipresent and omniscient without beginning of days or end of lifeand that in him every good gift and every good principle dwelland that he is the father of lights in him the principle of faithdwells independently and he is the object in whom the faith ofall other rational and accountable being center for life andsalvation dlaJLA

this supreme anthropomorphic father has delegated his authority

to two other beings his first begotten son in the spirit and only

begotten son in the flesh jehovah or jesus christ and to the indivi-

dual spirit called the holy ghost speaking of this delegation of

authority the prophet joseph smith wrotewrotetwroten

everlasting

t

covenant was made between three personagestersonierson beforeagesthe organization of this earth and relates to their dispensationof things to men on the earth these personages according toabrahams record are called god the first the creatorCrea godtoritorl thesecond the redeemer and god the third the witness or

p 99 hereafter cited as lectureson faith

teachings p 19019041igod

C

10

omni otentogentwithovtbeginning

p

iqutional1

accoardingrding12

10

11

pe

12teacdeac pe

fv

veriyerilygodandgodana

father do for what things soever he doethboeth these also doethboeth theson likewise

for the father loveth the son and showeth him all things thathimself doethboeth and he will show him greaterareateraleater works than these thatye may marvel

for the father raisethramseth up the dead and quickenethquick themtheneneth evenso the son quickenethquick whomeneth he will

for the father judgethjudieth no moanroanmanmenren but hath committed all judgmentunto the son

that all should honor the son even as they honor the fatherhe who honorethnorethhonoretaho not the son norethhonorethhonoretaho not the father who hath senthim

verily verily I1 say unto you he who heareth my word andbelieveth on him who sent me hath everlasting life and shallnot come unto condemnationscondemnationj but is passed from death into life

verily verily I1 say unto you the hour is coming and now iswhen the dead shall hear the voice of the son of god and they whohear shall live

for as the father hath life in himself so hath he given to theson to have life in himself

and hathhathgivengiven him authority to execute judgment also becausehe is the son of man

search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternallife and they are they which testify of me

and ye will not come to me that ye might have life lest yeshould honor me

I1 receive not honor from menmenorennenonene

but I1 know you that ye have not the love of god in youI1 am come in my mathersfathers name and ye receive me not if

another shall come in his own name him ye will receivehow can ye believebellevebelibellbeil whoevet seekseelseei honor one of another and seek not

the honor which cometh from god onlydo not think that I1 will accuse you to the ratherfather there is

moses who accusethaccuse youth in who ye trustfor had ye believed moseskoses ye would have believed me for he

wrote of me

butif ye believe not his writingswiAt howings shall ye believe my

wordswordsw

in the general conference of the church held in october 1911

president charles W penrose of the first presidency articulated the

place of christ in LDS theology as follows

we are indebted for that which we know and may be indebtedfor that which we expect to know about our eternal father to jesuschrist his son whom he has made heir of all things and by whom

also he made the worlds he is the real witness for god in the

the inspired version of the holyroly scripturesScripture independencemassourismissouritmissourisMissomlsMismie theuritumitsouris reorganized church of jesus christ of letterlatteriatterietter day saints1964 john 51927519 40484027 hereafter48 cited as IV

9

song

quickeneththem

thesonsearchthe

myfathers6

bu if ewordsb

placeof

oureternal4

othe holyscriptures

27p

sont

butia

constitutetheconstitute the great

matchless governing and supreme power over allali things 0 0 a

ULTIMATEUITPIMATE AUTHORITY AND MAN

since adam fell in the garden of eden man has not had direct

contact with the father except through the son this separation from

17the father is denominated the spiritual death

sailsall

10altsait

hadandhadadd

10

earth he was god manifest in the flesh when he dwelt among menand it is by him and through him and of him that all the truthswhich have been communicated to mortals from the beginning of thisworld have been made known he is the chosen representative ofthe father and in him dwellethdwell theeth fullness of the godhead bodilyhe has had and now has under his direction men mortal men torepresent him as far as he can be represented in mortality and tocarry on his work under his direction and we are indebted as aninstrument in his hands to the great prophet of the nineteenthcentury joseph smith for bringing forth many grand and glorioustruths concerning deity and his orkwork and his ways his laws hiscommandments and his precepts 4

the holy ghost the testator is the witness of and for the

father and the son these three the godhead are the ultimate author-

ity in latterdayiatterlatter saintday theology they M

since this event

christ was appointed by the father asits the great mediator between god

and man speaking of this event baulpaulbaui has written

who is willing to have all men to be saved and to come unto theknowledge of the truth which is in christ jesus who is the onlybegotten son of god and ordained to be a mediator between god andman 18

charles V penrose conferencegonljsence bert october 1911 p 48

lectures on faith p 5414

joseph16 fieldingFiefle smithsmithtsnithlaing doctrines ofsalmtjlontof edsalvation bruce R

mcconkie salt lake city bookcraftBooke incraft 1954 I1 27 hereaftercited as doctrines of salvationesalyationsalvationsalvagioneSalvatSalyaselmaseima seetionionelone also IV john 119

j n9brucebmce BR mcconkie mormon doctrine salt lake citycityicitti bookcraft

inc 1966 p 756 hereafter cited as mormon doctrine

ilgiy I1 timothy 24624

was

faras

14

overall

16thefather

14 we

salt7lake 127

18ivg 6

9915

bace

ay

902000209620

I1 am the way the truth and the life no man

19cometh unto the father but by memeeree

himshins91220122

courbetcourset

11

of course christ enunciated his position so as to leave no doubt when

he declared7 and so for man on this earth

christ becomes the ultimate authorityauthorty for there is none other20name given among men whereby we must be saved

holy men of22god spake as they were moved by the holy ghost

since the fall of adam it has become necessary for god to con

23descend to man or else there wouldwo bealidllid no hope for him in this world

john 146on20acts 41221the scriptures do indicate that god has writtenwrit fortems example

god wrote on the tablets exodus 32sl6 and of course christ wrote onthe sand john 860 neither of these writingswriting though are now extantand all public scripture at least has come through the hands of othersit is interesting to note too that mans first language came from godand a book of remembrance was kept in the which was recorded in the

language of adam for it was given unto as many as called upon god towrite lyby the spirit of inspiration and by them their children weretaught to read and write having a language which was pure and und-efiled moses 65665

22

6

11II peter 121

the book of mormon salt lake citycityicitti the church of jesuschrist of latterdaylatter saintsday 1952 I1 nephi 1126 hereafter cited asB of M followed by the reference within

delegation OF GODS AUTHORITY TO MAN

even a cursory perusal of sacred writ reveals that god has

from timetiretilbe to timetire delegated at least part of his supreme authority to

man As a matter of fact we have not one word of sacred writ that has

21come to us first hand from god himself rather

timedelegated rtpa

lfthat these holy

men were acting for god is made clearelear by their oft repeated phrase

thus saith the lfordlord

19

tabletsexodus 32 1686o

thehands

for

23the1952t

sp

oflatter

mayemqyeraye

I1

powpover

afirmafire

bysobaso

12

24for in this world all are fallen and are lostjosts christ is the

ultimate condescension of god to manroannoannmannan but25 thoughbutabutq he is the great

minister of his father to man he is not alone it is the established

pattern of deity to work through others too witness these words of

mormon to his son moroni

for behold they are subject unto him to minister accordingto the word of his command showing themselves unto them of strongfaith and a firm mind in every form of godliness

and the office of their ministry is to call men unto repen-tance and to fulfillful andfillrillrili to do the work of the covenants of thefather which he hath made untotintolinto the children of men to prepare theway among the children of men by declaring the word of christ untothe chosen vessels of the lordlfordiford that they may bear testimony of him

and by so doing the lord god preparethpre thepareth way that theresidue of men may have faith in christ that the holy ghost mayhave place in their hearts according to the power thereof andafter this manner bringethbri tongeth pass the father the covenants whichhe hath made unto the children of men

and christ hath said if ye will have faith in me ye shallhave power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me 2

thus the scriptures attest that thethib father condescended to send the27savior jesus christ because of his infinite love jesus christ

90now has all power under the father the savior utilizing the holy

ghost as the great testator calls others as ministers these others

are also the children of the father they are brothers or sisters in

the spirit to christ joseph smith has written M there are no

angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have

B of M alma 39349B25b of M I1 nephi 1116211116

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29belonged to it an angel is fundamentally a servant of godgodsgode

whether the individual is premortalpre ormortal postmortalpost hemortal deynaypaybaybey in

the large sense be classified as a ministering angel or servant the30angels who taught the gospel in the time of adam were prepro mortal the

31angels who served as bishops in the seven churches of asia were mortal

the authority of god delegated to manran is called priesthoodpriest

priesthood

hoods

in essence is the power to minister for god to all men

32in his name and by his power for the salvation of mankind for

example it is written concerning the priests of the mosaic dispensa-

tion for the lord thy god hath chosen him out of all thy tribes to33stand to minister in the name of the lord some reasons for

the ministry ofpf priesthood were given by orsonomson FFs whitney as follows

there is but one savior there is only one name given underheaven whereby men can be saved but there may be innumerableassistantsassistant innumerable subordinates saviorssarlorscarlors in a lesser senseand degreedegrees john the revelator saw no less than one hundred andforty four thousand of such saviors standing on the mount zionwith the fathers name written in their foreheadsforeheadsorehead and it wassaid of them these are they that follow the iamb withersoeverwhithersoeverwitherhe

soevergoeththe gospel of christ represents what god did for man that

man could not do for himselfhimsel and it also represents what herequires of man in return there is nothing possible of acheivescheivement that god cannot do but there may be things that he has nottime to dlo and which may be done for him there are some thingshoweverhow thatevero even god cannot do I1 speak it with all reverence

d&g 130 5

the pearl of great price salt lakeleke citycityscites the church ofjesus christ of latterdaylatteriatter saintsday il95201952i moses 5585580 hereafter citedas P of gt P followed by the reference within

IV revelation 120 italics by the wzlterwriterwkiterskiter32john taylorstaylor journal of discoursespiscourge8 G D watt and others

reporters london latterdaylatteriatter saintsday book depot 1854861854 I186 224v224yhereafter cited as JD

33deuteronomy 185185

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for instance he can not make something out of nothing thoughmany pious christians ascribe totic him that powerifpower lfif such it can becalled there is another thing that god cannot do he cannot be pre-sent in all places at the same time in his own proper person thisis god work and it can only be done by the power of god but wecannot expect him to be everywhere present nor in two places at thesame time except by his authority his spirit and his influenceinfluencinfluentthis fact renders necessary a priesthood to represent him

after ther

fall the priesthood was again conferredconferted on adam and the decree was

sent forth that this priesthood would be in the world until the end

37thereof the sacred history reveals a genealogy of priesthood

extending from this first minister adam down to those men thus authorQQ

leed today

OVERVIEW OF THE PROPHETIC OFFICE AND ITS AUTHORITY

those especial priesthood ministers of god are most often

denominated prophets actually they are so essential to the lordsprogram on earth that one of them said surely the lordoord god will do

39nothing until he revealethreve thealeth secret unto his servants the prophets

nc

dohe

14j a

adam was the first on this earth to receive the priesthood or

the authority of god the lord declared this when he said to adam and

eve be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue itand have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air

3and over every living thing that movethloveth upon the earth 05

36

worlduntil

38

R pe

35genesis 228 seee alsoe teachingsts&jsmsssl P 57 t confirmation ofadams priesthood before the fall italics by the writerwritere

P of G P moses 66468664

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68

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35genesis

revellbevellbeveilqcmhaapocrypha old lippaniippancippaniipp Nan J i fleming H reveilvelivellco 1971 p 375

hahA

a

theodore tuttle conference report october 1959 p 9

oid01 jetjes

15

to understand the authority of the prophetic office it is fundamental

to understand what the prophetic office includes

prpjhet de

the word prophet comes from the greek word prophetesprophetsprop andhetes

denotes one who uttering or interpreting an oracle was believed to40

speak not his own thoughts but a revelation from without the

hebrew word nabhinabhvigabhinabavi which is translated prophet means a giver of

information or a a recipient of information 1 iesveetlveet as to the unseen

41world they are sometimes calledcallecailecalie men of god angels

42or messengers of the lordlorda the prevailing definition of a prophet

as one who foretells the future is inadequate anyone who is

familiar with prophetic writings knows that a prophet does more forth

telling of the word of god than meremeranerenedareda foretelling the future histori-

cally this has always been the mission of the prophet not so43

much to foretell as to forthtellforthtelIs

since the prophet is gods mouthpiece it is important to turn

to the scriptures for further elucidation on what constitutes a prophet

peter clarified an essential characteristic of a prophet in his famous

statement about the scriptures whenwhonnhennhon he said knowing this first that

no prophecy of the scriptures is of any private will of manmanomane for the

prophecy came not in old time by the will of manmansmantaan butbutholyholy men of god

encyclopedia britannicaBrit l4th14thlathannLea editioneaiFAieal XVIIItion 586

duncan B macdonald the hebrew literary genius princetonN jijet princeton university presapress 9351935p ppo gge69690

42alexander cruden unabridged concordance of the old and new

testaments and the

speaknot 11w

d

e

143

hnc10 ia

41Bs literarygenius

andthe ap d nappanntppan0 po 0

43a re 19599 piePIP 90

het definitidnsdefinitions

lipp

964811489948

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4846be of M illIII111lillii nephi 319

aq4qrevelation 1910

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teresttermst

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16

44spake as they were moved by the holy ghost thus as peter states

the thing which separates a prophet from other men is the fact that he

is moved upon by the holy ghost anyone therefore who has received

the holy ghost is in general termsterns a prophet and so the scriptures

refer to many as prophets without respect to position sex or ageaageagee we

read about the young man samuel who with no official outward rank4645was establishedestablishedasestablish as a prophet in israelisraeleIsraeleeLo elizabeth the mother of john

46the baptist prophesied when filled with the holy ghost and the little

47children of the nephitesNep spokehites greater things than christ

the scriptures also explain that one who has individual revela-

tion is a prophet now it was the custom among the nephitesNep tohites

appoint for their chief captains some one that had the spirit of

revelation and also prophecy therefore this gidgiddoni was a great48

prophet among them 0 0 0

further one who has the testimony of jesus is a prophetaprophet for

as john the revelator was told on the isle of patmos the testi49

mony of jesus is the spirit of prophecy

to summarizesumsun amarizemarisemariee person is a prophet when he or she has

1 1 received the holy ghost 2 received individual revelation and

3 received the testimony of jesus

IVimp II11 peter ls20 210 italics by the writerewriterwri45

teresamuel 320

luke Is 412041241

B47b

2

of M illIII111ili nephi 261426l4 and 16

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17

another significant dimension to this general definitondefinitordefi ofniton

what constitutes a prophet is given by joseph smith he reiterates allthe points mentioned above emphasizingemphasis that they be used in the ministry

SO50of jesus christ in other words a prophet should be an active agent

in proclaiming the salvation which is in jesus christ

faophets&rphets and seers

to some prophets god grants the futher endowment of being a

seer A seer is one who sees in a total perspective as god sees he

is often privileged with access to the urimarim and thummim which are iden-

tified as eerseer stones M the angel moroni stated that the possession

of these stones constituted seers ancientlyancient 51lyeiye A prophet may use these

stones to help him in translating and revealing the word of godgode it is

this larger scope that distinguishes a seer from a prophetprop

and

hetaheto

the king said that a seer is greater than a prophetprophete andammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also 0 0 e

but a seer can know of things which are past and also ofthings which are to come and by them shall all things be revealedor rathersrather shall secret things be made manifest and hidden thingsshall come to lightight3 and things which are not known shall be madeknown by them and also things shallshellsheli be made known by them whichotherwise could not be known 32

the propheticiqpheticpr2phetic offofficeice as distindishedJQJJvished

moses stated that it was his desire that all the lords people

54be propheprophets the very man who spoke this however was not just a

HO VI 390

51p51pe of G P joseph smith 2135

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18

prophet he was the prophet for his time since gods house is a house

of order and has been from the beginning of the dispensations he has

called presiding prophetsprophetss how do these presiding prophets differ from

prophets in general

first the presiding prophets as well as having sods spiritand the other characteristics of general prophets hold the priesthood

A perusal of the scriptures reveals that the presiding prophets

received their priesthood and calling directly from god by ordination

of others or through the lineage of the fathers there are instances

where the individual has been called of god but ordained to the priesth-

ood by constituted authority the lord sought out enoch as a young

rilaniran andandcalledcalled him to be the prophet and seer to a people he received

the priesthoodpriesthoodat at the age of twentyfivetwenty atfive the hands of the patriarch54

adam moses was called at the burning bush and ordained by his

fatherinlawfather jethroin thelaw priest of midian joseph smith further

clarified the importance of calling and ordination in the fifth article

of faith which stateswe believe that a man must be called of god by prophecy and

by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preachthe gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof 0

the presiding prophets receive this honor calling and ordin-

ation not by theirtheimthelm ownownwillwill but by the will of god and no man can take57the honor unto himself but he must be called of god

Wd&c 10710 487

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19

second the presiding prophets hold the keys or the directing

powers of the priesthood during their administrationadministrations the priesthood

holders are ministers of salvationsalvat toionslons be effectiveeffectivein in this ministra-

tion they must have direction the power of directing these labors

priesthood labors constitutes the keys of the priesthood in their

falnessfulness these keys are held by only one person at a time the prophettq

0 0 01158 As the priesthood serve as ministers of salvation those whom

they serve the followers or disciplesaredisciples theare church in the latterdays the church could not be organized until the priesthood with itskeys had been restored to the prophetpro byhet constituted authority namely

john the baptist and peter james and johnjohnojohns

at this point it would beie important to understand that it isthe fulnessfalness of the apostolic office that contains all of the keys

powers and authority of the priesthood

could he joseph smith have built up the kingdom of god with-out first being an apostle no he never could the keys of theeternal priesthood which is after the order of the son of god arecomprehended by being an apostle all the priesthood all the keysall the gifts all the endowments and everything preparatoryopreparatoryreparatory toentering into the presence of the father and of the son are incomposed of circumscribed by or I1 might say incorporated withinthe circumference of the apostleship 5999

thus each member of the quommqiiorum of the twelve apostles holds

all the keys powers and authorities of the priesthood frompromfron the6060scriptures and from the prophets we learn however that only one man

at a time has the right to exercise these keys powers and authorities

servethe

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58joseph

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58joseph F smith distinction between keys of the priesthoodand priesthood M the improvement eraseraterab IV january 1901 230

brigham young JD I1

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20

in total use rorfor the church and that man is the senior apostle the

president of the church he becomes by the very nature of the authority

which he holds the presiding officer over the priesthood and the church

third the presiding prophet receives his calling to be a

prophet from god he receives the authority and keys of the priesthood

by conferral and ordination and he receives the right to preside by

the sustaining vote of the people over whom he will preside without

the sustaining vote of the people a man may be a prophet seer and

revelator but will not be able to act in this calling for the church

he will not be the president of the church until he is sustained icybylcy the

people

does a mansmasras being a prophet in this church prove that he shall bethe president of it I1 answer nonotnolI1 A manroanmoan may be a prophet seerand revelator and it may have nothing to do with his being thepresident of the church suffice it to say that joseph was presi-dent of church as long as he lived the people chose to have itso he always filled that responsible station by the voice of thepeople can you find any revelation appointing him the presidentof the church the keys of the priesthood were committed tojoseph to build up the kingdom of god on the eartheartho and were notto be taken from himhir in time or in eternity but when he was call-ed to preside over the church it was by the voice of the peoplethough he heldheid the keys of the priesthood independent of theirvoice 61

this act of sustaining constitutes the lawiawlewbaw of common consentCon

no

sentesentabenta

man can preside in any office in the church without the consent of

the people over whom he presidespresidee b this does not mean that the people

choose the individualinalinaiindi norvidual do they impowerempower him but it is their right

and their responsibility as god has directed through revelation to

sustain their leaders in the offices to which they have been called

brigham young JD I1 133

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21

harold B lee has said this concerning the source of prophetic

authorityauthoritysauthor

A

itys

prophet does not become a spiritual leader by studying booksabout religionreligiobeligio nor does he become one by attending a theologicalseminary one becomes a prophet a divinely called religiousleader by actual spiritual contactcontacts he gets his diplomatsdiploma as itwere directly from god 3

thus as this study examines the authority of the prophetic

officeOfficefficeeffic iteitelt willmill dodoboso in this broadened definition as articulated above

SURVEY HISTORY OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITYIN PAST dispensations

there have been numerous prophets this survey will identify

mainly dispensation heads andor presiding prophets it would be well

to note that dispensation by definition is a giving out of the gospel64including the priesthood authorities and keys associated therewith

adamicjpigjggrjmgn

the bookhook of moses in the pearlpearibearl of great price identifies adam

as a patriarchal prophet holding all the keys over his family he

received revelation w65 preached the gospel performed66

ordinanceordinances

and

67

prophesied what would befall his posterity to the last generationafi6fi

of timestimetimettines by68 virtue of his faithfulness and by patriarchal priest

harold B lee he lighted the lamps of falthfaithmalth 11 the improvemgnjlgra LXXIII february 1970 94

fh64d&c 128821

6565p of G P moses 5

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hood right he presides over all the earth and all the peoples thereof

under christ adam holds the keys of authority over allali dispensationsalldispensationso

commencing with adam the great grand progenitor becausehe was the first and ratherfather of all not only by progeny but thefirst to holdholhoidhoi thed spiritual blessings to whom was made known theplan of ordinances for the salvation of his posterity unto the endand to whom christ was first revealed and through whom christ hasbeen revealed and will continue to be revealed from henc-eforth adam holds the keys of the dispensation of the fullness oftimes ieiselseibe the dispensation of all the times have been and willbe revealed through him 07

jesfilslj0enoch was ordained to the priesthood at the age of twentyfivetwenty

70

five71under the handhandshend of adaradam he was given the privilege of seershipseer

72

ship

his propheciesprophecie are among the greatest in scripture he was able as

a minister of god to establish a city and bring his city into the

presence of god he developed a zion pure in heart society and73finally his people were taken off the earth of him their is much

mentioned because of the success of his dispensation even his enemies

74recognized his great authority

disgensationpensationdispensation ofpf N

noah obtained all the samesemesere covenants powers and presiding7authorities that were given to adam he was the second great pro

Teachingteachingst p 1671670

d&gdag70d&cdac 10710748iw71r P of G P moses 66606

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the book of mormon chronicles the rise of a civilization

referred to as jareditesJared soonites after the flood at the time of the

building of the tower of babel a certain mahonri moriancumerMorian whocumer was

the brother of jared was importuned by jared to request of the lord

that their language not be confoundedconfocinfo andladedlmded that they be led to a

promised land

23

genitor of the race of men his triarchalpatriarchallneite priesthood authority over

his generation was so absolute that those who heard not his prophecies

perished in the great deluge

jaredinejarediteJarjamedite

the lord answered this prayer and these people were

led to the western hemisphere and for over a milleniummillennium flourished as

a separate civilization mahonri moriancumerMorian receivedcumer a personal

theophonytheophonetheo andphony witnessed the preearthpre christearth as he would appear in77the flesh this man may be described as one of the greatest of all

prophets the things which he wrote were so great that it would overgrr

power a man to read them thus we have only a small abridgment of

his writings in the book of mormonmorron he ministered to his people with

both secular and spiritual authority other prophetleadersprophet appearedleaders

from time to time among these people ether one of the greatest gave

79his name to the jareditejaredineJar recordreedite

meichigedemelchizedekMeIchimelchikeichi

corlcori

kokingkjkinggedeyede of

jareditellis sationbation

civilibationbatlon 76

thethings78

77b 16

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143iao

signiasignificarticant

tothisrothis

24

one of the most significant of all the prophets was the man

melchizedek he was contemporary with abraham abraham was ministeredafqf

to by him and from him abraham received the priesthood melchizedek

himself received the priesthood through the lineage of his fathers and

had such complete power and authority that he was able to put at

defiance the armies of nations to divide the earth to break every

band to stand in the presence of god to do all things according toal

his will subdue principalities and powers this prophet

king was so preeminently successful that he and his people obtained82

heaven in honor of him the church in ancient days called the high

priesthood the priesthoodthepriesthood after the order of melchizedek because he

was such a great high priest and alsoalisoaiso to avoid the too frequent repetirepati0

tion of the name of christ

abrahamic84

dispensation

of abraham deity himself said he was among the great ones

he sought righteousness obtained the priesthood from melchizedek and

wrought in such great faith that he has ever since been called theQ

friend of god few prophets have been greater to this prophet the

lord himself made a covenant which has ever since had a material impact

d&c 841484l4

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585jamesjamesjaresjamea 223

80

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83

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25

on all subsequent dispensationsdispensations9 priesthood and prophets

and I1 will make of thee a great nation and I1 will bless theeabove measure and make thy naretnamenametnarenarel great among all nations and thoushalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee that in their handsthey hallshallhailhalishailshali bear this ministry and priesthood unto all nations

and I1 will bless them through thy name for as many as receivethis gospel shall be called after thy name and shall be accountedthy seed and shall rise up and bless thee as their father

and I1 will bless them that bless thee and curse them thatcurse thee and in thee that is in thy priesthood and in thy seedthat is thy priesthood for I1 give unto thee a promise that this

right shallshailshali continue in thee and in thy seed after thee that isto say the literal seed or the seed of the body shallbhail all thefamilies of the earth be blessed even with the blessings of the 0gospel which are the blessings of salvation even of life eternal

and so ever since the time of abraham his lineage alone has had

right to the priesthood

the house of israel from jacob on down were those who hadpower with god and with men and prevailed I1 genesis 3224-

30 jacob wasmas a prince with god or one who had contended or pre-vailed with god the israelites and all adopted into their houseare those who hold the priesthood of god they are a peculiarpeople a royal lineage and thetho seed of abraham through thepower of the holy ghost a gentile converted to the gospel of jesuschrist and complying with the commandments is literally changed andpurged to become a true member of the house of israel with christ ashis king the blessings promised to abraham come upon the adoptedgentile 7

all subsequent priesthood ministers have been abrahamic israelitishor hebraicbraicoHe even christ the greatest of allaliail was through the loins

of abraham all others receiving the gospel or the priesthood are

adopted into the family of abraham his progenitors and those adopted

into this covenant have been the ministers of salvation to this earth

ever since most significantly of all since abrahams time god often88

refers to himself as the god of abrahamabrahan isaac and jacob or israel

OZP of G P abraham 294129harold87harold87

41

glen clark the art of governing zion provos BYUextension publications 1966 p 141

exodus 36396 matthew 2232 etc

theirfather

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86

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67

86pap9 go

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88Exodus

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91

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26

mosaicjp88110 dispensation

moses one of the most renowned of prophets sought diligently

to bring the apostate israelites into the presence of god the people

could not follow their prophetleaderprophet intoleader the heights of sinai they

were so immature spiritually that a lesser law and a lesser priesthood89had to be ministered unto them at the hand of moses there can be no

doubt of the authority and power of moses the great lawgiverlaw ofgiver him

it is brittenswrittenswrit andtens the lord said unto moses see I1 have made thee a90god to pharaohpharaohs and aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet tv

the milleniummillennium or so of israelitish history after moses is a sad

story of apostasy and degradation the bulk of the old testament is the

story of how god raised up prophets to lead his people with their lesser

law and priesthood to the fullness of gospel lightlights by and large the

prophets of israel from moses to christ officiated with the higher

priesthood but outside of the immediate religious structure the people91were usually in apostasy 7 by and large their voices were voices in

the wilderness the culminating prophet of this dispensation john the

baptist came out of the wilderness to lead the people to christ and the

full gospel law there was no place for him in the contemporary reli-gious structure of the jews although he was the only legallegai administrator

christ said of johns status among the prophets that among those that

are born of women there is not a greater prophet than john the baptist

d&c

joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvationisalvationSalvat edionsionilons bruce R

mcconkie salt lake city bookcraft inc 19419471942 illiliiiiliiv1119 848584 hereafter85cited as doctrines of salvation

followtheir

among

robookcraftmcraft

arong

iadfadcad for approximatelyapproximatelyaapproximate a thousand

years the lamaniteslama generallynites the more wicked faction have remnants

remaining to this day among the aborigines of this hemisphere now

known as indiansIndi theseanseanso people had prophets constantly among them

their sacred record the book of mormonmomonkomon was written by one of their

greatest prophets enos another writer in the book of mormon said

luke 728

wilford woodruff D 11II 200201200 see201 also dac 13326133i26

B of M I1 nephi 1

10ao

lyaiya

ijaij1 10.10

27.9292

since these tribes have been lost to the knowledge of the world

from aboutabottaboteaboul the eighth century BCBX little is known of them however itis clear that they too are blessed with the ministry of prophets as wit-

nessed by these words of wilford woodruffwoodruffs

the ten tribes will also come in remembrance before the lord andthey will again return with outstretchedout armsstretched to their lands andbe led by leaders inspired by the spirit and power of GAgod and theywill come with visionsvision revelation and prophets

the righte-

ous faction the nephitesNep flourishedflourishhites

the ten lostlogt tribes

elgathghth

beforethe

4193091

the coloncolopycolop2

during

of

the

lehilehl

mosaic dispensation just before the destruction of

jerusalem the lord raised up a great prophet by the name of iehl thisman was a descendent of joseph the triarchpatriarchBa after warning the people

of jerusalem of their imminent destruction if they did not repent lehi

departed with his family into the wilderness eventually he and his

family were led across the ocean to the western hemisphere not long94after their arrival the family divided into two groups

c

92

93wilfordwoodruff JD

94 ofm

st

92

91951195

mesmet illIII111lilliiili nephi 31931190olghebrews97hebrews97 Is199

98hebrews98hebrews 6200099mattmatthew 135713357hemhew

28QC

that there were exceeding many prophets among us 7 these

people were ministered to by christ just after his resurrection

christschrists church as established on the foundation of prophets and

apostles thrived until the second century after christ when there was

a great civil war as the result of complete apostasy of both the

nephitesNep andhites lamanitesLama thatnites liquidated the nephitesnephitesasNephiteNep ashites a distinct

nation

the authority of the prophets among these people when they were

striving to follow god might be summarized in this waywayswayt

now it was the custom among all the nephitesNep tohites appoint fortheir chief captains save it were in their times of wickednesssome one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecytherefore this gidgiddoni was a great prophet among themthen as alsowas the chief judge96

t1jesus christ the son of god is the culmination of all the

prophetsprophe he was annointed with the oil of gladness above all0797others heilefiehie7 wasnaswasthewaithethe greatest

he was however a prophet also the greatest

of all the Prophetprophets he thus identified himself when he said after he

hadtodmod been cast out of nazareth M A prophet is not without honorQQ99991199save in his own country 7 toro the nephitesNep thehites savior further

enunciated

qtB of M enos vs 22

B of M

judge

theta

96

christian dispensation

e e high priest after the order of98

melchizedekemelchissedekMelchize 9dekedeka 0

1

95b me

96be

sas

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sl

matthem

theng

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100loo

101iolephesiansEphe 220slanssiansm

29

behold I1 am he of whom moses spake saying A prophet shallthe lord your god raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me

him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto youand it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear thatprophet shall be cut off from among the people

verily I1 say unto you yeayeatyeas and all the prophets from samuel andthose that follow after as many as have spoken have testified ofme 100

the savior gave the keys of binding authority to his chief

apostleprophetApostle peterProphet his church was founded on apostles and

prophets jesus christ himself being the chief corner stone these

christian apostles and prophets ministered with such authority over the

church that while they were alive they were the only onlyacknowledgedacknowledged

general authorities of christs church peter james and john were the102most preeminent

THE WORLDWORID WITHOUT PROPHETIC AUTHORITY

the socalledso greatcalled apostasy chronicles the period in history

when this world was left without recognized prophetic authority thisi

lack brought spiritual famine in thethetthei landland103 that lasted until the

dawning of the last dispensation it maswasvas a period of dark ages a

time when as in a similar period in israelitish history the sun

down over the prophets no recognized man could rise

and say authoritativelyauthoritativelvi thus saith the lord no one could legally

minister for god on the earth and so for over a milleniummillennium there was

1 noB of M 111illliililiii nephi 2023242023 see24 also acts 32123

galatians 29amos103amosaros 811128118

micah

t

36

11 12

loh104

0

101

11104

9

102

3 6oao60

ephesians

I1

107legrand

106logIVIOVlov amos 37 surely the lord god will do nothing untilhe revealethreve thealeth secret unto his servants the prophetsprophe tl

107leGrandlegrand

tsetso

hetsbets

30

only a form of godliness but no powerpo

conclusion

105weicweirweyr

legrand

concaCONCO

richards

ILUSION

a present layday prophet commenting on amos

3t106 concludconcludedconclude

what does that mean it means thabthattat1 noat honest person believing inthe scripturesscripturscripter could look to find gods eternal truth upon the earthwithout a prophet at its head because we have no record that he hasever had a church or a movement without a prophet 7

the testimony of king benjamin is true and the lord god hath1 aftnft

sent his holy prophets among all the children of men 0 0 096108prop

105p105f of G P joseph smith 219in

richards why a prophet the improvement eraLXXIII june 1970 1081080

108loaaBbo of M mosiah 313313031333110

37106logedo

107

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m9

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ma

lifordiwilfordalfordtwilford

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partofmartof

andyourandybur leadersleedersleadleed isersserbs thepower of this priesthood given for the last days and for the lasttime in the which is the dispensation of the fullness of times

llford woodruff coirfnwgort aprilkpri 1880 p 6

chapter 3

THE BASIS OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITY IN THE dispensation

OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES

joseph smith remained with us about fourteen years he remaineduntil he hadhed received all the keys of the kingdom of god which werenecessary for the establishment of this church and kingdom and whichwere necessary for those men who followed him to have those keysupon their shouldersshoul thatderst they might continue to build upon thefoundation that had been laidisid but as soon as joseph received thekeys of the aaronic and melchizedek priesthood as soon as hereceived the keys from moses for the gathering together of thehouse of isreelisraelisrae in1 the latter days and from elijah to seal thehearts of the fathers to the childrenchi andlArenidren children to the fatherswhen joseph received all these keys and had power to sealbealbeai themupon the heads of other menren the lord called him away a

TRTHE

1

IASTLAST dispensation IN perspective

joseph smith never claimed to be an innovator he wasvasnasnab a res-

torer 1 am the lord thy god and 1I gave unto thee my servant joseph2an appointment and restore all things M the last dispensation is an

intrinsic partnart of all previous onesoness to understand the authority of

prophet administratorbadministmtorsadministrators of the past dispensations is to fundamentally

comprehend the basishasisbasks of prophetic authority in the dispensation of the

fullness of timestires

for unto you the twelve and those the first presidency whoare appointed with you to be your counselors andend youryoum

doctrine and covenants saltsall lake citycityicitti thethechurchchurch of jesuschrist of latterdaylatter saintsday 1952 132140 hereafter cited as daoDAC

31

INTHE

hadreceived

lordcalled

I

thetwelvet

conference lepart ap1p 1880t pe ae6e

1952t

apri

918118whichwaswhichways

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32

which power you hold in connection with all those who havereceived a dispensationdisdensation at any time from the beginning of thecreationcreatlon j

for verily I1 say unto you the keys of the dispensation whichye have received have come down from the fathers and last of allbeing sent down from heaven untoumboim youto

verily I1 say unto you behold how great is your calling

THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OF THE IASTLAST dispensation

4god is the source of ultimate authority the genesis of this

dispensation was the theophanytheo ofpany joseph smith which occuredoccurred in a grove

near palmyra new york in the early spring of 1820 in this grove the

boy joseph saw in open vision the father and the son in a very real

sense joseph receivedrecereco hisived commission to be the prophet of the last days

directly from god himself for god had a work for him to do in a

revelation the lord saidsald joseph smith whom I1 did call upon by

mine angels my ministering servants and by mine own voice out of the7heavens to bring forth my work it is significant to note that

according to the lord all of this occuredoccurred M that it might be fulQ

filled which was written by the prophets 0 0 0

SPECIFIC authoritiesauthoritil RESTOREDBESTORED TO JOSEPH SMITH

AC 112s30 33

4see chapter 2 of this thesis

the pearl of great price salt lake cibycity the church of jesuschrist of latterdaylatter saintsday 1952 joseph smith 21420214 hereafter20cited as P of G P followed by the reference within

P of G P joseph smith 23323302333

AG7d&c 13637

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I1 must join none of them for

they were all wrongwrongs

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33

mjjqg gfepjgsjz w

the day joseph smith walked outloutloub of the grove he possessed

authoritative knowledge about the nature of god joseph fielding smith

speaking of the reality of this authority has writtentwritteniwrit

in

tentteni

the spring of 1820 after the vision naswasvasnab given to joseph smith ofthe father and the son he stood aaas the only witness among men whocould testify with knowledge that god lives and jesujes christ is verilyhis sonsonssona in this knowledge he became a special witnesswitnebitne for christand thus an apostle before the priesthood had beenbee restoredres 7toredo

along with this fundamental knowledge about god joseph smith knew of the

apostasy of all the creeds of men M

they deny the power of god 0 0 0 0M

authorautho3itauthoq joej08coeww

the stick of ephraimjrdjifjgod

the book of mormon containing a fullness of the gospel

was committed to joseph smith for translationtranslations I1 have committed the4

keys of the record of the stick of ephraim to joseph smith w

to the latterdaylatteriatterlatker prophetday was also givenbiven the authority to bring forth13the

restoration

word

of

of

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god

authorityauthorilyAutho

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this generationgenerations13

sfesebdfill0

on may 15 1829 under the tendshenda of john the baptistotist joseph

0joseph fielding smith doctrinesdoctrin jf salitjjnt ed bruce R

mcconkiemcconklemccMcG saltonkieonkle lake citycityscites bookcraft inc 3y nl 146 hereaftercited as doctrines jbfjtf

authority on the knowledge ofgod and the apostasyapostasm

usss

n

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34

ta14t4smith and oliver cowdery received the lesser or aaronic priesthoodPriest

shortly

hoodshooda

thereafter they received the melchizedekkeichiaMelchia priesthoodedek under the

hands of peter james and john

whichjwhichwhicha johnohn I1 have sent unto youyout my servantsservan josephtst smithjunjunojuna and oliver cowdery to ordain you unto the first priesthoodwhich you have received that you might be called and ordained evenas aarontaaronj

andandalsoandalloalso with peterpeeter and james and johnjohnojohnp whom I11 have sent untoyou by whom I1 have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostlesand especial witnesses of my name and bear the keys of your minis-try and of the same things which I1 revealed unto themthemltheawheal

unto homwhomhon I1 have committed the keys of my kingdom and a dis-pensation of the gospel for the last timetimestineskimebine and for the fulnessfalness oftimes in the which I1 will gather together in one all thingsthinas bothwhich are in heaven and which areace on earthy

restoration of Rsover iiegthpodjiirjl10s

the authority to direct or the right of presidency in the

saving ministry of the priesthood constitutes keys of the priesthood

to the prophet joseph there was committed a fullness of all priesthood

keys he has so recorded

for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation ofthe fulnessfalness of timesbinealinea which dispensation is now beginning to usherin that a whole and complete and perfect union and welding toget-her of dispensations and keys and powerspowerss and glories should takeplace and be revealed from the days of adam even to the presenttime and not only this but those things which never have beenrevealed from the foundation of the world but have been kept hidfrom the wise and prudent shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in thisthig the dispensation of the fulnessfalness of times lf

an overview of omesomeoae of these restored keys of authority is in order

d&c 13

AO 278 12131213012 13o

joseph16

13

F smithsmithp gospel doctrine llth11th ed salt lake citygityigittideseret book co 1966 p 136 hereafter cited as gospel dgctrinedoctrineodoctrinedoctrines

d&g 128 tletlq

w tsl

earths

presidimauthowtapriesthood ministrations

or priesthood Ks

16

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the22 inspired version of the holy scriptures independencemissouriMisso theurit reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints1964 john 142 hereafter cited as IV

d&c

35

SMJJSL when joseph smith and

oliver cowdery received the fullness of aaronic priesthood from john the1 Rbaptistbaptistqbaptista the culminating prophet of the mosaic dispensation they

19received with that ordination the key to the ministering of angels

they had the right to entertain angels it is clear that the prophet

entertained numerous angels during his ministryminirinistrys it was from these

angelic ministers thatkhatkhab he received subsequent keys

and the voice of michael the archangelarc thehangell voice of gabriel andof raphael and of divers angels from michael or adam down to thepresent time all declaring their dispensation their rights theirkeys their honors their majesty and glory and the power of theirpriesthood giving line upon line precept upon precept here alittle and there a little giving us consolation lyby holding forththat which is to come confirming our hope20hopet4v

keyske overs gods kip&domiklngdom pon peterearth james and john were

21the presiding ministers of the christian or meridian dispensation

peter held these keys in total and was called by christ a seer or a22stone M these three apostles of the lord ministered to joseph smith

and oliver cowdery in 1829 by them they were ordained

and confirmed apostles and given the keykeys revealedr

unto them viz the keys given to peterpeteropeters james and john more will

be said of this later therefore it is sufficientsufficientto to conclude that

1 ftsee chapter 2 of this thesis

d&cdac9d&c 13 84262784262842627 107t2010t20on20

the keygey of the ministeminiate of anmisf

18

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18

19640 citedas

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36

with this melchizedek priesthood authority joseph and oliver had the

right to administer the gospel and hold the keys of the mysteries

of the kingdom even the key of the knowledge of god in the ordin24ances the power of godliness is manifesto

&xs2je satan was an early participant in the25restoration he was present in the grove when the prophet prayed he

26tempted joseph to use the plates for monetary gain and a greater

fullness of his kingdom was established with the establishment of god

27kingdom on the earth adam detected satan on the bankbanks of theQ

susquehanna river and may have given the key of detection to the

prophet joseph at this timetimeatinetineatimes let it be remembered that it was the pre-

mortal adam known as michael who fought and defeated satan in the pre29 30mortal war in heaven M he will so defeat him again be this as

it mynay the record clearly discloses that joseph had the keys enabling31

him to detect the devil

oh

p73 hereafter cited asteachingsteajdhiineteachipgs

d&c 128i20128s20

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17

william E bernettberrett andhistory

almasalt

burtonlake

readimsreadingsreadirscitycityicittiin

deseretLDS

bookchurch

co 1953 19 335 hereaftercited as readings

2727josephjoseph fielding smith teachingsTea ofchingA theprophetjoseph smithsalt lake citycityscites deseret book coicot 19719 P 3659

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37joseph37joseph fielding smith utah genealogicalGeneagenee andpacaiPacal historical kafflmafflginezineyineeinesine july 1936 p 100loo

ao38teachingsTea ichitachina p 151

iszaisrael

01320137abrahamabrehamkb thenahamrahamneham promises given to hisUs posterity

abaahamabxaham the fttriarchal priesthoodt at the

37

feaj10 from the great leader of the

first exodus of israel even mobesmoseskobes joseph and oliver received on april

3 1836 in the kirtland temple the keys of the gathering of israelfrom the four parts of the earth and the leading of the ten tribes from

32the land of the northnorthgorthmorth among other things these keys allowed the

prophet to send orson hyde and john E reigebeigepagebelgerage to the holy iandlandandI in 1840

orson hyde dedicated the holy land for the return of the jews in

november 1841 33

I1 ajaaj8ars sfof fflyj0 A e same

time and place where the keys of the gathering of israel were restored34 3 36

joseph and oliver entertained an elias even noah he committ-

ed the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of abraham which funda-

mentally pertains to the blessings that were conferred upon

37 this in essenceQ

is the patriarchal priesthood the gospel of abraham was one

of celestial marriage including plurality of wives it was a gospel

or commissioncommissi to provide a lineage for the elect portion of the pre-

existent spirits this power and commission is what ellaseliaseilas

d&c

33readi

11011

treadinjgs itI1 393400393

d&c

400

110t12llotlzbnxce35bruce rv mcconklemcconkie mormonjtortonstorton doctrinepogtriportri salt lake citycityicitti bookcraft

inc 1966 p 221 hereafter cited as mormon doctrinefjoseph fielding smithsmithy conference report april i960ig6oigho p 2

keys of ahwthw therimcherim of isaalisxal

39

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thlthikhi is the spirit of elijaheiljah thatthabthatwethatjewe redeemourredeeredeem deadadeadtour dead andconnect ourselves with outour fathers which are in heaven and sealup our dead to come forth in the first resurrection and here wewant the power of elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those

dacdeodao

jobejose rohtaught

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dacdec

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38

39restored thus the lord saidsaidtsaldbaldtbaldg go ye therefore and do the works

40of abraham church history records that the prophet fulfilled41this commissionmissionecom

sssjisiy finallyFinalfinel againlyslyt in

the kirtland temple joseph smith andard oliver cowdery received the seal42ing powers of the priesthood from elijah the prophet this was in

43fulfillment of the great prophecy given bylay malachi in the old testament

and also to fulfill the words of moroniMo anronit important angelic minister44for the last dispensation joseph taught that elijah was the last

4prophet that held the keys in ancient israel this sealing power

was restored in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in45righteousness also we have the following from the prophet

the spirit powerpowertpowerspokert and calling of elijah is that ye have power tohold the key of the revelationsrevelation ordinances oracles powers andendowments of the fulnessfalness of the melchizedek priesthood and of thekingdom of god on the earthtearthlearthabarthl and to receive obtainobtains and performall the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of god even unto theturning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children and thehearts of the children unto the fathers even those who are inheaven

ye

churchhistory

the of elieilell h thteower of beasea un

1145

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39mormon doctrinedoctrineidoctrines ppe 220

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who dwell in heaven thisTOs is the power of elijah and the keys ofthe kingdom of jehovah 46

this sealing power incorporatesincorpometes the sealing of families to each47other the living and the dead for all eternity f also it includes

48the power of sealing up unto eternal lifeilfe these sealing keys of

elijah are an important part of whatnhat connects the lastlestiest dispensation with

all previous dispensations

I1 ssqslpjljsssthe lord has said the fullness of priesthood and keys is to be

49found in a temple of god the lord commanded and authorized joseph

the prophet to build such holy places the church is not fully

organizedorgani ineedsed its proper order and cannot be until the temple is co-mpleted where places will be provided for the administration of the

ordinancesordinardin ofaneesances the priesthood

these words of wilford woodruff become very significant

he joseph smith lived until he received every key ordinanceand law ever given to any man on the earth from father adam downtouching this dispensation he received powers and keys from underthe hands of moses for gathering the house of israel in the lastdays he received under the handslands of elijah the keyskey of sealing thehearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the childrento the fathersfat heherstherslherbt received iaderimderxmder the hands of peterpetert james andjohn the apostleship and everything belonging thereto he receivedunder the handsbands of moroni all the keys and powers required of the

46ibid p 3373383373380307338302338337307302

ibid

338

p 323

48ibid p 323 and 338

dac 12428

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isasiisasgIsa51teachi Ppo 2242240

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40

the restoration of te es

50tobuild

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stick of joseph in the hands of ephraim he received under the handsof john the baptist the aaronic priesthood withkith allailali its keys andpowers and every other key and power belonging to this dispensationand I1 am not ashamed to say that he was a prophet of god and helaid the foundation of the greatest work and dispensation that hasever been established on the earth52earthyl

FULL restoration OF THE PROPHETIC OFFICEIN THE lastIAST dispensation

joseph smith as the presidingpresiding prophet of the last dispensation

restored in its totality the prophetic office fundamentally joseph6353smith had the testimony of jesus and thus was a general prophet

6454that joseph was also a seer is attested to by deity himself that the

prophet magnified this calling is shown by his own statement

it is my meditation all the dayclayhlay and more than my meat and drink toknow howhov I1 shall make the saints of god comprehend the visions thatroll like an overflowing surge before my mind55

As a revelator joseph smith revealed more of the word of god to the

people than any other prophet of whom we have record also it is very

clear from the prophets writings that he only revealed to the church a

very small portion of what he received 5 of course as a translator

joseph smith brought forth the book of mormon the book of abraham and

6757other documents incorporated in the doctrine and covenants the

inspired revision of the bible and elsewhere

withallgodo

mind95

revealedto56

52wilfordsa D xviixviq 267t18548691854868541854 XVI86 26

hereafter cited as JD

CQ

teachings p 2692690

54dac 23 ilteachinsachinsTe p

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52wilford woodruff journal of discourses G D watt and othersreporters Londontdons latterdaylatteriatterletterietter saintsintsday book depotepotapotIiondoniiondon 869

howl

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manmanoaanomana59

116ilgtimetimestirestire ands seasons nauvoo illinois V 651 hereafter cited

as y181timestires and seasons3801861

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1

24240

59doctrinesdoctrinism of salvation 111ililiiiii 1 146

60

oftheodthe

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41

thejhsjs postolicstolicapostolicPo autholauthoaA y

he should be ordained anapostle of jesus christ that office puts him in possession ofevery key every power every authority communication benefitblessing glory and kingdom that was ever revealed to man0

at this point it should be clarified that there are two kinds

of apostles recognized in the church A general apostle is an ambassa-

dor for christ even a witness of him in this sense every member of59the church especially priesthood bearersbear shoulderst be apostles the

status of the ordained apostle is vastly different however As an

office in the priesthoodthepriesthood the apostleship incorporates all the powers

keys and authorities enumerated above when the lord through joseph

smith called the first quorum of twelve apostles in this dispensation

they were given all the authority and keys joseph had thus the

prophet was able to say after they had received this great endowment

now if they kill me you have got all the keys and all the ordin-ances and you canaingingln confer them upon others and the hosts of satanwill not be able to jeartearteam down the kingdom as fast as you will beable to build it up 00

usually ordained apostles are members of the quorum of the

twelve apostles the second ranking presiding priesthood quorum in the

church under the quorum of first presidency since the death of

brigham young JD IX 8 italics by the writer

doctrinesmDoctrineDoctrines y11011sM

bene it

61

58 87

t vav9 65

JJin the apostleship bestowed bytoyboy christ upon the twelve men he

chose in palestine is incorporated the fullness of priesthood keys

authorities and powers

what ordination should a man receive to possess all the keys andpowers of thebhe holy priesthood 0

9

59

orporv

hevinghaving 11

voivolce

brasbrag LXXIII june 1970 28

64isssisssis P 591

dac65d&cdecdeo 1091107919210919266

d&c 1381 50s3650j0

dftc67d&c36&2s3682

fingallvingall faggifts

beertseert revelatrevelstorrevelatorrevelant and church president is the senior ordained apostle of6

the council of twelve no exception could be made to this procedureZQ

unless it were revealed to the presiding apostle

impiqppresident of the church ofjesus christ of ietteriatterletter dazdaysaints

42

joseph smith the presiding high priest of the kingdom of god the prophet

seer Revelreveibevelatorstorstoc

jisfl1pjijfsmslj1jegughristjojatter

the presidency of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatter

lintssaintstintsday

is an aggregate office as has been already explained in actual

fact there is no more authoritative office on earthaearthsgartha upon the president

of the church the almighty bestows the highest office and the greatest6gifts that mortal man is capable of receiving the lardlord himself has

said

the duty of the president of the office of the high priesthoodis to preside over the whole church and to be like unto moses

behold here is wisdom yea to be a seer a revelator a trans-lator and a prophet ha the ftg of godsod which he bestowsupon the head of the church 0

mw

timetire after time in the revelations the lord explains that the

voicevolce of the prophet is equivalent to his voice the action of the67

prophet when acting in the prophetic office is his work f the power

62ct ojl&lw 111illiliiii 155156155r

156

harold B lee time to prepare to meet god the improvementkraera

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62

63

the extent of the authority ofthethe projdk4tlq O0

cl

64

0

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62doctrines of salvationgSalvasaivationg63

9

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92

god

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70

measureneasure

timeatimej

rebeilirebeill

3Q

of the prophetic office is indeed the power of god untonto salvation and

finally those who receive or recognize the prophet for what he is are

in effect receiving god 1 he that receivethreceive my servants receivethreceive69

me

spencer W kimball speaking at the time when joseph fielding

smith was sustained as the tenth presiding prophet of this dispensation

aptly summarized the authority of thatteatteetthet office in our timetireI1 make no claim of alibilityinfantilityinf for him the prophet but he

does need to be recognized of god an authoritative person he isno pretender as numerous are who presumptuously assume positionwithout appointment and authority that is not given he must speaklike his lordtlordslordvord as one having authority and not as thescribesscri matthew1beso s29

he must be bold enough to speak truth even against popularclamor for lessening restrictions he must be certain of hisdivine appointment of his celestial ordination and his authorityto call to service to ordain to pass keys which fit eternal locks

he must have commanding power like prophets of oldoldsoidsoldtoid t toseal both on earth and in heaven the unbelieving and rebellious

unto the day when the wrath of god shall be poured out uponthe wicked without measurer d&c 18918 and9 rare powers

d&c 132132s

70he bridges the gap between man and his maker

testimonies OF THE ELEVENEIEYEN PRESIDING PROPHETS OPOF THISdispensation REGARDING THEIR PROPHETICPROPMTIC AUTHORITY

j2ephjoisgh smithsmitsnitsnith

every

jrman who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of

the world was ordained to that very purpose in the grand councilof heaven before this world was I1 suppose I1 was ordained to thisvery office in that grand cotmei1coimcll it is the testimony that I1

d&c

spencer W kimball the need for a prophetProphe the improvementemarav LXXIII june 1970 939493 94

43

u68

Mj69

7s2q

0 soutupon

1to it

that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven andwhatsoever you bind on earth in my name and by my word saith thelord it shall be eternally bound in the heavens and whosoeversins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven46

erav

th th

tp

dac

dac

jseph

I1 stoop from the sublime authority of almighty god to be handledas a monkeys cat paw and pitifycitify myself into a clown to act the ffarce of political demagoguery no verily nonolnoa the whole earthshallstallsheilshelishailshali bear me witness that 19 like the towering rock in the midstof the ocean which has withstood the mighty surges of the warringwaves for centuries am impregnableyimpregn andabley am a faithful friend tovirtue and a fearless foe to vice no odds whether the formerwas sold as a pearl in asia or hid as a gem in america and thelatter dazzles in palaces or glimmers among the tombs

I1 combat the errors of ages I1 meet the violence of mobs I1cope with illeralillegalvilleral proceedings from executive authority I1 cut thegordian knot of powers and I1 solve mathematical problems ofuniversities with

I1

7222

shalishail

visvit

stendytend

oftheodthe fullness of all thingsspoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world beganunder the sealing power of the melchisedec sic

godpgoda

want that I1 am gods servant and this people his people theancient prophets declared that in the last days the god of heavenshould set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed nor leftto other people and the very time that was calculated on thispeople were struggling to bring it outcutscuttouttgod mymissionwill always protect me until my mission is fulfilled

I1 calculate to be one of the instruments of setting up the king-dom of daniel by the word of the lord and I1 intend to lay a founda-tion that will revolutionize the whole world 7

also when defending his position as a prophet to james

arlington bennett who wanted him to use his position forsor political

leverage the prophet joseph saidsaidtsald

shall I1 who have witnessed the visions of eternity and beheldthe glorious mansions of bliss and the regions and the misery ofthe damned shallhallshalihali I1 turn to be a judas shall I1 who have heardthe voice of god and communed with angels and spake as moved bythe holy ghost for the renewal of the everlasting covenant and forthe gathering of israel in the last days shallshalishail I1 worm myself intoa political hypocrite shall I1 who hold the keys of the lastkingdom in which is the dispensation of the

44

the

positionfor

godo

priesthood shallshashali

noverilyocean

probierstruthdiamond truth

yo

cot 195960195960t VI 78 hereafter cited as HC italics bythe writer

truth diamonddigon i

lureenablegnableanablegnablebie

cos

dleon

ena

ad

.727212

brigham youmgyouhg

just after the death of joseph smith when there was a question

in some peoples minds as to who should succeed to the prophetic office

71teachinfis71teach P9 3653663653660365pe

7272joseph

366

joseph smithsmithpsmiths historyhist of the church of jesus christ oflatterdaylatter saintsday ededeeda Bbo Hhe roberts 2d rev salt lakeleke citydeseret book co 1959 60

aloyioylo

I1

rebreo it is the godof heaven it is the spirit of the holy ghost it is not of myselfit is the lord jesus christ trying to save the inhabitants of theearth5earth75eartheartha

john

755

thusithuei

45

brigham young saidsaidtsald s

the twelve are appointed by the fingeringer of golgodgon here is brighamhave his knees ever faltered have his lips ever quivered here isheberher and the rest of the twelve an independent body who have thekeys of the kingdom of god to deliver to all the world this istrue so help me god they stand next to joseph and are the firstpresidency of the church73church3churchyChurch

we

733

also have this pertinent statement by brigham youngyoungs

I1 do not care who leads the church even though it were ann leebut one thing I1 must know and that is what god says about it I1have the keys and the means of obtaining the mind of god on thesubject

I1 know there are those in our midst who will seek the lives ofthe twelve as they did the lives of joseph and hyrumhyrucyru we shallordain others and give the fulnessfalness of the priesthood so that if weare killed the fulnessfalness of the priesthood may remain

joseph conferred upon our heads all the keys and powers belong-ing to the apostleship which he himself held before he was takenaway and no man or set of men can get between joseph and the twelvein this world or in the world to come

how often has joseph said to the twelve 1 have laid the foun-dation and vouyou must build thereon for upon your shoulders the king-dom rests 74

who gives me that power let the world inquireinqui

jlopresident taylor speaking of his position at the death of

president brigham young in 18 said

I1 occupied the senior position in the quorum and occupying thatposition which was thoroughly understood by the quorum of thetwelve on the death of president young as the twelve assumed thethe presidency and I1 was their president it placed me in a posi-tion of president of the church

thus I1 stood in the same position that president young did

readings II11 13

HC VIIyil 2302300

brigham75brigham75 young J I1 45450

fheber

the

m

I974

thedeath

187

3readi9 ht 13a

74

JD 19

taylor

viig

lorencolorenzo

elifetlifet

iwantawant

thailthatl

46

7at the death of the prophet joseph smithsmiths

wimrijlodwilford woodruff stated in the dedicatory prayer of the salt

lake templetemplettempietenpie

thou hast called thy servants wilford woodruff george Q cannonand josephjosephfjosephm F smith to hold the keys of the presidency and priesth-ood this day and for these shepherds of thy flock we feel to givethee thanksgiving and praise thy servant wilford is bound to ac-knowledge thy handremember in love thy servant whom thou hast called to be a prophetseer and revelator to all mankind whose days have been many uponthe earth yet lengthen out his span of mortal lifeilfe we pray theeand grant unto him all the powers and gifts in their completenessof the office thou hast conferred uponupo himhir and in likeilke mannerbless his associates in the presidency of thy church 1

orejrizo snow

lorenolorenzodoreno snow testified thatthet he had seen christ and that he caledcalled

him to prophetic leadershipleaders thishipshipo experience is told by his grand-

daughter allie young pond

after we left his room and while we were still in the largecorridorcorri leadingdorsdort into the celestial room I1 was walking severalsteps ahead of grandpa when hefiehieile stopped me saying wait a moment

allie I1 wantnant to tell you something it was right here that thelord jesus christ appeared to me at the time of the death ofpresidentPresipresl woodruffwoodruffeWooddont herufferuffo instructed me to go right ahead and organizethe first presidency of the church at once and not wait as had beendone after the death of the previousnr presidentsevious and that I1 was tosucceed president woodruff sto

joseph piFs smith

7 john taylor the gospel kinamkinpmkingdom salt lake city deseretbook co 1944 p 192

wilford woodruff the discourses of wilford woodruffwoodruf edG homer durham salt lake city bookcraft inc 199 ppap 336 and3420342

aft7ft78nels lundwall comp temples of the most high 7th edsalt lakelekeimkelmke citycit bookcrafts inc 1949 p 148 italics by the writerwrlteriter

P76

wilford woodruff

thanksgiving

uponhim U 16

18

76

0 0

77

19691

P

0

1

y

nhim

ath

I1 desire to make another remark or two before we close ourconference I1 will call your attention to the fact that the lord inthe beginning of this work revealed that there should be three highpriests to preside over the high priesthood of his church and overthe whole church d&c 1072210722010222 64664 67t 9192916 he92 conferred uponthem all the authority necessary to preside over all the affairs ofthe church they hold the keys of the house of god and of theordinances of the gospel and of every blessing which has been res-tored to the earth in this dispensation this authority is vestedin a presidency of three high priests they are three presidentsthe lord himself so calls them d&c 107 29 but there is onepresiding president and his counselors are presidents also I1 pro-pose that my counselors and fellow presidents in the first presi-dency shall share with me in the responsibility of every act whichI1 shall perform in this capacity I1 do not propose to take thereins in my own handstendsmends to do as I1 please but I1 propose to do as my

brethren and I1 agree upon and as the spirit of the lord manifeststo US 77

heber J grant

heberher J grant knew that the mantle rested on him

I1 can pledge to you the best that is in me to fulfill the highand holy calling that has come to me to exercise in righteousnessthe power of the priesthood of the living god which centers inme 80

ceorgegeorge albertgibertglbert smith

in the dedicatory prayer of the idaho falls templetempie president

george albert smith prayed 2

we pray that thy servant george albert smith may be endowedof thee with a vigorous body and mind

107291072

heberreber

preepreshiency

thatmythatty

4

in the annual general conference of the church of jesus christ

of latterdaylatter saintsday held in april 1913 president joseph F smith saidsaidtsald

and with the spirit ofprophecy seership revelation and of presidency and with theability to magnify thy great and holy nameenamenabenamennanen

gospel79gospej doctrine p 17616on80

Ggo homer durham edy gospel standards salt lake citydeseret news press 1911941igi P 1991999

rar181george albert smithsnith dedicatory prayer of idaho fallsfilsmailsmalis templetemplettenpie

47

brethren

ed

ofidahothe improvementimjroyementimpeovement era XLVIII october 1945 562

9

dac

dac

edp

the

I1 vement rnaena LXXI decemberdecem 196839683.968ber 109log1

lip11 Pr1kj

david 0 mckay

0

iteito

glaedlag smithsnithjortleiljfjisRt

less

LEilJiSthan three months before his death joseph fielding smith

told the priesthood of the church

now I1 shall say a few words to you about the priesthood andthose keys which the lord has conferred upon us in this final gospeldispensation

we hold the holy melchizedek priesthood which is the power andauthority of god delegated to man on earth to act in all things forthe salvation of men

we also hold the keys of the kingdom of god on earth whichkingdom is the church of jesus christ of latterdayiatterlatter saintsday

these keys are the right of presidency

48

iqljljsin his 94th year david 0 mckaymokaymekaymegay testified

there are many instances about which I1 could tell you whereinthe handiandandlandlendendI of the lord has been manifest in guiding his servants I1know it is real I1 know it as I1 know that you are assembled in thisconference I1 know ones spirit can be in tune and hear that sweetstill small voice I1 know he will warn us I1 know he will neversay anything that is impossible to understand I1 know he is ourfather in heaven he is just as real as my earthly father andmother whom I1 hope to meet over there the savior the son of godis at the head of this church I1 am not the head of this churchjesus christ is our head I1 know that the former presidents of thechurch knewknow that and declared it joseph smith the prophet knew

it this is christs church and we are his messengers his repre-sentatives and it is our duty to keep in touch with him and knowwhat his wishes are

Jf

they are the power andauthority to govern and direct all of the lords affairs on earththose who hold them have power to govern and control the manner inwhich all others may serve in the priesthood all of us maynay holdthe priesthood but we can only use it as authorized and directedso to do by those who hold the keyskeyso

this priesthood and these keys were conferred upon joseph smithand oliver cowdery by peter james and john and by moses andelijah and others of the ancient prophets they have been given toeach manmnran who has been set apart as a member of the council of thetwelve but since they are the right of presidency they can onlybe exercised in full by the senior apostle of god on earth who isthe president of the church

may I1 now say very plainly and very emphatically that we havethe holy priesthood and that the keys of the kingdom of god are

pdavid 0 mckay spirituality in learninlearningkearnin and teaching the

gospel the iroprgvgffljen

192

maY

sayvery emphaticallythat

82

sentatives

yis

lio11iio 0749

here they are found only in the church of jesus christ of latteriatterday saints

now brethren I1 think there is one thing which we should haveexceedingly clear in our minds neither the president of the churchychurchnor the first presidency nor the united voice of the first presi-dency nor the united voice of the first presidency and the twelvewill ever lead the saints astray or send forth counsel to the worldthat is contrary to the mind and will of the lord

an individual may fall by the wayside or have views or givecounsel which falls short of what the lord intends but the voiceof the first presidency and the united voice of those others whohold with them the keys of the kingdom shall always guide the saintsand the world in those paths where the lord wants them to be 0

at the solemn assembly where he was sustained as the eleventh

president of the church harold B lee stated

I1 know with a testimony more powerful than sight that as thelord declared the keys of the kingdom of god are committed untoman on the earth from the prophet joseph smith through his succes-sors down to the present andani from thence shall the gospel rollforth unto the ends of the earth as the stone which is cut out ofthe mountain without hands shallsnallshailshalisnail roll forth until it has filled thewhole earth

wherefore may the kingdonkingdom of god go forth that the kingdomof heaven may come t d&c 65 sas2 6 n

I1 bear that testimony with all the conviction of my soul

SUMMATION

at the beginning of this dispensation the lord said he had givenQ

his servant joseph smith jr an appointment to restore all things

joseph fulfilled his work all that joseph received he delegated to the

joseph fielding smith eternal keys and the bightright to presidethe enslenensign II11 july 1972 88887880887

84

88880

harold B lee may the kingdom of god go forth the enslenensignillIII111liililili january 1973 25

d&g 132401323400

110

83

haroldhroldharoid B leeie

it

kin domdon6529

85

83josephen n

bo9 0

dag85d&c

83

dac

seraer ntsants

50Q

quorum of the twelve before h was martyredairtyredmartyairtynarty thered church and kingdom of

god is now fully restored never to be taken from the earth or given toon

another peoplepeoples f at the head of thatt1vtt kingdom on eartheartho under christ

is the presiding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatter

saints

day

haroidharold bingham leeleeoleea he has testified that he is fully empower

88edeeleol and so the testimony of gods servants today is thats

nowhow as in every age of the earthsearth0eartha s history when the lord hashad a message for people he has sent his servants to testify andbear witness of ltit they have spoken by the power of the holy ghostand have certified of the truthtroth of the reveterevelationtion 4

mewe do this todayrostroostmostnost solemnlysoleaolebole andsmiyamlysaly soberly 9

wilfordVi woodruffWoodvoodlfordiford goyrfermiceeg

87daniel87

muffsrufft april

2i42t44Danieldeniel

1898

QQ

conference p

haromharemhalid

reportre 89890

Bbe

portdort

88 leelaevleev may the kingdom of god go forth M the ensign111IIIliilil january 1973i 25259

go89bruce R mccMcGMemcconkiemcconkleonkieConkieonkleconkle the9 keystone of our religion t the

jmovgmgntj LXXIIUXII december 1969 58

86he

87

isfully

the

86

ensi noanuarn 1973 v

IM vement bnoEMO

naretnametnanet

discoursesdiscowcses G D wattkatt and othersreporters londonsLon latterdaylatterdons saintsday book depot 1854861854 11II86 151

hereafter cited as JDJDsjda

90

the

ow

book2theathe of nomonmomonkrononkomonkommom salton lake citytcityicitti the church of jesus christof latterdaylatter saintsday 1952 alnaalmaalmainaalq 562 hereafter cited as B of M

followed by the reference within

3theathe

godegodsessesq and fulfill their obligations

for they have obligated themselves before god and before angelsand before earthly witnesses that they would do this

lhebergheber

chapter 4

obligations OF CHURCH MEMBERS

TO THE PROPHETIC OFFICE

I1 would like to see all this people do right and keep the com-mandments of god I1 would like to see them fulfill their covenantsand live up to their vows and promisespromis

introduction

I1 speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church

and unto those who do not belong to the church I1 speak by way of invlinviinalinai2j2tattonfattenfatton

for as many as receive this gospel shall be called after thyname and shall be accounted thy seed and shall rise up and blessthee aaas their fathersfathers

in a very real sense the covenant members of the church are the children

heber C kimballKim journalbailoballo of

the pearl of great price salt imkelakelmke cityscityi the church of jesuschrist of iatterlatterletter day saints 1952 abrahamabodAboc 2810aham hereafter cited asP of G P followed by the reference within

51

0 0t thus spoke the prophet alma to the people of his day

covenantcoverant members of the church in any age have always borne a special

relationshiprelationshipto to the prophets the lord long ago covenanted with

abraham that all who receive the gospel would be called after him

0 0

father5

p0 he

mandments

Covenantverantyerant

father 5

beytrefrebre

mel

londona

ja

pa

paulbaulraulrhul

in the book of hebrews states that christ was annointed

609409699

I1

helsheismediator5mediatore finistministers

5theathe

9johnajohn 1411041lwi and marginal note for john 141italitaihebrews10 19

52

of the prophetspropheye are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which

god made with our fathersfat sayingherst unto abrahamabrahamsAbraabma andhamphanshars in thy seedshall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed

although all things are done in the name of christ and he is the great

mediator between5 the father and his children the ministers of christ

his undershepherdsflundershepherdsunderflunder haveshepherds always been sacred to the lord and they

should be to his people touch not mine annointed and do my prophets7no harm 41 has been the command of god to his covenant people in this

dispensation the lord has pronounced a curse against those who lift up

the heal against his annointed speaking most specifically of the prophetQ

joseph smith

christ is the ultimate annointedannoitited one the term christ isQ

taken from the greek christosGhristchristoe meaning the annointed one

with the

oil of gladness above his fellows the term fellows would

cts 3025

the inspired version of the holy scriptures independencemissouri the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints1964 galatians 31920319 the prophet moses wall called to be themediator of the first covenant and of course jesus christ the greatestof all the prophets is the mediator of the gospel covenant

6 peter 547 chronicles 1622 and psalms 10515

doctrine8doctrine and covenants salt lake city the church of jesuschrist of latterdaylatter saintsday 1952 121l612116 hereafter cited as dac

gjohn

4

6

8

10

4actsacte

61

1 9

os

20

tst

christ

acts

ofgoag

53

be better translated associates companions or friends who

are those friends of christ those lesser annointed ones the

scripture states that christs friends are those who keep his command

t2taments abraham is often referred to as the firendferend of god in a most

special sense he it was who was chosen along with the other prophets34before the foundation of the world christ it will be remembered

said that he laid down his life forfox his friends J the book of mormon

makes it clearelear that those who would be the first resurrected would be

the prophets and those who followed them to christ

and there cometh a resurrection even a first resurrection yeaeven a resurrection of those that have been and who are and who

shall be even until the resurrection of christ for so shall he becalled

and now the resurrection of all the prophets and all thosethat have believed in their words or all those that have kept thecommandments of god shall come forth in the first resurrectiontherefore they are the first resurrection

they are raised to dwell with god who has redeemed them thusthey have eternal life through christchristo who has broken the bandsof death 16

among those annointed with christ as his fellows must be included the

prophets those who were foreordained from before the foundation of the17world joseph fielding smith stated that some of the great presiding

benjamin wilson trans the dia the newtestament brooklyn new york internationalxnational bible students associationwatch tower bible and tract society publishers 1942 hebrews 19

12john l5sl415f14 151133 3II11 chronicles 2072017 isaiah 418 and james 223

P of G P abraham 3233321

john15 1513116

Bbe of M moslah 1582123152115821

17

23

josephjoeeph smith the prophet taughtlbaught that anyone who is called tominister to gods children wasmas foreordained to that calling before the

oil

13

15

clearthat

evena

firstresurrection

emphatic ott ofint

2214

17joseph

23e

foi

nowy

19191119

dag19d&c 138

exodus20 2320212320

matthew

21

1040

54

prophets of the dispensations even assisted christ in the creation of

the earth

it is true that adam helped to form this earth he labored withour savior jesus christ I1 have a strong view or conviction thatthere were others also who assisted them perhaps noah and enochan l&lj10 and those who were appointed to be rulersbefore the earth wait formed10formedforred O

again

10

and againagin the scriptures affirm that those who bear the

name of christ and especially presiding prophets are to be honored as

christ is honored there is no essential distenctiondistinction made between

those empowered to represent christ or christ himself whether by my

19own voice or the voice of my servants it is the same to ancient

israel the lord warned concerning the angel whonbonho was sent before them

behold I1 send and angel before thee to keep thee in the wayand to bring thee into the place which I1 have prepared

beware of him and obey his voice provoke him not for he willnot pardon your transgressionstransgressionsstransgression for my name is in him 0

to his chosen twelve christ said he that receivethreceive you receivethreceive me

21and he that receivethrecelvethreceiverecel meveth receivethreceive him that sent me to joseph

smith the lord said this generation shall have my word through

world was teachings p 365 it should be remembered as beforeexplained that any with the spirit of prophecy or the holy ghost isin general a prophet thus those of the presiding prophets would beincluded and since christ indicated that the greater the call the moreextensive the ministry matthew 23 illtiltii the presiding prophets would beamong Christchrists closest friends

1 ftjoseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation ed bruce R

mcconkie salt lake citytcityscites bookcraft inciizcvizc 1954 17 747574 and75 abraham3j24 hereafter cited as doctrines of salvationSalvat significantlyloneione bothstate concerning christ and there stood one among them that was likeunto god and he said unto those who were with himhimshin we will go downfor there is space there and we will take of these materials and we

will make an earth whereon these may dwell italics by the writer

d&g

and wh not josedhjoseah smithsnith1 11 1 40

was

58r

2311

18

it24

21

ss

th th

th th

ts

therhe member of the church or more

generally those aware of the significance of the work of the res fora-ge

tion begun by joseph smith cite other reasonreasons A thorough examination

lvIV matthew2037023370

dacdao 5105210

2323matthewmatthew 2337392337 interestingly the inspired version extendsthis lament to the future for it states 0 jerusalemJerusa I1lertlemllent jerusalem I1 yewho will kill the prophets and will stone them who are sent unto youhow often would I1 have gathered your children together even as a hengathers her chickens under her wings and ye would not

fieotieo pienie

5522

you 11

PROBIEMSPROBLEMS IN FOLLOWING PROPHETS

the majority of gods children in the world have never followed

the true prophetsprophetsepropheprophette from father adam down to the presiding prophet of

the present even the covenant people have not been as obedient as they

should be the lament of christ over jerusalem bears a tragic

testimony

0 jerusalem jerusalem thou that killestgillest the prophets andstonestsoonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I1 havegathered thy children together even as a hen gatherebhgatherethgathegat herrebhreuhherethchickens under her wings and ye would not

behold your house is left unto you desolatefor I1 say unto you ye shall riotnot see me henceforth till ye

shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the lord 53

the reasons for acceptancenonacceptancenon of the prophets are varied and

complex the world as a whole generally unaware of their position as

it relates to the prophets either ignore them or simple disbelieve

the nominal christian generally cites that christ is totally sufficient24

and that he fulfilled the prophets

24chapter 5 will attempt to articulate the position of the worldin regard to the prophets these problems will be dealt with there

cthere are in the world today literally thousands who accept

the prophetic call of joseph smith but reject his legal successors

9

sent

under

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22

inspiredversion10

25there

39

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coscob 1971971teachlteache v

inciinclplespies

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56

of these reasons reveals that they revolve around these issuersissuessissuest 1 1

ignorance of the stewardshipthestewardship of the prophets especially the presiding

prophet 2 misunderstanding regarding the principlesinciples of agency and

free agency 3 lacklaek of understanding in regard to covenants 4

misunderstanding regarding the checks and balances of church government

5 outright deception byttyityltv false prophetspropbets 6 disobedience and sin

these factors will be examined now

illliss3sisiljsisilySiSIjoseph

LJsmith saidt

whenever there has been a righteous man on eartheart unto whom godrevealed his word and gave power and authority to administer in hisnamenane and where there is a priest of godagod ministera who has powerand authority from god to administer in the ordinances of the gospeland officiate in the priesthood of god there is the kingdom of godgodigodtand in consequence of rejecting the gospel of jesus christ and theprophets whom god hath sent the judgments of god have rested uponpeople cities and nationsnationnetlon in various ages of the world whichwas the case with the cities of sodom and gomorrah that were des-troyed forfwsor rejecting the prophetsProp 629

hetes

the kingdom of god is no ethereal spiritual essenceessences in latterdaylattersaint

day

doctrine it is a tangible reality when it is established itsmembers are subject to its authorized ministersminis christterso is the king

27of lesser priesthood kings f the great high priest over lesser highQ

priests the truly converted covenantverantco person honors christs ser

3626joseph fiamtngf161ftng smith teachinffs of the prophet joseph smithsalt lake cityscityi deseret book co

joseph smith taughtthat chhistchtist isto the great high priestpriests adaradam next teachings p 158

pr

the stewardshistewardshipSteward heshishl fthetsR of tover gods covenant peorapeor1

earthunto

agessod m gomo ho

28

teach1in

pe 27121 hereafter cited asteachigga

revelation 16 and dacd&c 7656Q

hebrews 56 bruce R mcconkiemcconkle in his book mormon doctrinepipa 355 y concerning the presiding high priest in any age that he isgodgode chief representative on earthyearth the one who holds the highest

spiritual position in his kingdom in any age

28M conk1ein

islogods

teachi pe 1589

propbets

st

names

reachi

1973193 38

J Nathanhathannabhan E tanner conferenceconGon reportference october 1969 P 51

david 0 mckay conference report april 1950 p 32

P of G P moses 43

ae&epey

commenbommen

57

vants as he would honor christ he is subject to the laws and officers29of the kingdom the chief officer if christ is not present is the

presiding high priest or presiding prophet of the time the church is

a kingdom wrote bruce R mcconkie the lord jesus christ is the eter-

nal king and the president of the church the mouthpiece of god on

earth is the earthly king nathan BE tanner summarized the stewardsteward9stenard 9

ship of the prophets when he saidsaidisaldisaidtsaldour heavenly father knowing our weaknesses and our need for

constant direction sends us prophets to continually teach us andkeep us remindedremind of this plan of life and salvationour salvation and that of our loved ones depends on our listeningto and heeding the words of the prophets realizing that we mustbelieve all that god has revealed all that he does now reveal andthat he will yet reveal manynany great and important things pertainingto the kingdom of god j

next to the bestowal of life itself the right to direct that32life is gods greatest gift to mankinkanwinain these are the words of the ninth

president of the church david 0 mckay they identify the place of

agency in the doctrine of the church the whole plan of salvation pivots

on this fundamental principle theme war in heaven was fought that it33might be preserved it0 waswae an endowment given to man in the garden of

29some would cite the verse the kingdom of god is withinyou luke 1721 to excuse their disobedience to priesthood officersbut as the marginal reading to that verse states it would be betterrendered the kingdom of god is amoneamonganone you is italics by7byaby thewriter see marginal note king jamesjaresjancisjaners versioniversionversionsver alsosionislont IV luke 17s2l

30bruce R mcconkie doctrinal new testament commentary I1salt lake city bookcraft inc

1

5

jesuschrist

00

ed

revea itmanyinmany

r

0

5389

31nathan31 1969t32 19509 pe 320

33 p9

17 21y

rias

pa

propheticoitijelititt

duq35d&c 93 003100036brighas youndtyoungyyoungt JD ut

pap&ckeracker 1

58

34 35edenfideneideneeden without it saith god there could be no existence in

summarysualsuaisuni agencyagencymayneryBarydery mayway be defined aaass the power of choice all intelligent36

beings inherit fromyroa the gods of eternity it is innate

obedience leads to freedom Mn38 christchristsaidsaidgaidgald the39truth will make you free and he who w committeth ginsingln is the

40servant of sinbinbinmbina llrv

the agency and preeagencyfr6ea&nsxfreePree ofAgency thecovenant person as jit relatesto the W

both the agency and freeagencyfree ofagency the covenant person should

be more extensive than his brothertrotherkrother outside of the covenantcovenantscove the

34p

nantsnanta right

ajl3jlP of G anpnpa moses 3110jil7f317o3170 and hosesmoseskobesmobeshobes 732d&q 9330319330

Brighbrighmi

31

IX 105

37there is no unanimity in LDS literature as to the defini-tion of free agencyoageneyo the author after thorough research feels thatthere is freeagencyfree toagencygency do or be only if agency is properlypro0erly exercised

J boyd K packerdrickeripackerp conference report octobertobertOc 19701970q ppe 121

john39 8378137083281320

hn40john 8134qt3

without1to godt

inheritfrom 06

freeagessfisjssxfree

free

ggeagegee

agency

aerlerarr

at least for the purpose of this study will be

37considered as agency to do or to be ouwouroum use of agency determines

the degree of freeagencyfree weagency possess for example men were not free to

go to the moon until they had learned and applied certain laws in the

first place there was agency to strive to attain a goal in the second

place there was freeagencyfree toagency acheiveacheivetscheive it in the words of boyd K

aft3ftrackerbacker M

139

itoffice

p0

freea38boyd R

committeth

Mi

a

goaL

639

octobers

larv

signiasignif leance

artionrtion

59

to choose between alternatives is only significant when one comprehends

the significance of the alternatives if there is no cognizance of

alternatives the agency is not real in the words of lehi man

could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the

one or the other the question might be asked what makes a thing

enticing of course there are a legion of answers that may be given

intn the gospel context however and in an eternal sense only that

which is good should be enticing even the wicked would shake at the

appearance of sin if they fully comprehended it the wages of sin42 43

disobedience to gods law when accountable brings misery despair44 as4sand death in the words of alma wickedness never was happiness

logically thenonlythentonlythenthe thosenonlytonlytoniyvonly who know the truth have agency the holy

ghost is the spirit of discernment and since no one but the covenant

person is entitled to this gift he is with that gift endowed with

more agency it should be noted that the spirit of christ gives a

lesser ability of discernment to all but in the words of bruce R

mcconkie there is no perfect operation of the power of discernment46 47without revelation the holy ghost is the great revelator

obviously only correct use of agency lead to free agency no

B of M II11 nephi 21642

B of M alma 421B43b of M moronmoroninoron 10221020

44roman 623B of M almaainoaainnaalnaaina 411041210

46bruce R mcconkiemcconklemegMcGmec mormononkieonkle doctrinedpctjrine salt lake citycityicitti bookcraftinc 1966 p 197 hereafter cited as mormon doctrine

teachesteachingsteachls p 3283280

brings

inthe 145

abilityof

agencylead

41mo

be

i

45b

pe1117rr po

ope

6060

man has the freeagencyfree toagency inherit a fullness of celestial exaltation

unless he uses his agency to obey all the laws ordinances and per-

formances leading to that glory in the words of jesus christ

verily verily I1 say unto you except ye abide my law ye can-not attain to this glory

for strait is the gate and narrow the way that leadeth untothe exaltationexaltatioexaltation and continuation of the lives and fewfen there be thatfind it because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye knowme

but if ye receive me in the world then shall ye know me andshall receive your exaltation that where I1 am ye shall be also

this is eternal livesilves to know the only wise and true god andjesus christ whom he hath sent I1 am he receive ye thereforemy law az4z

jesus christ under the matherfatherfattiermathenfattler is the source of all good things49

in him we live move and have a being he has endowed us with agency

he adds upon us free agency as we obey his gospel As has already been

stated he is the great minister

aqhqdagdaodac 132212513213221

d&c

021250021 25250

8811138801138811880149

matthew50matthew50

13

20s2820

B of me II11 nephi 202320s23

d&c 207753

teachinfgsa p 190

the great prophet to our fathers

eternal family the holy ghost the third member of the godhead is52

the most especial minister of christ he is even referred to as52christsChrlschris spiritts after the holy ghostthostshost who is called by joseph

53smithsnith uI1

0 god the third the witness or testator the greatest

ministers of christ are the prophets they too are also testators

many of them have sealed their testimonies with their own blood in

speaking to the nephitesNep thehites savior said M all the prophets

few

ilivesto

50

51

3

53the

48

28

51b M

leach

formances

exaltatioatlon

20 23

52

dac

dac

themythery sayingsayings blessed are ye if ye shallstallshalishail give heedunto the words of these twelve whom I1 have chosen from among you tominister unto you and to be your servants and unto them I1 havegiven power that they may baptize you with fire and with the holyghost therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and bebaptized after that ye have seen me and know that I1 am 55

the whole exaltation of the covenant person is tied up with

prophetic ministers the gospel of jesus christ is a compendium of mi-

nistrations one is foreordained before birth by someone baptized on

earth by someone confirmed by someone ordained by someone etc allthe saving ordinances are by ministration all of christs ministers

are presided over by christ ultimately or by one of his recognized

servants imminently christ as he said is the trunk and his apostles

are the branches

somesoneonegonet

wanttolantto

61

54as manynany as have spoken have testified of me

the relationship of the covenant person is to christ through

the prophets it is most significant that as christ spoke to the

nephitesNep andhites gave to them the beatitudes he placed the following one

first t

and it came to pass that when jesus had spoken these words untonephi and to those who had been calledcalledo now the number of them whohad been called and received power and authority to baptize wastwelve and behold he stretched forth his hand unto the multitudeand cried unto themthea

the great reality of this concept is indelibly

placed in the mind when considered in the context of this statement by

heber GC kimball

brother brigham was speaking this forenoon showing what aninfluence he has over this people I1 wantnant to know if he has anyover a man ordr woman that is not in this vine he being the head

B of M ill111liilil nephi 2024

B of M 111IIIililii nephi 121 this additional beatitude Is alsoincluded in an attenuated form in IV matthew 5345053534534.

john56 1518151 8

am55

someonet

56

54 me0

55b

istrations

4

deibert60delbort

extentextenj

esqisq

62

now when joseph was here he wasinsimsvms the head of the vine in the fleshybut since he steppedstopped away brother brigham is head of the vine andwe are connected to it all you men andardarn womenwomens and then all thesaints throughout the world are connected to that vineyine to which heis connected and he has power and influence over thengthemthens because theypartake of his nature and his element and he partakes of the elementthat came through josephjosephs and joseph from peter and peter from jesusand jesus from the fetherfathermether and then it extends through all thequorums that pertain to the house of israelitisraeli7Israeli0

7

0 0 to believe in christ in the full and perfect andend saving sensewe must heed the testimony and accept the teachings of the lordsprophets so that we too may enjoy the promptings of the holy spiritand feel the spirit of revelation in our own souls58souls

the

58

individual covenantsiCovenant andsndsIpropheticbetic author ty

1jteoeticjauttux

the word of the lord to his people is keep the commandments

59and covenants by which ye are boundbounds n7 delbert L stapley

speaking in the conference of the church in april of 1959 articulated

the place of covenants in the gospel scheme

a covenant is a solemn binding compact between god andman whereby man agrees to keep gods commandments and serve him inrighteousness and in truth unto the end the gospel covenants andobligations bind church members to obedience to laws and principlesgiven of god which lead to happinesshapp loveinesso and eternal joy A

covenant then is an agreement which includes obligations and isgiven as a principle with promise of blessings for obedience

it is our duty to learn and understand the sacred and bindingnature of the covenants we accept at baptism and the covenants andobligations associated with all other ordinances of the gospelgpspelfound along that narrow path which leads to life eternalernaleet 00

significant to this study i the fact that the church member is

bound to his covenantcovenants

every member of the church has made covenants with the lord

heber C kimballKimbal JDjdajd9 Vyiavioyta 8870

58bruce be mcconklemcconkieMcCon conferencecorsCorrkletkietkleg reportserenceference octobertobergOc 196419649 ppe 38380

d&cdac39d&c 35t24

delbert L stapley conference report april 1959 PPppe 107810780107102 ao8o8

bruce R

qt

i

fromtheisrael

perfectand

59

e

forobedience

gg8pel

is

57heber

1959t

se

lg

na

I1ezateaera IJIXLXX juneoune 1961967t 31031 it should be understood that presidentsmiths remarks are applied to all men and not just covenant membersof the church the church teaches that all who have received bodiesand come to earth accepted at least to some degreesdegree the plan of thefather as championed lyby christ and thus they all have responsibilitiesto himhishir italics lyby the writer

B of M mosiah 18il018ilo

brigham64 youngsyoungyoungg TOjd9jda XIIxiiixii9 230

mevmeo

yeteyets

effortseffortgoflifeollife

whatichati

these commandments and covenants are not grievous they are notburdensome on the contrary they are enlightening upliftingassuring and helpful they are instruments of voluntary action onour part that help us to concentrate our efforts to accomplish thepurpose of lifeilfe and to reach our ultimate goal 61

this puts him in an entirely differentdiffer relationshiperntcant to christ and his

servants joseph fielding smith has saidt

I1 have heard people say and members of the church too 1t have aright to do as I1 please my answer 1stist no you do not youhavent any right at all to do just as you please there is onlyone right that you have and that is to do just whatwhet I1 read to youkeep the commandments of jesus chrischristchrls he has a perfect right totell us so we have no right to refusere 0fele

the baptismal covenantcpyenant in the cownantcovenantcornant of baptism the indivi-

dual promises to take upon himself the name of christ that he will63

always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given him

in speaking of this covenant brigham young has saidt

all latterdaylatter saintsday enter the new and everlasting covenant whenthey enter this church they covenant to sustain thekingdom of god and no other kingdomking theydomedone take a vow of the mostsolemn kind before the heavens and the earth and that too uponthe validity of their own salvation that they will sustain truthand righteousness instead of wickedness and falsehood and buildup the kingdom of god instead of the kingdoms of this world 0

the covenant of baptism among other things opens the door leading into

the celestial kingdom the baptizedbapti personzedsed is in a whole new relation

bibay L christiansenchristianson we have made covenants with the lordthe ensignensigut II11 january 1973 51510

62joseph fielding smith he that loveth me the improvement

63

Iis

thatyou haveghaveat 92v

ofthekingdoms 04

61

panuaryt 1973t

63

mee

reyels

leesleet ll11

saldosaido whenwhen men are placed as rulers and governors to control

preslPresidentt

rightorrightof

64

ship to gods kingdom the church of jesus christ of iatterlatterylatter day saints

he is subject to its laws and officers

next unto god and christchristo in the earth is placed one unto whom thekeys of power and the authority of the holy priesthood are conferredand unto whom the right of presidency is given he is gods mouth-piece to his peoplepeoplet ininalldinallallali things pertaining to the building up ofzion and to the spiritual and temporal salvation of the people heis as gods viceregentiviceregentlvicere I1gentl do not hesitate to announce this truths forit is his word and therefore it is true the people who have enteredinto covenant to keep the commandments of the lord must hearken untothe voice of birhimbimhir who is placedp3aced to preside over thethem 0

the covgnantjof s members of the

church are privileged to express without any kind of coercion whatever

their commonconsentcommon ofconsent those called to preside over them in gods

kingdomking thisdorodomodoms principle finds expression in the sacred act of raising

the right arm to the square in the public act of sustaining in relat-ing this to the sustaining of church officers nathan E tanner said

at the solemn assembly which sustained haroldharoidheroldhemoid B lee as the eleventh

prophet seer and revelatorbevKev ofelator the church and its eleventh presidentpresidenttpresidents

those voting will when called upon arise to their feethnwhen the affirmative vote is called rorfor those so voting will bringtheir right arms to the square to witness to the lord that theysustain the office for whom they are voting

it is noted that when you vote affirmatively you make a solemncovenant with the lord that you will sustain that is give your fullloyalty and support withoutwithoaitho equivocationg or reservation to theoffice for whom you vote 67

joseph F smith conferenceferencefereneederencecoidCoircord report april 18991890 ppo 68680

common66 consent is a law of the church d&gd&c 262 thislaw allows the individual to exercleexerciseexerile his agency in becoming subject tothe sovereignty of god through his servantservantsservantso the individual has no rightof nomination or veto in gods kingdom only the right of acceptance orrejectionreject theioneionolone sovereignty of god through the servants is a workingreality in the church of jesus chrifct of latterdaylatter saintsday

676714than62146714nathannathenthanthen E tanner the sustaining of president harold B leethe ensicttEASIP III111ili january 1973 3 speaking of common consent georgeA smith saldsaid

lordmust het enlacedP mam9

covenant of sustainjp&church leadersoleaieaderso

66

seedtertedg

65joseph

we

ch16vdf

kv

65

babic

so

fors

dac

coveovgnant

hgohpe

covenantcovgnant

revelacevela1

65

oath and CovenantcovenantofcovenantorCoven theantof melchizedekece4ece e4 hp0 1 those who

receive the higher melchledekmelchizedekMelchkelchkeich priesthoodledek receive it with an oath and a

covenant it is not the purpose of this study to examine this oath and

covenant thoroughly but to articulate how it pertains to the individual

priesthood bearers relationship to the prophets in general and the pre-

siding prophet in particular the savior said it very succinctly

and also all they who receive this priesthood receive me saiththe lord

for he that receivethreceive m servantsserr receivethreceivets me

and he that receivethreceive me receivereceiveth my fatherand he that receivethreceive my father receivethreceive my fathers kingdom

therefore all that my father hath shall be given unto himand this is according to the oath and covenant which belongethbelo

tongeth

the priesthoodtherefore all those who receive the priesthood receive this

oath and covenant of my father which he cannot break neither canit be moved 68

in his classic definition of priesthood john taylor said

what is his priesthood it is the rule authority administra-tion if you please of the government of god on the earth or in theheavens for the same priesthood that exists upon the earth existsin the heavens and that priesthood holds the keys of the mysteriesof the revelations of god and the legitimate head of that priesth-ood who has communion with god is the pophetrophetRo seerophetphetophee and bevelaveiator to his church and people on the earth 9

no man can hold or magnify priesthood without being subject to the

priesthood leaders over him in other words priesthood cannot be heldheid

independently

brother brigham is my head therefore that power is all in himI1 act in oneness with him in all things and sanction his purposes

the destinies of any people they must do it by the consent of thatpeople or it is unlawful unconstitutional unjust unholy god himselfdoes not rule the children of men upon any other principle you canserve me live under my dominion observeolserve my laws if you choose saysthe lord if not you may serve the devil and reap the reward thatfollows JD v 365

pDODAGdao 8435408435 italics40 by the writer

69john taylor JD 6256250

andcovenant of priesthood allail

mv

beheld

WD

68

69john

th thth thth th

ecea

I1 want to make thisemphatic

119ils

seatseit

endowmendowsantsents

66

in god of angels and all heavenly beings but let me turn awayand be independent of him and where is my priesthood or where ismy authority70

tempietemple covenantsocpyenantg the sacred work that goes on in the temple

is of such a nature that little can be said here about it for the

present purposepurpo it is sufficient to note that in holy temples the

covenant people are privileged to make further covenants they are able

to fully consecrate themselves to the buildingupbuildingup of god kingdom and

are made even more cognizant of their special relationship to the

prophets the lords annointed servants it is the doctrine of the

church that there is no fullness of exaltation without these most

71especial endowments given in holy temples the presiding prophet sus-

tains a special relationship in regmrdsregards to these sacred things joseph

fielding smith in speaking of this daysssaysisayss

you cannot receive the fulnessfalness of the priesthood unless yougo into the temple of the lord andaraarn receive these ordinances ofwhich the prophet speaks no man can get a fulnessfuln6ssfalness of the priesth-ood outside of the temple ofbf the lord

only one man at a time on the earth holds the keysof the priesthood

JD II1131

doctrines of salvation III111liililillilimt 13113213113 1321320

authority 70

lemalem2leerieeele covenantso

purposeit

gods

P

07

0

john

72

taylor put it all together toin relation to the prophetic office when

he statedstatedi

I1 will tell you how I1 feel aboutlabout the principle of consecration

heber C kimballkimbell TOJD VIvigvityit 667

71f brigham youngs classic definition of the endowment is asfollowsfollowstfollow your endowment is to receive all those ordinances in thehouse of the lord which are necessary for you after you have departedthis life to enable you to walk back to the presence of the fatherpassing the angels who stand as sentinels being enabled to give themthe keys words the signs and tokens pertaining to the holy priesthoodand gingaingln your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hellhellaheiihelihellshelis

feelabout

70

brigtamyoungsiso

fee

st

0.0

72 113201

goo900d

totimetotite

theasethemselives

67

if I1 am a servant of god I1 am under the direction of thoseservants of god whomwhoa he has appointed to guide the counsel me byrevelation from himhimihir it is their right to dictate and control me

amid all the affairs of those associated with the kingdom of godand I1 feel moreover that everything whether spiritual or temporalrelating to timetire or to eternity is associated with the kingdom ofgod 73

thus by many covenants the people of god are bound to the lord

and his servantsservantservante allsl for their exaltation and glory the inspired

counsel of the apostle paul is still very relevant to the covenant

people today

letiet every soul be subject unto the higher powers for there isno power in the church but of god the powers that be are ordainedof god

whosoever thereforethere resistethresiforet thesteth power resistethreslstethresiresl thesteth ordin-ance of god and they that resist shall receive to themselves punish-ment

punish-ments

for rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil wiltthou then not be afraid of the power do that which is good and thoushaltshallshaitshail have praise of the same

for he is the minister of god to thee for good but if thou dothat which is evil be afraid for he bearettbeareth not the rod in vainvalnvaini forhe is the minister of godgodo a revenger to execute wrath upon him thatdoethboeth evil

wherefore ye must needs b subject not only for wrath but alsofor conscienceconsciencetconsciences sake

for rorforroc this cause pay ye your consecrations alsoelgo unto them forthey are godsgodqgoda ministers attending continually upon this very thing

but first render to all their dues according to customcustontribute to whomwhon tributetributestritrl custombutet to whom custom that your consecradipnatipna may be done in fear of hinhim to whom fear belongslongstbe and in honorof him to whom honor belongs74belongsbelongsolongso

the presidingPresi prophet aditz asa he relatesto the checks and balances ofchurch government

it must always be remembered that to the iatterlatterylatterlatker day saint the

church and kingdom of god in any age is not established on the arm of

john taylortaylorl JDJD I1it 375

74f iv9romansIV 131713117131romans italics7 by the writer

gods

Goctoclool

tothe

0 ined

be

for consecratiopslsoare2ods

towhomt m

whomhonor be

73john

74

y

tacyac

2711221178

68

7fleshfleshe if established on any other foundation than christ his gospel

and his power the priesthood it is simply not the kingdom of god

if any church or organization is founded on a man it is merely a ransmasmansras7977work those involved with it may have joy in their work for a season to f

but by and by that church or organization will inevitably go the way ofaqnq

all flesh the kingdom of god is established without mortal hands

and it is so maintained the great head of the church utilizes the ser79vices of mortals but he is able to do his own work every president of

the church has been quick to recognize the sovereignty of christ the

words of joseph fielding smith at his installation as the tenth president

of the church may be regarded as typicaltypic

I1

aleaie

desire to say that no man of himself can lead this church ibitis the church of the lord jesus christ he is at the head the churchbears his name has his priesthood administers his gospel preacheshis doctrine and does his work

he chooses men and calls them to be instruments in his hands toaccomplish his purposes and heliehielle guides and directs them in theirlabors but men are only instruments in the lords shandshands and thehonor and glory for all that his servants accomplish is and shouldbe ascribed unto him forever

if this were the work of man it would failfall but it is the workof the lord and he does not failfailefallfalifallefalie and we have the assurance thatif we keep the commandments and are valiant in the testimony ofjesus and are true to every trusttx theastousto lord will guide and directus and his church in the pathspatha of righteousness for the accomplish-ment of all his purposes

our faith is centered in the lord jesus christ and through him

7 7&c Is 19 it would appear that a major reason for the estab-lishment of gods church and kingdom on the earth is that man would nolonger be subject to merely human counsel

B of H illIII111ili nephi 276102762756

B77b of M III111illili nephineph 27 til511

daniel 2245245B79b of M II11 nephi 27s20

75

76

itisoy

kiegdomngdom 78

tod 1lo10

beenquick

heade

lordshands

75d&c lilge the

0

76me

me

me 27- 20

lishment

10

lord

20

subsuebubtainedbained him I1 come now to the closing moments of thissession when I1 have time for some sobered reflections somehow I1 havehad the feeling that during the expressions here whenever my name hasbeen mentioned they were talking of somebody other than myself andI1 really think thatthettheb is so because oneozieoheorieorle cannot go through the experiencethat I1 have gone through these last three days and be the same asbefore I1 am different than I1 was before friday morning I1 cannot goback to where I1 was

forgfort

godigodl

bnoeno

occbocc es

beretheret

69QA

in the fatherafatherfethermethermathera

nonetheless

80

none godthe doesless inspire men and call them to his holy work inaaiaal

all dispensations it is god himself says paulgpaulopauig who has set in his

church apostles and prophets who are second only to christ who is theft

chief cornerstonecornerstonescorners thesetonestoneo offices along with all lesser ones are pre-

sently essential in the divine economy the offices are essential to have

the full kingdom of god for repeating the woraswords of joseph smithsmithssmitht whe-

never men can find out the will of god and find an administrator legally0

authorized from god there is the kingdom of god M since these84offices are such an intrinsic part of gods kingdom on earth he has

carefully set up a systemsyster of checks and balances to regulate them letus now examine these as they relate to the office of the presiding prophet

the exalted naturenatuzg of the jggthffctffi the presiding

ggga gqgjgm who occupies it the

joseph fielding smith the reinsrains of0 responsibilityf and leader-ship M thejamovementthsjtogigmeTheJA LXXIIIUXIIIMOVement juneerat 1970 26

d&c 20 tiltii82 corinthians 1228

eaching83teachbeachingea pvching 274po

84in this connection it is apparent from the words of those whohold the office of presiding prophet that the office changes the mammannanmem

an example in point are the words of the latest sustained presidingprophetprophettprophets harold bebv leelaeslees as he spoke at the closing session of the confer-ence that had sustained

M harold B leelaeime A9 blessing for the saints M

the ensingensigg III111ili january 1931973 1331330

81

82 offices

j83

priesthood office orthe prebpres

aggahzophej contrasted to the fallible individual

0 0 1

80josephfielding260

8120111

1

ta gthinkthat

bo F

dac

gods

87d&cdac 10765107650

d&gdag88d&c 10766

d&c89d&cdac 10792907 john A widtsoewiftsoeWidt priesthoodsoe and church government of the church

of jesus christjjhrist ofjttgy ed salt lake city deseretbook co 1954y p 248 hereafter cited as pries

ensienelagngn

dag85d&c 1079192979186

929

churchischerchis

eae5

86

70

exalted priesthood office of the president of the church is all inclu-

sive these arearoameamo the words of the lordlordslordt

and again the duty of the president of the office of the highpriesthood is to preside over the whole church and to be like untomoses

behold here is wisdom yea to be a seer a revelator a trans-lator and a prophet having all the gifts of god which he bestowsupon the head of the church 0

nthere are some schismatic groups and other apostates who

claim that there are offices in the priesthood on earth that are higher

than that of the president of the church the office of president of

the church as established in this dispensation is composite it includes

the offices of president of the high priesthood presiding high priest88

89 90 91 92prophet seer and revelator apostle patriarch and lawgiver

also by virtue of the holy endowment the offices of priest and king are93

added president joseph fielding smith has written

there is a difference between the office of president of the churchand president of the high priesthood however these two offices can

d&g 107s91 92Q

some schismaticch groupsismatic usually denominated as fundament-alist believe in priesthood offices above that of the president of thechurch of jesujesus christ of latterdayiatterlatterdatter saintsdayaaydayn

d&c

and church govern

harold B lee A blessing for the saints 11 the ensign 111IIIilljanuary 1973 1331330loo

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91

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thood

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enew9bnsiffia II11 july 1972 8

087 tearihiags p 89

jamea 51

95d&cdac 904 and 10646610764660107641064d&c

96

66

1081821081 and82 32

joseph fielding smith eternaleterna keys and the right to presidethe

seperseparatedabed

94et

aengmeng

keichimelchi 71

occilOCCIA iesles the office of

presiding proldhet

edaedo coetcoot 1 it 312312a

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820870

Qteacheteachl

oftheodthe

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71

not be separated and must be held by the same person duly appointedand sustained by proper vote As president of the church the pre-siding officer presides verover all the membership of the church Aspresident of the high priesthood he presides over all the priesthoodof the church and hashag authoritythoritydhority to regulate it for he holds the keysof thatflatfiat priesthood9priesthood

although

949.49

the

au

priesthood was restored before there was the organization

of the church as an institution among menaen after the church was fully

organizedorganissedoraanizedorganis alldedsed the priesthood has been under the direction of the preslpresiQS95

dent of the church who is also president of the melchizedek priesthood

the lord hastas even made a provision that a president of the priesthood

may be called to answer for his actions before the common council of96

the church As presently organized then there can be no priesthood

on earth that exists separate from the church of jesus christ of latteriatterdatter0797day

fallibilfallibileFalfai

saints

oflibil

7

thea1 individual

mlessesis

who

joseph smith said M there was one good man and

98his name was jesus all others smorestoreshare in varying degrees mortal

frailties all the prophets are w0 0 subject to like passions as we

99areares people seem to take two extremes in regard to those who hold

these high and holy callings in christchrists church one extreme is that

04947 joseph fielding smith churchaisoa180histprhister mjgg2nd ed eni salt lake gityagitytcityscites deseret book co 197 I1

resides 0P p

1

t

an

edek

separatefrom

s98

and modern revelationX

97joseph 1

james5tl7e

97

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698

julys

gge

aa

maggand

rengmengneng

100looteachingsTeach ppap0iMet 89890

loi101iol ofB W mosiahtosiahmoslahdosiah 313 italics by the writer

george Q cannon millennial star LIIIlililill february 15 1891o189106586596586590658

george103george103

659

AAs smith JDJDO 2836736821367368213622136728367 368

isthatisthan

riddradd

72

uheythey ateare superhumansuper hunanhumanhumans this puts an impossible burden on the one who

holds the office again we have these words from joseph smithsmithssnith

I1 was this morning introduced to a man from the east 9 after hearingaymy narename he remarked that I1 was nothing but a man indicating bythis expression that he had supposed that a person to whom the lordshould see fit to reveal his will must be something more than aimnmanwan 100

the other extreme is that prophets are merely men with nothing

to distinguish them from other men the prophets though men are

endowed men empowered menwen yes and even holy men to whom all would

do well to give heed and the lord god has sent his holy prophets

amoneamongarone it is probable in the economy of god that we have

earthen vessels to carry the sacred treasures of the gospel so that

we might not put our trust in the arm of flesh but in the living god

perhaps it is his own design that faults and weaknesses should appear

in high places in order that his saints may learn to trust in him and

102not in any man or men if the shepherd were too fazfar ahead of the

flock how could he lead

god has placed in his church a prophet priest and presidentwho is just as good andaraarm as wise a man as we are capable of keepingin our society if he was any better than he is god would have totake him or we would have to improve with the rapidity of lightningto keep up with himhimphims joseph smith was a true prophet and thatwhich he has conferred upon this people is a timetrue priesthood

the prophets themselves are cognizant of these facts or they could not

assume the position for prophets are also saints and as such are meek

thdrare

TheC

ho

167menmononennononeno

ca sa r4dd

11102 farahead

ho

i rove ra idityedityIMP p

103

me

102 1891

3680

110liollo

I1

1898o18980105georgeqceorge

log106

106log

109logmatthew 16231623

d&ciioito 3719

brighamilllillii younayoung john taylor wilford woodruffewoodruffywoodruffWoodvood lorenzoruffy snow

sideneysilency

73

104and submissive numerous examples could be cited of many prophets

who were loathe to accept their calls because of their frailtiesfrail theretiesstiesO

is no place for ambition in regard to the prophetic callcallocalicalio george Q

cannon has written

men do not obtain place in this church because they seek forit if it were known that a man was ambitious to hold a certainoffice in the church that fact itself would lead to his defeatbecause his desire would not be granted unto him 5

enoch was but a lad and all the people despised him moses was slow

107of speech and is described as the meekest of men isaiah was a man

fqof unclean lips peter at times understood not the things of

109god joseph smith before he learned better feared men more than

god joseph fielding smith was bowed down with the weight of

ninetythreeninety yearsthree and sought not the call that came to him george Q

cannon a counselor in the first presidency of the church from 1831873 to

1901igol and who served with four of thethicthin presiding prophets of this

dispensation spoke with insight concerning the fallibilities of those

called to preside when he said

he supplements mans weakness mans shortsightedness and mansinability by his strength foreknowledge and almighty power thesemen whom he has chosen to be his apostles are weak fallible men

As president woodruff has told us the lord has chosen the

10 of M mosiah 319GeorgeQgeorge Q cannon deseret weeklyweekljwqsk12 LVII may 21 1898 708

P of G P moses 50151315531

exodus1072xodus hio410blo and numbers 123

isaiah108 6 5

citedof

0 t05

108

gr 0d

soughtnotpre sidencydencydeneysi

whoserved

almightypower

usg

104B ofm

65109matthew

105

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105

aq

gemWowlembeforewowbefore thesaints or before the world he has never left his servants at anytime god be thanked this day for this I1 he has never allowed themto be covered with shame and confusion through failurefaifeifel butlureslurea he hassustained therthem and he has borne them off victorious under all circ-umstances when they have served him and appealed to his holy spiritto guide them and he will do it fromthisfrom timethis forth until the lordhimself comes to reign on the earth

bhethe theindividualindividual who holds

the office of presidingpresjding rgoghetii there are at least six specific checks

and balances established in gods kingdom relating to the presiding

Propheprophet

Aae the source of the 11 the fifth article of faithfalthlaithmaithmalth of the

church of jebusjesusjesu christs of latteriatter tayday saints states

george Q cannon conference report april 1898 ppeppa 3455345345034 ao5o5

glogiory

thedatheenlle116ile

eitelt

willnotwillcotdenaremenare

owngoodownhood

hiathimt

churchofchurchon

74

weak things of the world that they might not glory in themsleves norin their own strengthstrengths and the man that does claim the glory takessteps to destroy his influence and to lose his power and gifts thelord will not bless menmannennan who seek to take the glory to themselvesthese nenmenngn areame fallible and subject to all the infirmities of humannaturenatures but god has chosen them and when they do the best they canseeking to himhir rorfor his spirit he inspires themithemtheml and where they comeshort he makes it up by his blessing that which would seem to thenatural eye to be a mistaken course or policy he overrules and co-ntrols for his glory that has been the course in thishisthighig church fromthe beginning the men that havekave instructed the people from josephhimself down through all the ranks of the priesthood have been falli-ble men their judgment has been imperfect their conclusions haveperhaps not always been as they should have been but if they haveacted according to the light theythoybhoy had and the spirit that god hasgiven them and they have sought the lord for his blessing and guid-ance then he takes charge afteraftwafta that and he brings to pass accordingto his own good will and pleasure and his power and wisdomisdomiscom are man-ifested in that which takes place so that we are perfectly safe ifit were not for this we would be appalled at the responsibilitytheresponsibility thatrests upon us any man who feels the weight of responsibility andthinks of the dreadful consequences that might attend a misstep couldnot endurendure it if there were not something behind him to sustain andbuoy him up president woodruff could not stand under the pressureof the responsibility upon himhin neither could any other man who maybe near him or connected with the apostleship and thethisthib priesthood

but there is this reflection all the timettimes god can be trustedgod will see to it that his servants are not put to shame that theydo not become a spectaclespec intabietable the midst of the people

jjmjlgljs

theirown claimthe

tohimfor

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1

and W

endureit

putto

fit2this

recific checkachecks and balances relative to

presidir&d2phete

112 18989

cumstances

theirown

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it is not within the scope of this study to pursue the order

aa&a

ap3p

75

we believe thatthet a man must be called of god by prophecy and bythe laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach thegospel and administer in the ordinances thereof J

no man can take such a great honor unto himself unless he is called of

god as was aaron aaron was called by god through the presiding prophet114of his dispensation moses it is so in the kingdom of god today

each new apostle in turn is chosen by the lord and revealed to the liv-ing prophet who ordains him this is an ultimate check and balance

ye have not chosen me but I1 have chosen you and ordained you

by the principlebrinOrinomin ofelrieciRle common jgonsentconsentocondento this has already been ex

117plainedplaided f but specifically in this context is the followingfollowingifollowingsfollow everyingi

officer of the priesthood or auxiliary organization though properly nomi-

nated holds his position in the church only with the consent of the

people 118

cj the principle of seniority in the quorum of the twelve

apostlesApost itleselesoiese is impossible in the present order of church government

for a novice to come to the position of the presiding prophet the

present order of succession in the church is that the presiding prophet119

be the ranking member of the council of twelve thus spencer W

113 of G P articles of faithmaithmeithfalth p 60

hebrews 54spencerspencerwspencera115 VSpenc kimballKimbalerWerv we thank thee 0 god for a prophet

the ensign 111IIIlii january 1973 34340

116john 153161516

117see chapter 3 this thesis

hiesthqod118 andpriesthood church govern

believethat godo

15

115

116

B

atedg

twe lveive

thusspencer

p

113po go po po goe600

9

governst

within

conbentosentobente

lp

Governeternsternes

josejoge

gestionwestion ofsuccessionSucces saltgioneionelon lake city deseret news press 1909

qaq0 nnonannon

ofaofq

godagodp

76

kimball stated in the october 1972 general conference of the church

there have been some eighty apostles so endowed since josephsmith though only eleven have occupied the place of president ofthe church death having intervened and since the death of his ser-vants is in the power and control of the lord he permits to come tothe first place only the one who is destined to take that leadershipdeath

i

and life become the controlling factors each9 new apostle inturn is chosen lyby the lord and revealed to the then living prophetwho ardaineordaineordains hirehimhimehirhimo

the matter of seniority is basic in the first quorums of thechurch all the apostles understand this perfectly and all welltrained members of the church are conversant with this perfectsuccession program 120

do excommunication of the pves14m tD jsxcowwii no member of the121

church is exempt from the justice and the laws of god in

the workings of church government provision is made for the excommunic-

ation of the president of the church

of succession in great depth much has already been written on thesubject see for exampleexamples durham reed C and steven H heathheaths succession jjlujg js01 salt lakelekelmkeimke citesqtyicitys bookcraftBook inccrafto 1970 smithjoseph fielding ogaogjg gjljj reorganizedsgfffi81110reorglnized urc an A s88019fpenrosecharles VW priesthoodqsmfypriesthood saltand lakelekepresideapiPreside cityoiy1oiyengiapingu george Q cannonand sons pub 1898 roberts brigham H successioninjthe presidencyof the churchechurchychurch salt lake citescitysicitys george Q cannon and sons pub 1900it should be noted however that before his death the prophet josephsmith conferred every key right privilege sealing powerpowert and priesth-ood he had upon the twelve apostlesapostleseapostle see wilford woodruff conferencereport april 1898 89 joseph subsequently stated where I1 amnot there is no first presidency over the twelvewelvegeive M HCHCO II11110liv 3373383373380307338337 338ocertainly

338christ had already set the precedentsprecedent where christ was not

no one presided over the twelve in the meridian dispensation seematthew 281620281628sl6 the20 total book of acts in the new testamentstestament is atestimony to this fact today this order is maintained in the churchand kingdom of god the high priesthood and the lesser priesthoodand all the priesthood there is is combined centered in composed ofand is circumscribed by the apostleshipostleships brigham young millenialmillennialMilstarsterswarstarikstarll

lenialXV april 6 1853 489 and since this procedure hashag been

revealed the presiding prophet has always been the senior apostle

spencer W kimball we thank thee 0 god for a Propheprophet N

the enslenensign illIII111liiili january 1973 3

AC 107102 84

statedin

forthe

in the churchor of the church and the

succession in the

pe ph

centeredinga ostieostleshipeships

69 1853s procedurehas

120

ens 340

121dac 10784o107840

statedin

Westion

se

20e

centereding

tl

123royroy VW doxey the Utte the doctrine andCovenantcovenants a IV salt lake citycityicitti deseret book co 1965 51519

124 smithjoseph essentialsfielding in church history 23rded rev enienlienljenla salt lake citticityicity deseret bookcobookeobookeeBook 1969196Co p 96

brigham roungyoungyounggloung fidJTD IXIXO 1421420

godegodo 1 the special court or councilcounci presided over bythe presiding bishopricbish hasoprie been called into existence severaltimes the prophet joseph smith was tried before this councilcouncile 0 0 e

oliver cowdery david whitmer and cederickfrederickFt Ggo williamsVl werelliams eachtried by this tribunaltribu 123inalonaio

Eeo the soveresoygrgbovereityqf godsqdtgodo life and death are in the hands of

godgodsgodo since the presiding prophets comeomecone to their position generally past

the alloted threescorethree andscore ten it is reasonable to assume that god

could easily remove any prophet by the process of death if he so chose

perhaps this is what wilford woodruff had in mind when he said if I1

were to attempt that leading the churchth astrayurch the lord would move me

124out of my place

coetcoot 19650

shallbeshallie

particaparticu vergessversestversess

the church is so organized that no member or officer from the pre-sident to the last member received is exempted fromfron justice andthe laws of god

aptiptcac6

eptionption

truetrues the inspired prophecies of the lord regarding the last days and

the conditions that would exist before his second coming include these

d&c 10782310782boy

77

and inasmuch as a president of the high priesthood shall trans-gress he shallshailshali be had in remembrance before the common council ofthe churchchurchy who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the highpriesthood

and their decision upon his head shall be an end of controver-sy concerning himhimohirhiro izz122

joseph fielding smith commented on these particular

brigham young said if I1 am not doing right

the lord will take me home1

pi true prophets and false prophetsenlightenment and

deceptiondecegtion there have always been false prophets to contend with the

counse lors

offiberticertfromjustice

existencebeforethis

W mer

of

rerovemove

11124

12ro ts prophets enlightenment

je

122

an

histoot a 460

125

3

lt

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befbeaore

78

words

for in those days there shallshailshali also arise false christs andfalse prophets and shall show great signs and wonders insomuchthat if possible they shall deceive the very elect who are theelect according to the covenantcovenants

also the lord said one could judge the true prophet from the false by

127their fruits or by their worksworkenorke As far as this relates to the

presiding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday

there need be no confusion or deceptiondeceptdeceit thelomloh lord has made it abundant-

ly clear that oneOTIC is to be appointedbeappointed to be the presiding prophetic head

of his church these are the words of the lord

and this ye shall know assuredly that there is none otherappointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations untilhe be taken if he abide in me

but verily verily I1 say unto you that none else shall beappointed unto this gift except it be through him for it it betaken from him he shall not havehavet power except to appointtoappoint anotherin his stead

and this shall be a law unto you that ye receive not the teach-ings of any that shall come before you as revelations or comman-dments

and this I1 lvegive unto you thatti youeatvat may not be deceived that youmay know they are not of me

for verily I1 say unto you that he that is ordained of me shallcome in at the gate and be ordainedor asined I1 have told you before toteach those revelations which you havehade received and shall receivethrough him whom I1 have appointed 11

if members of the church were to be cognizant of this one divine law

of church government they would go far in avoiding deception commen-

ting on this law joseph F smith saidsald in 18831883s

it is not the business of any individual to rise up as a revel-ator as a prophet as a seer as an inspired man to give revela-tion for the guidance of the churchychurch or to assume to dictate to thepresiding authorities of the church in any part of the world

19 IV matthew 24231271271vIV matthew s29

d&c 4337433 italics7 by the writer

accordinainglna

presidingprophetic

assuredlythat

ive9

ha14r

fe

126

729128dac

membermerbernerbership

lag129139

I1inln a priesthood quorum of twelve men holding theapostleship

each apostle so ordained under the hands of the president of thechurch who holds the keys of the kingdom of god in concert with allother ordained apostles has given to him the priesthood authoritynecessary to hold every position in the church even to a positionof presidency over the church if he were called by the presidingauthority and sustained by a vote of a constituent assembly of themembership of the church

the prophet joseph smith declared that where1where the president isnot there is no first presidency 1 immediately following the deathof a president the next ranking body the quorum of the twelveapostles becomes the presiding authority with the president of thetwelve automatically becoming the acting president of the churchuntil a president of the church is officially ordained and sustainedin his office

all members of the first presidency and the twelve are regularlysustained as prophets seers and revelatorsrevelatory 1 as you have done

joseph F smith D XXIV 188190188 190

ikshas

presipreslding

sbleablemn

79

and the moment that individuals look to any other source thatmoment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences ofsatan and render themselves liable to become servants of the devilthey lose sight of the true orderorden through which the blessings of thepriesthood are to be enjoyed they step outside of the pale of thekingdom of god and are on dangerous ground whenever you see aman rise up claiming to have received direct revelation from the lordto the church independent of the order and channel of the priesthoodyou may set him down as an impostor 1

the lord hasiasI madeas it clear that the presiding prophet will

always come in at the gate what is the gate and what are the works

of the man who is called as the presiding prophet the words of harold

B lee in the sblemnsolemn assembly that sustainedstainedlu joseph fielding smith as

the tenth president of the church are materialmaterials

to those who ask the questionquestions how is the president of the churchchosen or elected the correct and simple answer should be a quotationof the fifth article of faithfaithsfalth we believe that a man must be calledof god by prophecybyprophecy and by the laying on of hands by those who arein authority to preach the gospel and administeradministerinadministering in the ordinancesthereof

the beginning of the call of one to be president of the churchactually begins when he is called ordained and set apart to becomea member of the quorum of the twelve apostles such a call by pro-phecy or in other words by the inspiration of the lord to the oneholding the keys of presidency and the subsequent ordination andsetting apart by the laying on of hands by that same authorityplaces each apostle

or 15

s

1aj3j

repilarapilarl1

JD

adminis terintemin

bothejothecothe

80

today this means that any one of the apostles so chosen and or-dained could preside over the church if he were chosen by the body

which has been interpreted to mean the entire quorum of the twelveappointed and ordained to that office and upheld by the confidencefaith and prayer of the church t to quote from a revelation on thissubject on one condition and that being that he was the seniormember or the president of that body see dacd&c 1072210722.

occasionally the question is asked as to whether or not oneother than the senior member of the twelve could becomebecore presidentsome thought on this matter would suggest that any other than thesenior member could become president of the church only if the lordreveals to that president of the twelve that smeoneimeone otherther thanhimself could be selected ioulou

fundamentally noho person could be called to be the presiding prophet of

the church unless he were living by the commandments and ordinances of

the gospel of jesus christ the mere mechanics of the workings of

church government could never replace simple obedience to god on behalf

of the individual these mechanics however could never fully function

for the person who is unworthy of course there have been counselors

in the first presidency of the church and members of the council of the

twelve who have fallen away from the church and been excommunicated

however the apostasy of an individual does not negate the divinity of

his call the agency of an individual is left intact even though he

has been called by divine authority As has been stated before in this

work the lord has made provision for the excommunication of even the

presiding prophet this principle was referred to by the lord when he

said

and if thine eye which seeth for thee him that is appointedto watch over thee to show tb light become a transgressor andoffend thee pluck him out 1

the converted member of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatter

harold

day

B lee the day in which we live the improvementera LXXIII june 1970 28

IV mark as9s

andupheld

d&c10722

couldbecome

0

chur h

thee131

130harotidilddid IM ment280

131iv 946

ananyotheryother

readlreedl

aejasa

inqitq

presubjectaresubject

81

saints knows that only in the church are to be found the true prophets

all other claimants outside of the church cannot be prophets in the

full sense because only in the church is there the power of the priesth-

ood and the keys since as raulpaulelui stated it the spirit of the132prophets areanenne subject to the prophets all true prophets would lecogrecog

133nizenisse and be subject to the presiding prophet

agj of the church thatbhat the presiding lr2phet will never01

lead thebhe church astladjfche ch As an ultimate safeguard against deception isthe teaching of the church that the presiding prophet will never lead

the ohurch0hurchchurch astrayastiayabtastsstthe

bayozayo

authorities which the lord has placed in his church consti-tute for the people of the church a harbor a place of refuge ahitching post as it were no one in this church will ever go farastray who ties himself securely to the church authorities whom thelord has placed in his churchechurch the church will never go astraythe quorum of the twelve will never lead you into bypathsb3rpathslby itpathsraths neverhas and never will

there could be individuals who would falter there will neverbe a majority of the council of the twelve on the wrong side at anytime the lord has chosen them he has given them specific respo-nsibilities and those people who stand close to them will be safeand conversely whenever one begins to go his own way in oppositionto authority he is in grave danger I1 would not say that thoseleaders whom the lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliantbrillinor

antothe most highly trained but they are the chosenichosenp and when

chosen of the londlord they are his recognisedrecognized authority and the peoplewho stay close to them have safety 15

132 corinthians 143214320

133the schismatic groups that break off from the church would dowell to remember this principle none can reject the presiding prophetand prosperprospersprospera those who feel that they cannot sustain the presiding pro-phet may so indicate in the manner the lord has prescribeprescribed to do other-wise is to cubcutoutoukcuk themselves off from the tie that binds them to the livingchurch and kingdom of god and they willstill never prosper thus brighamyoung warned concerning those who weresreresiere leaving the church in his dayall that want to draw awayewayewey a party from the church after them let thenthemtherkhen

do it if they can but they will not prosper readings II11 12

spencer VW kimball conference report april 1941 p 104

0 othe

the deachinteachin

thepeoplepost

himselfsecurely

ando

rec sized&ized

1321

chur hdrLW

readi t niohlonii 22e134 19419

sibilities

do

834

earinenakerin n

I1iflf we will be thus obedient to seek counseland to accept counsel from the proper channels fortorwormom by doing thesethings the gates of hell shall notriot prevail against you yea and thelord god will disperse the powers of darkness from before youycu andcause the heavens to shake for your good and in his names glory I1

d&c 2146.2146to you latterdaylatter saintsday everywhereeverywheres that promise will be yours

if you will follow the leadership the lord has placed within thechurch giving heed to their counsel in patience and faith this

joseph fielding smith eternal keys and the right to presidethe

klisli

namenane Isax1x fore

82

misthis teachingbeaching was strongly articulated to the priesthood of the church

in the priesthoodpriestho session of the april 1972 general conference by the

tenth president of the church joseph fielding smith in the following

words s

now brethren I1 think there is one thing which we should haveexceedinglycleexceedingly clearelearcleeleeie inar our minds neither the president of the churchnor the first presidency nor the united voice of the first presi-dency and the twelve will ever lead the saints astray or send forthorthcounsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of thelord

an individual may fall by the wayside or have views or givecounsel which falls short of what the lord intends but the voiceof the glrstfirstgirst presidency and the united voice of those others whohold with them the keys of the kingdom shallshalisheell always guide the saintsand the world in those paths where the lord wants themth toI1 bem 5

the genesis of this teaching for this dispensation may be traced

all the way back to the first day of the organization of the church

april 6 1830 on that day the lord gave an important revelationrnvelationvelationrevelation relat-ing to the man who presides and how the church could escape the gates

of hell president harold B lee quotes and grivesgives commentary of the

revelationev inelation the following

so on the day the church was organized the lord said thisJ wherefore meaning the church and that was addressed not just to

the few on that day but to all who have been or who will be membersof this church thou shalt give heed unto all his words and comman-dments which he shallsl givep11 unto you as he receivethreceive them walking inall holiness before me 5

for his word meaning the president of the church ye shallreceive as if from mine own mouth in all patience andcand faith 1

now note the promise

ejrin II11 july 1972 88

f

firstpresidency35wantsth 1

r

churchandfew

againstyou

135jose hn9

th

Ejrin

Pries thood

rN

dac 2146

mls

tin

811

136log106

honehome ap1p13

again this from wilford woodruff

the lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as thepresident of this church to lead you astray it is not in theprogram it is not in the mind of god if I1 were to attempt thatthe lord would move me out of my place ijo

joseph F smith bore this witness

if any man in that position speaking of the one who holds thekeys of the high priesthood of the church should become unfaithfulgod would remove him out of his place I1 testify in the name ofisraelsisraelis god that he will not stiffersuffer the headlead1 of the church whomhe has chosen to stand at the head to transgress his laws and apo-statize the moment he should take a courscourse that would in time leadto it god would take him away why because to suffereuffer a wickedman to occupy that position would be to allow as it were the foun-tain to be corrupted which is something he will never permit 7

delbert L stapley during the administration of david 0 mckay added

these powerful words

I1 solemnly testify that every president of this church has beencalled of god and sustained by him and by the faithful church me-mbers who with uplifted hands before god angels and fellowdisciples agreed to accept and sustain their leader as prophet seerand revelatorrev weelatorelater so sustainstain our beloved president david 0 mckaytoday according to the spirit of truth within me I1 accept him inthis high position of prophetprophetyprophecyprop seerhety and revelator with all my heartand uphold him without question and without reservation I1 say tomy brothers and sisters that if everyone would keep his eyes on the

harold B lee the wayvaynay to eternal life

oifoaf

lithalth

axtixt

83

promise to you and yours is that the gates of hellheilheii will not prevailagainst you that the lord will cause the heavens to shake for yourgood and his names glory

brigham young said

I1 had the promise years ago that I1 never should apostatize andbring an evil upon this peoplepeoples god revealed that through josephlong before he died and if I1 am not doing right you may calculatethat the lord is going to take me home13

the ensignEnsi I1frnpyn nov-ember 1971 111211 121d

brigham137brigham137132

12

young JD IX 142

138es8entials p 496

hellwill

goingto

astreely not

itwere

s0 su

136

138essentials 496wf

139joseph139joseph F smith gospel doctrine llth11th ed salt lakeiakelekeaake cityicitycittideseret book co 1966 ppap 4459457 hereafter cited as gospel doctrine19669

lern

evel y

ihi141iblHarolharoldharoldbharolda B lee the harold B lee devotional

jadiidlid

disobedienceobedience

edeedw 0 0 0tn the improvement ezabraezedzeere februarybanaryFe 1970 LXXIII 8888o880 and

of joseph fielding smithssmithes death nathan E tanner siad t

oftheodthe

follonifolloxi he preslpresi to the most

stalwart followers of the prophets have always been the obedient

disciples for they alone are entitled to the influence of the holy ghost

which confirms that leadership of the presiding prophet it hashaahns been

the desire of the prophets from the beginning that those who follow themthenthee

delbert

kjpftrft

L140 stapley conferencecgnference report october 1959 pe 44

1

pap3esidingpresidingresidinges prophetiding of this dispensationd&c 13249 have succeeded in procurring thiathis great blessing see

B of M mosiah 26t2o926t20i helaman 10115ioli1011 and dacd&c 8814881 brigham4 young

testified that he should never apostatize 0 0 0tt jdqjtd IXlyv 1421429

joseph fieldingfieldin smith said of david 0 mckay that he was w0 0 0 perfect

e

anditsandeits residencypresidency111residency111

84

president of the church and follow hisbis exampleel heMple would never gowrongwronge I1 havehaye that faith and confidence and so testify to you withfull knowledge thatultimately I111 must answer to god for my teachingsand personal acts 10

finally on april 29 1973 the writer was present whenwhent in the sports

arena of the city of long beach president harold B ieeleeioeloe speaking to the

young adults of the church in southern california said that the lord141

would never allow me to lead you astray there is comfort and142assurance to hurchchurch members in these teachingteachings

dis and jfo A

unpublishedaddress long beachbeachtbeech california april 29299 197319231930

142it is the considered opinion of the author that the basis forthis teaching that the presiding prophet will never lead the churchastray is at least in part foundedrounded on the possibility that each of thepresiding prophets habbaahasbas made his calling and electionlection sureburesuzeesucee essentiallyreceiving onega calling and election is to have his exaltation sealedupon hiahimhishla while still in this lifelifeoilfedifeo see mormon doctrineDoctrin p 109from andiedancietandiet times see II11 peter liloislo1100 to the present see marion G

romneyronney conference report october 1965 PPppe 202320 the23 prophetsprop havehotsconstantly encouraged the saints to pursue this exalted goal kanymanyincluding joseph salthsmithsaith the first

nathan E tannertaner theo0

priesthood

0

and

his

its

pass-ing was as near translationtranslatio as possible

the ensign II11 january 197319739 100loo1000the presiding prophet holds all of the sealing keys

andfollowhavethat

knowledgethaj481timately

be

0

t dim prophe

p

be

eone s

go

oberreport oct

prociringthis greatblessingebo

gv

n go

5

so

dB

et

4odac

afo

ao

kinekingeineodomodon

emithsvitheuith

teachinglyteachingsyTeaching p 1561569

joseph F merrill conference report april 191igi1941g ppobpow 51

lurchlunchburch

secseeurltyurley trustingtrultriLtruu theirsting eternal destiny in the hands oftheir leaderleaders withnithhith a reckless confidence that in itself would thwartthe purposes of god in their salvation and weaken that influencethey could give to their leadersleadens did they know for themselves bythe revelations of jesus that they are led in the right way letevery man and woman know by the whispering of the spirit of godto themselves whether their leaders are waikingwalking in the path thewalwaikingin

relareiativ

85

have their own spiritbornspirit witnessbornbonn of their propheticgrophetic call

I1 am more afraid that this people havelave so much confidence in theirleaders that they will not inquire for themselves of god whetherthey are led by him I1 am fearful they settle down in a state ofblind selfseif security

lord dictates or not this iksinshns been my exhortation continually

those who disobey lose the spirit of the holy ghost they are

always the ones who chafe most under prophetic leadership joseph

smith the prophet saidtsaidl

I1T will give you one of the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom itis an eternal principle that nashas existed with god from all eternitythat man who rises up to condemn others finding fault with thechurch saying that they are out of the wayvraywraywaay while he himself isrighteous then know assuredly that that man is in the high road t9hjapostasy and if he does not repent will apostatize as god lives

joseph F merrill of the council of the twelvetwelvtwele bore his testimony to the

church in the april 1941 conference of the iurchchurch as follows

do the people of the church want a safe guide to what is wellfor them to do it is thissthis keep in harmony with the presidencyof this church accept and follow the teachings and advice of thepresident at every conference we raise our hands to sustain thepresident as prophet seer and revelator Is it consistent todo this and then go contrary to his advice Is anyone so simple asto believe he is serving the lord when he opposes the president OPafcourse the president is not infallible he makes no claims toinfallibility but when in his official capacity he teaches andadvises the members of the church relativerelativ to their duties let noman who wants to please the lord say aught against the counsels ofthe president 145

finally in the words of nathan EF tanner we are false prophets

s irlimalma w ltP ness

selfsecleadersvith

inf luence

walkingin 143

P

findingfaulthehimself

tt44

cl

fg5please

143brigham younggyoung JDjd9jda IXaxtixt 150

144teachimmTeachimbimm 0

145joseph145

sy

143brighamibb

gregortregort october 1968 p 98

matthew 113011130

148

0

vkjohn 1716

matthew149 1040

acts150acts 2i422 jr

creatchgreatchallengechallengeallange of the church today as it was in the church

anciently is to continue

86

146unto ourselves when we do not follow the prophet of godgodsgodo 11

conclusion

thus the covenant people of god are yokedjoked to gods prophets

but as the savior stated it long ago his yoke is easy and his burden

147is lightlights As the disciples of christ discipline themselves to follow

the prophets they follow the master for he has so stated As thou hast148

sent me into the world even so have I1 also sent thethemthen tt he

149that recelvethreeelvethrecel youyoureceivethveth receivethreceive neemesreeme

A great

150

nathan BE tannertannerttennertennert conference

john

s s s stedfastlysteadfastlystedfast inly the apostlesapostles1 doctrine

and fellowship1 50

146nathan146 R t 1968q

147matthew

th

1

147

I1

bhethe lord almighty has organizedorganisedorgani aeedsed government upon the earthand has committed the keys and priesthood of it to his prophet

ftcftq2seeasee

adojdo

5seeasee

chapter 5

PROPHETIC AUTHORITYAUMORITY AS IT REIATESRELATES

TO THE WORLD AS A WHOUEWHOLE

I1 have lived perhaps longer experience than almost anyone andI1 have never brooded over a situation which demanded more patiencecomposure courage and perseverance than that which unfoldsfolds itselfbefore us todaythetoday needthe of a prophet 1

THE PROPHETIC stewardship OVER ALL THE WORLD

2the first great presiding prophet was adamadamoadanadanoadane to him god gave

3dominion over all things the fullness of the prophetic stewardship

has always included this allcomprehendingcomprehendingallail authority over all things

that prophet holds jurisdiction over the earth the same as adamdid in the beginning 4

As has already been discussed the fullness of this authority was res-

tored to the presiding prophet of this dispensation and now reposes in

harold B lee the eleventh presiding prophet of this dispensation

the kingdom of codgod is a reality christ is the king and his kingdom

thomas S monson quoting sir winston churchill conferencerepjorb october 1964 p 18

2see chapter 2 of this thesis

genesis3genesisagenesis 1262812644jedediah

28

jedediah M grant journal of Discoursediscourses Ggo Ddo watt and othersreporters londontlondoniLon latterdaylatterdontdoni saintsday book depot 18548691854861854 869 II1186 ils 13139losios

hereafter cited as JD

see chapter 2 of this thesis878

un11

0 0 thelordeLordthefordth

frophetbolds jiisdictionthebeginning

thisdispensatiome

ofgod

so

28o

stlondona

morronmormon doctrine7m&tthew 610gio it is interesting to note that the phrase thy

kingdom come is deleteddelet from the version of the prayer given to thepeople in the book of mormon see 111IIIill nephi 1310 the probablereason is that the church of jesus christ was already organized amongthis peoplepeoples see helaman ll2l1121llyl

the pearl of great price salt lake citticityicaibycalby the church of jesuschrist of latterdaylatter saintsday 1952 articles of falthpaithfaith

88

is his churchechurch there is no need to pray thy kingdom come when the

church is fully organized on the earth because it is here in the pre-

sent dispensation the kingdom of godagod or the church exists within the

confines of worldly governments the doctrine of the church for the

present is that we believe in being subject to kings presidentsp

rulers magistrates in obeying honoringhonorihonorl andngg sustaining the law

the word of the lord is be subject to the powers that be untilhe reignsreign whose right it is to reign and subdues all enemies under his

Q

feet one day he will reign and then the fullness of the kingdom of

god will be set up politically as it now is ecclesiastically when

that event occurs christ will reign as king of kings and lord of lords

those who will be the lesser kings and lords include thasethdse who

have received a fullness of priesthood blessings and endowments in the12lords holy temples and who are fully faithful to their covenants

bruce R mcconkie mormonjoctrirjgb salt lake city bookcraftinc 1966 p 415 hereafter cited as mormondoctrine

7rmatthew

p 60 her-eafter cited of of G P followed by the reference withiniii

doctrine

thinewhine

andarularui covenants salt lakelekeimkelmke cityicitys the church of jesuschrist of latterdayietterlatteriatterletter saintsdaydby 1952 5822 hereafter cited as dac

much has already been written on the subject of the kingdom ofgod the council of 0 etcete it is not the authors purpose to pursuethis in any degree of thoroughnessthorough itnessa is sufficient for the presentstudy to be aware of the concepconcept

revelationewl&tion 17914

mocttgnl0111112 2 dac 656t76561 revelation 16 and 15 3

6 o7oa07

god1

t8

9 i

10

vq

6bruceebruce re mc onkieonkle kormonmormon doctrine

ed

lls2le8

4esus

pe p09doctrine

1952pto

godo

mormon doctrinesdoctrinetDoctrin peet 4241 169 1523k

te

50

ta

aq

pa

.5050

smithmithrithsalt lakeakelekeeke citygitysgetys deseret book co t971

salemsalea 7

coecoo 197teacmm

16re

melchiaedekmelchizedek the great high priest was

17king of salerno 1 abraham is pictured as a kingungeing in the book of18abraham finally bruce BR mcconkie has written i

the churchchure is a kingdomking thedombdomo lord jesus christ is the eternal king

orson hyde D VIIyllyli 53

john taylorfaylor D XI 53 italics by the writer

joseph fielding smith teachiewtgichinggTea ofsaltiakeSaltI

chiEW the prophetjoseph

meardmenrd

aqgq r9

89

the presiding prophet would be a presiding kinggking under christ in such

an order of things witness these words of orson hydehydesryde

what the world calls mormonismmormonism1 will rule every nation josephsmith and brigham young will be the headheads god has decreed it andhis own right hand will accomplish it upon the inspired wordsof these nenmenngn and eternal destiny of the generation in which theylived hangshanm 13

0

john taylor adderiaddersadde4addea

0

t

we honestly acknowledge that this the restored church isthat kingdom which the lord has commenced to establish upon theearth and that it will not only govern all people in a religiouscapacity but also in a political capacity 14

it has always been a problem for the world and eveneirenelfen for those

in the church to recognize the authoirty of presiding prophets especially

in secular matters that they have wielded such authority is however

a fact of history adam is referred to by joseph smith as 1 a

prince forever 0 f in the book of Abrahaabrahamabrahan adansadamsmg patriarchal priesth-

ood ministry is called he reign of adam noahs ministry is also

referred to as a reign

p 39 hereafter cited asteach

P of G P abraham 126

the book of mormon salt lekelakeake citescitys the church of jesus christof latterdaylatteriatter saintsdaydey 1952 almaalnaaina 1311j hereafter17 cited as B of M

followed lyby the reference within

P of G P abraham facsimilefaefaCrae 330SIALle

W son

uponthe

thatkingdom

15

the16

16 kelchlaMelchiaedekedekq

h

13ftson JD viigvii9 539

14 0 9 xi9xia15 prophet josephjmithJosephJosephj

po

bj

18pe go

1

sait

ra

aj

netmetnep

THETIM WORLDSWORIVIS NEEDMEED FOR THE PROPHETS

when ancient israel rejected the prophetic leadership of samuel

the lord said to semuelsamuelsenuel

2ogenesrogenesis 322203228032228

21 peter 29219

22 of G P abraham 32323it shouldshoul be noted that all these blessings are available to

the gentilesgentile by the gospel principle of adoption which is effectualthrough wortheworthy compliance with the sacred ordinances of baptism andconfirmation see mormon doctrinedoctrine9doctrines ppe9 232310e

24wr1 samuel 80

90

and the president of the church the mouthpiece of god on earthis the earthly king all things come to the church from the kingof the kingdom in heaven through the king of the kingdom on earth r

further examples could be given let it suffice to say that

all of the house of israel from jacob who was a prince withmith god and

20prevailed down to modern israel are of a royal lineage they are a21royalroyel priesthood the lord chose from among these great noble ones

22his rulers w the presiding prophets have leenbeen among the greatest of23these

they have not rejected thee but they24

have rejected me that I1 should reign over them in large measure

since the time of father adam the world has rejected the sovereignty

of god and his authorized representatives the result has beenbeenibeani

the world at the present time is all confused and it seemsto me sometimessometime that even we have made very little improvementindeed according to the light and intelligence god has communic-ated to us but what has the world done whether you look at itmorallyroralmoralrorai religiouslylyp philosophically or politically or in whatway you please you will find it is all a chaotic rassmassmaas confusion

19bruce R mcconkieMcConkle doctrinaldoctridoctori new testament commentary I1salt lakeleke city bookcraftebookcraftepBookcraft inc 1973733

OAgenesis

19

suffieeleeice

ro 1A2 the

n24

1

P go pegpogpes

al

d

ep

jo

eplgbrucemuce

19731.9731923 5380n it

231t

27amosanosaros 81113811130811 13013

comescometcoret

himahimq

neverableseverable

nnotannot

91

disorder weakness corruption and vice of every kind are aboundingand the whole world seemsseers to be confused and retrograding thehuman family have departed from the principles which god has laiddown for their guidance direction and supportsup theytheyhaveportiportl have forsakenhimrim the fountain of living waters and hewnhwn outou to themselves cis-terns broken cisterns that can hold no water 515

in the quest for the atom the world has forgotten the sermon on

the mount man haslashabhns walked on the surface of the moon butbirtbirb on the earth

he walks in constant fear of war poverty disease depletion of the

earths resources and the population explosion A knowledge explosion

boggles the mind but in the words of the scripture men are everp

learning and never ableabie to come to the knowledge of the truth

the technology of modern science has created affluence for some envy

for others and for still others disillusionment there are many who

have turned their backs on the establishment ll11 some are seeking for

spiritual solutions in many and varied ways the words of amos are

appropriate for many in these days

behold the days comecore saith the lord god that I1 will send afamine in the land not a famine of bread nor a thirst farfdr waterbut of hearing the word of the lord

and they shall wander from sea to sea and from the north evento the east they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the lordand shall not find it

in ctetttet day shall the fair virgins and young men faint forthirstthirsts 27

some in the world hope for prophetic leadership robert gordon

sproul an important educator has saidsaidisaldisaidtsaldhethe voice of the church today is the echo of our own voices

and the result of this experience already manifest is disillusion-ment the way out is the sound of a voice not our voice but avoice coming from somewhere not ourselves in the existence ofwhich we cannot disbelieve it is the task of the pastors to hear

john taylorstaylor JD I1 149

26 timothy 37amos

worldseems

26

and

lt

ca

25 it11

neverable

shshallwanderallwander

arvmramma

gifgic

godsgodo ll11 he said and he wept as hesaid it that some man could appearappft on the earth and authorita-tively say thus saith the lordlords 3oz

finally J reuben clark one of the prophetstatesmenprophetadroldro ofstatesmenphet this

dispensation has saidt

it is a trite thing to say the world is in a mess that weknow and out of a life of seventysevenseventy yearsseven I1 can say that so

pthomas S monson quoting robert gordon sproul conference

report october 1964 p 18

29hugh B brown eternal quest ed charles manley brownsalt lakeleke citycityioltycitti bookcraftbook inccraft 1956 p 1301300

ibid30ibidol ppo 1341340

59569y9569 po

viecoviewo

lestalestq edeedo

92

this voice cause us to hear it and tell us what it says if theycannot hear it or if they fail to tell us what it says we as lay-men are wholly lost without it we are no more capable of savingthe earth than we were capable of creatingcreatiqcreatic it in the first place 28

many have lost their faith in mansmangsmanegdanes ability to solve his immense

problems alone science is seldom thought of as the panacea it once was

elder hugh B brown of the council of the twelve reported a visit he had

with a member of the house of commons in england just before the second

world war during the visit elder brown stated that from the worlds

point of view perhaps the reason god doesnt speak through prophets

today is because M we have made such rapid studies in science

we are so well educated that we dont need god any more the learned

man replied mr brownbrowngbronn there never was a time in the history of the29world when the voice of god was needed as it is needed now after

elder brown bore his testimony to this man this member of the britishparliament concludeconcludediconcluded

mr brownbrowntbronnbrowng I1 wonder if your people appreciate the import of yourmessagemessages do you11 he said if what you have told me is true itis the greatest message that has come to this earth since theangels announced the birth of christ I1

earththan

00uncil

mrv

you

0t I wish it were true I1 hope it maynayney be true god knows it

ought to be true I1 would to godit

ashe

28 sore20rt ps 0

bo

di

app ft r

mant

I1 meanreanthe people I1 am not talking of administrationadministrations I1 am talking of uswe the people of the united states

some time ago a pamphlet came across my desk

amerignerieancan

kanthantUNAIDED CANNOT9 GOVERN OR SAVE HIMSELF

man is no more capable of saving himself than he is of resur-

recting himself john taylor declareddecladecia

but

redtreds

one thing I1 know and one thing you know you are not competentin and of yourselves to regulate anything pertaining to youreternal welfare I1 do not care how wise and intelligent you may bethere is not one among you independent of god orof the teachingsof his servants that I1 know and that you 2

3 J reuben clarkdarkmark jr conference report october 1948ppap 788278

john

82

taylor D 1I 373

heishels

93

far as I1 can see it has never beenbaen in the mess that it is in todaythere have never before in myjaylay life been the powers of evil in suchstrength satan seems to have taken us over very largely and we

are more or less his tools this is not the first time in our nation-al history that we have been in trouble and when I1 say we

on the out-side page it was stated we need a prophet I1 and as I1 read it thenand as I1 think of it now I1 thinkthirk how blind the world is we havehad a propheteprophefcprophetopropheprop anfcheto american prophet one who spoke our language onewho was imbued with christian ideals and that prophet gave us thegreat righteous principles of which we know and of which the worldpartly knows he gave them in ouroar own language over a hundred yearsago these may all be read we havebave been teaching them for a cen-tury the trouble with the world is they do not want a prophetteaching righteousness they want a prophet that will tell themthat what they are doing is right no matter how wrong it may be

now our prophet joseph smith and the prophets since his timeand there has always been a prophet in this church and prophetsand you sustain the brethren here conference after conference asprophets seers and revelators the prophet himself through thelord lyby revelation gave certain great principles that would savethe world if the world would but listen we do not lack a prophetwhat we lack is a listening ear by the people and a determinationto live as god has commanded that is all we need the way hasbeen made perfectly clearthe american prophet has spoken american prophets areaibealbe speakingthe great principles I1 have named and almost countless othershave been proclaimed for a hundred years noamerica does notneed a prophetprophetjprophete america needs a listening earetar 31

THE TESTIMONYSTIMONY OF THE PROPHECTSPROPHETS IS THAT MANkan

revelatorsthe

no america

tbs

godo 3fknow

31j

32 JD

so

prophetj

irean

01

af

01.01

mentnengreng

godagodq

godagodq

atxt

teacdeac

94

and brigham young succinctly testifierstestifiedstestiftedtestifiedthinking mennen inquiring minds ask whether it is really necessary

for the government of god to be on the earth at the present day I1answer most assuredly there never was a time when it was more need-ed than it is now why because men do not know how to govern them-selves without it33113311.33

and this from joseph smithsmitht

0 0 the world itself presents one great theater of misery woeand mistressaistressstressanstressAi of nations with perplexity all all speak with avoice of thunderthund thatergert man is not able to govern himselfhimsel to legis-late for himself to protect himself to promote his own good northe good of the worlde 9 attempts to promote universal peace and happinesshappinechappine in the humanfamily have proved abortiveabor everytivettivel effort has failed every plan anddesign has fallen to the grounds it needs the wisdom of god theintelligence of god and the power of god to accomplish this theworld has had a fair trial for six thousand yearsyearsiyearsin the lord will trythe seventh thousand himself J

A man can do nothing for himselfhim unlesssellbeil god directs him in the rightway and the priesthood is for that purpose

THE NEED OF THE WORLDWORID TO ACCEPT THE gospelsGOSPEL BECOME

knowiedgabieknowipmabie ABOUT THE PROPHETS AND ACCEPTTHEM AS TRUE MINISTERS OF CHRIST

in a revelation given to joseph smith in 1841 the lord directed

that a proclamation be made to the world about the restoration of the

gospel and the establishment of zionzio and that the time was coming for

the leaders of the world to become subject to god his laws and minisa

ters this proclamation was notriot made during the lifetimelife oftime joseph

smith but on april 6 1845 the twelve apostles sent a proclamation

brigham young JD X 320

34teachings p 250 and 252

Teachingteachingst p 064364ogo

d&c 1242111242211124212422 11

itishyW

worlditself

f05ix

d ctsacts

in

36

33brigham

35teachinat pe

36

jos-leph

St

ft

happine ss

33

dac

namebnamep

95

37to all the kings of the world a some of what was said in

this proclamation is most relevant to this study note should be

particularly taken ofpf the followingfollowings

0 0 thethegreatgreat and eternal high priesthood after the order of hisson even the apostleship has been restoredresto ororgredireda returned to theearth

this high priesthood or apostleship holds the keys of the king-dom of god and power to bind on earth that which shall be bound inheaven and to loose on earth that which shall be loosed in heavenand in fine to do and to administer in all things pertaining tothe ordinancesordinance organizationorganisationp government and direction of the king-dom of god

therefore we send untomybo you with authority from on high andcommand you all to repent and humble yourselves as little childrenbefore the majesty of the holy one and corncomecorrconncoreeore unto jesus with abroken heart and a contrite spirit and be baptized in his namefor the remission of sins that is be buried in the water in thelikeness of his burial and rise again to newness of life in thelikeness of his resurrectionresurrectiont and you shall receive the gift ofthe holy spirit through the laying on of the hanckshandhana of the apostlesand elderseiders of this great and last dispensation ofofmorcymercy to man

this spirit shall bear witness to you of the truth of ourtestimony and shall enlighten your minds

for be it known unto them that we now hold thebhe keys of thepriesthood and kingdom

and now 0 y kings rulers and people of the gentiles a hearye the word of the lordlordi 1 for this commandment is for youyoutyoup you arenot only required to repent and obey the gospel in its fulnesfulnessfalnessbulnesfulrulruiand

aqsqnessneesthus become members or citizens of the kingdom of god but you

are also hereby commanded in the name of jesus christ to put yoursilver and your gold your shipsshipcshipco and steamsteamsvesselsvesseis your railroadtrains and your horses chariotschariotcharlot camels mules and litters intoactive use for the fulfilmentfulfillment of these purposespurpo forseso be it knownunto you that the only salvation which remains for the gentilesis for them to be identified in the same covenant and to worshipat the same altar with israel in short they must come to the samestandard for there shall be onelordeLordonelardon and his name one and heshall be king over all the earth J

the world never paid attention to this proclamation but one

day this document will be studied in a different light the gentiles

37jaresjames R clark ed messages of the first presidency i I1salt lake cotyscityscityi bookcraft incinceinca 1965195 252253252 this253 proclamation

was probably in fulfilmentfulfillment of the earlier revelation to joseph smithsaithsalth

ibid38ibid ppap9 253255253 255

noteshould

so eventhe

godo

thingspertaining

ist

he

ye

ofgod

one loidllordlbeking 38

37james mesa s

Note

st

obobeytheeythe

st

kesa

resurrections

koonookoe

I1

hiathimt

96

face the challenge of accepting the gospel and becoming one with the39people of the covenant

much of the gentile civilization is built on a judeochristianjudeojude

base

o

and

christ

yet

ia

they

n

do not know christ nor have they listened to the40

voices of the prophets recorded in their scripture the prophets

today aware that the world has little or no knowledge of the true

nature of prophets have asked and pled with the world to pay thehth

investigatorst

priceprice91 and find out parleybarley P piattpratt articulated the

worldworlds dilemmadilemmas

who ever heard of a nations rising up and making its own minis-try of angels its own Prophetprophets apostles and priesthood to speakthe word of god and to inquire of him the lord would turn roundand say I1 have not chosen this man you have chosen him and or-dained hinhimhime 1 did bhethe people elect and appoint moses to receive allhis powers to hold communion with the burning bush and divide thewaters of the redbed sea did they elect joshua to that faith by whichhe lived to lead israel into canaan and divide jordan by the wordof god did they instruct him to lengthen out the day while israelconquered their enemies mo god almighty chose moses and ordainedhirhim and moadsmoaesmoseshosesnoses laid his hands upon joshua and ordained him andtherforethetherforelhe two were full of the spirit of god to fill a similarcalling we42

much of the world is frustrated because all they have known is apostate

religion all they have heard is false prophets to a modern genera-

tion often disillusioned with organizedorgani religionreliereedsed aiongionslons modern prophet

challenged s

you may say youve been to church that youve tried religion andnot been satisfied that is little wonder it isnt in them allyou know only a flavoring of it the substance of it the fulnessfalness

B of M 111IIIill nephinepha 1613ilaacts 13 s27

bruce R mcconkiemcconkle corcnobjbegorjconferetnee october 1965 P 1001000loolooe

parleybarley42 P pratt JD I1iffijolff 1771770127

41

worldis

39b m9

13t2741 rp203 p 19659 pe

christian

sg

ma

dag46d&cdac 61130

josephr F smithsaithsalthsmiths conferencereportconference octobertobertocreport 19131913v Ppe 2

48brigham youngyounggtoung JDJDO XIIxii9xiii 1111119iliiiililo

BLESSINGSBIESSINGS FOR THE VORLDWORLD IN ACCEPTINGPROPHETIC AUTHORITY

happiness is whatwhak the majority of people in the world want

44josephJosep hSmithsmith said that happiness is the whole object of nansnansmans existence

however to find true and complete happiness one must pursue the path

that leads to itmankind in all ages search for happinesshappihappl theynessinesst desire social anddomestic peaces and when they think of the vast futurefuturfatur they desireto participate in the blessings that are spoken of as pertaining tothat state of existence but they know not how to obtain themexcept a servant of god comes along and points out the way of lifewe have the way open before us and the gift of eternal life whichis the greatest gift of god

aeeame

toitecoite

pasqwasq

iraqzraq LXXIILUII decemberDecem 19691969tbersberv 58

S smsastsM Ptestsastgest t

brigham youngyounggtoungyoungs gooJTO IX 163

d&g

9743

of it can be found in only one place

45

true and complete happinesshadhav isDiness a product of slavationslavacionsla thevation lord46says there is no gift greater than salvation joseph F smith said

in the october conference of the church held in 1913 that there is

nothing under the heavenheavens of so much importance to me or to the children47of men as the great plan of life and salvation M f salvation is the full

existence of man of the angels and the gods it is eternal life the48life which was which is and which is to come of course the

important questionqu isestionestton how does one obtain salvation the answer is

4 boyd K rackerspackers the other side of the ship the improvementE

josephsmith

an45

andcomplete

fe

vj4salvasaivationkionklon

ist

43boyd ke

004

tteacjanasq 255

45

0 04decembers

rijmijriiministersiistersii Msters

blessed are they who shall believe on me and again moreblessed are they who shall believe on your words when ye shalltestify that ye hayehaveheyeleye seen me and that I1 am

yeai blessed are they who shall believe on your words and come

into the depth of humility and be baptized in my name for theyhallshallhmilshmil be visited with fire and the holy ghost and shall receive

a remission of their sins

hloLLOblorather7the

I1

desdev

listersaisters

artprt octobeoctober 19711921 P 162

98

through christ or his authorized

joseph smith elucidatedelucidate

salvation carmotcannot come without revelation it is in vain for any-one to minister without it no man is a minister of jesus christwithout being a prophet no man can be a minister of jesus christexcept he has the testimony of jesujesusjesusisl and this is the spirit ofprophecy whenever salvation has been administered it has beenby testimony5testimony

for

518

those who rely for salvation on the words of dead prophets

alone there is no salvation between the two lids of the bible without

a legal administrator and ordained his apostlesapostleso 9 of all men then

he is most blessedblesbies whosedo comes bearing the keyskerskeds of salvation for allthe human farllyfamily such is the mission of all the prophets the pre-

siding prophet under christ now administers the gospel to all the

inhabitants of the earth the happiness the peace the progress

the prosperity the eternal salvation and exaltation of all depends on

52following

THETHO

the

CURSING

lord

THAT

through

FOLLOWS

his

REJECTION

prophetsProp

OF

liets

PROPHRTICPROPHETIC AUTHORITY

the inspired version of the holy scriptures independencemissourimisHismls thesouris reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints1964 matthemmatthewnatthew 5345045053 hereafter4 cited as IV

teachings p 160160igo

ibidibiibl p 3193190olg552gordon B hinckley conference reerepbee protro 1971t peregojrt

yeat

firnd

wh everewertestimony18

50teach

ds

Ththereisereistheres n0

Apost lesoieso 51

seripturesindependence

fiand

octoba

5.151

dagdac

llalia

whenyewhence come into an house 9 salute itand if the house be worthy let your peace come upon itt but

if it be not worthy let your peace return to youand whosoever shall not receive youyouk nor hear your words when

ye depart out of that house or city shake off the dust of your feetverily I1 say unto youyougyous it hallsballheiidball be more tolerable for the lanian

of 3sodom and gomorrhaGomor inrha the day of judgment than for that city

notworthynorworthy

isthatisthan

99

anciently christ said of those who rejected his servants

and into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter inquire who init is worthy and there abide till ye go thence

and when ye

in his own appendix to the doctrine and covenantssection 133theto60 TO

lord warned

behold and lo10 there are none to deliver you for ye obeyed notmy voice when I1 called to you out of the heavensheavensjheaven yesj believed not myservants and when they were sent unto you ye received them not

wherefore they sealed up the testimony and bound up the lawand ye were delivered over unto darkness

these shall go away into outer darkness where there is weepingand wailing and brashinggnashingashinggr of teeth 54behold the lord your god hath spoken it aaenamengaengwena 5

this dispensation is in large measemeasureneasurenease a time of warning to all the

world 3 it was because of the calamity coming upon the world that the

lord called his servant joseph smith the calamity is that in thesemryfry

last days satan will rule over his own dominion this worldorldorid 57

and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the lord

neither the voice of his servants neither give heed to the words of the58

prophets and apostles shall be cutout off from among the people allneed to give heed to these words

matthew 1011151011

wd&cd&g

15

133717413314133113371

d&cdac55d&c

4

14d&cdac56d&c iii111lii1r17

fl&cfloc57d&c 105361353610513558bacbao

36

1141 014

covenants Section 133 athetthethe

55

56

w

thepeople

53matthew 10 0 111511CA

0

53Matthew

74

dag

100tooloo

I1 s

phetspeets have again been called to reveal anew with power and conviccondic vtion the truths about christ and salvation J

and so as legal administrators authorized so to speak we

invite all men everywhere to come unto christ and be perfected inhimhin to deny themselves of all ungodliness to accept him as the sonof godgoa and to gain for themselves peace in this lifeilfe and eternalsalvation in the life to come

d&c 124t8

B of M I1 nephi 1136

d&c 15615 6

godagodg

SA and that I1 may visit them in the day of visitation when I1 shallunveil the face of my covering to appoint the portion of the oppres-sor among hypocrites where there is gnashing of teeth if theyreject my servants and my testimony which I1 have revealed unto thenthemothemthennthern0

59

the prophet nephi concludesconcludesiconclude M thus shilshlshiishi be the destruction of allnations kindreds tongueston andguessguest people that shall fight against the

twelve apostles of the lambiamblanblemb

conclusionCONCI

gods

USION

especial ministers the prophetsProp relatehetes to the world as

a whole as especial messengers of salvation they proclaim and admi-

nister the gospel of jesus christ they have been going forth since the

restoration of the kingdom of god in this dispensation none can stayifttv

them for they are on the lord errand

the world needs prophets today as much as it ever did prophets jwho are the lord agents who stand as legal administrators withpower like peterspeterbeterbeters s to bind on earth and have their acts sealedeternally in the heavens prophets who speak for god who revealhis mind and his will to the people prophets who reveal and inter-pret the truth about christ our lord and his gospel

and thinks be to god for through his grace and goodness pro

bruce BR ConkiemcconkiemcconkleconkleMe gonfemcejteecbconfeiib october 1964 p 38

t 4

ister

61

didprophetslords

a tsinthe

tospeak

62

dac59d&c 124 t 8

60 11 t 36

61

62 nce raportr2port

si

dac

hims

4.4p pe

tobringbobring

chapter 6

conclusion

this study has attempted to answer ten specific questions about

prophets and prophetic authority as viewed by the official doctrines of

the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday very briefly these are

the answers that have been discovered through the course of this thesis

majmtj prophetpr9phetfiietel question 11

A prophet in the general sense is any person worthy of the

testimony of jesus A person who has received revelation through the

holy ghost is a prophet allaliail those endowed with the gift of the holy

ghost as covenant members of the church of jesus christ in any dispensa-

tion have the right to be prophets

in a more specific sense those individuals with the above

qualifications and who are added upon with sufficient priesthood and

keys are presiding prophets over the lesser prophets all true prophets

are subject to the presiding prophets because the spirit of the prophets

is subject to the prophets

prophets in varying degreesde aregreegsgreefs on the lords errand and do the

lords work which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life

of all of gods children in doing hibhis work the prophets utilize gods

power to any degree and in any dimension of the legion of lifes activi-

ties the lord directs no9 one butbirtbirb the lord may check them

since the days of abraham all presiding prophets have been and

101

what is a

h

e

chue

lard

pertpartbert gfof j3od s prmmmjojgramhiljjiljthrqy&taissm03the

god

anesages

deals

lqestionlqwith

2estion

prophets because this is his methodology he does

nothingnoth heinaoingo says until he reveals it to them before the earth was

created the presiding prophets at least were fore ordained set apart

and annointed to be gods rulers because they were the great and noble

ones in the first place they were called because of their faith and

good works in the preearthpre lifeearth since god holds sacred the agency of

his children he may bless and empower only those who will choose to obey

and honor him

what jfaghetiismym8mymaMyMmyme

prophetic

jjlsffis8

authority andto what extent does it relate tothe church menmem r to the IMworldvoriasejljjismlzs

in its full sense as discussed in this study full prophetic

authority is given only to those who have a fullness of

whywhvwev havehaye rmtdmaetsint2emintegral

beenartjrt such an

aqulquestion a2

102

must be of his lineage either by blood or by adoption

g

e

priesthood and

keys of the priesthood which constitutes the directing power of the

priesthood since the days of christ at least this fullness has been

contained in the full apostolic office at present the fullness of the

prophetic authority is held by only the presiding apostle of the church

of jesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday As delineated in this work the

individual denominated the prophet of the church is alsoaiso aaSeerseer revela-

tor church president president of the high priesthood patriarch

priestspriest king and gods viceregentviceregentu thus by covenant the church member

is bound to uphold with his hands his heart and his life the lordsannointedannointedt that he might be more fully blessedblesselblesset I1 there can be no arbi-

trary restrictions placed on gods presiding prophets except those

gods

as a wholewhoie

senset

alsoaseer

viceregent

dl

amtpremm

aa

lejblE JJtheretheme hashag been no need for 0 hetsbetssince christ question 41

103

imposed by god himself in all dimensions of the legions of lifesactivities they are on the lords errand and must thus be honored

the prophetic authority and stewardship for the world is absolute

under christ the peoples of the world though in large measure unaware

of the stewardship of the prophets are under their authority for the

present it is not expedient in gods economyeconom foryp the presiding prophet

to exercise full authority both politically and secularly but the power

is theretheme salvation for all is ministered by christ through his prophets

wa christchrigt thelejj

annointed with

the oil of gladness above his fellows the lesser apostles the lesser

high priests and the lesser prophets the maitherraitherfathermather has given christ a

name above every other name he isAs the way the truth and the lifeilfeno man comes unto the father except through him in christ dwells the

stewardship

prresidingesiding

was consummation ofthe JW takintgkin the sense that

Is christ himself a prophet ifso homhow does he relatebelate to theotherjsjtjetat6

christ

question

is the great prophet he so denominated himself he is

the ultimate minister of his matherratherflather he is the greatest high priest pre-

siding under the father over all he is the christus1christus1

lford Is

alejj

ruttefuturefutie ministryministryin in the great millenialmillennialmil fulnessfalnesslenial of time are the pivotal

happenings of the prophetic timetabletimetire howevertabletabie it was christ himself

who set the apostles and prophets in his church in the meridian dispen-

sation and in his church today the ministry of prophetsofprophets is an essential

role

iaijsxjlssfijigwjfte jl

8338.33 sslefie8sliijslchrist VMSwas is and always will be the consummate message of

the prophets his past ministry 9 during the meridian of time and his

salvationsalutlpn mereljjmlaijmlaiwithout

JMthe ministry of an authorized servant of prophet there

is no fullness of salvation the gospel mustroustmoustrustruet be proclaimed by a living

prophetic minister where there is no prophetic ministry there is no

kingdom of god on earth in so far as the individual must by proper use

of agency choose to serve the lord his salvation is an individual affairhe is dependent though on prophetic ministers to receive the word and

power or ordinances of the gospel which are essential to his salvation

couldthe

circumstancesfftyggmy088

sioteslote

homhow does the presilin& pru et ofthe church of jesus christ oflatterdaylatter saintsday relatebelate to otherprophets etkeltke

thereistheres

oouldbouldheticbetic authoriauthorabajbgject pro

question 8

104

fullness of the godhead bodily

fiojslejle jsesJSljiyj esj6813 jjffjlsjs

latterdasaijits jelateJe tomothertojothertoctojlateipll01

the lord has deemed it expedient in this dispensation that his

church and kingdom be presided over by one who is fully empowered with

all the gifts of god that one is the presiding prophet of the church

of jesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday all other prophets if they are

indeed true prophetsodhetst recognize and are subject to the presiding prophet

of their particular time

Is a llngggpfs1010jestsjhsts Is

tqqliy propresidentptaidgnt of thehjuch

h how doegjhujnfallibilifallibilitfallibilityfallibile A

jlyj 8.8 whatif any jbouldhedividfree to rjgcjjpbhetia

esli

the presiding prophet will never lead the church astray before

so doing he would be moved out of his place the lord habhasbasbbs required

stion

pr

fullness of salvation obtain-able without the mipigt5y of pro-

pts

godon

could the presipresl d2phet or thethe church lead the

church astrayasim does hunanhumanFallibili affect propheticpr2pheticauthorityjlyo under

merely ankhindividual affair

ehe individual feel

ases

belate

laija

fiaeieeee

retebete

hipshipo they remain

true and faithful in the apostolic office until they become the senior

living apostle on earth and are set apart ordained and sustained as the

presiding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterdayiatterlatterietterletter saintsday

fundamentally too true prophets exemplify through their walk talk

and conversation all the christian virtues and are obedient to every

law and covenantcove

how

nantanenta

apesdpes obedience to propheticauthorialauthwtyauthorillAuth relateorilL to the

105

that all accept the llibilitiesfallibilities of his prophets that they might not

place their trust in the arm of fleshfleshyfleshe all things work together for

good in the ministry of true prophets the lord honors his servants and

upholds them in spite of their weaknesses the disciple should be an

enlightened allowerfollowerllower of prophetic authority it is his responsibility

to know when authorized prophets are acting as prophets and when they

are not whenever an individual rejects authorized prophetic authority

he does so at the peril of his own salvation

s3188008on jywhat fi8basistrue

does one 4pj&etsjirgmsISBS

the lord said that one tells true prophets from false ones by

their fruits A chief criteria is the witness of the spirit to the spiritof the individual lacking6 this especially in regards to the prophetic

authority only those who follow the proper order of succession as estab-

lished in the church and kingdom of god today are entitled to the honor

respect and support due to a prophet presiding prophets come in at the

ghategsategate which has been interpreted to mean they are called by revelation

ordained and sustained to the fulnessfalness of the apostleshipApostles

10

fa

fo

prophetle

prqpheitsfrom falsefelsefeise onesestion 9

A neI1df

the individualindavldw ofquestion 10

vilWilviilingoobediencebedlbedi toence prophetic authority leads to more and more

agency and finally full seigencsei thegenegencdene opposite course leads to

s lavery

freeset a rncvo

slavesiaverysryo

106

agency is a gifgift of god to his children and as suchsuph is sacred to

god and his servants the whole planpianpiariplarl of salvation pivots around this

vital principle the war in heaven mswasnas fought to preserve it the true

prophets on earth champion it the agency of the individual is invio-

late willinghwillingwillingo

t sac red

0

freeaslaveryo

ced

SESEIECTEDALVECTED bibliography

107

mormonhormonmorron doctrinepocteinedocPoc 2dadteine ed rev salt lake citycityxciby bookcraftBookeinc

rafto1966

massakassamessa

odaodeeda be he robertsBo 7bentsberts vols 2dad ed rev salt lake citygityigittideseret book co 195919601959

108

1960

SELECTEDSEWIECTED bibliography

BOOKS

t berrett william E and alma P burton comp readings in IDSlidsioslos

1991949

maedormlldt&cdonald duncan B the hebrew lifearutemrylitear genius princetonPrince njiNJajitongtontprinceton

zuniversity press 1935

corpecompo

artofartoy governip&

kewnew testament commemccMcGonkleonkie bruce R doctrinal wnc 3 vols saltlake citygityigitti bookcrafthookBook inccrafto 1973

f

churchhistory 3 volsvolevolb salte lakedake citycityscites deserets book co 1958

brown hugh B eternaleterjraljest ed charlesciarlesarleschariesclarlesclariesariesCI manley brown salt lakeleke citybookcraftBooke incincainc0rafto 1956

clark harold glen the artofgoyernlns zion provot BYU extensionpublicationspublication 196

clark james R compecompe messages of the first presidency 5 volssalt lake citycityicitti bookcraft inceihincpInCeinca

cowley

1965iH

mathias BR the life gfa salt lakeleke y1cityyabookcraftBooke inclneinengencereftraftzeft 1961964

cruden alexanderalexanderealexanders unabridgedgoncoxdanceunaune ofand the apopmhaepM

edhaehaahea

concordance t andund new testamentsMJM ajb00111 old tappantibppan9 NJ fleming H revellevellreyelleyell goCO 197119710

doxey roy V the iatterdaylatterIatterlettersatterday iphgbsft2phetsday and t covenantsGove4

nantsvols salt lake citescitys deseret book goco 1965195

durham G homer ed gospel standardsestandacdsstandardsStandastandestende saltrdse lake citycityt deseret newspress 1941

lundwall nels comp demolestemjleatemoles of th ed salt lakecitygityciby bookcraft inc

new international dictionary0 jspringfieldt G & C merriam companycoapComp publishersPublishanyo 196319 3

smith joseph history of the churchqf

be pe compoe readireadl shi 6

be quest

re presiden

of wilford woodruff

the oldoidNJs he

we the doctrine and

the most K 0 7thath edeeda

be

re4

9 0

merriamkerrian webster AAP webstersspringfield

thirdi

N

go

histo

0

church of jesusjq8118u christ of jitterdaylatterjitterletterlatterletterietter

saintsday

ed B H

ew DI

61ce

Lundwalldualldwail

McConklevkievkleg

erso

corp

mcconkle

ahhee

anc

I1 I1

copcoup deachinteachingsteachin of the japhetjphet jo smith1968719680

selsei

wisLIS

deseretreseret new

109

smith joseph F gospel

19

doctrines of salvation edeel bruce R mcconkie 3 volssalt lake oitesoityscityscites bookcraftBooke incyincraft 1954

salt lakecity dese3etdeseret book co

taylor john the gpglj11gonelawom salt3&ltsait lake citesgtycitys deseret book co194

journal ofescoursejscourseJscourse 26 volsboislondon latterday saint book depotsdepoto 1854185185486

vidtsoewidtsoeVidtWidt johnsoe A compcoap priesthoollftriesthood and church governmentogpyenmientgovernments 2dad edrev salt lake citticityicityt deseret book co 1954

vilson benjainbenjaminbenjaain trans the emphaticegaphatirmphatic thedhadla newof testament e

brooklyn new york international bible students association watchtower bible and tract society iputaishersfublishersq 194201942

woodruff wilford the discourses of wilford woodruffwoodruffiwoodruffeWoodvood edruffi G homerduchamdurham salt lake citescityscity bookcraft incoginetines 1969

newspapers AND periodicalsPERIOD

conferenceConf

ICAM

reeorepoauitamiterece ofe jesusrt christof ofthe latterdaylatterchurch saintsdaysal lake cityolty 188019731880 1973

peseretneys church newsneys salt lakeleke citygcity 1973

deseret weekly salt lakeleke oltycitycityv 189818980

the ensign salt lakeiske citycityv 197119731971197301971 1973

the improvement erabraezaezewra salt lake city 189719701897 1970

hillenial star london england 189118910

utah genealogical and historical erinemarineezinekarinemaainekaiMaikaf salt lake cibycity 1936

times and seasons nauvooMau illinoisillinoiseillinoisqvoo 1839184618391839111846W

doctrine lithlith ededeedo salt lakelmkeimke city deseretbook co 1966

JL smithsmithysmithpsnith joseph fielding church historyhistgryst2astaa andjteclern revelation 2 vols2ndand ed eni salt lake cityicitys deseret book co

rJP hi and modern1947

irv0 essentials in church history 23rd ed rev enienlienis salt lakelmkeimkelekecity deseret book co 1969

histcog

pro t joseph

19440

0 vattwatt Ggo Ddo and others reporters discourses

ao

slott

go

ham

latter day

Hillenial

i

86

Governmentementocomp

nauvoo

har

nau

110

unpublished WORK

lee harold B the harold B lee devotional unpublished address longbeachbeachtbeech california 197319751923

SCRIPTUMSSCRIPTuresUHESubes

the book of mormon translated by joseph smith salt lakeleke city thechurch of jesus christ of latter ay saints 1952

the doctrine and covenants salt lake citygitysgetys the church of jesus christof latterdaylatter saintsday published bylayloy george Q cannon and sons co189118910

the doctrine and covenants salt lake gityagitytcityt the church of jesus christof latter day saints 1952

the holy biblebibie king james version 4 salt lake cityscityi the church ofjesus christ of latterdaylatteriatterletterletten saintsday 1950

the holy scriptures inspired version 9 independence missourimissouriiMissourmissouria thereorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints 1964

the pearl of great price salt lake cityicitys the church of jesus christof latterdaylatter saintsday 195201952

jesuschristii

day

exactexamtning

oftheodthe

s6nsan

PROPHETIC AUTHORITYAUr INHORITY THE TEACHINGSIUCHINGS

OF MODERNMOIDERN PROPHETS

clifford glarygary bennett

department of church history and doctrine

MANA degree august 1973

ABSTRACT

the purpose of this study wasWLSnas to identify the extent of propheticauthority as it is understood and taught by those denominated prophetsin the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatterlatterletterietterletter saintsday the purpose wasaccomplished by examining four specific areas 1 1 what are prophets andwhat was their authority in the past as articulated in the acceptedscriptures of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints 2 whatis the foundation of prophetic authority for the present dispensation

3 how does prophetic authority relate to the member of the church ofjesus christ of latterdaylatter saintsday 4 how doedoes prophetic authorityrelate to the world as a whole

it was found that the planpian of salvation as understood in theteachings of the church of jesus christ of latterdaylatteriatter saintsday is imple-mented by authorized ministers of god the matherratherfathermether who is the source ofall authority christ is the greatest of these ministers and is thegreat prophetprophetsprop theheto lesser prophets under christchristchr andistisk specificallypresiding prophets are fully empoweredempeap toovered implement while holding invio-late the agency of the individual the tokaltotaltoultotel plan to all of gods child-ren in and out of the church the presiding prophets of the church ofjesus christ of latterdaylatteriatterietterletter saintsday layley claim to this total authority

COMMITTEE APPROVAL tl AA SZruseellrus&ell R richrichobicho committee chairman

mlA garyaiargarsrandcrson committee memberlenberrenber

l&mteri&yar C berrett department chairman

d iy f

2

s

byauthorizedandis

ruskll11

LL 2ko

PROOPHETIC

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