Brigham Young's Sermon on the Mormon Priesthood - 5/7/1861
In order to come to a proper understanding - to see eye to eye - it is
necessary that we be instructed, that we may be workmen that need not
be ashamed before God and his holy angels. I pray for you continually,
that the wisdom of God may rest upon you and upon all his Saints. I am
happy for the privilege of meeting with you, and can say, according to
the best of my knowledge, that there is a great improvement in the
midst of the Saints: they are increasing in understanding. The little
apparent difficulty you seem to have here is no difficulty at all. In
the rise of this Church, and for years afterwards, if four men had been
appointed to live in the capacity of a neighbourhood, there would have
been more real difficulty in one month than there has been in this Ward
since brother Miller has been its Bishop. This proves that the people
are learning to let things alone that they do not know to be right, and
wait until they know what right is. This is a great lesson to learn. It
is also a precious gift, that some people seem to be possessed of, to
have knowledge enough not to talk until they can say something to
advantage and benefit to themselves, or others, or both. (1)
The instructions some of you need here I presume would be good for all.
It is not always an easy matter for persons to understand the true
position they really hold before God and before their brethren. People
do not seem to understand fully their position and the duties they are
called upon to perform; but when a person comes to understanding, he
will not go amiss. There are so many traits in the lives of the people
possessing the Priesthood, that, touch it where you will, you cannot
touch it amiss; and if you know and understand it, it is to you a
source of great satisfaction, while those who do not understand are
still left in the dark. (2)
When brother Miller was at the Seventies' meeting in the city, a week
ago last Saturday, I made some remarks on the items of doctrine before
us, and the clerk wrote down a few of them. I took, I think, the
purport of these remarks, and published them in the last week's News. I
then and there stated that a Bishop, and his Bishopric, cannot try any
individual for error in doctrine. In reflecting upon this, let me ask,
how do we understand doctrine? By revelation. What are the privileges
of a Bishop? Has he the privilege of the administration of angels? Yes;
this belongs to the lesser Priesthood. Has he the privilege of using
the Urim and Thummim? Yes. The breastplate of Aaron that you read of in
the Scriptures was a Urim and Thummim, fixed in bows similar to the one
Joseph Smith found. Aaron wore this Urim and Thummim on his breast, and
looked into it like looking on a mirror, and the information he needed
was there obtained. This earth, when it becomes purified and
sanctified, or celestialized, will become like a sea of glass; and a
person, by looking into it, can know things past, present, and to come;
though none but celestialized beings can enjoy this privilege. They
will look into the earth, and the things they desire to know will be
exhibited to them, the same as the face is seen by looking into a
mirror. (3)
The office of a Bishop belongs to the lesser Priesthood. He is the
highest officer in the Aaronic Priesthood, and has the privilege of
using the Urim and Thummim - has the administration of angels, if he
has faith, and lives so that he can receive and enjoy all the blessings
Aaron enjoyed. (4)
At the same time, could Aaron rise up and say, "I have as much power
and authority as you, Moses?" No; for Moses held the keys and authority
above all the rest upon the earth. He holds the keys of the Priesthood
of Melchizedek, which is the Priesthood of the Son of God, which holds
the keys of all these Priesthoods, dispensing the blessings and
privileges of both Priesthoods to the people, as he did in the days of
the children of Israel when he led them out of Egypt. (5)
This Priesthood has been on the earth at various times. Adam had it,
Seth had it, Enoch had it, Noah had it, Abraham and Lot had it, and it
was handed down to the days of the Prophets, long after the days of the
ancients. (6)
But the people would not receive the Prophets, but persecuted them,
stoned them and thrust them out of their cities, and they had to wander
in the wilderness and make dens and caves their homes. The children of
Israel never received the Melchizedek Priesthood; they went into
bondage to enjoy it in part, but all its privileges and blessings they
never would receive in full, until Jesus came, and then but a few of
them would receive it. This High Priesthood rules, directs, governs,
and controls all the Priesthoods, because it is the highest of all. (7)
What ordination should a man receive to possess all the keys and powers
of the Holy Priesthood that were delivered to the sons of Adam? He
should be ordained an Apostle of Jesus Christ. That office puts him in
possession of every key, every power, every authority, communication,
benefit, blessing, glory, and kingdom that was ever revealed to man.
That pertains to the office of an Apostle of Jesus Christ. (8)
In the last week's News I published a portion of a revelation, showing
the authority of the First Presidency of the Church, composed at first
of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams. When this
revelation was given, the two last-named brethren were Joseph Smith's
counsellors, and this First Presidency possessed the power and
authority of building up the kingdom of God upon all the earth, and of
setting the Church in order in its perfection. You read in the
revelation alluded to that when the Twelve were called and ordained,
they possessed the same power and authority as the three First
Presidents; and in reading further you find that there must needs be
appendages and helps growing out of this Priesthood. The Seventies
possess the same power and authority; they hold the keys of
establishing, building up, regulating, ordaining, and setting in order
the kingdom of God in all its perfections upon the earth. We have a
Quorum of High Priests, and there are a great many of them. They are a
local body - they tarry at home; but the Seventies travel and preach;
so also do the High Priests, when they are called upon. They possess
precisely the same Priesthood that the Seventies and the Twelve and the
First Presidency possess; but are they ordained to officiate in all the
authority, powers, and keys of this Priesthood? No, they are not. Still
they are High Priests of God; and if they magnify their Priesthood,
they will receive at some time all the authority and power that it is
possible for man to receive. (9)
Suppose that Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams had been taken
away or had apostatized, as one of them did soon after the revelation I
have referred to was given, and there had been only Joseph Smith left
of the First Presidency, would he alone have had authority to set in
order the kingdom of God on the earth? Yes. Again: Suppose that eleven
of the Twelve had been taken away by the power of the Adversary, that
one Apostle has the same power that Joseph had, and could preach,
baptize, and set in order the whole kingdom of God upon the earth, as
much so as the Twelve, were they all together. Again: If in the
providence of God he should permit the Enemy to destroy these two first
Quorums, and then destroy the Quorum of Seventy, all but one man, what
is his power? It would be to go and preach, baptize, confirm, lay on
hands, ordain, set in order, build up, and establish the whole kingdom
of God as it is now. Can we go any further? Yes; and I think you will
see the reason of it, and how easy it is to be understood, and see the
propriety of it. I really believe, and it is my doctrine, that if I
speak to the brethren by the power of the Spirit of my calling, the
evidences are commended to those who hear, and the reasons they see in
the spirit of the remarks I make. Suppose the Enemy had power to
destroy all but one of the High Priests from the face of the earth,
what would that one possess in the power of his Priesthood? He would
have power and authority to go and preach, baptize, confirm, ordain,
and set in order the kingdom of God in all its perfection on the earth.
Could he do this without revelation? No. Could the Seventies? No. Could
the twelve? No. And we ask, Could Joseph Smith or the First Presidency
do this without revelation? No; not one of them could do such a work
without revelation direct from God. I can go still further. Whoever is
ordained to the office of an Elder to a certain degree possesses the
keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood; and suppose only one Elder should
be left on the earth, could he go and set in order the kingdom of God?
Yes, by revelation. (10)
How came these Apostles, these Seventies, these High Priests, and all
this organization we now enjoy? It came by revelation. Father Cahoon,
who lately died in your neighbourhood, was one of the first men
ordained to the office of High Priest in this kingdom. In the year
1831, the Prophet Joseph went to Ohio. He left the State of New York on
the last of April, if my memory serves me, and arrived in Kirtland
sometime in May. They held a General Conference, which was the first
General Conference ever called or held in Ohio. Joseph then received a
revelation, and ordained High Priests. You read in the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants how he received the Priesthood in the first place. It is
there stated how Joseph received the Aaronic Priesthood. John the
Baptist came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. When a person passes
behind the vail, he can only officiate in the spirit-world; but when he
is resurrected he officiates as a resurrected being, and not as a
mortal being. You read in the revelation that Joseph was ordained, as
it is written. When he received the Melchizedek Priesthood, he had
another revelation. Peter, James, and John came to him. You can read
the revelation at your leisure. When he received this revelation in
Kirtland, the Lord revealed to him that he should begin and ordain High
Priests; and he then ordained quite a number, all whose names I do not
now recollect; but Lyman Wight was one; Fathers Cahoon and Morley, John
Murdock, Sidney Rigdon, and others were also then ordained. These were
the first that were ordained to this office in the Church. I relate
this to show you how Joseph proceeded step by step in organizing the
Church. At that time there were no Seventies nor twelve Apostles. (11)
Twenty-seven years ago, on the 5th of this month, in the year 1834, a
company started for Kirtland to redeem the land of Zion. Brother Heber
C. Kimball and my brother Joseph were in that camp. There had not then
been ordained any Twelve Apostles, nor any Seventies, although there
was a revelation pertaining to the Apostles and Seventies. There were
High Priests, but no High Priests' Quorum. I am relating this as a
little matter of history that will no doubt be interesting to those who
were not there. (12)
After we returned from Missouri, my brother Joseph Young and myself had
been singing after preaching in a meeting; and when the meeting was
dismissed, brother Joseph Smith said, "Come, go down to my house with
me." We went and sung to him a long time, and talked with him. He then
opened the subject of the Twelve and Seventies for the first time I
ever thought of it. He said, "Brethren, I am going to call out Twelve
Apostles. I think we will get together, by-and-by, and select Twelve
Apostles, and select a Quorum of Seventies from those who have been up
to Zion, out of the camp boys." In 1835, the last of January or in
February, or about that time, we held our meetings from day to day, and
brother Joseph called out Twelve Apostles at that time. He had a
revelation when we were singing to him. Those who were acquainted with
him knew when the Spirit of revelation was upon him, for his
countenance wore an expression peculiar to himself while under that
influence. He preached by the Spirit of revelation, and taught in his
council by it, and those who were acquainted with him could discover it
at once, for at such times there was a peculiar clearness and
transparency in his face. He followed up that revelation until he
organized the Church, and so along until the baptism of the dead was
revealed. (13)
I relate these circumstances to show you that a person who is ordained
to the office of an Elder in this kingdom has the same priesthood that
the high Priests, that the Twelve Apostles, that the Seventies, and
that the First Presidency hold; but all are not called to be one of the
Twelve Apostles, nor are all called to be one of the First Presidency,
nor to be one of the First Presidents of all the Seventies, nor to be
one of the Presidents of a Quorum of Seventies, nor to preside over the
High Priests' Quorum; but every man in his order and place, possessing
a portion of the same Priesthood, according to the gifts and callings
to each. Does not this clear up the subject? [Voices: "It does."] This
will explain it to you so that you can understand it. When we find
where our callings and positions are in the midst of the people of God,
and every person willing to act in the discharge of his duty, there is
enough for us all to do. All persons can have all they desire to do to
promote the kingdom of God on the earth; they can exercise themselves
in all that God has granted to them to prove themselves worthy before
God and the people. (14)
I will again refer to the office of a Bishop. If you will look over the
revelations and search the Scriptures, you will find that the office of
Bishop was bestowed upon Aaron, Moses' half-brother, for certain
services he had performed, which Priesthood was to continue with
Aaron's posterity. We have not the literal descendants of Aaron in the
Church to fill the Bishopric, but the Church is mostly composed of the
literal descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are entitled to
the Melchizedek Priesthood, that holds the keys of all the Priesthoods
ever delivered to the children of men. But we want Bishops in the
Church. Here are brethren settling in different neighbourhoods, and we
learn that the office of a Bishop is to attend to the temporal affairs
of the Church - to see that the poor are taken care of - to see that
the brethren judiciously and wisely conduct themselves in the capacity
of a community. The President of the Church cannot attend to these
temporal affairs in all the different settlements, and the Twelve
Apostles are away preaching, and the Seventies are away preaching, and
the High Priests are scattered here and there in their local capacity;
and we want men who are literal descendants of Aaron to act in the
Aaronic Priesthood, to which pertains the Bishopric; but we have not
got them. Under these circumstances, we take a High Priest and ordain
him to the office of a Bishop, to which he is not entitled by lineage;
but in his calling he possesses the keys and power of the holy
Priesthood of the Son of God on the earth, and this qualifies him to
officiate in all the lesser offices. We take this man and set him apart
to be a Bishop. "What! ordain a High Priest to the lesser Priesthood?"
No; we call it ordaining a Bishop; and though we say, "We ordain you to
be a Bishop, with our hands upon your head," it really and virtually
means, "We set you apart to officiate as a Bishop in the midst of the
people of God, by virtue of your holy Priesthood, which is after the
order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of the Son of God. We
set you apart to officiate in this office of the Aaronic Priesthood,
blessing you with all the keys and authority of the same." This Bishop
can call two men to be his Counsellors, but it would not be so if we
had a literal descendant of Aaron. When we find such a man, and he is
ordained to act or is set apart to act in his lineal Priesthood, he is
to all intents and purposes a Bishop, and needs no Counsellors. This
seems to be a great curiosity. A man who is a Priest, and cannot hold
any higher office, can preside as a Bishop over a community of people
where he is appointed to preside, and dictate the temporal affairs of
the people of God, and that too without a Counsellor from among his
brethren; but a High Priest cannot act in this office without two
Counsellors. Is not this a novel thing - a strange peculiarity? It
requires three High Priests to perform the duties, fill the office, and
attend to the callings of a literal descendant of Aaron, who cannot
hold a higher Priesthood. That is the order, and what Joseph did is
according to the revelation he received. (15)
When we take a High priest and set him apart to officiate in the office
of a Priest as a Priest or as a Bishop, while he is acting in this
calling do we expect him to officiate as a High Priest? When Bishop
Miller finds that the Seventies in his Ward are teaching doctrine that
he does not believe in, he has nothing to do with the matter while
acting in the capacity of a Bishop. He would say, "I stand here as your
Bishop, and I have nothing to do with the doctrines you teach. I cannot
control the higher Priesthood, while in my present calling. I cannot
officiate here as an Apostle, as a Revelator, as one who has authority
to say 'Thus saith the Lord' to the people concerning spiritual
things." The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us whom they are to be
decided by. Though brother Miller, as a Bishop, should say nothing on
controverted points of doctrine, yet he can meet with his brethren of
the High Priesthood who may be in his neighbourhood. Three High Priests
for a Quorum; five form a Quorum; seven form a Quorum; twelve form a
Quorum. Let a Quorum of High Priests go into an upper room, and there
appear before the Lord in the garments of the holy Priesthood, and
offer up before the Father, in the name of Jesus, the signs of the holy
Priesthood, and then ask God to give a revelation concerning that
doctrine, and they have a right to receive it. If you cannot get the
information in any other way, suppose you were upon the islands of the
sea, far away from the main body of the Church, you are entitled to the
administration of angels who administer in the terrestrial kingdom; and
they have right to receive administrations from the celestial. In this
capacity you could ask for revelations pertaining to doctrine. (16)
In the capacity of a Bishop, has any person a right to direct the
spiritual affairs of the kingdom of God? No. In that capacity his right
is restricted to affairs in a temporal and moral point of view. He has
a right to deal with the transgressor. I do not care what office a
transgressor bears in the Church and kingdom of God, if he should be
one of the Twelve Apostles, and come into a Bishop's neighbourhood, and
purloin his neighbour's goods, defile his neighbour's bed, or commit
any breach of the moral law, the Bishop has a right to take that man
before himself and his council, and there hold him to answer for the
crime he has been guilty of, and deal with him for his membership in
the Church, and cut him off from the Church to all intents and
purposes, to all time and eternity, if he will not make restitution and
sincerely repent. "What! one of the Seventies?" Yes. "One of the High
Priests?" Yes. "One of the Twelve Apostles?" Yes, anybody that happens
to come into his neighbourhood and transgresses the moral law. On the
other hand, can the Seventies try a Bishop? No. Can the High Priests
try him? No, unless they call twelve High Priests in the capacity of a
High Council; and then you must have the Presidency of the Melchizedek
Priesthood to preside over the council, and there you can try a Bishop.
How curiously it is all woven together to make the fabric so strong
that no one man or set of men can rend it asunder! The Lord has so
effectually woven it for the salvation of the people, that it takes
tremendous power to destroy it from the earth. All this is designed to
guard against evil. A Bishop can try a man for a breach of moral
conduct, but he cannot sit in judgment on controverted points of
doctrine, for they are to be referred to those who hold the keys of the
higher Priesthood, and their decision is the end of all strife. (17)
In trying all matters of doctrine, to make a decision valid, it is
necessary to obtain a unanimous voice, faith, and decision. In the
capacity of a Quorum, the three First Presidents must be one in their
voice - the Twelve Apostles must be unanimous in their voice, to obtain
a righteous decision upon any matter that may come before them, as you
may read in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Seventies may decide upon
the same principle. Whenever you see these Quorums unanimous in their
declaration, you may set it down as true. Let the Elders get together,
being faithful and true; and when they agree upon any point, you may
know that it is true. (18)
I will now say a few words upon the callings of men in a neighbourhood
or Ward capacity. Some of the High Priests may be ordained to officiate
in callings pertaining to the Church in Ward capacities. Now I will ask
the Bishop of this Ward if he has a right to neglect this Ward to meet
with the High Priests' Quorum in their meetings. He has no such right -
he has no right to neglect this Ward one minute for the sake of such
meeting. That is not his right and calling when his services are
required here as Bishop. There is a poor widow, a sick family, business
is going at random here and there, and he has no right to believe that
he has the privilege of leaving all his Ward to look out for
themselves, and say, "If you do well, it is well: and if you do ill, I
cannot help it, I am going to my Quorum meeting." It is his duty to
devote his time, from new Year's morning to New Year's morning again,
for the benefit of his ward. He is placed to preside over it, and he
will dictate all in his Ward. If he sees a Seventy or a High Priest
squandering his property, or if he sees any getting drunk, gambling, or
loafing about, wasting their time, he has a perfect right to call them
to account. (19)
We have mass Quorums of Seventies in most of the settlements in the
Territory; and I have frequently thought, if the brethren did not
improve pretty fast, the title would have to be altered a little; but
as they have improved, we do not see any necessity for making the
application and calling them muss Quorums. Joseph Smith never would
permit the Seventies to get together and believe themselves a separate
body from the rest of the Church. I never cared much about this, for I
was not a particle afraid that they would get any power that truly does
not belong to them; for, if they did, I was always satisfied that it
would be blown to the four winds. I want to inform the Seventies living
in Bishop Miller's Ward, (and what I now say applies to all the other
Wards and Bishops,) if he calls on them to act as Teachers, it is their
imperative duty to act as Teachers, seeking to benefit and bless the
people by enlarging their understandings, that they may prove
themselves before God and one another. There is a world of intelligence
to impart, and the Priesthood (in its various callings, appointments,
helps, and governments,) is the means, through its ministers, of
imparting it to the people. It is not the duty of a Seventy or High
Priest, who is appointed a Teacher or a Bishop, to neglect the duties
of those callings to attend a Seventies' or High Priests' meeting.
Attend to the wishes of your Bishop, and never ask who has the most
power. The man who has the most power with God will wield it, and earth
and hell cannot hinder it. Talk about power, and "I want you to give me
influence!" There are but few things that offend me more than to have
men come to me and say, "Brother Brigham, give me influence, for I am a
great man in this kingdom." And what would he do with it? He would take
himself and all who would follow him to the Devil. Every man who has
true influence has obtained it before God through faithfulness, and in
all such cases there is not the least danger but what he will have it
before the Saints. It is the man who converses with the heavens, who
delights in doing so, and knows for himself that this is the kingdom of
God, who has true influence. (20)
As I said last Sabbath, the greatest proof and the least to prove that
this is the kingdom of God, consists in its embracing every truth and
rejecting every error, and that embraces God and heaven and all holy
beings. Who, then, has the greatest power? Those who best do the will
of God. When a Bishop calls upon a man to officiate as an assistant to
him, he does not call upon him as a Seventy or as a High Priest, but as
one of his own family - as a member of his Ward. You know what the
Spirit of the Lord teaches me, to see that the widows go not hungry,
that the orphans are clothed, and every able-bodied man is judiciously
and profitably employed, and that every man is doing his duty, - to see
that the cattle and waggons are got together when they are wanted; and
it is as much the duty of the Seventies to look after these matters as
it is the duty of any of their brethren. When the Bishops say, "Go and
drive that team, do this, or do that," "Oh yes," says a Seventy, "with
all my heart." "Bishop, we thought we would meet once a week as
Seventies or High Priests; can we have your permission?" "Yes; go to
the school-house and sound life eternal to the people." (21)
Told by their President to have a muss Quorum meeting here! No; no such
power is vested in the Seventies anywhere. No man gets power from God
to raise disturbance in any Branch of the Church. Such power is
obtained from an evil source. Now, High Priests and Apostles, go to
with your might and assist your Bishops in providing for the widows and
fatherless.If Bishop Miller is not responsible for this Ward, to
dictate all this Ward, who is? He is the man that is appointed here to
preside, and as a High Priest he has a right to meet with his brethren
of that Quorum, and to baptize, confirm, bless children, administer to
the sick, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office and
calling of a High Priest. His being a Bishop does not take away any of
his Priesthood or power. (22)
May God bless you! Amen. (23)
Critique notes of sermon delivered by Brigham Young on May 7, 1861.
1) The wisdom of God proclaims salvation to all through faith in Jesus Christ.
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created
all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold
wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities
and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose
which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have
boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Ephesians
3:8-12.
2) The Mormon Priesthood is an office not ordained of God.
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28.
3) Christian doctrine is not derived from Mormon priesthood crafty revelation.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the
saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to
and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery
of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking
the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the
head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what
every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every
part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16.
4) The blessings of the Aaronic Priesthood involved performing animal sacrifice.
You shall also have the bull brought before the tabernacle of meeting,
and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the bull.
Then you shall kill the bull before the Lord, by the door of the
tabernacle of meeting. You shall take some of the blood of the bull and
put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the
blood beside the base of the altar. And you shall take all the fat that
covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two
kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. But
the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with
fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. Exodus 29:10-14.
5) Moses had nothing to do with the Melchizedek.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated
“king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of
peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having
neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of
God, remains a priest continually. Hebrews 7:1-3.
6) The Biblical Priesthood did not begin until the Exodus from Egypt.
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and
present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. And they
shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation
before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle.
Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of
meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of
the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;
they are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel. So
you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their
priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
Numbers 3:5-10.
7) The Christian High Priest is Jesus Christ not a Mormon church position.
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood
of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house
of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies
washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23.
8) Keys to the kingdom of God is through a testimony of Jesus Christ.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have
come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God
day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not
love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:10-11.
9) The kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ not the Mormon church positions.
So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging,
to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the
Prophets, from morning till evening. Acts 28:23.
10) The kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ not the Mormon church positions.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received
all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one
forbidding him. Acts 28:30-31.
11) Christian revelation is about Jesus Christ.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the
marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true
sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to
me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your
brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:9-10.
12) Mormon history in Kirtland involved bank fraud.
Redemption of the notes in specie lasted approximately two weeks;
thereafter, they were subject to a heavy discount (Cleveland Daily
Gazette, 24 Jan. 1837), often as low as 12 1⁄2 cents on the dollar (The
Mormons, or, Knavery Exposed, page 14). The Anti-Banking Co. notes had
no legal value and were soon rejected by creditors in New York,
Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, where merchandise for the stores in Kirtland
had been purchased. When the Anti-Banking Co. began operation, local
residents were willing to accept notes backed by real estate in lieu of
specie. Later, when these notes were not as acceptable, many owners
tried to exchange them for legal currency. Mormon and Utah Coin and
Currency, page 14.
13) Christian revelation is about Jesus Christ.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the
word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that
he saw. Revelation 1:1-2.
14) Christian elders should never be confused with Mormon boy elders.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory
that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for
dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to
you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1
Peter 5:1-4.
15) Christian Bishops should never be confused with Mormon businessmen bishops.
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,
he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of
one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able
to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house
well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a
man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of
the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he
fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a
good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
16) The Holy Bible is the source of Christian doctrine.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
17) Christians will be guided by the Holy Spirit not by Mormon nonsense.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance,
character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because
the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5.
18) Christians are not perfect but sinners saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of
the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live
in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel
Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of
the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ
Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the
works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be
justified.” Galatians 2:14-16.
19) High Priests and their earthly duties have been done away with by Jesus Christ.
And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have
become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to
Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek’”), by so much more Jesus has
become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests,
because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because
He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is
also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High
Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need
daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own
sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He
offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:20-27.
20) The Holy Spirit teaches Christians not Mormon church offices.
“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But
the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He
will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things
that I said to you.” John 14:25-26.
21) The will of God is salvation for believers not for people to have wagons and cattle.
“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given
Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son
and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up
at the last day.” John 6:39-40.
22) High Priests and their earthly duties have been done away with by Jesus Christ.
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the
greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not
of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His
own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained
eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes
of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of
the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason
He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those
who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:11-15.
23) God will not bless those who have rejected Jesus Christ as their only High Priest.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are
the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed
are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil
against you falsely for My sake.” Matthew 5:3-11.