History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph F. Smith

in the Church for the work of the foreign ministry is for Elders to travel two and two. This doubtless for the reason that the Lord would establish His word by the mouths of two witnesses at least, to say nothing of the pleasure that would be derived from the companionship subsisting between two Elders while traveling among strangers, and even among enemies. A quorum of Seventy, if sent out into the world as a body, is capable of realizing all the advantages conceivable from organization. It can be broken up into just seven groups of ten members; with each group would be a president; these groups can be sub-divided into five pairs, who could scatter out into various neighborhoods, occasionally meet in conference with the group of ten to which the respective pairs belonged, and at greater intervals, the several groups could be called together for quorum conference. Thus a quorum of Seventy can be a veritable flying column, making proclamation of the Gospel, the like of which is to be found nowhere outside the Church of Christ.

      4. Instead of giving the forty names that here follow the statement of the Prophet in his history, I give the entire list of names that constituted the first quorum of Seventy, as written by the late President Joseph Young, in his "History of the Organization of the Seventies." All the brethren given in this list were not ordained on this 28th day of February, 1835, but all who were ordained on that date, of course, are included in this list. Of this organization of the quorum of Seventy, the statement of Elder Joseph Young, who became the senior president of the first council, has already been given at page 181.

      CHAPTER XIV.

       Table of Contents

      The Great Revelation on Priesthood.

      Minutes of Meetings of the Twelve.

      Kirtland, March 12, 1835.—This evening the twelve assembled, and the Council was opened by President Joseph Smith, Jun., and he proposed we take our first mission through the Eastern States, to the Atlantic Ocean, and hold conferences in the vicinity of the several branches of the Church for the purpose of regulating all things necessary for their welfare.

      It was proposed that the Twelve leave Kirtland on the 4th day of May, which was unanimously agreed to.

      It was then proposed that during their present mission, Elder Brigham Young should open the door of the Gospel to the remnants of Joseph, who dwell among the Gentiles, which was carried.

      It was voted that the Twelve should hold their first conference in Kirtland, May 2nd; in Westfield, New York, May 9th; in Freedom, N.Y., May 22nd; in Lyonstown. N.Y., June 5th; at Pillow Point, June 10th; in West Loboro', Upper Canada, June 29th; in Johnsbury, Vermont, July 17th; in Bradford, Massachusetts, August 7th; in Dover, New Hampshire, September 4th; in Saco, Maine, September 18th; Farmington, Maine, October 2nd.

      Orson Hyde,

      Wm. E. M'Lellin, Clerks.

      Kirtland, March 28th.

      This afternoon the Twelve met in council, and had a time of general confession. On reviewing our past course we are satisfied, and feel to confess also, that we have not realized the importance of our calling to that degree that we ought; we have been light-minded and vain, and in many things have done wrong. For all these things we have asked the forgiveness of our heavenly Father; and wherein we have grieved or wounded the feelings of the Presidency, we ask their forgiveness. The time when we are about to separate is near; and when we shall meet again, God only knows; we therefore feel to ask of him whom we have acknowledged to be our Prophet and Seer, that he inquire of God for us, and obtain a revelation, (if consistent) that we may look upon it when we are separated, that our hearts may be comforted. Our worthiness has not inspired us to make this request, but our unworthiness. We have unitedly asked God our heavenly Father to grant unto us through His Seer, a revelation of His mind and will concerning our duty the coming season, even a great revelation, that will enlarge our hearts, comfort us in adversity, and brighten our hopes amidst the powers of darkness.

      Orson Hyde,

      Wm. E. M'Lellin, Clerks.

      To President Joseph Smith, Jun., Kirtland, Ohio.

      In compliance with the above request,¹ I inquired of the Lord, and received for answer the following:

      Revelation on Priesthood.²

      1. There are in the Church two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchisedek and the Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.

      2. Why the first is called the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great High Priest;

      3. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God.

      4. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of His name, they, the Church in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.

      5. All other authorities or offices in the Church are appendages to this Priesthood;

      6. But there are two divisions, or grand heads; one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood.

      7. The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek.

      8. The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the Church, in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.

      9. The Presidency of the High Priesthood, after the Order of Melchisedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the Church.

      10. High Priests after the Order of the Melchisedek Priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the Presidency, in administering spiritual things, and also in the office of an Elder, Priest (of the Levitical order), Teacher, Deacon and member.

      11. An Elder has a right to officiate in his stead, when the High Priest is not present.

      12. The High Priest and Elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeable to the covenants and commandments of the Church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the Church, when there are no higher authorities present.

      13. The second Priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.

      14. Why it is called the lesser Priesthood, is because it is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchisedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances.

      15. The Bishopric is the Presidency of this Priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same.

      16. No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this Priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of Aaron.

      17. But as a High Priest of the Melchisedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of Bishop, when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called, and set apart, and ordained unto this power, by the hands of the Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood.

      18. The power and authority of the higher, or Melchisedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church.

      19. To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and Church of the first-born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant.

      20. The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the Gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments.

      21. Of necessity there are Presidents, or presiding officers, growing out of, or appointed of, or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two Priesthoods.