Chapter XI: Part 11

26. 18, 19 to make thee high above all nations, and an holy people.

27. 9 this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God.

2 _Chron_. 9. 8 because the Lord loved Israel, to establish them forever.

_Psalm_ 105. 6 ye seed of Abraham, his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen.

135. 4 Lord hath chosen Jacob for himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

137. 8, 9 O Babylon, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

_Isa_. 10. 5-19 Assyria to be taken and destroyed.

14. 2 they shall take them captives whose captives they were.

29. 7, 8 all the nations that fight against Ariel shall be as a dream.

41. 8 Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend. 9.

43. 10 my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen. 20.

45. 4 Israel, mine elect. I have even called thee by name.

49. 24, 25 even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away.

26 I will feed them that oppress thee on their own flesh.

54. 15 whosoever shall gather against thee shall fall. 17.

_Jer_. 2. 3 all that devour him shall offend; evil shall consume upon them.

10. 25 pour out thy fury on the heathen, for they have eaten up Jacob.

30. 11 though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, I will not make a full end of thee. 16, 24.

_Heb_. 8. 10 I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

SPIRITS IN PRISON.

The writings of every dispensation of the Priesthood evidence that the Creator provided a place of confinement or retention, where intelligences await future events concerning themselves.

Several hundred years before the flood, the Lord, speaking to Enoch concerning the wicked, said: "Behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them;" _P. of G. P., page_ 20.

The idea of a pit or prison for man, appears to have been quite definite in the mind of Job; speaking of God's dealings with man, he says, "He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword;" 33. 18.

The Psalmist David called this place hell or place of departed spirits, for he said of the Lord, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;" _Psalm_ 16. 10. The latter part of the passage evidences that he was looking forward to the resurrection of Christ, to open the way for his release, "Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Speaking of the latter times, the Lord said, through the prophet Isaiah, "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. * * * And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited;" 24. 17, 21, 22. This passage from Isaiah is very definite on this subject. The assertion, "After many days shall they be visited," certainly infers that a time would come when they might be released.

The Lord speaking of another person says, "I the _Lord_ have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." The following verse shows that the Lord would call and keep this servant of his for a special work, and that was, "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house;" 42. 6, 7. This passage explains how those who would be gathered as prisoners into the pit, and be shut up in prison, were to be visited after many days. Of similar import is _Isa_. 49. 5-9.

The apostle Peter was evidently quite familiar with this subject: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing;" 1 _Pet_. 3. 18-20. The Nephite, as well as the Jewish prophets, speak of a place of confinement for spirits; "Wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other;" 2 _Nephi_ 9. 12.

These spirits, which are delivered from hell, are not the spirits of the righteous, for, in the thirteenth verse of the same chapter, the prophet says, "For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous."

These passages show us that the spirits of the wicked go to a prison, or hell, and the spirits of the righteous to the paradise of God, a place of light and freedom. Doubtless it was the same paradise which Jesus referred to, when he said to the thief on the cross, "To-day shall thou be with me in paradise;" _Luke_ 23. 43.

The Lord said, in a revelation to the prophet Joseph, "I am the same which have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own bosom; and verily, I say, even as many as have believed in my name. * * * But behold, the residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day, which shall come at the end of the earth; and even so will I cause the wicked to be kept, that will not hear my voice but harden their hearts;" _Doc. & Cov_. 38. 4-6.

This subject is still more fully explained in another revelation, through Joseph, the Seer. After the Lord instructed him concerning the first resurrection he says, "And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the Gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh;" 88. 99. This verse informs us that when Christ comes there will be a class of spirits who will be redeemed from prison, because they will have paid the penalty of transgression, and will have accepted the Gospel which will have been preached to them in prison.

After the spirits who are prepared for redemption shall be brought out of prison by the resurrection, then "Another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then cometh the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation. And these are the rest of the dead, and they live not again until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth;" _verses_ 100 and 101. That is, all the dead that remain after the redemption of those prepared, are those who are under condemnation, and they will not come forth through the resurrection until after the Millennium of a thousand years, and not until after the "little season" in which Satan will be loosed; or the end of the earth. It is mournful to think, that, even after so long a period of probation, or trial, there will be then of these spirits those who will still have to remain in the prison house, for _verse_ 102 says, "There are found among those who are to remain, until that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still."

In another revelation we are informed, that a part of those who inherit a terrestrial glory, will be "The spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the Gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it;" _sec_. 76. 73, 74.

Bible.

_Job_ 17. 16 they shall go down to the bars of the pit.

33. 24 deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 28, 30.

_Psalm_ 9. 17 the wicked shall be turned into hell.

28. 1 lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down to the pit.

30. 3 thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

69. 15 let not the pit shut her mouth on me.

142. 7 bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.

143. 7 hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto those that go down to the pit.

_Isa_. 14. 15 yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

42. 16 I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not.

61. 1 to proclaim liberty to the captives, to open the prison to those that are bound.

_Ezek_. 26. 20 bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth.

31. 14-18 for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth. Thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude.

32. 18-32 several nations enumerated who were slain by the sword, and whose multitudes went down to the pit.

_Zech_. 9. 11 by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit.

_Matt_. 12. 32 whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him in this world, nor the world to come.

_Luke_ 12. 47, 48 some shall be beaten with few, some with many stripes.

_Acts_ 2. 34 for David is not ascended into heaven.

_Rev_. 5. 13 every creature which is in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

20. 7 when the thousand years are ended, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 19. 6 it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment.

45. 17 as ye have looked upon the long absence of your spirits from your bodies to be a bondage, I will show you how the day of redemption will come. 45, 46.

54 and then shall the heathen nations be redeemed.

78. 12 be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, until the day of redemption. _Sec_. 82. 21.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY AND TWELVE APOSTLES.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY.

It is revealed unto us in _Doc. & Cov_., 20. 2, 3, that Joseph Smith, Jun., was called of God and ordained an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to be the first Elder of this church; and that Oliver Cowdery was also called of God, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the second Elder of this church. In _sec_. 18. we are informed that Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were called with that same calling with which the apostle Paul was called; but of Joseph Smith. Jun., the Lord said, 8th _verse_, "Marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me." In _sec_. 27. 12, the Savior says: "And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things which I revealed unto them."

Joseph, the first Apostle, continued as directed of the Lord from time to time to organize and develop the offices and ordinances of the church, for the saints were informed, in _sec_. 43. 3, "Ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me."

In _sec_. 107, on Priesthood, instructions are given how to organize various councils and presidencies, in which is, _verse_ 22, "Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church." _Verse_ 9, "The Presidency of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchisedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church;" and, as in _verses_ 18, 19, to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church"--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 firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.

In _verses_ 91-2, "The duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses. Yea, to be a Seer, a revelator, a translator and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church." In this light and sense does the church uphold, by their vote, their faith and their prayers, the First Presidency of the church, or the Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the church.

THE TWELVE APOSTLES.

The Twelve Apostles, or the twelve traveling counselors, are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; and they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three Presidents previously mentioned--the decisions of each being unanimous. _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 107, _verses_ 23, 24. In _verse_ 33 they "are to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the church, agreeable to the institution of heaven: to build up the church and regulate the affairs of the same in all nations; first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews."

The foregoing laconic description of their duties is so comprehensive that we will not detail further than to refer the student to _verses_ 23, 24, 35, 38, 39, 58 for further description of the duties of the Twelve Apostles.

In _sec_. 112, _verses_ 30-32, the Lord says to them: "For unto you, (the Twelve,) and those (the First Presidency) who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this Priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times, which power you hold in connection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation."

At the dedication of the Temple in Kirtland, the Prophet Joseph "called upon the quorums and the congregation of Saints to acknowledge the Twelve Apostles, who were present, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators, and special witnesses to all the nations of the earth, holding the keys of the kingdom, to unlock it, or cause it to be done, among them, and uphold them with their prayers, which they assented to by rising:" _His. of Joseph Smith, March_ 27, 1836.

The following is a list of the names, time of birth and date of membership of the First Presidency and of the Twelve Apostles of this Dispensation, given in the order in which they were set apart to those offices, so far as we have ascertained:

Lyman E. Johnson was born October 24, 1811, at Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle at the organization of the first Council of Apostles, at Kirtland, February 14, 1835, and was cut off from the Council and the church April 13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri.

Brigham Young was born June 1, 1801, at Whittingham, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 14, 1835, at Kirtland. From the apostacy of Thomas B. Marsh in October, 1838, he was President of the Twelve, and from December 27, 1847, was sustained as First President of the church, with Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards as his counselors. This position he occupied until his death, on the 29th of August, 1877.

Heber C. Kimball was born June 14, 1801, at Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 14, 1835, at Kirtland, and was first counselor to President Brigham Young, from December 27, 1847, until his death, on the 22d of June 1868.

Orson Hyde was born January 8, 1805, at Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland, and died at Spring City, Utah, November 28, 1878.

David W. Patten was born in the State of New York, about A. D. 1800; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was fatally shot, by a mob, at Crooked River, Missouri, on the 25th of October, 1838, and died the same day, firm in the faith.

Luke S. Johnson was born November 3, 1807, at Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was disfellowshipped September 3, 1837, at Kirtland, and was cut off at Far West, April 13, 1838.

William E. McLellin was born in Tennessee, supposed in 1806; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off May 11, 1838, at Far West.

John F. Boynton was born September 20, 1811, at Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off September 3, 1837, at Kirtland.

William Smith was born March 13, 1811, at Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was deprived of the apostleship October 7, 1845, in Nauvoo, and was excommunicated October 12, 1845.

Parley P. Pratt was born April 12, 1807, at Burlington, Otsege County, New York; was ordained an apostle February 21, 1835, at Kirtland, and was assassinated near Van Buren, in Arkansas, May 14, 1857.

Thomas B. Marsh was born November 1, 1799, at Acton, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle April 25 or 26, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off for apostacy, at Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1839.

Orson Pratt was born September 19, 1811, at Hartford, Washington County, New York; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1835, at Kirtland. He died at his residence in Salt Lake City, October 3, 1881.

John Taylor was born November 1, 1808, at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England; was ordained an apostle December 19, 1838, at Far West, Missouri. He was President of the Twelve from the death of Brigham Young, and has been sustained as First President of the church since October 10, 1880, with apostles George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as his counselors.

John E. Page was born February 25, 1799, at Trenton, Oneida County, New York; was ordained an apostle December 19, 1838, at Far West, Missouri. He was cut off June 27, 1846.

Wilford Woodruff was born March 1, 1807, at Avon, Hartford County, Connecticut; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1839, at Far West, Missouri. Since October 10, 1880, has been sustained as President of the Twelve Apostles.

George A. Smith was born June 26, 1817, at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1839, at Far West, Missouri. He was appointed and sustained first counselor to President Brigham Young, at the October Conference, 1868. He continued to hold this office until his death, September 1, 1875.

Willard Richards was born June 24, 1804, at Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle April 14, 1840, at Preston, Lancashire, England, by President Brigham Young and the Council of Apostles held there on that day. He was second counselor to President Young from December 27, 1847, until his death, March 11, 1854.

Lyman Wight was born May 9, 1796, at Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York; was ordained an apostle April 8, 1841, at Nauvoo. He was excommunicated February 12, 1849.

Amasa M. Lyman was born March 30, 1813, at Lyman, Grafton County, New Hampshire; was ordained an apostle August 20, 1842, at Nauvoo. He was deprived of his apostleship October 8, 1867, and excommunicated May 12, 1870.

Ezra T. Benson was born February 22, 1811, at Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle July 16, 1846, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He died at Ogden, September 3, 1869.

Charles C. Rich was born August 21, 1809, in Campbell County, Kentucky, and was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City. He died at Paris, Idaho, November 17, 1883.

Lorenzo Snow was born April 3, 1814, at Mantua, Portage County, Ohio; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.

Erastus Snow was born November 9, 1818, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.

Franklin D. Richards was born April 2, 1821, at Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.

George Q. Cannon was born January 11, 1827, at Liverpool, Lancashire, England; was ordained an apostle August 26, 1860, at Salt Lake City; was sustained first counselor to President John Taylor October 10, 1880.

Brigham Young, Jun., was born December 18, 1836, at Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio; was set apart as one of the Twelve Apostles October 9, 1868, in Salt Lake City.

Joseph F. Smith was born November 13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri; was received into the Council of Apostles October 6, 1867, at Salt Lake City. He was sustained as second counselor to President John Taylor October 10, 1880.

Albert Carrington was born January 8, 1813, at Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont; was ordained an apostle July 3, 1870, at Salt Lake City.

Moses Thatcher was born February 2, 1842, at Sangamon County, Illinois; was ordained an apostle April 7, 1879, at Salt Lake City.

Francis M. Lyman was born January 12, 1840, near McComb, in McDonough County, Illinois; was ordained an apostle October 27, 1880, at Salt Lake City.

John H. Smith was born September 18, 1848, at Carbunca, Pottowattomie County, Iowa; was ordained an Apostle October 27, 1880, at Salt Lake City.

George Teasdale was born on the 8th of December, 1831, at London, England, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 16th of October, 1882, by President John Taylor, assisted by George Q. Cannon and others of the apostles.

Heber J. Grant was born on the 22d of November, 1856, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 16th of October, 1882, by President George Q. Cannon, assisted by President John Taylor and others of the apostles.

John W. Taylor was born on the 15th of May, 1858, at Provo City, Utah County, Utah, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 9th day of April, 1884, by President John Taylor, assisted by Counselors Geo. Q. Cannon, Jos. F. Smith and others of the apostles.

The first First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of the church, in Kirtland, were:

FIRST PRESIDENCY.

Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams.

TWELVE APOSTLES.

1. Thomas B. Marsh, 2. David W. Patten, 3. Brigham Young,

4. Heber C. Kimball, 5. Orson Hyde, 6. William E. McLellin,

7. Parley P. Pratt, 8. Luke S. Johnson, 9. William Smith,

10. Orson Pratt, 11. John F. Boynton, 12. Lyman E. Johnson.

The persons composing the first Council of Twelve Apostles were chosen by the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon, viz.: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, on the 14th day of February, 1835. They were ordained Apostles by Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, as stated in the History of Joseph Smith, under date of May 28, 1843.

In a revelation given through Joseph, the Seer, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, the Lord said to him: "Let my servant John Taylor, and also my servant John E. Page, and also my servant Wilford Woodruff, and also my servant Willard Richards, be appointed to fill the places of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their appointments."

When Frederick G. Williams was rejected from the First Presidency, on the 7th of November, 1837, at Far West, Hyrum Smith was appointed a counselor in his stead, which position he occupied until called to officiate as Patriarch to the church, after the death of his father, Joseph Smith, Sen., which occurred in Nauvoo, September 14, 1840, when William Law was appointed counselor to the Prophet Joseph in Hyrum's stead. This office Wm. Law occupied until the assassination of the Prophet and Patriarch, which occurred June 27, 1844, at Carthage, Illinois.

The First Presidency and Twelve Apostles as they stood in Nauvoo, after the apostacy of Luke S. Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, Lyman E. Johnson, Thomas B Marsh and Frederick G. Williams, and the ordination of Hyrum Smith to the office of Patriarch, were:

FIRST PRESIDENCY.

Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, William Law.

TWELVE APOSTLES.

1. Brigham Young, 2. Heber C. Kimball, 3. Parley P. Pratt,

4. Orson Pratt, 5. Orson Hyde, 6. William Smith,

7. John Taylor, 8. John E. Page, 9. Wilford Woodruff,

10. Willard Richards, 11. George A. Smith, 12. Lyman Wight.

At a General Conference, held on December 27, 1847, at Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs,) Iowa, the Saints acknowledged Brigham Young President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards his Counselors. This action was confirmed at the General Conference, held in Salt Lake Valley, after the companies had arrived in the Fall of 1848.

In Salt Lake City, February, 1849, after the assassination of the Prophet Joseph, the apostacy of Sidney Rigdon, William Law, William Smith, John E. Page and Lyman Wight, the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles stood as follows:

FIRST PRESIDENCY.

Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards.

TWELVE APOSTLES.

1. Orson Hyde, 2. Parley P. Pratt, 3. Orson Pratt,

4. John Taylor, 5. Wilford Woodruff, 6. George A. Smith,

7. Amasa M. Lyman, 8. Ezra T. Benson, 9. Charles C. Rich,

10. Lorenzo Snow, 11. Erastus Snow, 12. Franklin D. Richards.

After the death of Counselor Willard Richards, March 11, 1854, President B. Young nominated, and the church sustained Jedediah M. Grant, at the General Conference April 6, 1854, as his second counselor. Elder Grant filled this office until his death, at Salt Lake City, December 1, 1856. He was born in Windsor, Broome County, New York, February 21, 1816.

John W. Young was born October 1st, 1844, at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois; was ordained an apostle November 22d, 1855, by President Brigham Young, assisted by Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant, at Salt Lake City; on the 4th of February, 1864, he was set apart to be assistant counselor to the First Presidency by his father, President Brigham Young, and on the 8th of October, 1876, was set apart as first counselor to President Brigham Young, by his father, assisted by Daniel H. Wells and Brigham Young, Jr, at Salt Lake City, which position he occupied until the death of President Young. Since then he has officiated as counselor to the Twelve Apostles.

Daniel H. Wells was born October 27, 1814, at Trenton, Oneida County, New York; was ordained an apostle and set apart to be second counselor in the First Presidency by President Brigham Young, January 4th, 1857. He held this office until the death of President Young; since then he has officiated as counselor to the Twelve Apostles.

Since the death of Presidents Brigham Young and George A. Smith, Elders Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Ezra T. Benson, Orson Pratt and Charles C. Rich, and the apostacy of Amasa M. Lyman, the First Presidency and Council of Apostles have been as follows, from April 9, 1884:

FIRST PRESIDENCY.

John Taylor, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith.

TWELVE APOSTLES.

1. Wilford Woodruff, 2. Lorenzo Snow, 3. Erastus Snow,

4. Franklin D. Richards, 5. Brigham Young, 6. Albert Carrington,

7. Moses Thatcher, 8. Francis M. Lyman, 9. John H. Smith,

10. George Teasdale, 11. Heber J. Grant, 12. John W. Taylor.

Francis M. Lyman and John H. Smith were appointed and sustained at the General Conference in October, 1880, but were not ordained, on account of the absence of Elder Lyman, until the 27th day of that month.

Bible.

_Matt_. 10. 2-4 the names of the Twelve Apostles are these.

28. 19, 20 go ye therefore and teach all nations.

_Mark_ 3. 14 he ordained Twelve that they should be with him.

_John_ 15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.

_Acts_ 1. 25 that ye may take part in this ministry and apostleship.

4. 35 laid them down at the apostles' feet.

16. 4 the decrees ordained of the apostles.

_Rom_. 1. 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship.

11. 13 inasmuch as I am an apostle of the Gentiles.

1 _Cor_. 12. 28 God hath set some in the church, first apostles.

2 _Cor_. 12. 12 truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you.

_Eph_. 2. 20 built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.

3. 5 as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets.

4. 11 and he gave some apostles and some prophets, etc.

_Neh_. 3. 1 the apostle and high priest of our profession.

_Jude_ 17. words spoken before of the apostles of our Lord.

_Rev_. 18. 20 rejoice over her, ye holy apostles and prophets.

Book of Mormon.

3 _Nephi_ 12. 1 give heed unto these Twelve whom I have chosen.

13. 25 ye are they I have chosen to minister to this people.

19. 4 Jesus chose twelve disciples among the Nephites.

_Chap_. 28. Jesus' ministry to his Twelve Disciples; three chosen to remain.

_Mormon_ 1. 16 disciples taken out of the land on account of wickedness.

3. 19 Nephites to be judged by the Twelve whom Jesus chose.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 18. 9 called with the same calling as the apostle Paul.

27-47 calling of the Council of Twelve Apostles in this dispensation.

19. 8 for it is meet for you to know, even as mine apostles.

20. 2, 3 Joseph Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery called and ordained apostles.

27. 12 with Peter, James and John, by whom I have ordained you apostles.

84. 63 you are mine apostles, even God's high priests. 64.

95. 4 prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time.

_See A Pamphlet, Succession in the Priesthood, by John Taylor_.

_Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 19, page 111_.

" " _Geo. Q. Cannon, J. of D. Vol. 10, page 230_.

CONSECRATION--STEWARDSHIP--UNITED ORDER.

To the Elder or Saint who has studied the revelations of our Lord Jesus Christ, as given in the Doctrine and Covenants, by the light of the Holy Spirit, it is most abundantly manifest that the human family has departed, degenerated or apostatized from original methods in their secular or business concerns, as truly, and as extensively, as they have in their spiritual interests, or the matters of their religious faith.

Enoch instituted an order of things among his people, in their business and financial relations, which so revolutionized their temporalities, that they had no poor among them, and all rejoiced together in equal hope of the life and exaltation, offered to them in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father.

This very peculiar condition of things has been revealed to us under the style of United Order of Enoch, and it would surprise many who have given little attention to it to know how much is said in explanation and support of this doctrine in the Revelations.

We have thought that our little work could not be considered complete without a studied article, explanatory of this subject, but have concluded to give some references and citations, and invite the earnest students and scholars in the Church to investigate these great principles of social reform which have long puzzled the scientists and moralists of our age, which are worthy the efforts of our best minds, enlightened by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and which God has promised to set in order in his Church, in his own time and in his own way.

Bible.

_Psalm_ 50. 5 gather my Saints together, that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

_Matt_. 19. 16-21 go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor.

_Acts_ 4. 31, 32 but they had all things common.

35 distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Book of Mormon.

4 _Nephi_ 1. 2, 3 they had all things common among them, therefore they were not rich and poor, bond and free.

16 there could not be a happier people who had been created by the hand of God.

24, 25 from that time they had their goods and substance no more common among them.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 19. 26 Martin Harris was commanded to impart of his substance, for printing the Book of Mormon.

34, 35 Martin Harris commanded to impart all his substance except sufficient for the support of his family.

42. 30 properties to be consecrated for the support of the poor, by deed and Covenant.

32 every man to be made accountable to the Lord, as a steward over his own property.

33 properties in the hands of the Church, or individuals, more than is necessary for their support, shall be kept to administer to those who have not.

39 the riches of those who embrace the Gospel among the Gentiles, to be consecrated to the poor of the house of Israel.

37 he that is cast out of the Church shall not receive that which he has consecrated to the poor.

51. 1, 2 must needs be that they be organized according to my laws, or they will be cut off.

3 appoint unto this people their portion, every man equal according to their families.

4 a writing given unto every man to secure unto him his portion. 5-7.

58. 35-87 Martin Harris to be an example unto the Church, in laying his monies before the bishop. This is the law to every man who would receive an inheritance in Zion.

70. 9-11 no man exempt from the law of consecration who belongs to the church.

78. 4 the order for the establishment of the poor to be everlasting.

5, 6 all to be equal in heavenly and earthly things.

11, 12 the Saints to organize by an everlasting covenant. He who breaks it to be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan.

82. 11 certain men to be bound together by a covenant not to be broken. 12-18.

21 the soul that sins against this covenant and hardens his heart against it, to be turned over to the buffetings of Satan.

85. 3-5 those who do not keep the law of consecration and tithing, shall not have their names enrolled with the people of God; their genealogy shall not be found in the records of the church, neither shall the names of the fathers or children be written in the book of the law of God.

104. 1 the united order to be an everlasting order for the salvation of men until Christ come.

4-10 the penalty of breaking the covenants of the united order.

11-13 every man's stewardship to be appointed unto him.

15, 16 the Lord will provide for his Saints in his own way.

54, 55 the properties of the Saints are the Lord's, or else is their faith vain.

105. 2 were it not for the transgressions of my people, they might have been redeemed even now.

4 are not united according to the law of the celestial kingdom.

5 Zion cannot be built up except by the law of the celestial kingdom.

9 elders to wait a little season for the redemption of Zion.

Pearl of Great Price.

_Pages_ 18, 19, 20 an account of the city of Enoch.

_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 15, page 220_.

" " " " " _17_, " _56_.

" " _J. Taylor_, " " _17_, " _47_.

" " _G. A. Smith_, " " _17_, " _58_.

" " _W. Woodruff_, " " _17_, " _69_.

" " _E. Snow_. " " _17_, " _74_.

" " _O. Pratt_, " " _17_, "_ 103_.

" " _L. Snow,_ " " 18, " 371.

" " _E. Snow_, " " 19, " 179.

" " _L. Snow,_ " " _19_, " _341_.

" " _J. Taylor_, " " _20_, " _55_.

" " _L. Snow_, " " _20_, " _361_.

" " _J. Taylor_, " " _21_, " _53_.

" " _O. Pratt_, " " _21_, " _146_.

GEMS FROM THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.

_May_, 25, 1835, in a Council of the Twelve, Brigham Young, one of the Twelve, Elders John P. Greene and Amos Orton were set apart to open the door of the Gospel to the remnants of Joseph.

PRESIDENCY OF THE TWELVE.--_January_ 16, 1836, in a Council of the Twelve the Prophet Joseph made the following remark: "The Twelve are not subject to any other than the First Presidency, viz.: myself, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, who are now my Counselors; (and where I am not, there is no First Presidency over the Twelve.)"

A Vision.--_January_ 21, 1836, the Prophet Joseph says of this time; "The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell. I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son. I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold. I saw Fathers Adam and Abraham, and my father and mother, my brother Alvin, that has long since slept, and marvelled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins. Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying--All who have died without a knowledge of this Gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom, for I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. And I also beheld all children who die before they arrive at years of accountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. * * *

"Many of my brethren who received the ordinance with me saw glorious visions also. Angels ministered unto them as well as myself, and the power of the Highest rested upon us, the house was filled with the glory of God, and we shouted Hosanna to God and the Lamb."

THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.--_On the evening of March_ 27, 1836, President Joseph Smith met the Quorums of the Priesthood in the Temple, and instructed them respecting the ordinance of washing of feet, and in relation to the Spirit of prophecy, "And called upon the congregation to speak, and not to fear to prophesy good concerning the Saints, for if you prophesy the falling of these hills, and the rising of the valleys, the downfall of the enemies of Zion, and the rising of the kingdom of God, it shall come to pass. Do not quench the Spirit, for the first one that opens his mouth shall receive the spirit of prophecy. Brother G. A. Smith arose, and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues, and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together, (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple,) and were astonished at what was transpiring."

WHAT THE ELDERS SHOULD PREACH.--_March_ 30, 1836, the Elders met in the Kirtland Temple, to attend to the ordinance of washing of feet, under the direction of the Prophet Joseph. He made the following remarks:

"That the time that we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be endued, would be fulfilled in a few days, and then the Elders would go forth, and each must stand for himself, as it was not necessary for them to be sent out, two by two, as in former times, but to go in all meekness, in sobriety, and preach Jesus Christ and him crucified; not to contend with others on account of their faith, or systems of religion, but pursue a steady course. This I delivered by way of commandment; and all who observe it not, will pull down persecution upon their heads, while those who do, shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost; this I pronounced as a prophecy, and sealed with hosanna and Amen."

THE COMFORTER.--From instructions of the Prophet Joseph, given at a Conference of the Twelve, _June_ 27, 1839.

"There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as given on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after faith, repentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham.

That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.

THE OTHER COMFORTER spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person hath faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands,) which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted, etc. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the _other Comforter_, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses. * *

Now, what is this _other Comforter_? It is no more or less than the LORD JESUS CHRIST himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even he will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and _Church of the First Born_, etc.

"THE SPIRIT OF REVELATION is in connection with these blessings. A person may profit by noticing the first intimations of the Spirit of Revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing unto you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i. e.,) those things that were presented unto your mind by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of Revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."

FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.--"Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before they repent or ask forgiveness, our Heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us."

KEYS.--_July_ 2, 1839, at a meeting of the Twelve and some of the Seventies, President Joseph Smith made the following remarks: "O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important KEY--that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray _Jesus Christ_; that you do not betray the _brethren_; that you do not betray the _revelations_ of God, whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found in your skirts, and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to thy brethren.

I will give unto you one of the _keys_ of the mysteries of the kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the highroad to apostacy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.

The principle is as correct as the one Jesus put forth in saying, that he who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person; and that principle is eternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man.

COMING OF THE SON OF MAN.--On another occasion about this time the prophet Joseph made the following remarks: "Men profess to prophesy. I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall soon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into blood. I testify of these things, and that the coming of the Son of Man is nigh, even at your doors. If our souls and our bodies are not looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man; and after we are dead, if we are not looking forth, &c.; we shall be among those who are calling for the rocks to fall upon us, &c. * * * The time is soon coming when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her Stakes.

"I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood, desolation, fires. &c.

"The Son of Man has said that the mother shall be against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, &c. These things are at our doors. They will follow the Saints of God from city to city. Satan will rage, and the spirit of the devil is now enraged. I know not how soon these things will take place; and with a view of them, shall I cry peace? No! I will lift up my voice and testify of them. How long you will have good crops, and the famine be kept off, I do not know; when the fig tree leaves, know then that the summer is nigh at hand."

THE SAINTS MUST SUFFER.--_September_ 29, 1839, "Explained concerning the coming of the Son of Man, &c.; also that it is a false idea that the Saints will escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked suffer; for all flesh is subject to suffer, and 'the righteous shall hardly escape;' still many of the Saints will escape, for the just shall live by faith; yet many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved in the kingdom of God. So that it is an unhallowed principle to say that such and such have transgressed because they have been preyed upon by disease or death, for all flesh is subject to death; and the Savior said, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.'"

TRANSLATION.--_October_ 5, 1840. "Many may have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fulness, but this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters, be held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead. * * * This distinction is made between the doctrine of the actual resurrection and translation: translation obtains deliverance from the tortures and sufferings of the body, but their existence will prolong as to the labors and toils of the ministry, before they can enter into so great a rest and glory."

SACRIFICE TO BE RESTORED.--"It is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future; but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges, and authority of the Priesthood, or with the Prophets. * *

"These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and will exist when the powers of the Melchizedec Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by all the holy Prophets be brought to pass?"

BOOK OF MORMON.--_November_ 28, 1841. In council with the Twelve Apostles, Joseph Smith said, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."

THE RESURRECTION.--_March_ 20, 1842. From a sermon of Joseph Smith's: "As concerning the resurrection, I will merely say that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young; there will not be 'added unto their stature one cubit,' neither taken from it; all will be raised by the power of God, having spirit in their bodies, and not blood."

SPIRIT AND MATTER.--_April_ 1, 1842. The Prophet Joseph said, "In tracing the thing to the foundation, and looking at it philosophically, we shall find a very material difference between the body and the spirit: the body is supposed to be organized matter, and the spirit, by many, is thought to be immaterial, without substance. With this latter statement we should beg leave to differ, and state that spirit is a substance; that it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic, and refined matter than the body; that it existed before the body, can exist in the body, and will exist separate from the body, when the body will be mouldering in the dust; and will in the resurrection, be again united with it."