Chapter II: Law of Lineage

The second claim of the "Reorganization" is that the office of president of the church belongs to "young Joseph" by right of the law of lineage, that it is his by birthright.

To begin with, we will say that there are ONLY TWO offices in the church which descend by lineage from father to son--the office of Patriarch and the office of Bishop. It is evident that the Lord recognizes the family unit and makes provision for it in the priesthood, but to attempt to stretch the law to include all the offices of the Priesthood and thus create royal families is unjust and carries us back to the feudal state of the Dark Ages. Here in America, where so great an advance has been made in this line, one cannot but stand amazed at seeing men hunt about in crevices and nooks for some reason which will make the Lord an upholder of special privileges to the exclusion of equality in his work. Of the office of patriarch or evangelist, concerning which the misinterpretation arises (Reorganized Edition, sec. 125:3), we read the following:

"It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the church,
to ordain evangelical ministers (i.e., Patriarchs), as they shall
be designated unto them by revelation. The order of this Priesthood
was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly
belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the
promises were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam
and came down by lineage in the following manner:--" (Doc. & Cov.,
sec. 107:39-41; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:17-18.)

These passages refer solely to the patriarchal or evangelical office, but our Reorganization friends would have you believe {494} that they apply to the Presidency of the Church or the Melchisedek Priesthood. That a proper comparison may be made we quote from The Saints Herald, vol. 39, p. 337, the above passage with the words they insert in parentheses to bolster up their claims:

"The order (including offices) of this Priesthood was confirmed
to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the
literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were
made. This order (not the Priesthood, but the offices therein)
was instituted in the days of Adam, and came by lineage in the
following manner:--From Adam to Seth" (Abel having been slain).

It can readily be observed that the Reorganization is not only guilty of misapplication of this passage, but also of perverting scripture by inserting words in a revelation of God to gain their stranded point. The revelation plainly states that the Patriarchal order of the priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, etc., and NOT THE OFFICES IN THE PRIESTHOOD, as asserted and assumed by the "Reorganization," and has nothing to do with the office of the President of the Church, which presidency according to Doctrine and Covenants, is chosen in the following manner: "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 prayers of the Church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church." Secs. 107-122, Reorganized Edition, 104-111. The fact that the office of the Patriarch and the office of Bishop are the only ones named in the revelations which go by lineage from father to son, is reason enough to any fair minded person that the other offices (including President of the Church) do NOT so descend. If not, why does the Lord make this specification and name the two exceptions?

Again, they contend that the Prophet Joseph received by blessing from his father the birthright, and that "his blessing (the Prophet's) shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him." (True Succession, p. 44.)

Therefore, they reason that "young Joseph" should be President of the Church. Let us see--the fact of the matter is: Hyrum Smith, the oldest living brother of the Prophet, obtained the birthright from his father. Joseph acknowledged that his brother Hyrum should receive the birthright, for "it was the right of patriarchal priesthood, even the evangelical priesthood, that was conferred upon the first born, and not the presidency of the church." Furthermore, in proof that {495} Hyrum Smith received the birthright, we quote the following revelation:

"And again, verily I say unto you, Let my servant William be
appointed, ordained, and anointed, as a counselor unto my servant
Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may
take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed
unto him by his father, by blessing and also BY RIGHT." (Doc. &
Cov., sec. 124: 91; Reorganized edition, sec. 107:29.)

Furthermore, in Hyrum Smith's patriarchal blessing given by his father, we read: "I now ask my Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ to bless thee with the same blessings with which Jacob blessed his son Joseph," etc. In I Chronicles, chapter 5, we are told that Joseph (son of Jacob) received the birthright.

However, the fact that Hyrum Smith received the birthright from his father would in no wise make him president of the church; for the patriarchal priesthood and the presidency of the church are two different things, and further, the descendants of Joseph Smith and those of Hyrum Smith "stand before God, as do all other men, assured of honor or dishonor, exaltation or degradation, according to their individual works."

It is further claimed that the president of this organization was called to be president of the church by revelation in 1841, which reads as follows:

"And now I say unto you as pertaining to my boarding house which I
have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it
be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my
servant Joseph, and his house have place therein, from generation
to generation; For this anointing have I put upon his head, that
his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity
after him, And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of
the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee and in
thy seed shall the kindred of the earth be blessed." (Doc. & Cov.,
sec.125:56-59; Reorganized edition, sec. 107:18.)

It seems almost unnecessary for comment or explanation as to the meaning of this passage. The Lord gives commandment to build a house in which the Prophet and his family are to have a home, and his posterity after him from generation to generation. It was this anointing that the Lord put upon the Prophet's head, that he and his posterity should enjoy the blessing of a home in this house, known as the "Nauvoo House." An inheritance in this house is the subject of this passage, and not one word to indicate that the posterity of the {496} Prophet should have the right to the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

As a conclusion in respect to the law of lineage, we quote the following words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which should silence all controversy on this subject:

"The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right from Eternal God, and
NOT BY DESCENT FROM FATHER AND MOTHER, and that Priesthood is
eternal as God himself, having neither beginning of days or end of
life." (Mil. Star, vol. 22, p. 55.)

Thinking, perhaps the Reorganization officials may question the authority of our quotation from the Millennial Star in 1860, we will verify the same by quoting the following passage from the inspired translation of "The Holy Scriptures" published by the Reorganized Church:

"For this Melchisedek was ordained a Priest after the order of the
Son of God, which Order was without FATHER, without MOTHER, without
DESCENT, having neither beginning of days or end of life. And ALL
THOSE who are ordained unto this Priesthood are like unto the Son
of God, abiding a Priest continually." (Heb. 7:3.)

There is only ONE way men receive the priesthood of God, and that is by the laying on of hands by one who had already the authority, therefore, "ALL THOSE who are ORDAINED UNTO this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually." It thus becomes evident that even had the son of the Prophet been promised in the revelations that he should become President of the Church, he could not become such until he was ordained by one possessing the authority to ordain him.

Should we admit that he had the promise from his father of being president, would men who had joined one church after another and become divested of all authority, have priesthood enough to so ordain him? (See Corner-Stone tract.)

III. Ordination

This leads us to the third claim, i.e., that "young Joseph" was ordained by proper authority.

Those who ordained him to the priesthood and set him apart to be president of the Reorganized Church were William Marks, Zenas H. Gurley, W. W. Blair, and Samuel Powers. {497} The two latter never did belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. William Marks, at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet, followed Sidney Rigdon, evidently forgetting the claim which he later advocated, that "young Joseph" should succeed his father. Later he left the church and joined James J. Strang's Organization, acknowledging Strang as the prophet of the Lord and the one who should succeed Joseph. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 723.) He so far departed from the true path as to be ordained and anointed to one position after another under Strang's hands, thus vitiating any priesthood he formerly received had he not been excommunicated. (See Corner Stones.) BECOMING DISSATISFIED he left Strang and joined Charles B. Thompson's Church. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 724,) STILL LATER he left Thompson and joined John E. Page's Church. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 724.) On June 11th, 1859, he entered the New Organization, subsequently the "Reorganization," on his original baptism. NOW WHERE WAS HIS AUTHORITY TO ORDAIN YOUNG JOSEPH?

On the verge of the great exodus from Nauvoo, Zenas H. Gurley fell away from the church. He was a Seventy at the time, but not a member of any general presiding quorum. One cannot but be struck with the coincident fact that just at this time the saints faced their greatest ordeal. Everything looked black. Only stout hearts survive. The question persists in recurring to the mind, did Zenas H. Gurley forsake the church in its need because of disbelief in it, or because he paled before the hardships and suffering ahead? At any rate, he left the church and joined J. J. Strang's Organization, in which he remained for a number of years. He became a leading factor in bringing about "The New Organization," and in 1860 assisted in ordaining young Joseph to the priesthood, and also in setting him apart. How about his authority? If the whole church went wrong and he was one of these few pillars, sent of God, to steady the ark, why did he grope about in uncertainty and join a man-made church? In an earlier case we know of, the Lord was very particular that his chosen vessel should "join none of them."

Reader, have you ever stopped to consider this fact, that a man who holds the priesthood of God cannot debase that priesthood by joining a church which is not of God and still retain that priesthood?

The only answer there is to this query makes plain the fact that these men had no authority to ordain any one to any {498} office in the priesthood, and as proof that "young Joseph" was not ordained by his father we quote his own words:

"No, sir, I did NOT state that I was ordained by my father; I did
not make the statement. I was NOT ordained by my father as his
successor,--according to my understanding of the word 'ordained'
I was not." (Plaintiff's Abstract, in temple lot suit, page 79,
paragraph 162.)

The Lord never left his church in uncertainty, but the power bestowed upon Joseph Smith was bestowed upon the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which quorum constituted the second quorum in the church. THEY were sustained in their calling as the first Presidency of the Church after the martyrdom by the vote and common consent of the people, August 8th, 1844, and again in October, 1844, and it was their duty to set in order the first presidency and all other officers of the church in accordance with the revelations of the Lord.

But let us turn to another side of the question: The Reorganization claims that there was an apostasy and a rejection of the church soon after the Prophet's death. If such was the case, then is there some reason for a Reorganization; if not, there is no excuse for it and a church carrying that name brands itself false.

In contrast with their fundamental view of the Reorganization; that is, the apostasy or rejection of the church at Joseph Smith's death, let us consider the sayings of some of the ancient prophets, and by the aid of their stronger vision learn the lesson before us.

Gloomy indeed must have been the immediate outlook to many of these ancient message-bearers of Jehovah. Rejected again and again they found little prospect of accomplishing more than but a meagre part of the mission of the priesthood. Full well they knew that if ever the world were cleansed from sin it would be through the efforts of God's servants, joined with the efforts of the people. They could look back to the days of Enoch and rejoice in the success of his ministry, for in Zion was the full mission of the priesthood achieved, but as for their labors, most of the seed fell upon stony ground. What was it, then, that gave to these unrewarded men, these outcasts, the tone of optimism we find in their writings? The answer becomes plain by a reading of them. Into their inspired vision was sent a glimpse of the future, and in the picture thus before them they saw a time, albeit afar off, when the Kingdom of Heaven, restored to the earth for the last {499} time, would gradually establish peace and righteousness among men. And so we read such passages as these:

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and shall
consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever." (Dan. 2:44.)

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and
to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. * * * And then
followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication." (Rev. 14:6-8.)

"But in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain
of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills and people shall
flow into it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let
us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God
of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his
paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people and rebuke
strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not
lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more." (Micah 4:1-3.)

In all these passages it is clearly evident that PERMANENCY was to be one characteristic of the latter-day kingdom, and that RESULTS were to follow it from the beginning without a break.

Finally the set time arrives, and the Father and the Son visit the earth. Men of old-time in an angelistic state come and deliver their messages. Peter, James, and John restore the priesthood. Elijah brings back the "key of the binding power," and under direct guidance from on High the KINGDOM becomes established once more.

What, we may now ask, is this latter-day kingdom like? Where are the evidences of its permanency? If that feature be so distinguishing a one that the ancient seers eagerly noted it and gave it so prominent a place in their descriptions, surely there will be some evidences of it, in the kingdom's make-up; in other words, in the light of these passages, we would expect that the Lord, in establishing His work for the last time, would place within it the power to overcome all obstacles and perpetuate itself. Let us examine the "Revelations."

In March, 1835, the Lord revelated to the Prophet the {500} authority of the different offices in the priesthood. Throughout, all men are counted equally worthy; NO SPECIAL son is named and no royal family indicated. We read, as quoted above:

"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, form a
quorum of the Presidency of the Church." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:22;
Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Again:

"The Twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve
Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the
world; thus differing from other officers in the church in the
duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority
and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." (Doc. &
Cov., sec. 107:23-24; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Further:

"The seventy are called to preach the gospel and be especial
witnesses unto the Gentiles in all the world, etc. And they form a
quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses
or apostles just named." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:25-26; Reorganized
edition, sec. 104:11.)

Ah! the important provision has been made. Not in one man's hands alone does full authority reside. Three great quorums possess it; the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the First Quorum of Seventy. In the latter two it is but latent during the life of the Presidency, for there is order in God's house, but being latent makes it none the less real. The result is obvious. Evil may abound in man's heart. The emissaries of Satan may incite them to bloodshed and drivings. They may martyr the Prophet, but we have the Twelve left. They may destroy the Twelve, but the Seventies remain. Surely, a blind man can perceive a strength from within which sets destruction at defiance. But this is not all. Not only is the power and authority in safe keeping, but the Lord has designated a special quorum to build up the Church whenever any of its offices become vacant, through death or otherwise. The revelation of March, 1835, says:

"It is the duty of the Twelve, also, to ordain and set in order ALL
THE OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH, etc." (Doc.& Cov., sec. 107:58;
Reorganized edition, sec. 104:30-31.)

Twice blind is he who cannot see that so long as such a quorum is in existence the Church will continue to live.

Now, then, what have we before us? A tottering edifice {501} of a day! Surely, NO, but an organization the equal of which the world has never seen; one which required a visit from the Father and the Son and the assistance of Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, Moses, Elias, Elijah, and others, to bring about. It was not Joseph Smith's church. He was but an instrument through which a great divine institution began to take root in the earth. And yet, in view of all this, we are told by the Reorganization that the Kingdom thus founded was so frail, so weak, that it collapsed at the death of one man. Without strength, without stability, it fell in its beginning to rise no more for sixteen years.

We do not so understand this great latter-day work. Nay, nothing could be further removed from our conception of it. To that man whose mind has been lit up by its spirit and who understands its mission in the world, such a view is impossible. If we examine ancient prophets, they contradict it. If we go to modern revelation, the answer is no less plain. If we consult common sense, it likewise says no. For divinely founded it was; and for the last time was it restored. Neither again to be taken away nor given to another people.

Not only has there been no rejection of the Church, but there has been no cause for one. From the beginning, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has always stood for that which is true and good. No people on earth can point to a better record. The bleak plains, the silent graves, the barren desert, the magnificent temples, the self-sacrificing elders, all bear testimony to its integrity and stability. What would the Lord reject them for? Has he ever had as loyal or as firm a people? Examine their history. Feel of the spirit they carry with them. Follow their tracts. Notice the solid ruins of their forsaken cities. Wherever they have planted their feet, there have they builded to remain. The spirit of permanency has surely rested upon them. The old Mormon homes in Nauvoo are among the most substantial in the place to-day. The temple there would have been a credit to the nation now had it remained unmolested. This same spirit they carried with them into the barren desert, and there on its thirsty soil, amid untold difficulties and hardships, reared yet more beautiful and substantial commonwealths. Magnificent temples towering in the now fruitful valleys proclaim the people busily engaged in preparing themselves for yet greater things to come. Truly,

"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform."

{502} To unaided man everything looked black sixty years ago. Today the severe experiences of those years are seen to be but a necessary preparation for the greater work of building up the New Jerusalem. Hardly necessary is it to add that they are fully prepared for this work when the time comes to begin it, and no less evident is it that a people who have been for half a century building temporary homes, with the expectation of being called at any time to build up the center stake, will hardly have had the experience necessary to build the greatest and most permanent of all cities and the most glorious of all temples.

Evidences are abundant on all sides that not only has God set up his work for the last time, but also that this work is accomplishing its mission. More clear, as time goes by, becomes the truth of Brigham Young's words:

"If any man thinks he has influence among this people to lead away
a party, let him try it, and he will find out that there is power
with the Apostles which will carry them off victorious through all
the world and build up and defend the Church and Kingdom of God."

Having obtained a glimpse of the glorious light which this Latter-Day Kingdom has shed upon the world, we are assured that He who founded it, He who has guided it until now, will work out its future path.

_"We do not believe it is just to mingle religious influences with
civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered, and
another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual
rights of its members as citizens, denied."--Joseph Smith_.

{503}

A GOSPEL OUTLINE.

A FEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES BEARING ON THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ARRANGED IN LOGICAL ORDER, AND DESIGNED TO GIVE TO MISSIONARIES--AND ALL OTHER STUDENTS OF THE GOSPEL--A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH SCRIPTURAL QUOTATIONS AS MAY BE REQUIRED FROM THE FIRST.

BY ELDER NEPHI ANDERSON, EDITOR LIAHONA THE ELDERS' JOURNAL.

Central States Mission:

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS,

302 South Pleasant Street, Independence, Missouri.

1910

NOTE--The elder, in the beginning of his studies and his presentation of the gospel, does not need a multitude of texts, which often lead to confusion, but a few strong, appropriate quotations under each topic, the references having as much as possible, a logical relationship to each other. It is earnestly suggested that the Scriptures in their fullness be carefully studied, for in no other way can the full meaning and true spirit of isolated texts be obtained. Missionaries, especially, should compile their own ready reference from their study of the Scriptures, for by so doing the texts and their arrangement become fixed in the mind. It is hoped that this outline will be a valuable help in this direction.

_THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD._

_1. A Knowledge of God Is Essential,_ for

JOHN 17:3.--"This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

_2. Personality of the Godhead_--In the Godhead there are three personages--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These are separate individuals, proved by

{504} MATT. 3:16, 17.--The baptism of Jesus; the Father speaking from heaven; the sign of the Holy Ghost descending from above.

ACTS 7:55, 56.--Stephen sees Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

JOHN 16:28.--Jesus came from the Father, and went back to Him.

JOHN, CHAP. 17.--Jesus prays to His Father.

DOC. & COV. 130:22.--The Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bone; the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

PEARL OF GREAT PRICE; WRITINGS OF JOSEPH SMITH.--The Father and the Son visit Joseph Smith.

_3. The Unity of the Godhead_--consists in a oneness of powers, attributes, purpose, etc.

JOHN 10:30-38.--Jesus and the Father are one.

JOHN 17:20-22.--Jesus prays that His disciples may be one, even as He and the Father are one.

_4. The Father is Revealed through the Son;_ for

JOHN 14:6.--"No man cometh to the Father, but by me" (the Son).

MATT. 11:27.--No man knows the Father save he to whom the Son will reveal Him.

JOHN 5:37.--The Jews had not seen God the Father's shape, nor heard His voice; but

JOHN 1:18.--The Son hath declared Him. Therefore, we receive our knowledge of the Father, not directly, but through a study of the Son. "As the Father, so the Son."

_5. Jesus Christ the Son_

JOHN 1:2.--He was in the beginning with God.

JOHN 1:3; COL. 1:16; DOC. & COV., 38:1-4.--All things were created by Him.

P. of G. P. MOSES, 1:33.--God has created worlds without number by the Son.

P. of G. P. MOSES, 4:1-4; ABR. 3:22-28.--Jesus in the council and the rebellion in heaven.

I NEPHI 19:10.--He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I COR. 10:4.--He is the Spiritual Rock that was with the children of Israel.