Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines
It was made manifest to them that they had been translated by the gift
and power of God, and the voice of the Lord commanded that they should
bear record of the things that had been shown them.
JOSEPH SMITH, JUN., AS A PROPHET, AND FULFILLER OF HIS OWN PROPHECIES.
"And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of
my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days;" _Doc. & Cov_.
1. 4. This was one of the first prophetic commandments given to the
Latter-day Saints, through Jos. Smith, Jun.
Many hundreds of the Elders of the Church have traveled to and fro in
the earth, regardless of exposure to the elements, of fatigue, or of
pecuniary considerations, warning the people to repent of their sins,
for the day of the Lord was near.
There are now but few nations who are prepared to receive the word,
that have not had the Gospel of this dispensation preached to them.
With a constantly increasing number of Elders, the labor will continue
until the Gospel is preached "as a witness to all nations." The quorums
of the Priesthood were organized and set in order, by Jos. Smith, Jun.,
with this great work especially in view.
In _sec_. 3. 16-20, it is predicted that a knowledge of the Savior,
and also of their fathers, should come to the descendants of Lehi, the
American Indians. Through the ministry and teachings of Jos. Smith,
Jun., thousands of the Lamanites have come to a knowledge of their
fathers, and many "Believe the Gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus
Christ," of which many of the Latter-day Saints are witnesses.
"Behold, a marvellous work is about to come forth among the children
of men;" 4. 1. This declaration was made in February, 1829; before
the organization of the Church. The organization of the Church, the
teachings, unity, energy, and progress of the Latter-day Saints, have
ever been a marvel to the world, and are daily becoming more so, in
fulfilment of this often repeated prediction in the book of _Doc. &
Cov_.
In March, 1829, the Lord said to Jos. Smith, Jun., "For hereafter you
shall be ordained and go forth and deliver my words unto the children
of men;" 5. 6. On the 15th of May following, John the Baptist laid
his hands upon the heads of Jos. Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, and
ordained them to "The Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the
ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism
by immersion for the remission of sins;" _sec_. 13.
It is evident that, previous to this time, Jos. Smith, Jun., had
foreseen by the spirit of prophecy, that it was necessary he should be
called of God as was Aaron, and for this reason was prepared to receive
a proper ordination by the hands of an authorized messenger from God.
We have no record of such previous ordination to the Priesthood, since
the days of the primitive apostles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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