A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAnderson, Nephi
Religion
A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Anderson, Nephi
Latter Day Saint churches
Thus was the power to baptize for the remission of sins again given to the
earth. Think what a great event it was! None in all the world had this
power, save two unknown young men in the woods of Pennsylvania. Great
things often have small beginnings. Now there are thousands who have this
blessed power, and no doubt the elder that baptized each of you can trace
his ordination which gave him the authority to do so back to Joseph or
Oliver and from them to John the baptist.
Sometime in June, 1829, the promise which John made to the young men was
fulfilled. The ancient apostles Peter, James, and John, who held the keys
of this higher power came to Joseph and Oliver and ordained them to the
Melchizedek Priesthood. This gave them the power to lay on hands for the
gift of the Holy Ghost, and also to go forth and administer in the
ordinances of the gospel.
Topics.--1. Priesthood. 2. Visit of John the Baptist. 3. Visit of Peter,
James, and John.
Questions and Review.--1. What led Joseph and Oliver to ask the Lord
about baptism? 2. What is baptism for? 3. How is it performed? 4. How did
Joseph and Oliver get the authority to baptize? 5. Who was John the
Baptist? 6. What is Priesthood? 7. Name the two grades of Priesthood. 8.
Who baptized you? 9. How did he get the authority to baptize? 10. Who were
Peter, James, and John? 11. What did they do? 12. Give the date of John's
visit.
CHAPTER VIII.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
By this time many people came to Joseph, some out of curiosity, some to be
taught of the wonderful truths which he had received, and some, I am sorry
to say, came to do him harm. As Joseph and Oliver now had power to baptize,
a number of those who believed were baptized by them.
The time had now come to organize the Church and the Lord revealed to
Joseph that it should be done on the 6th day of April, 1830. Accordingly on
that day six men who had been baptized met at the house of Peter Whitmer,
Sen., at Fayette, Seneca county, state of New York. Their names were Joseph
Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Samuel H. Smith,
and David Whitmer.
Joseph tells us what was done at this meeting as follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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