As the membership of the Church increased, men were called and ordained
to various offices in the work of the ministry. Besides the Apostles,
there were Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, etc. Among the
first to be chosen and ordained to a particular office of service in
the Church were "seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and
wisdom." Their names were, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas, and Nicolas. They are called Deacons and one of their chief
duties was to oversee the distribution of food among the poor.
[Sidenote: Stephen Martyred.]
Shortly after their appointment, a bitter and cruel persecution arose
against the Church at Jerusalem during which the Saints were scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judea, and Samaria. Stephen, "a man
full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," was stoned to death. Philip went
down to the city of Samaria, and there continued to preach Christ unto
the Samaritans.
[Sidenote: Philip.]
It seems that great power accompanied Philip's ministry, for "unclean
spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed;
and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there
was great joy in that city." The people, "with one accord," heeded
Philip's message and were baptized into the Church.
[Sidenote: Authority Limited.]
But baptism by water is not sufficient. It must be followed by the
baptism of the Holy Ghost. It seems, however, that Philip, though he
had authority to baptize, did not have the right to confer the Holy
Ghost. He, therefore, probably held the office of Priest.
[Sidenote: Holy Ghost Given.]
When the news that Samaria had received the Gospel reached Jerusalem,
"Peter and John were sent unto them. Who, when they were come down,
prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost." On the heads
of these baptized believers, Peter and John then laid their hands and
conferred upon them the Holy Ghost.
[Sidenote: Pretenders.]
The Lord does not accept everyone who is baptized into the Church. Only
those who sincerely believe in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the
World and who repent of their sins receive the Holy Ghost. Those who
are baptized without faith and repentance are mere pretenders.
One such joined the Church in England a few years ago. One day a member
seeing that the young man had no faith, asked him why he had joined the
Church.
"Oh, just to get out to America," he replied.
A little later in the conversation, he confessed to having joined the
Catholic Church, at one time, to get a string of beads! and afterward
joined the Latter-day Saints to come to Utah. Of course, it was not
long before he was excommunicated, and soon after fell into the depths
of sin and misery.
[Sidenote: Simon the Sorcerer.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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