At that
time there were no Seventies nor Twelve Apostles. 9:88-89.
Joseph Smith never would permit the Seventies to get together and
believe themselves a separate body from the rest of the Church. I
never cared much about this, for I was not a particle afraid that
they would get any power that truly does not belong to them; for, if
they did, I was always satisfied that it would be blown to the four
winds. I want to inform the Seventies living in Bishop Miller's Ward
(and what I now say applies to all the other Wards and Bishops) if
he calls on them to act as Teachers, it is their imperative duty to
act as Teachers, seeking to benefit and bless the people by enlarging
their understandings, that they may prove themselves before God and one
another. There is a world of intelligence to impart, and the Priesthood
(in its various callings, appointments, helps, and governments) is the
means, through its ministers, of imparting it to the people. It is not
a duty of a Seventy or High Priest, who is appointed a Teacher or a
Bishop, to neglect the duties of those callings to attend a Seventies'
or High Priests' meeting. Attend to the wishes of your Bishop, and
never ask who has the most power. The man who has the most power with
God will wield it, and earth and hell cannot hinder it. Every man who
has true influence has obtained it before God through faithfulness, and
in all such cases there is not the least danger but what he will have
it before the Saints. It is the man who converses with the heavens,
who delights in doing so, and knows for himself {222} that this is the
Kingdom of God, who has true influence. 9:92.
There is no retrograde movement in ordaining a High Priest to the
office of a Bishop, for, properly speaking, he is set apart to act in
that office. 10:96.
We shall dissolve the present High Council of this Stake. Many of
them are far advanced in years, and some of them live at considerable
distances from this city. They have labored according to the best of
their ability. 7:337.
_The Bishop and the Aaronic Priesthood_--The office of a Bishop
belongs to the lesser Priesthood. He is the highest officer in the
Aaronic Priesthood, and has the privilege of using the Urim and
Thummim--has the administration of angels, if he has faith, and lives
so that he can receive and enjoy the blessings Aaron enjoyed. At the
same time, could Aaron rise up and say, "I have as much power and
authority as you, Moses?" No; for Moses held the keys and authority
above all the rest upon the earth. He holds the keys of the Priesthood
of Melchizedek, which is the Priesthood of the Son of God, which
holds the keys of all these Priesthoods, dispensing the blessings and
privileges of both Priesthoods to the people, as he did in the days of
the Children of Israel when he led them out of Egypt. 9:87.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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