Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"Smith, Joseph Fielding
History
Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
By way of commandment to the Church the manner of Baptism is set forth
as follows: "All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to
be baptized and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits,
and witness before the Church that they have truly repented of all
their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ,
having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by
their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the
remission of their sins, shall be received into his Church." No person
can be received into the Church unless he has arrived unto the years
of accountability, which is eight years, for he must be capable of
repentance, which infants are not. Baptism is to be administered in the
following manner unto all who repent:
How Baptism is Performed
"The person who is called of God, and has authority from Jesus Christ
to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has
presented him or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her
by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then
shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of
the water."
Duties of Elders, Priests, Teachers, Deacons and Members
An apostle is said to be an elder. His calling is to baptize and ordain
other officers in the Church. It should here be explained that at the
organization of the Church and for some time thereafter, the officers
mentioned here were all that were needed. As the Church expanded the
Lord revealed the duties of other officers in their time. Elders are to
baptize, confirm members, preach, expound the scriptures, administer
the sacrament and take charge of meetings which are to be conducted
"as they," the elders "are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the
commandments and revelations."
The priest is to teach, expound, baptize and administer the sacrament.
He may ordain other priests, teachers and deacons, but cannot lay on
hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. He may take the lead of meetings
in the absence of higher authority. It is his duty to visit the home of
the members and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and to attend
to all family duties. When called upon he is to assist the elder in his
duties.
The teacher is to be the guardian of the Church. He is to see that
there is no iniquity in the Church, neither lying, backbiting, or evil
speaking among the members, and to see that the Church meet together
often and that the members perform their duties. He is to take the
lead of meetings if there is no elder or priest present and may assist
them in their duties. He cannot baptize, confirm, or administer the
sacrament.
The deacon is to assist the teacher and other officers in the Church,
but he cannot baptize, confirm, or administer the sacrament.
Conferences of the Church
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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