Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. SmithSmith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Religion
Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith
Smith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Latter Day Saint churches
There never can be and never will be, under God's direction, two equal
heads at the same time. That would not be consistent; it would be
irrational and unreasonable; contrary to God's will. There is one head,
and he is God, the head of all. Next to him stands the man he puts in
nomination to stand at the head on the earth, with his associates; and
all the other organizations and heads, from him to the {181} last, are
subordinate to the first, otherwise there would be discord, disunion
and disorganization.
I am tenacious that all should learn the right and power of the
Priesthood, and recognize it; and if they do it, they will not go far
astray. It is wrong to sit in judgment upon the presiding officers.
Suppose a bishop does wrong, are we to run away to everyone and
backbite and slander him, and tell all we know or think we know, in
relation to the matter, and spread it about? Is that the way for Saints
to do? If we do so we shall breed destruction to the faith of the
young, and others. If I have done wrong, you should come right to me
with your complaint, tell me what you know, and not say one word to
any other soul on earth; but let us sit down together as brethren and
make the matter right; confess, ask forgiveness, shake hands and be at
peace. Any other course than this will create a nest of evil, and stir
up strife among the Saints.--_Improvement Era,_ Vol. 6, July, 1903, pp.
704-708.
A BLESSING AND AN EXPLANATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD. The Lord bless you.
From the depths of my soul, I bless you; I hold the right, the keys
and the authority of the Patriarchal Priesthood in the Church. I have
a right to pronounce patriarchal blessings, because I bold the keys
and authority to do it. It is given to me and my associates to ordain
patriarchs and set them apart to give blessings to the people, to
comfort them by promises made in wisdom and the inspiration of the
Spirit of God, of the favor and mercies of the Lord that they may be
stronger in good works, and their hopes may be realized and their faith
increased. And I bless you, my brethren and sisters, in the cause of
Zion, with all my soul and by the authority of the priesthood that
I hold. I hold the priesthood of the apostleship, I hold the high
priesthood which is after the order of the Son of God, which is at the
foundation of all priesthood and is he greatest of all priesthoods,
because the apostle and the high priest {182} and the seventy derive
their authority and their privileges from the priesthood which is after
the Son of God. All authority comes out of that high priesthood.--_Oct.
C. R.,_ 1916, p. 7.
THE PRIVILEGE OF THE PRIESTHOOD TO BLESS. We have been told of an
incident which occurred a few weeks ago, when a bishop's counselor
(and therefore a high priest) from a remote settlement, while visiting
Salt Lake City, refused to administer to his sister's child who was
dangerously sick, for the reason that he was outside his own ward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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