Gospel Themes: A Treatise on Salient Features of "Mormonism"Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson)
Religion
Gospel Themes: A Treatise on Salient Features of "Mormonism"
Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
The offices of the Aaronic Priesthood, graded upward, are deacon,
teacher and priest, and the presidency of that priesthood is the
bishopric. The bishop has charge of the Church property, and he
receives and disburses the tithes, fast offerings, and other revenues,
under the direction of the higher authorities. There is a presiding
bishopric, who have general charge of the funds provided for the
support of the poor, for the building of temples, and for other
purposes. They also have in custody the general financial records of
the Church. A bishop must either be a lineal descendant of Aaron, in
which event he can act without counselors, or he must be a high priest
after the order of Melchizedek, having as his counselors two other
high priests of that order. Under the jurisdiction of the presiding
bishopric, in temporal matters, are the bishoprics of the wards. The
ward is a division of the stake, as the stake is a division of the
Church.
A stake, in territorial extent, often corresponds to a county, though
in populous districts there may be several stakes in one county. There
are four stakes in Salt Lake City. Each stake has a presidency of three
and a high council of twelve, and these have jurisdiction over all
members and organizations in the stake, including the ward bishoprics.
The ward bishopric constitutes a court for the trial of members who
transgress the Church laws and regulations. From the decision of the
bishop's court either party in the case may appeal to the high council;
and from a decision of the high council an appeal may be taken to the
First Presidency, who review the evidence, and if any injustice has
been done, they remand the case for a new trial. If a President of the
Church were tried, it would have to be before "the common council of
the Church," assisted by "twelve counselors of the high priesthood."
The extreme penalty imposed by any Church tribunal is excommunication.
The Melchizedek Priesthood comprises, in an ascending scale, the
offices of elder, seventy, and high priest. There are also the callings
of patriarch, apostle, and president, who must all be high priests
after this order. Each specific body of high priests, seventies,
elders, priests, teachers, or deacons, is called a quorum, but most of
the general priesthood organizations are termed councils.
The Council of the First Presidency is composed of three, one of them
the President, and the other two his first and second counselors. These
three high priests preside over the entire Church. The President is
prophet, seer and revelator, and likewise trustee-in-trust for the
Church, holding the legal title to its property.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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