Items on the Priesthood, presented to the Latter-day SaintsTaylor, John
Religion
Items on the Priesthood, presented to the Latter-day Saints
Taylor, John
Aaronic Priesthood (Mormon Church); Latter Day Saints -- Controversial literature; Latter Day Saints -- Doctrines
That in regard to the office and calling of Bishops it is very much
like the office and calling of High Priests. All High Priests are
eligible to any office in the Church, when called, ordained and
appointed to fill such office. The First Presidency are High Priests.
The Twelve are High Priests, High Councilors are High Priests,
Presidents of Stakes are High Priests, and all their Counselors;
Bishops and their Counselors are High Priests: but it does not follow
that all High Priests are First Presidents, members of the Twelve
Apostles, Presidents of Stakes, High Councilors, Bishops or Bishops'
Counselors, they only obtain these offices by selection and appointment
from the proper source, and when not appointed to any specific calling,
they are organized in a Stake quorum, under a President and Council.
So although the Bishopric is eligible to fulfill any office to which
they may be appointed, all are not presiding Bishops, all are not
general Bishops, or special Bishops, or ward Bishops, or even Bishops'
agents; they occupy their several offices, as do the High Priests, by
selection, appointment, as well as ordination, and that the Presidency
of the Melchizedek Priesthood presides over, calls, directs, appoints
and counsels all. It is further evident that as the Melchizedek
Priesthood holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church,
and that the Presidency thereof has a right to officiate in all the
offices of the Church, therefore that Presidency has a perfect right
to direct or call, set apart and ordain Bishops, to fill any place
or position in the Church that may be required for that ministry to
perform in all the Stakes of Zion, or throughout the world. Thus, after
going through the whole matter, we come back to a term frequently used
among us: Obey counsel.
THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.
As the Levitical Priesthood is referred to in the Old Testament
scriptures, as well as in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, the
following quotations and remarks may throw some light upon the subject:
LEVITES AND LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Bring the tribe of Levi near,
and present them before Aaron the Priest, that they may minister unto
him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole
congregation, before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the
service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of
the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of
Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the
Levites unto Aaron and to his sons, they are wholly given unto them out
of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons,
and they shall wait on their Priest's office: and the stranger that
cometh nigh shall be put to death."--Num. iii: 5, 10.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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