Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of SuccessionSmith, Joseph Fielding
History
Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of Succession
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Latter Day Saint churches -- Government; Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- Government
The critic says: "If it said 'this _office_ of the Priesthood,' there
might be some shadow of reason in his contention, but it does not."
Is our friend not aware of the fact that the office of the Evangelist
(Patriarch) is spoken of as an order of Priesthood? The Lord said
pertaining to Hyrum Smith: "That my servant Hyrum may take the office
of _Priesthood_ and Patriarch which was appointed unto him by his
father, by blessing and also by right." (Sec. 124:91). And in the
blessing of Hyrum by his brother Joseph at Kirtland: "He shall stand
in the tracks of his father, and be numbered among those who hold the
right of Patriarchal _Priesthood_, even the Evangelical _Priesthood_
and power shall be upon him." It is spoken of as an order of
Priesthood, although a part of the Melchizedek Priesthood, just as the
Levitical is spoken of as an order, included in the Aaronic Priesthood.
3. The "defense" writer says: "There is not a scrap of evidence that
Moses confirmed upon Joshua a particle of Priesthood--merely the civil
leadership" The Scriptures say: "And Joshua the son of Nun was full
of the spirit of wisdom; _for Moses had laid his hands upon him_;
and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord
commanded Moses." (Deut. 34:9). He may, of course, quibble because it
does not say he gave him "the priesthood" when he laid hands upon him;
but surely he did not lay hands on Joshua merely to give him civil
leadership. It was by the power of the Priesthood that he led Israel
and commanded the sun and moon, he could have done it by no other
power. In regard to the others mentioned here who were ordained, the
"defender" is absolutely silent.
4. Of this argument and the testimony that follows the "defense" writer
remains silent, the editor of the Herald, however, takes exception
to the statement that Lyman Wight was at the meeting on the 8th of
August, having refused to attend. He says: "Heber C. Kimball and George
Miller came to his house, in her presence, (L. Wight's oldest daughter)
with a summons from Brigham Young to appear, which he declined to do,
declaring that the Twelve were usurping authority. This resulted in a
personal encounter during which Miller was forcibly evicted from the
room by Wight and Kimball followed without awaiting the enforcement of
the order."
If Lyman Wight refused to attend that meeting then he is incompetent
to say that the Apostles were usurping authority, for he knew nothing
about it. Moreover, if this statement is true it merely shows the
bitter apostate spirit manifested by Lyman Wight at that time. It
was his duty to meet with the Twelve and if things were not going as
he thought they should he had the privilege of stating his feelings;
this he refused to do, if the statement is correct. His hasty
unchristian-like action and sulking in his house does not redound to
the credit of the man.
5. Blood Atonement and Origin of Plural Marriage, p. 104.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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