9. The Voice of God and the Voice of the People in Church Government.--Thus the church was organized; and in that organization we see the operation of two mighty principles--the voice of God: the consent of the people. At the time that Joseph and Oliver received instruction to ordain each other to be elders of the church, they were told to defer their ordination until such time as would be practicable to get their brethren who had been and who would be baptized assembled together: for they must have the sanction of their brethren before they ordained each other elders of the Church; and their brethren must decide by vote whether they would accept them [Joseph and Oliver] as spiritual[21] teachers. Thus, notwithstanding Joseph and Oliver had been ordained apostles under the hands of Peter, James and John, and had doubtless re-ordained each other as already stated,[22] yet when it came to being ordained _elders of the Church_,[23] and made the spiritual leaders of it, it must be done by the common consent of the church; and thus early we see enforced that law which says: "All things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much prayer and faith." [24] But no sooner was the church organized than a prophet, a seer, a translator, is appointed and the church commanded to give heed to his words, and to receive them as coming from the mouth of of the Lord himself. Here in the very inception of the church organization is clearly established the great truth, the grand principle, that in the government of the church there is to be a union of the voice of God {301} and the consent or voice of the people. Not _vox populi, vox Dei;_[25] nor _vox Dei, vox populi_;[26] but _vox Dei et vox populi_.[27] 10. Revelation on Church Government and Discipline.--Previous to the organization of the church, a very important revelation was given--in fact it was the revelation which pointed out the date on which the church was to be organized[28]--which teaches many important truths and points out the duties of the members of the church and also the duties of the officers of the church--so far as the officers of the church at that time had been given. That revelation announces the following doctrines:-- _I. Of the Existence of God_.--There is a God in heaven who is infinite and eternal from everlasting to everlasting--unchangeable; the framer of heaven and earth and all things which are in them. _II. Of the Creation and Fall of Man_.--God created man male and female, after his own image, and in his own likeness created he them. He gave them commandment that they should love and serve him, and that he should be the sole object of their worship. But by the transgression of these holy laws man became sensual and devilish--fallen man.