3. The Church.--From the gospel and the priesthood comes the church. The church is the medium through which the gospel is promulgated--by which it is made known among the children of men. It is the system of government by which those who accept the gospel are controlled in things religious. It is the government of God on earth pertaining to religious affairs. The Lord had clothed it with his authority, which is his power; and it hath authority not only to teach the gospel, but to execute its laws, and inflict the penalties attached to a violation thereof--at least so far as dealing with the membership of trangressors is concerned; as for other penalties {342} that will fall upon the violators of divine law, the Father hath reserved that to himself, and will in his own time and way vindicate his own laws, having due regard to the relative claims of justice and mercy. The authority of the church comes from the priesthood, and may be said to be the collected authority of all the quorums of the priesthood combined--the aggregation of God's authority in the earth, in relation to things religious. Such is the church. 4. Divisions of the Priesthood.--In the church of Christ there are two grand divisions of priesthood; or rather its powers are grouped under two great heads--for all priesthood comes from God, is power from him, and therefore cannot properly be regarded as two different priesthoods.[100] The two divisions of priesthood are named respectively the Melchisedek priesthood[101] and the Aaronic priesthood.[102] The Melchisedek priesthood ministers more especially in spiritual things; it holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church, is entitled to receive the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to commune with the church of the First Born, and enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ.[103] The Aaronic priesthood ministers more especially in temporal things; it holds the keys, however, of the ministering of angels and the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.[104] 5. Officers of the Priesthood.--The officers of the Melchisedek {343} priesthood are apostles, seventies, patriarchs, high priests, elders. The officers of the Aaronic priesthood are bishops, priests, teachers, deacons. Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding officers growing out of, or appointed from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods.[105]