=9.= In the days of the apostles, circumstances rendered it expedient to appoint special officers in the Church, to care for the poor and attend to the distribution of supplies; these were selected with care, and were set apart through prayer and laying on of hands.[561] Timothy was similarly ordained, as witness the admonitions given him by Paul:--"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery,"[562] and again, "Stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."[563] The Lord has bound Himself by solemn covenant to acknowledge the acts of His authorized servants. Unto whomsoever the elders give promise after baptism the Holy Ghost will come.[564] Whatever the priesthood shall bind or loose on earth, is to be similarly bound or loosed in heaven;[565] the sick upon whom the elders lay their hands, are to recover;[566] and many other signs are to follow them that believe. And so jealous is the Lord of the power to officiate in His name, that at the judgment, all who have aided or persecuted His servants, are to be rewarded or punished as if they had done those things unto Christ Himself.[567] [561] Acts vi, 1-6. [562] I Timothy iv, 14. [563] II Tim. i, 6. [564] Acts ii, 38; III Nephi xi, 35; xii, 2; Doc. and Cov. lxxxiv, 64. [565] Matt. xvi, 19; Doc. and Cov. i, 8; cxxviii, 8-11. [566] Mark xvi, 15-18. [567] Matt. xviii, 4-6; xxv, 31-46; Doc. and Cov. lxxv, 19-22; lxxxiv, 88-90. =10. Unauthorized Ministrations= in priestly functions are not alone invalid, they are indeed grievously sinful. In His dealings with mankind, God has ever recognized and honored the priesthood established by His direction; and has never countenanced any unauthorized assumption of authority. A terrible lesson is taught in the case of Korah and his associates, in their rebellion against the authority of the priesthood,--in that they falsely professed the right to minister in the priest's office. The Lord promptly visited them for their sins, causing the ground to cleave asunder, and to swallow them up with all their belongings.[568] [568] Numbers xvi. =11.= And think of the affliction that fell upon Miriam, the sister of Moses, a prophetess among the people.[569] She, with Aaron, railed against Moses, and they said, "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath He not spoken also by us? and the Lord heard it."[570] He came at once in a cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, denouncing their presumption, and vindicating the authority of His chosen oracle, Moses. When the cloud passed from the tabernacle, Miriam was seen to be leprous, white as snow; and according to the law, she was shut out of the camp of Israel. However, through the earnest entreaties of Moses, the Lord healed the woman, and she was subsequently permitted to return to the company. [569] Exo. xv, 21. [570] Numbers xii.