=3. Fore-ordination.=--"'Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world' (Acts xv, 18). The knowledge that we have of the beginning of the world is principally derived from the history of its creation in the Bible Genesis, and in the writings of Moses and of Abraham, as given in the Pearl of Great Price.... These writings make it plain that man existed in a spiritual condition prior to coming here, and also quite as evident that in that pre-existence he exercised his free agency.... God may have called and chosen men in their first estate, or spiritual existence, but whether they will accept that call and fill it, by repentance and good works in this life, is a matter in which it is their privilege to exercise their free agency.... Men exercised their free agency in the first or spiritual estate, as well as in this. That the character of their works in that estate shaped their destiny in this is evident."--_Compendium_, F. D. Richards and J. A. Little, pp. 138-140. See also: Acts ii, 23; Romans viii, 29-30; xi, 2, 28; Isaiah xlviii, 12; I Chron. xxix, 1; Book of Mormon: Alma xiii, 3-7; Doc. and Cov. lxxxiv, 34, 99. LECTURE XI. THE CHURCH AND ITS PLAN OF ORGANIZATION. =Article 6.=--We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive Church, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. THE CHURCH IN FORMER AND LATTER DAYS. =1. The Primitive Church.=--In the dispensation of the Savior's ministry, Christ established His Church upon the earth, appointing therein the officers necessary for the carrying out of the Father's purposes. As shown in the last lecture, every person so appointed was divinely commissioned with authority to officiate in the ordinances of his calling; and, after Christ's ascension, the same organization was continued, those who had received authority ordaining others to the various offices of the priesthood. In this way were given unto the Church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors,[602] high priests,[603] seventies,[604] elders,[605] bishops,[606] priests,[607] teachers,[608] and deacons.[609] [602] Eph. iv, 11. [603] Heb. v, 1-5. [604] Luke x, 1-11. [605] Acts xiv, 23; xv, 6; I Peter v, 1. [606] I Tim. iii, 1; Titus 1, 7. [607] Rev. i, 6. [608] Acts xiii, 1. [609] I Tim. iii, 8-12.