The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsTalmage, James E. (James Edward)
Religion
The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Talmage, James E. (James Edward)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
=3. The Rule of the Priesthood.=--That the power of the
Priesthood is to be exercised in the spirit of patience and love,
and not in opposition to individual free agency, is apparent from
many scriptures, among which is the following:--"Behold, there
are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this
world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn
this one lesson--That the rights of the Priesthood are
inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the
powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the
principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us,
it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to
gratify our pride, or vain ambition, or to exercise control, or
dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men,
in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw
themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is
withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood, or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against
the pricks; to persecute the saints; and to fight against God. We
have learned, by sad experience, that it is the nature and
disposition of almost all men: as soon as they get a little
authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to
exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence, many are called, but few
are chosen. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained
by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by
long-suffering, by gentleness, and meekness, and by love
unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly
enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile; Reproving
betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and
then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom
thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he
may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of
death. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men,
and to the household of faith; and let virtue garnish thy
thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the
presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distil
upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be
thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of
righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting
dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee
forever and ever."--Doc. and Cov. cxxi, 34-46.
LECTURE XII.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
=Article 7.=--We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy,
revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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