The Restoration of the GospelWidtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Religion
The Restoration of the Gospel
Widtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The voice of the Lord in this assembly gave to the Prophet many
important directions as to how he should proceed in organizing the
Church. He was instructed to ordain Oliver Cowdery an elder in the
Church of Jesus Christ. Then, Oliver Cowdery should ordain Joseph;
and afterwards they should ordain others, as they should be directed
by revelation. These ordinations, however, were to be deferred until
such time as all those who had been baptized could be assembled in a
general meeting. And even then, the young Prophet, to whom these great
revelations had been made, should not force himself upon his followers;
but they were to show by free and voluntary vote whether or not they
were willing to receive him as their spiritual teacher and leader.
After the vote had been taken, these first Elders of the Church were
to bless bread and break it with those assembled, and bless wine and
drink it with them. Then, such as should be indicated by the Spirit
of God should be ordained to the priesthood, and those who had been
baptized should be confirmed by the laying on of hands for the gift
of the Holy Ghost.[C] In order further to instruct his servants, the
Lord gave in addition a revelation to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and
David Whitmer, explaining further the nature of their calling to the
priesthood, making known that there should be twelve apostles called
at some future time, and imparting other instructions relative to the
building up of the Church of Christ, according to the fulness of the
Gospel.[D]
[Footnote C: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 61.]
[Footnote D: Doc. and Cov. sec. 18.]
Not very long afterwards, another revelation was given specifying the
day on which the organization should be effected, and outlining the
duties of Church members. The Lord, in this revelation, says:
"The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one
thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized
and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and
commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the
month, which is called April."[E]
[Footnote E: Doc. and Cov. 20:1.]
Then the revelation proceeds to explain doctrine, and to define the
duties of those holding the priesthood, also of lay members. Thus was
the day fixed by divine revelation when the Church should be organized.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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