know which way to turn. They hunger still, and they thirst for the true teachings of Jesus; they are looking still for the true Church of Christ, with a religion worth while. {321} [Sidenote: What Jesus taught.] The history of the growth and spread of Christianity in the world reads almost like fiction. Jesus Himself established His Church upon the earth. We have learned that He called and ordained twelve apostles, and others whom He called "seventy." He taught the fundamental principles of the Gospel--faith, repentance, baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the many duties that devolve upon faithful Church membership. Jesus revealed in His own person the personality of God the Father, and taught clearly the true relationship existing between the Father and His children. Jesus taught plainly, too, the duties that men owe both to the heavenly Father and to their fellowmen. In short, Jesus revealed and taught to His apostles, and to the peoples of the Holy Land, all the principles of the Gospel necessary for a life of righteousness upon the earth. And when He ascended to heaven, He left with the apostles the authority of the Holy Priesthood, an organized church, and the Gospel, the plan of salvation. The Church of the apostles possessed the three essential marks of the true Church of Christ. [Sidenote: The acts of the apostles.] After the departure of Jesus, the apostles began strenuous missionary labors. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost came upon them, and through their testimony of Christ risen, many who heard them believed and were baptized. From that day forth, the apostles traveled and preached and baptized and confirmed. Many miracles, too, did these apostles perform, in literal fulfillment of the promise of Jesus that they should be {322} able to do the works that He had done. And everywhere in their missionary travels, the apostles organized branches of the Church--or Churches as they were called. To carry on the work of the churches the apostles ordained high priests, seventies, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, deacons,--the regular officers of the priesthood--and left these officers in charge of the local ministry while they themselves continued their larger service. But it must not be imagined that the apostles met with no opposition. On the contrary, wherever they went, the apostles found enemies, and were maligned and persecuted. Often they were haled before magistrates and governors, and not infrequently they were imprisoned. But they persisted in preaching, and in bearing their profound testimonies. Finally most of the apostles were done to death by their enemies. Peter, it is said, was crucified at Rome. James was beheaded. John was banished to the isle of Patmos. Andrew was bound to a cross and thus slain. Philip was crucified. Bartholomew was flayed alive. Thomas was pierced by a lance, Matthew was killed with a battleax. James, the Less, was beaten to death.