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Show a YOUNGEST Tbe Cbqtb anction George A., Leaves Sick Bed To Fulfill Mission EDITORIAL " THE PRIESTHOOD OF AARON was restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associate, Oliver Cowdery, on May 15, 1829. It came to them by ordination, and John the Baptist, who baptized the Savior, performed that ordination by the laying on of hands. in a vision. It The ordination was took place by" actual Ill'ictation. John was there in person, as much so as were Joseph and Oliver. He put his hands upon their heads as really as any man would place his hands upon the head of another to perform any ordination - in the Church. That priesthood was given as part of the general work of restoration of the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ in these last days, and It was given to remain permanently. It was not for any temporary period that this priesthood was given. It was given oh permanent basis, to remain with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints until the coming of the Savior in the day of judgment John himself made this clear when he said. "and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." At WHAT IS MEANT by that offering which the sons of Levi are to offer unto the Lord in righteousness? Section 84 of the Doctrine & Covenants explains that the great temple of the Lord is to be built at Jackson County. Mo., and that in it such an offering shall be made. The temple has not as yet been constructed, and therefore none of the sons of Levi can offer such an offering as yet. The question often arises, "Who are these Sons of Levi?" The Lord has explained himself in this regard also. He identifies those who are to be known as the sons of Levi in Section 84 of the Doctrine & Coveed , nants beginning with verse 31: "Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Mosesfor the sorts of Moses and also the sov of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the House of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation upon the conse. crated spot as I have appointedand the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount Zion in the Lord's house, WHOSE SONS ARE YE; and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my Church. For whose is faithful unto two priesthoods (Melchizedek and Aaronic) may be termed "sons of Levi." They are to be faithful in the Church, the Lord explains in this scripture as noted above; and not apostates from the Church. -- PERSONS ORDAINED to either of these priesthoods must be called by the proper authority, and sustained by the vote of the people. The doctrine of common consent is vital in the Church. It was prescribed by the Lord for the government of his people. In Section 20 of the Doctrine & Covenants, the Lord says "no person is to be ordained to any office in this Church where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that Church." (vs. 65) All persons ordained to either Aaronic or Melchizedek priesthood, from the days of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, are subject to this instruction. Persons claiming separate ordinations must look closely to the policy ot the Lord in this matter. The ordination performed by John the Baptist in giving Joseph and Oliver this priesthood, is one of the outstanding proofs of the fact of the restoration of the gospel in our day, and the establishment of the true Church. It provides much of the divine authority by which the Church does its work. Without that divine authority it could not operate. The fact of this restoration furthermore is a proof of an apostacy from the truth as given by Jesus of old, making a restoration necessary in these last days. Every boy in the Church who receives an ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood may be assured that he holds the very authority restored by John the Baptist in 1829, and that in accepting this priesthood he becomes a part of the great latter day work by winch God sets up his kingdom 'upon the earth in preparation for the glorious coming of His Son. GEMS OF THOUGHT : ":" , - s i 6CHURCH SECTION General Conference address. October 19461 OUR WORK in the world, my brethren and sisters, is to reach out after ali of our Heavenly Father's children at home and abroad, and if we will do that the Spirit of the Lord will dwell IA otir and we will be happy, and our homes will be the abiding place of his Holy Spirit. When we realize the uncertainty that exists in the world today, realize that the strongest nations of the earth as well as the weaker ones are arming to the teeth preparing for war, we may know that it is only a question of time, unless they repent of their sins and turn to Week of Moe 21, 1950 DISILIT 141WS , , . Y .. 21L! aitia t., , .. 1" t.41-1F.:..- e ,V 7." 1 cat'V: ' ' ' ' ....4. ,:i,t- I f. ': '' 4...v44r '. - . --- 0 , ,l : )14.1011.'lk,. . 4 I , ' THE WORLD WILL soon be devastated with war and carnage, with plague, and all the distresses that the Lord has promised unless they repent; but he has indicated that they will not repent, and distress must come. (Pres. George Albert Smith, General .Conference, - address, April 1937.) I FEAR THAT the time is unless we can coming call the people of this world to repent of their sins and turn from the error of their ways, that the great war that has just passed will be an insignificant thing, as far as calamity Is concerned, compared to that which is before us. (Pres. George Albert Smith, ! VD--- Part the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken (see verses 14 to 27) and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the Church and Kingdom and the elect of God." Both Moses and Aaron (being brothers) were of the tribe of Levi, and therefore "sons of Levi," and the Lord here makes it clear that all who are faithful, and receive these Warning of War,Plague Voiced by Pres. Smith and told him that he should be restored to health, fin his int Chapter sion and return in safety to his Biography. of George A. Smith home. Then the Prophet Joseph Grandfather of wrote a certificate of recomPres. George Mbert Smith mendation for George A. to tail ME DEPARTURE OF seven of with him to England. A topy the quorum of the Twelve, follows: "Nauvoo, Hancock County, on a mission to England, in the "21st of September, 1839. of one fall of 1839, constitutes "To the Church of Jatsut the in heroic most the chapters Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, history of the Church. All of Greeting, and to all to whom these4men were penniless, as this may come: they: had been robbed of their i "This is to recommend unto property when they had been the fellowship and goodwill of driven out of Missouri. Most of all the faithful, and to the conthem were ill, as "a general fidence of all men, our beloved siege of sickness" had prevailed brother in Christ. George A. in the settlement of Commerce, Smith, one of the Twelve Aposdue, no doubt, to the low wet ties of our Lord Jesus Christ, lands along the banks of the called and sent forth by revelaMississippi, which were infested tion in these list days, to preach insects. the gospel to the nations of the with malaria-carryin- g came earth. And we thus recommend the time when And yet, for them to leave on their mis- him because we have proved and known him for a length of sions, these men literally got out of their sick beds and strug- - , time, and always found him faithful in all things. gled forward with a will and to (Signed) Joseph Smith Jr." determination to do or die; (George A. Smith's Journal). they were men of faith; they knew that they were carrying AND NOW, the journey to Engout the mandate of almighty land actually began; the day God. Brigham Young, the lead- - , was Sunday, September 22nd, er of the group, described his 11839. Here are George A's own experiences at the time as fol- ; words from his journal: lows: "John S. Fullmer presented "September 14, 1839. I started me with a horse to aidrne on from Montrose on my mission to my journey. Theodore Turley England. My health was so- poor and Reuben Hedlock (who were I was unable to go thirty rods also going to England as misto the river, without assistance. sionaries) had one horse and Alter I had crossed the river I wagon, and as I could not ride got Israe. Barlow to carry me on horseback, Hedlock got on on his horse, behind him. to my horse. Turley was very sick Brother Heber C. Kimball's, and lame. We drove about a where I remained sick till the mile when Turley tipped the 18th I left my wife sick, with i wagon over, and it fell on both a babe only ten days old, and of us. We were so weak we all my children sick and unable could not get up till Hedlock to wait upon each other." M. S. came, and took the wagon off Vol. 25. P. 646.) us, and as nothing was broken TEARS LATER, in a sermon he helped us in again. A little delivered in Salt Lake City below we met Elder Seymour (August 31, 18561 Brigham Brunson, who, seeing how emaYoung again described his ex- ciated Turley and I were, said, periences while on this memo- 'Brother Hedlock, have you been robbing some graveyard rable mission. "In company of several of the about Commerce?' We stopped Twelve I was sent to England in at Brother O. M. Duell's at the 1839. We started from home railroad shanty." (Journal of without purse or scrip, and most George A. Smith.) Well, that is the manner in of the Twelve were sick; and those who were not sick were which George A. spent his first sick on their way to Ohio; day traveling to his mission Brother Taylor was left to die field. The days following were by the roadside, by old Father not materially different; all of Coltrin, though he did not die. them were filled with troubles "I was not able to walk to the and difficulties. On Monday, September 23, river, not so far as across this 11839, the brethren arrived at block, no, not more than half as Brigham far; I had to be helped to the Quincy. Here they met river in order to get in a boat to Young and Heber - C. Kimball, cross it. This was about our sit- - who had departed from their uation. I had not even an over- homes a few days previously. coat; I took a small quilt from i"Both of them" writes George the trundle bed, and that served IA., "were very feeble." At for my overcoat, while I was Quincy. due to his prolonged George A. discovered traveling to the state of New illness, was failing. York, where I had a course sat- - that his eye-sigtinet overcoat given to me. Thus "My eyes were so nearly blind we went to England, to a that I could not distinguish the strange land, to sojourn among color of anything. It was with difficulty that I could get In strangers." (J. D.' 4:35.) George A. Smith, the young- - and out of the wagon." But deest of the apostles, also had to spite all their trials and diffiget out of a sick bed and start culties the brethren continued on this mission to England He their journey; they arrived at left his family at Nauvoo, in the town of Exeter, on Septempoverty and illness, living in the ber 29th. There 'was a small rebuilt log house which had branch of the Church at this place and one of the sisters once been a stable. Reader, does not this reveal, washed George A's soiled clothThe next day the elders in the clearest possible manner, no to Jacksonville. and that these men.. were alcicere,;1'ing' sincere unto death; that they de-- on October 2nd, they reached sired above all else to serve !Springfield. their God and do his righteous Continued Next Week will? These missionaries were true heroes; great men; servants of God. They deserve our ever- - TEMPLE lasting praise and honor. AFTER BIDDING his family THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE will farewell, George A. rode on be closed for Memorial Day a horse to the home of the May 30, Pres. Robert D. Young Prophet Joseph, a mile and a announced Tuesday. The Temhalf distant. Here, on account of ple wffl be closed for the sumhis weakened condition, be had mer season June 30 and will reto stop and rest for a few hours. open Aug. 14 following summer The prophet's father, Joseph cleaning. Smith Sr., gain him a blessing By PRESTON NIBLSY The Priesthood of Aaron , MODERN APOSTLE ; 1; t,, 0 FEES. GEORGE Small I ' ALBERT - God, that war will come, and not only war, but also pestilence, and other destruction until human family will disappear from the earth. (Pres. George Albert Smith. General Conference address, April, 1950.) ! i i i : ; I ! ' ! ! ht NOTICE |
