Show THE E LESSER priesthood theft ere are an in the church of christ wo brandies of the holy priesthood tte the which is the greasers gr eaters ter and includes the less and the Aaron lc or lesser priesthood ach ch acts under the direction of the e higher they are channels of divine light and power through ajae edek ek priesthood how flow the blea aings to the church ugh the come diorec one a as to the temporalities ties of the the province of the latter being chiefly to mirt minister ister in things that ewt are te temporal that is for this earth h and the present time it is called tile the lesser leaser priesthood bete use the things that are spiritual ate 6 fegter for they are eternal and that tt principles and powers the th rete relate to au all the worlds and all agat ageg 4 is 1 not lot the to purpose of this article dwell ell als particularly upon the fune awa t and sphere of the higher but aall vw 4 attention aln to some of the duties aw hood sm poses of the lesser priest oa at the head of this branch to is the bishopric priests after the order of aaron when organized into a quorum roast must he be presided over in a quorum capacity by a bishop and two counselors the presiding bishopric or bishopric of the church preside over all the bishops in their simple capacity of bishops this requires some same explanation the office of a bishop belongs to a lineal firstborn first born descendant of aaron whose lineage has been determined by revelation or satisfactory proof but in the absence of such a descendant cen dant as the greater includes the less a high priest after the order of Melchi sedek may be ordained and set apart to act in the office of bishop the presiding bishopric have no jurisdiction over him as a high priest but only over his position in the lesser priesthood the mingling of these two offices or callings sometimes creates a little confusion in the minds of those who do not thoroughly understand them bishops are appointed to act in the several wards with two counselors each bishop sits as a common judge in israel if he were a lineal firstborn first born descendant of aaron he could act in 1 that capacity without counselors he may receive tithes and offerings regulate the temporal affairs of the church in his hie ward preside over the lesser priesthood see that the poor are provided for and that the members do their duty and give counsel in secular as may be necessary for the welfare of the members and of the ward but he cannot as a bishop preside over meetings when an elder is present confirm by the laying on of hands officially bless a child or do anything that of right comes under the authority of the Melchi sedek priesthood it is an error therefore to say that such a ward Is presided over by bishop go bo and so ao that a child re a bishops shops Bl blessing or that bishop such a one confirmed a member in the church or that he be ordained an elder the me high priest who has been ordained and set apart to act as a bishop way may preside ordain confirm and bless but he does all these things as aa a high priest after the order of melchisde dek and not as a bishop who acts simply in the priesthood this distinction should be kept in mind when a bishops court sits it does not act in the Melchi sedek priesthood there is no such a court in the church as a tribunal of three high priests the first presidency is not a court the most important eases cases are to be carried up to the high council composed of twelve high priests and presided over by a presiding high priest and his two counselors or by either or both of them to this tribunal cases may be appealed from the decisions of the bishops courts A bishop is not a ruler as supposed by some persons who write against mormonism PP his functions are ministerial and judicial in an ecclesiastical sense one important duty of the bishopric is care for the needs of the poor this comprehends something more than receiving and dle disbursing bursing alms the feeble aged and sick who are indigent need support from funds in the hands of the bishop but the poor who axe are not disabled should have employment rather than gratuities ild idleness leness leads too to vice ind and pauperism is a social evil to find filid work for those who cannot find it for themselves is one of the labors incident to the offices in the lesser priesthood and is specially within the sphere of the bishops there is perhaps no more important opportunity for the exercise of the wisdom discretion and benevolence ev olence required in magnifying the calling of a bishop than in pramot ing industries so that the divine injunction ln unction shall not be violated the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer to provide employment suitable to each individual for young and old of both sexes so that all but the disabled shall be self sustaining and be able to contribute to the common good is one of the most valuable services to the church and the individuals that the bishops can perform if they would charge their minds with this as one of their pressing duties and seek for divine as well as human aid in its performance ways and means would be devised by which home industries would be multiplied and fostered and the whole church and the entire community would be vastly bene fitted in the perfect social system which at some time will be established on this planet there will be a place for everybody and everybody will find the right place therein will be joy toiling in uncongenial occupations stifles happiness all the varied talents of diversified humanity are am intended for development and free but prudent exercise some day every son and daughter of the most high will find the right place for full expansion usefulness and enjoyment not till then will that which is perfect come to lead up to it to control circumstances and means to that end belongs to the power and offices of the holy priesthood and in present conditions particularly to the bishopric and the helps and aids thereto in the offices of the lesser priesthood if that power were exerted as it might be in israel there would be no silent workshops or artisans or workless laborers in winter or summer and changes would be gradually wrought in the classification of labor and through the encouragement coura gement given to talent in special directions so that each active man and women woman would gravitate to his or her own sphere and find in it pleasure as well as profit in the work of looking after the temporal things the priests teachers and deacons or those acting in that capacity are intended to be aids to the bishops priests are ordained to the aaronie priesthood Prest hood the offices of teacher and deacon are an appendages to that priesthood these should an all be active assistants in their several callings in the tem moralities over which the bishops have jurisdiction to train tra inthe the lesser priesthood in the duties powers and functions of their offices is a work devolving upon the bishops if this were followed according to the divine design those hard worked sons of aaron would be relieved of many things that tax their time and patience because they could be performed by some priest teacher or deacon who could be entrusted therewith the house visiting required of the lesser priesthood has been talked about much in public meetings with a view to its improvement but until the bishops make a specialty of training the lesser priesthood in the proper performance of this very important duty it is probable that it will remain in its present imperfect condition there is nothing that is so likely to affect the home and inner life of the saints and influence them for permanent good as the ministrations of the lesser priesthood as they are intended and commanded in the revelations on that subject they require choice men who understand human character who are imbued with the spirit of wisdom and instruction and who are familiar with common practical affairs to select these visiting officers and discipline them until they become efficient is incumbent upon the bishops and while at first it may seem to increase their labors yet when they accomplish this desired end it will actually lessen them because each effi efficient clent visiting officer will do something that without such a help the bishop would have to do in person if there is a reform in israel that seems to be more pressing than another it is in the direction of a better organization and exercise of the lesser priesthood according to the pattern given and the purpose intended by the revealer Ke vealer of our faith every member of the church in an organized ward is amena amenable bleto to the bishop thereof so far as the scope of his office extends an apostle pays tithes to the bishop if he has a difficulty with a brother he may be admonished by the bishop if his conduct in the ward requires investigation vesti gation and a decision the bishops court will act in his case if he does not perform family duties or attend to family prayers or conduct himself as the law of the lord requires he is within the sphere of the lesser priesthood in their visiting and teaching occupation so with oher officers in the melchus edek edeh priesthood but in this it is not as an apostle or high priest or seventy or eldoras El deras the case may be that he comes within this jurisdiction it to is as a member of the church and the power of the bishop and the lesser priesthood can only Z be exercised according to the specified extent in a trial before a bishops Bisho pg court a decision may be rendered showing what an accused person must do in order to retain the fellowship of the ward of which he is a member no DO matter what position he may hold in the holy priesthood an appeal of course lying to the high council but the power of the bishopric does not extend to the deprivation of that priesthood because it is something that tha the bishopric has not the power to bestow on this hypothesis which is now made practical in action upon transgressors gres sors it may well be questioned olied whether excommunication even of a member is not one of the most moat important cases and exercises of power in the church whether capital punishment which it is in a 01 spiritual sense is one of the powers of I 1 a common judge in israel and whether the complete taking away of church membership involved in cutting off should not rightfully vest in that priesthood which alone holds the power to confirm a person a member of the church by the laying on of hands and the gift of the holy ghost but this is merely suggested as aa a matter for thought no harm can call come from thinking so long as no evil purpose lurks behind the thought or evil desire is fostered by that reflection there is far mote MON danger to both the higher and the lesser priesthood in apathy lu stupidity in lethargy and in slothfulness ful ness than in the discussion of doubtful questions or the analyzing of subjects supposed to be settled providing the inquiry is conducted in a proper spirit the glory of 01 god to is intelligence ya and a thorough understanding of our faith and of the duties responsibilities requirements and limitations of our oil ings whatever they may be is aa r more likely to bring power force and influence for good than a careless acceptance of everything we hear and an indolence of mind aud and spirit which death tho the lesser priesthood arideth forever with the holy priesthood which to 10 after the order of an endless M and therefore its officers should b fully imbued with its spirit and thoroughly versed in its rig rients lits privileges and bounds when the perfect order of the priesthood prevails much that DOW no through circumstances eng nisla the time and care of the higher quorums of the Melchi sedek priest bood will no doubt be relegated to th 8 lesser priesthood where it be jarl and thus give more time and leisure and opportunity to those awing and regulating authorities to w commune with the heavens approach unto the highest receive the spiritual manifestations and for the church which perva tam to their sacred of offices flees and thus brigg the church on earth nearer to the w church of the firstborn First born on h and hasten the grand consummation foreordained fore ordained for the falness of aimee rut but the keys of authority to the temporalities ties as well as spir qualities of the church will always VVs remain with the presidency of the high priesthood while the aal ual manipulation of temporal things and the details of their man is with the lesser Nest priesthood riest hood at the head of which is the tae Risho bishopric pric in a ward and the rading rW ding bishopric in the church aa a whole body the presidency of f a 4 stake presides over all the cs in the stake as parts thereof the oe presidency of the high priest lood presides over all the officers in the church of every grade and ng and the head bead of this quo alun Is a prophet seer and revelator tor having all the gifts of god bloh oloh he bestows bestons on the head of the ek church lurch here is wisdom and light mhd d power and order and beauty and hy by this means will the glory of be made manifest both now and fO giever rOver wi ever C W v P |