| Show DIVINE GUIDANCE those who have receive J the spirit of me gospel in this dispensation have a high appreciation of the fact that hat the church of jesus christ of latter day saints sainta has been organized by divine guidance not only in the abe inception ot at the work of instituting the church at the outset of its career in the fullness of times but also for its continuous continuo Ul operation so as a church and in every branch or department thereof for the pe perfection of church work the lord always has had among a people whom he recognized as aa mio his those whom he designated and honored as aa his servants la in every department dopart part ment of me hia work those whom he called and commissioned possessed the authority or keys key to operate in that dopart department part ment meno As the presiding officer of the church in the early christian ers era peter bad committed to him the keys of the kingdom of heaven being associated I 1 in his bis quorum with those two other apostles Apost la james and john who partook of the experience upon the mount of transfiguration those thee officers acted by virtue of the authority conferred upon them As in the case of the me remark of the savior to the chief apostle peter the latter was commanded to food feed the ha maeferd Maet storla erd sheep to administer to and regulate the church affairs affecting the salvation of those who had accepted the lord jesus as the christ chris the food wherewith the sheep were to be supplied was provided of heaven and the apostles could give no other in their calling oal lind but the work of feeding devolved where the lord placed it so bo it is with his hi church in latter times there to is no change in gospel principle the successor to the apostle peter in authority was the prophet joseph smith and ana the latte lattera td succession was in line 11 oe of the apostle ship not of an inferior calling mijat power and authority were conferred on joseph by the apostles peter james and johng john who were messengers messenger sent cent of god just as an were moses mosea anh and elias alias when the latter appeared in company with the messiah to peter james and john upon the mount oi of transfiguration ani in the latter day appearance the keys of the kingdom held hela by the apostles Apo atles were conferred upon joseph smith as the first apostle in the church in this bis age joseph succeeded to the he calling of feeding the master masters Ma siera s sheep and the he keys of his bis apostleship have been transmitted directly from him to the succeeding presidencies cies of the church up to the present time this authority authority is most sacred and holy and the proper administration thereof is required at the bands of those who hold bold it the proper re recognition thereof also to is required of all those who have entered into the gospel covenant and in due time will be required of all others it is the sacred duty auty of that authority aut bority to food feed the Mas master terse flock of the food he provides abe calling of those who bold it to Is to administer the gospel low law officiate in its ordinances and regulate the church affairs under the everlasting covenant their responsibility lity to is to direct hither and thither as the church needs need and the spirit inspires ins to make rules and alter revoke or change the same as an the regulation of church affairs demand for the good of the people and the ress of the work all this to is done in obedience to gospel law which with the ordinances ordinance a thereof cannot be changed by mat man but are administered or officiated lu iu as the lord diro directs otiL thus every quorum in the church sets acts in its designated capacity and in doing so Is under divine guidance because of acting by divine authority and being in conformity with the divine order |
